Middletown transcript., 1922-03-04
CHAPTER lV-Continued.

Polly hesitated moment, coughet
and cleared her throat.
"A little milk for Jerry, please" she
suggested, extending her can.
Bennett snatched 1t from her hand
Good God, you squatters're nothing
but beggars," he grumbled, but be-
cause he was eager to get her message
he filed the pail full. Smilingly Polly
took II back.
"Tm thankin' you. Oscar" she
gurgled, "an' now mebbe fresh egg
for Granny Hope"
He made an angry motion with his
hand.
up in that box" he snapped. ''Then
tell what you came for! What'd Eve
say?"
"Your woman sent word by me-" she
began-
"Tell it, and don't be AZ day about
IT," ordered the farmer.
Pollyop took couple Of steps back
ward toward the door, ready to fly If
Oscar showed any signs of unusual
wrath.
"She said you wasn't to write her
any more letters" she replied. "She's
awful scared. She trembed all over
when she told me-"
"What did she say about money!"
Bennett demanded gruffly.
Through the dim light of the Ian
tern, Polly looked at him pleadingly.
"She just can't get another cent"
she returned, "an' she's feelin terrible
bad about It,"
Although he had not finished his
task, Bennett jumped up from his
stool, and one step took him very close
to the nervous young speaker.
"She can't, eh?" he cried. "She
means she won't guess. BY God she
will, or I'll come out with the whole
thing. You go and tell her so. She's
got rich folks, and I didn't marry her
to keep quiet all my life Tell her
either she comes home here to me,
or she pays up. If she pays" he
paused, then laughed. "Oh, you need
mt look as If ! was goin' to swat you
one, Pollyop," he went on, "but as I
was sayin', If she pays up and l get
rid Of her, then-me for you, Polly
Hopkins"
His voice was harsh, and his man.
ners rough. Polly retreated to the
threshold
"The times here" Oscar went on,
"when both you women will be leap
ing to my gad. There! Get home and
say to my lady just what 1 said"
again he broke off, only to continue.
"leaving out the part about you. See,
Pollyop?"
Dumb with dread, Polly sagged
weakly against the door casing. No
wonder Evelyn Robertson didn't want
to live with such man!
"And you can tell her to come to-
night at nine O'Clock, to Granny Hopes
old shack" he proceeded. 81 want to
talk to her. Now get along and don't
come around after any more milk, or
I'll throw you out of the barn."
Glad to be gone, Polly passed out to
the lane. In little ravine at her left
neisy stream rumbled down the hill.
With wistful eyes she watched it
through the fast gathering dusk flow
away to the lake. 1t was then she saw
something moving about in small
pool of water in n rock basin. Care
fully she put the milk and eggs on n
bit of smooth turf Down the bank
she slipped, and there in the falling
gloom, struggling in the water. was q
baby lamb. POllyop tucked her skirts
up about her waist and waded into the
water. Several times she fell, and.
dripping wet, scrambled up again.
When she pulled the lamb to the bank.
she dropped to the ground, gasping
for breath.
"Poor little duffer," she murmured.
"You was most gone, wasn't youp
Come on home with Pollyop am get
loved up a biti"
In the road she picked up the pail.
slipped the eggs into the milk and
went swiftly down the lane, the lamb |
under one arm. Polly's heart sang
with gladness. Out Of the rigors of |
the Storm country, out of the cold |
ravine water, she had found another |
little thing to care for.
Jeremiah Hopkins and Larry Bishop |
were in the shack when Polly arrived
with her burdens. With much pride
she displayed the lamb; Then she fed
him portion of the milk with spoon.
While she was preparing the evening
meal, she Invited her fathers friend to |
take potluck with them.
After supper she settled her family.
Wee jerry she tucked into Daddy's