Okolona messenger., 1922-07-20

at me, quit hatin' you an wantin'
to kill your woman"
She struggled up and moving to the
wall, leaned against "The Greatest
Mother in the World" as If she, too,
would add herself to the vast family
of hurt ones.
Every one Of her words was directed
to Mackenzie.
"Then I'm to understand" he asked
slowly, that you deliberately took my
wife away to kill herT
"But she didn't, Marc" interjected
Evelyn.
Marcus made a wide gesture with
one arm.
"Hush, Eve," he muttered. al want
to hear what Miss Hopkins has to
say"
"Yep, l took her." trailed on Polly,
IAN l meant to croak her, too, an
throw 'er in the lake. Just to get even
with you, sir"
"Then why didn't you do it?" de-
manded Marcus.
Pollyop threw short glance at the
other man, standing white and silent.
She cleared her throat, and leaned
only the harder against the wall.
"On a sudden" she continued, as If
eager to finish her tale, II somehow
remembered everything Granny Hope
learned me when she was in the shack
here. She always said, mister, when
you was devilish enough to snake
squatter from the Silent CIty"-Polly
paused and coughed, then proceeded
in the dead silence: Granny said
you was the image and likeness Of the
good God up in the sky an brother
to Jesus, the same as us squatters.
But l said l didn't ever want to fly
away to God If He looked like yOu!"
Leaving the wall she came forward
and hurried on: "An' l meant it them
times, an much more after you rail-
roaded my daddy and swiped Jerry
away from me-"
Marcus placed his wife in the chair
and stood up. He started to speak to
Pollyop; but Evelyns cry caused him
to turn swiftly. The drabness of her
face startled him.
"Marc! Robert !" she said. II can't
go back home until I've told you some
thing. No, Marc, don't stop me. l
will talk. Now, listen! Oh, honey!"
This appeal was to her husband who
had laid his fingers on her shoulder
won't you hold my hand while tell
itg"
Much moved, Marcus did as she re-
quested. His firm clasp seemed to
encourage Evelyn, and she went on:
Darling, I've always been-dread-
full TOTO Polly Hopkins, and-and
she's been an angel to me-"
She was going to tell it all, ragged
through Polly's mind. Was she going
to bring to light her relations with
the dead Oscar? Old Marc would
never forgive it Thinking more now
of the baby coming next summer to
the almost incoherent woman than of
her own happiness, Pollyop made a
movement as IL to contradict the state
ment; but Evelyn's impetuous rush of
words halted her.
"No, Polly, I'm going to put things
right now, even if Marc leaves me to-
night" she declared clearing her
throat. Robert, dear boy, / lied to
you. l lied to Polly and to you, Mar
Gus. Oscar Bennett wasn't POllys
sweetheart at all. He-he was my
husbandw
Mackenzie Suffered, but did not |
drop the cold fingers he held; and |
Evelyn wept bitterly, unable to go on.
A horse whinnied outside; but in
the shanty no sound could be heard |
save the hysterical sobbing of Evelyn.
1t seemed to Robert as If lie must
shake from his cousin the rest of the
dark story, so impatient was he to
hear 1t.
"Then-then when you came, my
my beloved" Evelyn raised her tired
eyes to her husband, Il tried to get
rid of him.. did my best to get Polly
dOpkllS 10 prOnlSe SneQ marry oscar
after he had freed me. 1 wanted to
get him out of the countryw
Unwilling to spare herself the least
she ended In piteous con-
fusion: II was glad when l knew he
was dead"
"Then how did he dieT' came swift
" from Mackenzie
"Oh, just as the doctor told you,
Marc, DEAR" replied Evelyn. "He was
struck by lightning and died from. the
shock. / was free then, and--and
made Polly swear over and over again
he'd never tell any onei And-and
gave her the silk dress Che wore that
uay in the Auburn car. ..I-I-lied /
lbout that, too. But, Marc, dear love,
knew you hated her and"
Robert bounded to his feet-as the
yIrI's words trailed away into silence.
over MacKensie's face were speeding
% many different expressions that the
brown eyes Of Polly Hop
zins could not tell whether ha In J