Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-07-12
Copyright BY UtIeGBrown and Company

$50 you're here. young man." he
snarled. well, muddling in this bust
ness won't do you any good. Didn't
tell you yesterday what l intended to
do; and you had the nerve to upset
my wife about 1t. You're making
yourself the laughing stock OF the
whole town Now you'd better go If
you don't want to witness a little
comedy that1l stick In your memory
for many long day."
The speaker turned to PollyOp.
where's that boy7" he demanded.
Involuntarlly Polly looked toward
the cot where Wee Jerry lay asleep.
you mean the baby On, you don't
mean Jerry?" she questioned duly.
He held out paper which the squat
ter girl took as II she had been in a
stupor. She held 1t up. tried to make
out what was printed on 1t, then
dropped her hand hopelessly to her
side.
With an exclamation Of pity, Robert
went to her and took the fingers that
clutched the paper.
Polly" he said swiftly. you'll have
to give Jerry up for a little while just
a little WHILE
She snatched her hand away, the
document fiuttering to the floor. In a
moment che had picked up the child
from the cot and Rugged him to her
breast.
sold Marc Amt come for the baby,
has her she shrieked, her tone high
pitched and strained "Hes mine,
Jerry is. I'm goln' to keep i'm here
till Daddy comes home: so you might
as well all scoot."
In the stiffness that fell as her voice
broke, each man was impressed with
the martyrdom she was passing
through. Robert had never imagined
a person could go so white and still be
alive. With an ejaculation. hoarse and
defiant, he sprang to her side.
'Polly," he cried. my God. don't
look that wayi Listen TO mer'
"Can he take the baby?" fell monot-
onously from her blue lips.
'sThat's Just what he can do, Miss
Hopkins" thrust In Mackenzie. THE
law says a child can't stay In a place
like this. You'd have seen that IL
you'd taken the pains to read the pa
per. Put some wraps on the child,
Missi"
Polly stood with Jerry gripped tight
ly against her: and. frightened, the
little boy began to cry.
II want my Daddy Hopkins. Polly
op," he whimpered brokenly.
Polly looked so dreadful that for a
moment Mackenzie was silent. Her
eyes had an expression of such hate
and deadly determination in their
singular. brown depths that for a mo-
ment he held his breath.
'Tf you take him. she spoke at last,
--"why, d--n you, I'll kill your
At first Mackenzie eyed her con-
temptuously. What did such a girls
threats mean to him? Then he
laughed. And that laugh stung the
sensitive siss more than II he had
srruck her.
I "You TOOK our Daddy Hopkins" she
hNfN ~ dt tti~
Ing, hut Jerry He's my baby, an l
keep him in the shanty till his pappy
comes home You hear, the hull of
you, don't your"
Her eyes were rowing from one to
another but her voice lowered on each
word. because In the steady gaze Of
Old Mare and his deputies she saw no
relenting.
I'D rather he'd die" she screamed.
"Fd rather he'd be next to Granny
Hope In the graveyard Get out of
here. l say"
The scene was even more nerve
racklng than Mackenzie had expected.
Take him away from her, Bowers"
he ordered, turning to one of the men.
The man spoken to stepped forward
In evident unwillingness but a shout
from Mackenzie made him grab for
the child. With one hand the frenzied
girl beat at him with all her energy,
but he struck down her slim young
fingers as If they had been twigs.
Thrusting one arm around her, he
caught Wee Jerry by the shoulders.