The Lamar register., 1922-06-21

cOOp-nOle.
She arose slowly. ready to spring
at Larry Bishop or Lye Braeger If
they appeared at the door. To send
them away Instantly was the decision
that she made as she saw the latch
lift and the door slowly swing in. A
figure she recognized with startled eyes
stepped across the threshold; she sat
down, but was up again before he
spoke.
The man she had so longed to see
had come again. But now he -as here,
she did not dare let him stay a mo-
ment. Marcus Mackenzie might come
out Of the coOp-hole even before she
could send the newcomer away. While
he was pressing his great coat collar
down over his shoulders. she tiptoed
to him and with uplifted hand whis-
pered:
Hush Go away Go away
Quick" Making a backward gesture.
she added There's some one In the
coop-hole / don't want you to see"
His errand having completely left
his mind Robert. after moment Of
startled inspection. stopped stifiiy by
the door. The resentment and Jealousy
he had nursed SO long fiared into ac-
tive life and licked him like flames.
Clothes such as she wore had never
been paid for with squatter money |
She was beautiful So much his eyes
told him, but he knew she was not
honesti
She had said there was some one
In the
He fixed her with stern eyes and
then showed her aside.
I'm going to see who he Is" he
mapped.
Polly's fingers caught him as he
tried to pass her.
''No. you can't go in there" she
cried. "Please don't do It."
The sound Of their voices brought
Marcus Mackenzie out into the kitchen
In one stride. He halted at the sight
OF the squatter girl hanging desperate
ly to Roberts arm. An exclamation
broke from him: and with one wrench
Percival was free and was at him.
$50 it's you |" he said In a tone that
told Polly Hopkins what was in his
mind. Damn you, you hypocrite-
His voice broke on. and he brushed
his eyes across with shaking fingers.
There behind Marcus In the coop-hols
doorway was his pale cousin
"Evelyni" he gasped thickly. God,
what's this all aboutl Every one of
you look as if-as #"
Bewildered and overcome, he could
aot finish his sentence.
Marcus had caught Evelyn to him;
ana folIyop, tearlessIy ashamed, had
sunk into the big chair to hide the
f1nery which she knew had brought
the hurt into Roberts eyes. She
wished she was clothed In daddy's
boots and her own calico dress
shut the door, Bob" Marcus or
dered as calmly as he could.
Mechanically Robert did as he was
bidden. When he turned again, Mar
Gus was seated. with Evelyn clinging
TO him, and Pollyop's face was COW
cred by one arm.
Evelyn began to cry weakly.
Bob, dear" she broke out. looking
up at her cousin with streaming eyes,
"Pollyop's been So good to me-"
That sounded to Polly as II some
one else were to be punished for the
nights work.
mo, | amt" she protested. lifting
her head Il was awful bad l were
the only one to blame. l hated every
one OF you. Let me tell all Of you
about it."
She began at the beginning and re-
peated now she had concocted the plan
to steal Mrs. Mackenzie. She spoke
Of Larry and Lye as her two friends
but did not mention their names.
Il thought l could kill 'er. sir" she
added. raising streaming eyes, but
when daddy's coat fell down, an the
big mammy an Granny Hope smiled
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 Pm to understand" he asked
slowly, that you deliberately took my
wife away to kill her?'
But she didn't, Marc" interjected
Evelyn.
Marcus made a wide gesture with
.ana arm