Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-03-31
CHAPTER XIV.

'what made you come out a night like
this, huh?"
The girl went to the stove and in
silence extended her hands over its top.
whats up, Pollyop?" the man de-
handed again, curiously, dropping into
a chair. you look something awful !"
And so she did! The long-lashed
eyes had gathered and held an indefin-
able expression of hatred. The fair,
lovely face knew tender sympathy no
more. She was no longer Polly of the
Sun. For her that orb had become
merely a ball in the sky, hot like the
stove and bright like the candle flame,
only more so. Nor did the pale winter
moon ever catch her dazzling smiles.
The winking stars had forgotten weeks
ago that once a squatter girl had stolen
out nightly to throw upward a kiss,
begging them to deliver.it to the cruel
fed one there beyond them-the good
Jesus who sat on the golden throne
and who had sen her the message by
Granny Hope that "Love were strong
er'n hate any day"
E1S usual hSI LSNh WV -
boots. and as usual she wore his coat.
Her curls were covered with snow,
and as she studied the dark-faced man
she shook drops Of water from them.
She advanced toward him, choking
with emotion. Since Wee Jerry had
gone, her hours, spent in planning re-
venge, had completely exhausted her.
She was so tired that when she
reached Larry she crouched before
him on the floor and turned a pale, be-
seeching face up to him.
1--WE come, Larry Bishop" she be-
gan gravely, "to ask you to help me to
even up a little with Old Mare"
The squatter's head went up, and a
startled expression shot into his fierce
eyes. Then h sank lower in his chair,
and the fire died out of his counte-
nance.
"Who can get even with that On
brute?' he muttered after a while.
"Squatters can't! We'd all go to Au-
burn if we muss up him or his'n."
A white young face showed SO close
TO his that Bishop drew back.
"Who. cares a d-n about Auburn"
Pollyop exclaimed roughly. '"We won't
go there till we've tore Old Mares
heart to pieces an made it hurt like
yours does, Larry, like mine does for
Jerry al Daddy Hopkins. Wouldn't
you be willin' to spend a few years in
Jail if you could make him howl an go
almost mad like me an you have,
Larry?"
Bishop looked beyond her head into
a dark corner. 1t was in that spot he
often imagined he saw the wrath of
his woman. His unsteady regard set
tied; and the ghost woman rose mist
lily, gazing at him with unearthly eyes
Then the pale, unsmiling phantom ex-
tended her arms and within them ap-
peared a frail infant.
"God!" burst from his lips like a
shot from a gun.
Pollyop glanced backward over her
shoulder. But the shudder that ran
over him brought her haggard face
back to his.
SAINT your heart hurtin' something
awful for your Betty woman an your
brat now, this very minute?" she
uueried abruptly, as if she, too, had
seer the CHASTITY thing in the corner.
, "God, yes !" he ~shivered, taking firm
hold of his chin to hide the tremble of
it.
She seized his arm viselike, the grip
drawing a groan from the squatter.
San wouldn't you just love to see
Old Marc twist an squirm like a
stepped-on baby snake, huh?" came in
one long, sobbing breath.
Again the shifty look of the tortured
man came to rest on the gloom beyond.
"Td die for it, so 1 would, Pollyop,"
he cried. "Out with what you got in
your bean, Poll; an I'll listen, so help
me God!"
Pollyop leaned heavily against him,
y painting. She was making an effort TO
tell him her plan. With a swift up
ward motion of her head, she began 10
talk in broken tones; and as she pro-
ceeded, Larry Bishop raised straighter
in his chair.
Polly's voice trailed into silence;
and Larry sent one hasty look over her
head. The wrath smiled sadly at MIN
and was gone. He shook himself and
struggled to his feet. Then a broad,
wicked grin spread his lips apart, ana
he laughed aloud. Pollyop, still on the
floor, laughed, too, hysterical soDs
catching at her throat, and a desire to
scream forcing her hands to her
mouth. Such awful sounds were IN
usual in the Silent City, where even
honest mirth was no longer heard be-
cause the men and women scarcely
dared breathe for fear an enemy from
Ithaca would suddenly appear.