American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1922-03-24

too busy for the last two years to
make much of a dent among them.
but, now I'm home for good. ] mean to
clear them off" An outward gesture
Of the officers hand told Polly he was
not in sympathy with MacKenzie's
threat. you can't judge of the situa-
ton, Bob" Marcus went on, because
you've been gone for years. Evelyn
al tell you what they are, though"
The speaker wheeled his horse and
pointed his riding whip straight at the
Hopkins shanty; and Polly's curly
head drew quickly back.
zone Of the worst Of them lives
there y she heard plainly. 'He's sort
of a mayor Of the settlement. Jere-
miah Hopkins! And such a tribe as
that hut holds can't be found any,
where else in this county. A worth
less. tangle-haired girl and a boy half
in the grave, and l heard only this
morning they're h~arbOring a bag by
the name of Hope. They live like pigs,
too
"The poor things haven't much of a
NiifliiNG " i've Juliet lSt. nave l0GY.
Marc?" The question evidently re-
quired no answer. "Well, what do you
think of that?" he went on. Then he
read aloud: "If your heart is loving
and kind, come right in. If it amt,
scoot off, Why, that's beautiful"
The warm, velvety brown the rich
mans threats had made a hard glare
was brought back to PolIy's eyes by
these words. She could have Rugged
the speaker as hard as she sometimes
did Daddy Hopkins! ~
Rubbish !" sneered Mackenzie.
Perfect rotl Your aunt was saying
this morning that the Hopkins girl is
as odd as she is filthy. The very idea
Of having a thing like hat hung up!"
Polly saw the younger man reach
out and touch the speaker with a
gloved hand.
Love isn't rubbish, wherever you
find 1t, old chap !" he exclaimed. at
gives even a squatter shack a glimpse
of heaven. You ought to help these
people, Marc. Give them a chance;
make something of them, and they
won't bother YOU"
Burning tears filled Polly's eyes. To
hear him speak in sympathy with her
fishermen friends touched her deeply.
And he had spoken of love in the same
way Granny Hope did, too. Pollyop
had never imagined Old Mares kind
yer thought of the meek-the lowly-
and the hungry. Far above the world,
up in the skies beyond the clouds
where the blue was, right alongside
the crucified Savior, Polly Hopkins
placed this new friend of the Silent
City. Her thoughts were interrupted
by Mackenzie speaking.
"They're pigs, Bob, I tell you," he
repeated roughly, land what l brought
you down here today for"
Polly lost the rest of his sentence.
Back and yet farther back she slipped
Over the roof. She had never heard
anything so dreadful as this. In fact
she had always quite liked pigs, bu.
she had never thought of comparing
the shanty or Granny Hope and Dadd!
Hopkins to a barnyard and Its occu
pants.
She heard the men ride away ant
Once more she sat up. BY raising he
body a little, she could see them walk
ing their horses along the road tina
led its crooked way through the set
Element.
MacKenzie's straight, thick-set 6g
ure made her shudder, but the slim
boyish one beside him brought a queer
little thrill to her heart.
He's a beautiful angel himself
she murmured, and taking up the ak,
she slipped down the tree and dropped
to the wet ground. Granny Hope
Strengthened up as Polly entered the
kitchen. Swiftly the girl crawled Out
Of her fathers trousers and tossed
back her curls.
whats the matter, pretty bratf
queried the woman drowsily.
II got to find Daddy" replied Polly
her voice shaking. "Old Mares bacl
an he's after us sQuatters a-fiyin', an
Granny"
She paused, her face softened, an,
she smiled.
yep, hOneyT" prompted Mrs. Hope
sold Marc had a beautiful ange
with him." went ON the girl, IAN h'
likes us sQuatters. BE stood right vi
to that rotten Mackenzie. 1 hearS
him, l did" She crossed to the OLD
wOman's side. Loves able to send
angel slapbang down to this old eartl
to help us, huh, Granny Hopper"
yep, sure-sure. h~oney-girl," muir
INJURED Granny, and once more heI
head bObbed forward, and she slept.
Polly Hopkins crept u Of the hut
and sped away along the shore tOwart
Bad Mans ravine.
CHAPTER u.
About the time Polly HOnkins heOaK