Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-08-31

the promise made that day before
The Greatest Mother in the World"
and knew not how to expiaip it
-Peliy." be had commenced, when
Psllyop, because she was 90 tired, 20
forlornly helpless. began 10 sob BIT
terly. The sight Of him after all these
weary days quite overcame her.
Don't" be interJected impetaously.
rPlease don't do that
Her tears only added to the remorse
that scOurged him and gave nsw vital
Iu to his passion; but, like Q wall Of
IRE between them, burned his jealousy
q Oscar Bennett.
II want to help you" he stammered.
Pollyop shock her head.
"You can't do nothln' unless you get
my daddy back" she whispered.
@Jerry'i die"
This gave a slight opening. and Rob-
ert grasped at 1t eagerly.
Il cam to talk about him." he In.
teFrupted. snow please don't cry any
more. Dontl Sit down a minute"
He placed her in a chair, going white
as his hand touched her. "You say the
child is III, Pollyopf" he went on. but
paused as Polly nodded her head.
yep, he's sick al right" she re-
turned, wiping her eyes.
'-Then perhaps. If he went away
somewhere, 10 a place where he'd
have good food and care until his ia
ther-"
At his words the girl suddenly grew
rigidly erect, but the piteous trembling
Of her lips made the young man avert
his eyes.
"Squatter babies grow on the grub
squatters give EN-" she replied huski-
ly. "All they need is bread an beans
an love-" she hesitated and swallowed
hard before she continued: "An' lots
Of love! That's what's ailin' Wee
Jerry. He wants his daddy"
"But, Polly!" Robert tried to check
the flow of her words, but she ran on /:
He'd die sure in a strange place.
Nopel Jerry stays in the shanty with
me-" =
There was such an air Of inality in
her infection and appearance that
Percival groaned within himself and
~nervously paced the length of the
room and back. He simply could not
tell her. How could he place another
burden upon the already bowed young
shoulders?
Then the matter was taken out Of
his hands. The roll Of carriage wheels,
an unusual sound In the settlement,
came distinctly to their ears and
caused the girl to throw him a
startled, questioning glance. Before
ne could give her the least warning,
the door flung open, and Mackenzie,
followed by three men, came into the
ehanty.
Marcus had not expected to find his
wife's cousin there after the scene Of
that morning. A sneer tugged at the
corners Of his mouth. Then, remem-
bsring that he represented the county,
q slow smile curled his lips.
$50 you're here, young man. he
Gnaried. "well, muddling in this bust
ness won't do you any good. Didn't
tell you yesterday what / intended to
do; and You had the nerve to upset
my wife about 1t. You're making
yourself the laughing stock Of the
whole town! Now you'd better go If
you don't want to witness a little
comedy thatll stick in your memory
for many a long day."
The speaker turned to Pollyop.
"Where's that boy7" he demanded.
Involuntarily Polly looked toward
the cot where Wee Jerry lay asleep.
"YOu mean the baby Oh, you don't
mean Jerry2" she questioned DULY.
he held out a paper which the squat
ter girl took as II she had been in a
stupor. She held 1t up, tried to make
out what was printed on it, then
dropped her hand hopelessly to her
aide.
With an exclamation Of pity, Robert
went to her and took the fingers that
clutched the paper.
'Polly," he said swiftly, you'll have
10 give Jerry up for a little while, Just
little WHILE
She snatched her hand away, the
document tiuttering to the floor. In Q
moment she had picked up the child
from the cot and Rugged him to her
breast.
sold Marc amt come for the baby
has her she shrieked, her tone high,
pitched and strained. Hes mine
Jerry is. I'm goin' to keep i'm here
I'LL Daddy comes home; so you might
az well all scoot.H
In the stiffness that fell as her voice
broke, each ma was Impressed witt
the m~artyrdom she was passing
through. Robert had never imagined
\ person could 60 so white and still bC
alive. With an ejaculation, hoarse ant
defiant, he sprang to her side.
'PolIy," he cried. my God, dom
look that wayi Listen to mel"
Scan he take the baby?" fell monot
onously from her blue lips.
sThat's just what he can do. Mis-
Hopkins" thrust I'm Mackenzie. eth
law says q child can't stay in q piae
like this. You'd have seen that /
you'd taken the pains 70 read the pa
PEI. Put some wraps on the child
Missi"
Polly stood with Jerry gripped tight
~ against her; and. frightened, tn
little boy began II cry.
X want my Daddy Hopkins, Polly
sp.s he whimpered brokeniy.
Polly locked 10 dreadful that for
moment Mackenzie was silent ne
eyes had an expression of such hat