American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1922-07-06
Storm Country
Polly
CONTINUED,

Ihe man nodded.
Don't dare to till later, when the
squatters is in bed,r he answered,
shaping on his cap. "If-if you
change your mind, Poll, come along
over; an III cut Ter loose an let 'er
CO."
A harsh sound, something like a
chuckle of malicious satisfaction,
slipped through Polly's lips and stopped
the man at the door.
THAT amt no ways likely, Larry"
she said huskily. Bring 'er here, an
when Pm done with her, she'll have
TO be took"
She caught Bishop by the arm,
whirling him around.
"An' listen, Larry" she continued
with cruel emphasis, IAN all the time
keep rememberin' how Betty walled
her life into the grave, an'-an' that
Old Marc done it"
Overcome by the words she had
thrown at him so deliberately, Bishop
flung away, and the girl, quaking at
what was about to happen, heard him
running along the shore toward his
shack.
1t seemed to Polly Hopkins that
svery minute was an hour long, and
every second filed with intolerable
anxiety. Would the soft-hearted Larry
repent and surrender the prize she
longed to get her fingers on7
In extreme she went
from n thing to another. never fn
ishing what she began. She paced the
hut floor until she vas dripping wet
with apprehensiveness. She had no
means Of knowing when Lye and
Larry would come; so she dared not
stir from the shack.
Many times she showed aside the
window blind and looked out. But
the world outside was wrapped in a
white silence. She could not even
glimpse the peaked roof Of a fisher
mans hut, for between her and the
Silent City was a flowing curtain Of
snow, the fakes falling like feathers
from an open bag.
Larry would keep his word, she told
herself over and over. She was glad
it a such a night The better could
the sQustters carry out their death
plan.
Unnoticed by the girl, the wood
burned to embers in the stove, and the
hut grew colder by degrees. In one
Of her half hours Of measuring the
shanty's length, she halted, breathing
on her frost-bItten fingers. She drew
about her shoulders the blanket which
had covered Wee Jerry in his hut
days.
Her mind brought back to the baby
away on in some unknown place, she
cried weakly as she replenished the
FIRE. Had the wicked ones of the
earth made Jerry forget Daddy Hop
kins who up in Auburn was ignorant
of his whereabouts? Many times Polly
had taken up her pencil to write him
Of the child, but 1t always dropped
from her fingers before it reached the
paper. Daddy could not do anything :
and she would not add to his heavy
burden.
She was at the stove, her cold, stir
Singers spread over it. when the sound
IF footsteps outside sent her headlong
10 the door Appallingly terrified. she
dragged 1t open.
Then, in deadening silence, Lye
Braeger and Larry Bishop carried a
large bundle through the doorway and
threw it down on Polly's bed.
Heayy-lidded, the girl gazed Upon 1t.
her eyes widening in joy, Joy at the
thought Of Old Mares misery; joy at
The thought of getting even. The
Irightful emotion that surged through
aer bore relation only by contrast to
he delights of a few months back,
when her willing legs had trotted the
rountry over to help every M that
needed her. II wasn't the same Polly
ut all. This Polly lifted her foot and
Kicked the bundle none too lightly.
"We had a HI of a time gettin' 'er
here, Poll" growled Lye Braeger.
Soutside it's like If a million crazy
devils was howlin' over the hills. But
we brought 'er just the same Now
DO what you like with 'er, bratp'
White teeth cleaned through the
naniacal smile that parted the girls
4ps. At last! she had not lived
through interminable days for moth
hgi
"Scoot out, you" she ordered, wav-
.ng her hand at them, IAN keep a
watch about till I get donel"
Braeger made for the door as II
lnxious TO be gone; but Larry Bishop
leld to the spot where he stood.
she's a woman, Polly Hopkins" he
muttered. his eyes turning from the
.ot to the rigid girl. IF she is old
darc's wife. He's home too. so Lye
.saysn
What do / care where the pup lsr'
she thrust In ve~hemently. "'Course
she's a woma@ SO be !; an so were
your dead Betsy"
Then she stamped her foot tenn
~pestuously.
sect out Of here an watch for Mac
o.R - ~. RoIIxs she snonnad