Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1922-04-27


murmured Robert, brokenly. Then a
she swayed toward him. his Erms went
around her, and for a moment hG
pressed her head against his breast.
"POlly, Pollyop." he whispered, kiss
ing her hair. "Oh. God, II l owned that
lake property ibid"
A certain deep tone In his voice
brought up PollyOp's head, and she
saw In his eyes an expression that
made her struggle from his arms.
Fleeing TO the porch window, she was
gone before Robert could stop her.
-
"BOb's a queer fish, Eve" laughed
Mackenzie, as he came into the music
room where Evelyn Robertson was
waiting for him. "If 1 hadn't kept my
temper just now, we should have
parted bad friends"
"That's like you, DEAR" she smiled.
"But then, of course, you wouldn't let
him bother you. Fussing about the
squatters again, l suppose"
Evelyn took his big fingers in her
hand and occupied herself in examin-
ing the white spots on one Of the pol
ished nails.
my big man mustn't mind Bobs,"
she exclaimed persuasively, noting the
frowning lines that had come In his
face. Hes sentimental, Robert is,
full of haIf-baked notions about BROTH
erly love and helping the downtrodden,
and that sort Of thing"
The man laughed lndulgently. It
delighted him to have the girl Of his
choice express his own sentiments so
well.
"You precious" he murmured.
"They can't fool my Eve much, can
they2" By simple twist Of his wrist
he captured her hand Then he took
up a faVorite topic with new zest.
II want to improve my property, dear.
The Silent City's an eyesorel If !
could get the squatters off the lake
side and buy the Bennett farm, / could
make my place the handsomest in the
county"
At the suggestion about Oscars
farm, a different light flashed into
the girls eyes. Her hand twitched in
his.
"That would be wonderful, DEAR"
she calculated. eff the sQuatterS
weren't there, you could make very
lovely drive right along where their
road runs, couldn't your"
This had been MacKenzie's idea,
also. What capable girl Eve, vast
He took her pretty face between his
hands and kissed her once and then
again and again.
"You darling" he murmured.
"YOu're the wisest little woman in the
world My whole ambition is to make
our home just to suit you. / was talk
ing to one of those landscape chaps
up at the college the other day, and
he said the lake section could be made
We can build our house
on the hill just above therel"
"And the farm" Evelyn interposed,
'that would just round out your place
perfectly. Oh, honey, do that right
away. Mr.. Bennett will ask more for
1t as soon as you get rid of the squat
ters."
Marcus lighted a cigarette thought
fully.
''The Bennett farm wouldn't be OF
any use to me-" he explained slowly,
'unless l can make q clean sweep OF
the whole thing. It's crime, tell
you, Evelyn. Think Of It'll l had to
send out of the county to get my men
to watch those fellows down there,
Ithaca makes me tired. It's good
thing l came back to put some snap
into the fight against the sQuatters."
The girls white lids made curtain
between his shining eyes and her own.
Evelyn was wishing, oh, how very
much she desired that Marcus would
buy the farm. Then Oscar could leave
the country, and In another state he
would set her free! She studied Mac
face covertly through half
closed eyes. considering what to say
and how to say it.
Mackenzie flung his cigarette into
the CRATE. He found the suggestion Of
her yelled look SO alluring that he
gathered her into his arms and rained
kisses upon her face.
II love you so, sweet, could almost
eat you'll" he painted.
A happy sigh, like the perfumed
breath Of a rose. slipped from her
parted lips, and when she laughed
again. his deep chuckles Joined hers.