Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-08-09

10 come along With me But / says 60
her she couldn't walk all this way to
you without dytn'."
The soft tones vibrated sympathe-
ticaIly as she voiced the assurances.
Mackenzie thrust up mis- hand and
clutched the slim brown fiasers.
"TelI me something abolt it while
we're alone" he whispered.
PolIyop shuddered.
,"WeIl, SIR" she began. so low that
Mackenzie had to raise his head 20
hear, 'aIl the squatters hate you. but
none of em was wicked like me.
said. / did, that you couldn't be hurt
no way only through your woman, an
AM was g0in' to cut her head or
with the ak an then sling 'er in the
lake. / s'pose I'm gOin' to get sent I'D
for years. but just had to come and
tell you"
Before Mackenzie. aghast at the
danger his dear one had faced, could
answer, Mrs. Robertson entered. fol-
lowed by Evelyn's maid.
'IlI get my coat" exclaimed Mar
Gus jumping up. Dress the girl warm
and send along EveIyn's fur motor
coat"
furtive smile curIed the maids
lips as she helped pull of Jeremiah's
heavy coat, and then grew broader
as PollyOp slipped out of Daddy's
great boots Yet the woman admitted
to herself as she dried the wet feet
and attired the squatter girl in her
mistress beautiful clothes that she
was pretty, even prettier than Mrs
Mackenzie.
When the r0bing process was fin
ished. Mrs. Robertson glanced over the
little figure and grudgingly acknowl-
edged TO herself that there was some
thing of elegance In the girls bearing,
even If she were a squatter.
"Come here' she said A naughty
gesture indicated the spot. Right
here before me-"
Polly's shaking legs carried her
within few inches Of the august
presence.
you're very sure, girl" asked Mrs.
Robertson. that my daughters safe
in your shack? How did she come
there?"
Polly remembered Larry Bishop and
Lye Braeger. She had been instru-
mental In bringing them within the
prison shadows, and If any one suffered
from the deed done that night, it must
not be her friends. She alone must
take the blameI
81 wheedled 'er there, ma'am," sha
replied humbly I'm goin to tell her
man all about It,"
Marcus entered and started back as
he caught sight of Polly. How beauti-
full she was. bedecked in his wIfe's
clothes Then 1t came to him that
even in her rags she had had dis
tihctive loneliness. Both Bob and Eve
lyn- AS that precious name went
through his mind, his thoughts flew TO
the squatter's hut where his frall young
wife awaited him.
"Come along quickly" he said, go
ing directly to Polly.
How changed he seemed how gen.
tie he was as he took hold Of her arm
and led her away; and so preoccupied
was she with this thought that the
beauty Of the clothes which she wore
made no impression upon her. She
wondered DULY when Mackenzie lifted
her bodily Into the sleigh and the
coachman chirruped to the horses, just
what he intended to do with her to-
morrow.
She looked back upon the time the
authorities had sent Meg Williams to
a reform school and also recalled the
girls homecoming after her term had
been served. Now that she, herself.
was In danger of the like treatment,
Pollyop searched her mind for the de-
tails that Meg had given of the hor-
rible place.
AS the horses trotted along the bou-
levard, Pollyop's chin sank into the
warm fur about her neck and until
they turned into the narrow lane from
the road. no one spoke word
go straight to the lake, Hank"
ordered Mackenzie, and at the sound
of his deep voice. Pollyop felt another
shock of surprise. She had heard Il
so often in strident abuse! Now It
was actually pleasant to listen tot
Down the hill through the furry
flakes Of snow the strong horses picked
their way. Once the cutter nearly
turned on It's side but righted itself.
The Hopkins hut was dark when they