The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-05-18

saf W. ~
Yep. lass" he assented with .
groan. "You can turn the trick;
promise you that"
II jeremiah Hopkins had seen his
girl. his Polly Of the Sun, when She
went home that night. he would not
have recognized her. Her face was
crafty. pItiless. and as white as the
snow under her feet.
Then she waited stoieally day after
day feeding the billy goat but absent
mindedly. asking no questions OF Larry
or Lye Braeger how soon her Idea
could be carried out. She believed
that they would leave no stone un'
turned to even up with Marcus Mac
Kenzie.
Early one evening Larry Bishop
burst into the Hopkins hut without the
formallty OF a knock. He looked years
older than he had but yesterday; and
Pollyup got up. locking and interlock-
Ing her fingers.
"WellY" she asked from between
chattering teeth.
ITS done. by Cod he hissed. al
most strangling behind a shaking hand.
1T were most awful, Polly. II I'D
stuck q hog In the gizzard the squeal-
in couldn't "a been worser."
The speakers tones. his half-bent ng-
ure. his shifty glances, brought a
grunt from the girl.
"An' you're gettin' sorry by the min
ute, Larry Bishop, can see that" she
returned. giving him a smart rap.
"Stand up. Larry man. Once" A
sudden rush of emotion thrust into her
throat such an ache that for several
seconds she was unable to conclude.
"Once." she repeated. after clearing
away the husklness with a hacking
cough, II thought love we're the great
est thing In the world. But II amt.
Larry Bishop. 1t ain'tw
Bishop fidgeted with his cap turning
II around and around by Its brim.
When he looked up, the burning glow
had died from the depths OF his eyes.
ITS a siekenin' thing to see wom-
an suffer that bad" he muttered. "God,
brat Nope Don't say nothin' till 1
tell you what me an Lye did
AT the memory of II, the speaker
wiped drops of sweat from his face.
"She bellered about loyin' her ma"
droned Bishop, "an' the way she hol-
Tered In my hut for her man was some
thing scand'lous.
Like your Betty died a-howlln' for
YOU, s'pose, Larry" came back the
sIrl promptly. "An' been thinkin'
all day how Granny Hope tucked your
dend brat alongside his nanny In the
coffin. Sose awful thlnkln'. Larry
mani"
The squatter's sudden grayness and
swallowing hard as II something had
stuck In his windpipe was the only evil
dence he gave that he had heard the
cruel words.
I'VE got 'er Just after dark" he CON
tlnued, woefully. "She's been tied up
In my shack ever since
Good nough for 'er!" gasped Polly,
tensely, rolling her hands in her apron.
An she yelled so hard you could've
heard her near to Ithaca, Poll" moaned
Larry ME an Lye gagged 'er."
Holy smut I" fell from Pollyop, as
the picture his words had made burned
itself across her mind.
"Her mans been gone all day TO
Cortland" continued the squatter In a
monotone. 'Iye found out Old Miss
RobertsoRs been tryin' to reach hold
Of him."
"Hope she don'tl" lnterjected Polly. |
Not til we get done with his woman.
Are you goin' to tote her over herer
The man nodded.
Don't dare to till later. when the
is in bed" he answered,
slapping on his cap. tiff you
change your mind, Poll. come along
over; an I'll cut 'er loose an let 'er
CO."
A harsh sound. something like a
rhuckle of malicious satisfaction.
slipped through Polly's lips and stopped
The man al the door.
That aint nO ways likely, Larry.
she said huskily. Bring 'er here an
when rm done with her. she'll nave
10 be took"
She caught Bishop by the arm,
him around.
"An listen. Larry" she continued
with cruel emphasis. "an' an the time
seep rememberin' how Betty walled
Der life into tie grave. an'-an thar
Did AiHrc done o."
Overcome by the words she had
hroWu At him 50 deliberately. Bishop I.
lung away and the glri, quaking at
yhai was about to happen, heard him
-ulnins along The shore toward his
.hack
lt seemed 10 Polly Hopkins thai
.very m.aufe was an huur iNas aHd
every ssund fIiei with jutdferah.s
.r1 WId fe soft.tearfeG fa
-eIsHf n4 sra1fr the Prise
aues fo eaf fr freers M
Eu e1freae
ROM oae tHIre t. saotIer. n-ar
.hre aif -he ~e