The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-04-28

70 TIRE COT Bennefr lay In the same
posagBpn. bis wtde-cpen eyes holding
a. expression Of horror.
She's gos q lily liver al right. Os-
car Polly Kissed through her teeth
Did yoa hear all what she saidY'
Surh 10 she power OF habit over q
nature Ike the squafter girls that
Robert faded fron her mind. and Os-
err Bennett. suffering and dying. abb
sorbed her whole attention
Cant yoB hear anything. Osearf
she questioned Listen, mehbe you'll
geg WELL II y0u DO take your old
naammy an get out quick Eve ain't
worth one Of your toe nails You've
been e mean dufTer. Oscar. Eut you're
too dn good for her. Col. but she
were wicked woman, wasn't she.
huhY
Not move Of the heavy head on
the pillow gave evidence that she had
been beard
She was still standing BY Benefits
side when. without knocking. Robert
opened the door and came In. followed
By the doctor. Polly recognized the
stranger Instantly as the medical rnan
who lived a short distance down the
boulevard. In anxious inquiry she
glanced at Percfyal.
Observing that she had been weep
ing. hin anger ftared again. II never
occurred 20 him that his own cruelty
had drawn the tears from her eyes.
There was the huge farmer stretched
/ out on the bed and the squatter girl
| crying beside him She was mourning
over The stricken man Robert
frowned: and hopelessIy. In silence,
Polly moved aside TO give the doctor
the space she had occupied.
After hasty examination Of the pa
tient, Doctor Bacon turned 10 Polly
Hopkins.
Something struck him." he said
shortly. You've been quarrcling with
him. eh. girIf What did you bit him
within
Accusation rang against her not
only In the speakers tones but IN Rob
ert's inarticulnte cry.
"why did you strike him. Polly Hop
kins7" he demanded hoarsely. did
your Speak, Did your
That he should believe such things
81 her crushed her completely. Her
head fell forward, but not until Rob
ert spoke again harshly did she an
swer
"Nope.. she breathed. Her tongue
felt as II II were covered with ashes.
"Nope. didn't hit him.
That was all she said. She looked
up at him pleadingiy through her thick
IagIes. Perhaps he did NOT really be-
lieye her guilty. Yes. ne did He was
still fixing upon her that accusatory
gaze.
He'd better be moved out Of this
hole observed the doctor. looking
around, ..but it's an awful night" lie
considered d momeat and then added
J I'll Telephone TO Ithaca for an ambu-
lance"
sterniy he directed look IF disgust
at Polly. He hated attending the
squatters anyway. and never would
have consented to enter the Silent City
II Robert Perciyal had not come for
him.
Aghnst nj the horror OF the emer.
/ gency, PollyOp seemed not 10 notice
the physicians contempt
as he goIn' TO die, mister7" she
queried pialntiyely.
~ don't know" he replied In grufi
INDIGESTION, as he prepared draught
when everything within human
power had been done FOR Oscar Ben
nett. Robert allowed the doctor to pas,
out of the hut before him. Then, Xix,
a shot. he turned back TO Polly's side
Hls eyes binzed with jealousy: am
quickly IL crossed her mind that h,
was going 70 strike her. ohi How sh,
wished he would aud then tnke baci
MI the cruel words lie had hurled a
beYt
"Nyben yo4 snid YOU loved me. yo,
ueda he e,ittad sayagely. .You kney
j