Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-03-10

Polly Breathed Softly.
say. oh, if I were free from Oscar
Bennett! !"
"Then you could marry Old Marc
huh?" Polly interposed with a bob Of
the chestnut curls, "an' boss him,
bet"
Something like that, Polly" Evelyn
admitted. That's why I've come to
you. When I'm free, 1 can make MI.
Mackenzie let up on your people"
Anxiously weighing every word,
Polly's quick mind ran or ahead.
"An' to do that" she threw in, "you
you for wantin' to, but how be you
goin' to work it, Miss Eve? l can't
see no help for the squatters if your
marryin' Old Mares part of it."
That's what I'm trying to tell you,
Polly" was the quick retort. 'but !
want your promise. You help me, and
I'll help you and your people. Oscar
says he'll free me if-if-youTl marry
him."
For an instant Polly's head whirled
as if it had been suddenly struck and
over her came a weight almost unbear
able. Then slowly she shook her curly
head.
81 couldn't do that, ma'am," she
choked. 81 just couldn't"
But you said you would" ~retorted
Evelyn sharply. "You must. I can
save the squatters, and 1 will; but
only on condition that you help me get
rid Of Oscar Bennett. MI. Mackenzie
is going to buy the Bennett farm
and"
"An' Oscar1l be goin' away some
where's else?" put in Polly. "Is that
take me awav from Daddy
Hopkins an from"
She caught herself just in time. She
had it on the tip Of her tongue to ado
the name of Robert Percival, but Ufi
course she did not.
IT couldn't ever do that" she ended
"Never, neverI"
The blue eyes looked into the brown
eyes seriously.
"Oh, yes, you can," insisted Miss
Robertson. Oscars not the worst In
the world, and he'll have a lot Of
money when he leaves Ithaca. he
loves you, Pollyop, and he'd make Life
easy and pleasant for you"
A thoughtful moment or two passed
while Polly Hopkins gazed at her
hands locked together" in her lap.
"You can't tell me nothin' about Os
car she remarked at length. II know
the dirty duffer, an I don't know
nothin' good about him, you can bel
your boots on that" She paused while
through the open doorway her eyes
were fixed upon a fleecy cloud, hign
up in the deep blue sky. "But thai
don't make no difference" she continf
ued. eff ] linked up with Oscar, would
that pup, Old Marc, let the squattefs
stay in the Silent City?"
"Why, Polly, dear, of course he VIII
I talked with Oscar last night, and III
speak to Mr.. Mackenzie just as soOe
as you promise to do what Oscar
wants.
Again the smiling face of Robert
Percival cut across Polly Hopkins
mental vision, and through the silence
of the shanty she head his voice-deep
low and like music. Then the evil
face of Bennett wormed itself into ner
mind. Her lids dropped, and she shuo-
dered.
II couldn't do it, ma'am," she
walled. II just couldn't do that"
Evelyn arose and stood over her.
you must, Polly" she asserten
again. Good heavens, it's the chance
of your life! OF course you'll do IL
Polly Hopkins. Take a little time RI
think 1t over. I'll bring Oscar to sell
you some day when Mr.. MacKenAs
and my cousin Robert are away"
AT the sound of that beloved name
Polly's head fell forward.
"Scoot now" she said, her curls hlo'
ing her face. "I1l think about it"
After Evelyn had gone, Polly me
chanically resumed her sewing.
seemed that her hearts joy had whoh!
dled within her. Patiently she tleu
TO turn her attention to the work =
her hands. but again and again s'
caught herself sitting with idle finger
Finally. worried by the confictlns
emotions that were crowding in up~
her, Polly flung herself into the Opt
and ran swiftly along the ragged focA.H
70 a little glen where many q time III
had been before. Here she waos
through the brook and sank down y
side it. Mind-picture after mind-ps
ture passed before her. She Su'
Daddy Hopkins happy with Jerry
the shanty. no longer afraid 70 -
! Continued on Page Seven