Middletown transcript., 1922-02-25
CHAPTER III.

AS she ran, Polly Hopkins cogitated
on MacKenzle's words. Evelyn's moth
er had said that she was as odd as she
was filthy.
Mrs. Robertson The arrogant wom-
an who lived on the hill in a house al
most big enough to hold every person
In the Silent City ought not to say
anything against the squatters. If the
grand lady only knew 1t, her own
daughter had stopped to trick such
as would put to shame any hut-wom-
an. A squatter wife would not leave
her man to do for himself or deny him
before the world. Added to Polly's
personal humiliation was MacKenzie's
threat against Daddy Hopkins.
The hope Robert Percivals words
had instilled In her seemed to die as
she Travelled, and her heart beat with
fear, for should Old Marc get his fin
gers on Daddy Hopkins, Polly had no
doubt there would be nothing but i'm
prisonment for him and the graveyard
for her and Jerry. She could not
think of life without her father. Not
a single night had she ever been away
from his kindly love and attention
and Wee Jerry! A vivid picture rose
before her of the baby's grief If he
could not straddle daddy's neck and
play his father was horse.
When she reached the top of the
ragged rocks, she pulled up and cast a
glance out over the lake. The calling
of her name made her turn swiftly
Recognizing Evelyn Robertson's voice,
she waited while the other girl came
down the path from MacKenzies
woods. She was quite unlike the little
squatter. A fashionable raincoat pro-
tected her from the wet; and she car
ried light umbrella in her gloved
hand. The greeting between them was
one of embarrassment.
II were gOin' to find my daddy"
Polly explained. Hes somewheres
along the lake. didn't know I'd come
on you this mornin'."
The memory of Mrs. RObertson's
words brought rush of color to her
face, and she looked down at her feet.
There surged up in her a feeling that
she did not want anything to do with
any Of these people. Why should she?
They were rich; and she was only a
sQuatter brat! She started to walk
away.
II said" she flung over her shoul-
der, II were loOkin' for my daddy.
GOod-by."
Evelyn Robertson was not interested
In jeremiah Hopkins. AS far as she
was concerned, the whole Silent City
might be washed off into the waves
and carried away. Her own troubles
filled her mind. The shock of her
mothers disclosure stunned her, for
without the help she had expected,
she. could see no way out of Oscar
Benefits clutches. In the meantime,
the squatter girl was her only means
of communication.
"Wait, Pollyop. wait a minute! !
came down just to speak to you."
Wheeling slowly around, Polly faced
her.
"What do you want?" she asked In
surly tones.
"Pollyop," calculated Evelyn, CON-
ing swiftly to her side, I'm almost
scared to death. My cousin, Bob-oh,
you've got to help me again!"
Bob! Then the soldier in the uni
form was Evelyn's cousin. Bob That
was the incest name in all the world,
name fitted for the man who had
dropped into the Silent City to help
along the squatters. Suddenly her
mood changed. She forgot Oscar Ben
nett and his odious words, forgot that
the girl crying for her aid had allowed
her mother to say dreadful things
against her and Daddy Hopkins. If
Evelyn were related to the soldier,
then Polly Hopkins would do anything
Miss Robertson asked of her.
"What do you want?" she repeated
shyly, blushing.
ITS this" answered Evelyn. "Mr.
MacKenzie's homeland my cousin
came with him. My cousin, Robert
Percival!"
as your cousin handsome feller
with long legs an face"
Pollyop stopped for lack of words.
I1OW NOulu ohC oCSNhiDC tbC uilC, Sy III
pathetic countenance she had seen
from the hut roof?
EYES," Evelyn interjected, "Bob's
awfully good-looking and he's tall too.
Now listen, POllyop; you must go to
Oscar again for me this very day-Oh,
dear, he's SO mean to mel"
Polly considered the pretty face a
moment. She could not understand
why the homecoming Of the cousin
and Old Marc should make Evelyn SO
flustered. With her steady eyes upon
her she was studying over this ques'
tion when Evelyn burst forth:
"Tell Oscar haven't any money!
JUST can't get it now! And, Pollyop,
tell him too that he mustn't write me
any more letters. My mother-well
If she found one of them, she'd turn
me out Of the house."
Polly's mouth flew open. She coult
not conceive of girl doing anything