The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-04-20

about overhead 10 his bedroom. She
was doing the work his wife ought 10
do What a fool he had been TO marry
Evelyn RoberIsonl Instead OF the
fortune he had expected. he was tied
hand and foot without money or wom-
an. He though; Of the radiant squat
ter girl who had Just left him. Two
years ago womanhood had not dawned
upon Polly Hopkins. bu; today He
undertoned an oath and went out 10
the barn.
Polly Hopkins ran down the lane ss
fast as her legs could carry her. The
milk was safe In the bucket. and she
had scarcely reached the railroad
tracks before she had decided not TO
mention Oscars vicious demand upon
her n she told Daddy Hopkina. he
would do some harm to Bennett and
there would be no more eggs end milk
for Granny aud Jerry. II she spoke
Of IL to Evelyn. there WAS no telling
what the girl would do.
The tangle-hsired squatter girl was
the daughter Of jeremiah Hopkins. the
mayor Of the silca, City. the leader OF
all those who lived In the rows Of huts
that ran along the eiigh Valley
tracks and on down the lakeside.
Uncouth and ignorant were Jere-
mish and his kind, and visitors who
catne 10 the little city OF Ithaca agreed
with the towns inhabitants that II
was shame the law allowed such q
blot as the Silent City upon the nat
ural beauty Of CayugS and its males
tic urroundlngs.
POllyop stood shivering. her troubled
gaze searching the lake for q boat.
Daddy Hopkins had gone away early
with Wee Jerry. and she always wor-
ried little when they were out. Yet
she knew that the only way to get
the bread. beans and bacon for the
family was for Daddy Hopkins 20
defy the law and drag his nets when
ever the game wardens were not
about. Without the lake and its hid
den food, II would be desolate world
indeed.
Wee Jerry was Polly's fve-year-old
brother. and long before he could
walk. he had chosen his fathers big
shoulders upon which TO beat his wa7
through an unfriendly and often hun.
cry world. But this same world which
had wizened Jerry had given to Polly
wild beauty. body strong and as
plant as a marsh reed.
With a sigh Poilyop turned to the
house. The door was shut against the
storm, and a thin curl Of smoke
twisted upward from the topping
chimney. losing itself in the baby
leaves OF the willows. The little lines
that had traced the troubled brow
vanished at the sight of a slab Of
wood over the door. On II was paint
ed in crude letters: IF your heart IL
loving and kind come right In. II IL
ART. scoot OF" PoIlyop and Granny
Hope had worked long time TO make
this sigr. and even longer TO nail II
up.
'It'n help the Silent City folks,
Granny" she had said. Especially,
II smile a lot at EN-"
She flung open the door and went
in, closing II behind her. In one cor
ner CT the kitchen. an old woman. so
old that no squatter could remember
her other than aged. sat near the
stove. About her shoulders was
shawl. and its edges were held to-
gether with clawlike fingers.
Munching on a bit of hay at the
49, IA
friend Of Polly Hopkins. Long ago
she had found him. lost In the wilder
ness Of the Storm country. and had
brought him TO the Silent City.
The shanty consisted OF three rooms
Back OF the kitchen Daddy Hopkins
slept. and In the miserable coop-hoie
where Polly had once stored rubbish
Granny Hope stretched out her weary
bones at night. Polly's bed ranged
the kitchen wall. and the room had
but a beEch. two old chairs and q
three-legged table to offer in rude hos
pitality.
Il wheedled a little milk from os-
car. Granny" said the girl. "Goddy.
but he's gettin' stlngyw
She put down the pail. went to the
stove and thrust a piece OF wood into
IL.
Woods as wet as he'll" she COM
plained. almost as II she had spoken
10 herself.
The old woman stirred and lifted
her withered Ids.
Hell amt wet" she muttered. IT'S
dry an warm-hot. ! mean," and she
shivered. drawing nearer the FIRE.
Tain't like this lakeside
Granny Hope had been In the Hop
kins' shack since the first winter snow.
Her own hut stood on q little point
about a quarter OF mile away. In II
she had lived alone ever since her hus-
band had gone down In the Big Blow.
a storm that was a tradition In the
settlement. and which only the Oldest
inhabitants of the Silent City could
remember.