Okolona messenger., 1922-04-20

the world little DETER because ne
had lived In It.
Now he was home; and almost the
first day had come to him this appeal.
He smiled ruefully at the recollection
Of POllyop's plea. He had promised to
help the squatters, and he meant to do
it. SUI pose it did bring him into con-
filct with Marcus MacKenzieI He
knew how to fight, and good fight
was not bad fun.
Family from the direction he had
ridden, the sound Of cries came to his
ears. Idly he wondered what the row
was. Some squatter man discipllning
his wife, he decided; but he could not
stand to have a woman beatenl
He vaulted into the saddle and raced
back over the road. It was not long
before he located the place where the
screams came from. Then Bay Dex-
ter had an opportunity to show all the
speed he had.
The sight Of PoIIyop wE1thing in the
strong arms Of q man he did not recOg-
nixe made Percival see red. He was
OF his horse with one leap. and two
long strides took him to Oscars side.
One blow from his powerful knuckles
In the farmers face staggered Bennett
and freed Polly so quickly that she
fell to the ground. Instinctlvely she
crawled out Of the way Of the battling
men. The blow that had released her
had done no damage to Bennett ex-
cept to aggravate his rage. He recOv-
cred himself and confronted his assail-
ant, dripping oaths like rain from
clOudburSt.
Bennett took the offensive, his fists
flying like. fails. He wanted to get
his arms around the other fellow, to
trip him and make the fight rough
and tumble on the ground, but Perci-
val avoided the rush, and struck as
Bennett went by. Again and again
Bennett tried to come to close quar-
ters. But he could not neither could
he hit his elusive opponent. At length
he hesitated, distressed as much by
his own efforts as the blows he had
received.
Then PercivaI stepped in, and quick
ly 1t was all over. Two well-planted
thumps laid Bennett like q log on the
ground.
Robert busted of his hands, picked
Wee Jerry up. and handed him to his
sister.
did he hurt you, Pollyf" he Queried.
and her answer was positively gleeful;
"Nary bit, sir, an reckon the big
lummox's got a plenty this time"
Robert brushed OF his clothes slow
Iy. The farmer still lay on the ground.
"Get up" ordered Percival scornful-
ly, touching the PROSTATE man with
the toe Of his boot. "Get up and make
OF If you don't want me to lick you
again."
Oscar rolled over and crawled slow
ly to his hands and knees.
"The grounds kinda wabbly, amt 1t,
Oscar?" Polly gibed.
"Get out" commanded Robert, once
more.
Bennett scrambled to, his feet, shook
his fist at Polly, snatched up the little
dead lamb, and In another moment
had climbed the fence and was gone.
"What were you fighting aboutH"
began Robert, looking keenly at Pol
lyOp.
Tears hung on the girls lashes, and
the sensitive underlip quivered.
"0scar said as how Nannyop were
his" she murmured. weren't it awful
for him to swat it with that stone that
wayH"
"DId you" He broke of the CUES
tiOn abruptly. He was going to ask
her II she had stolen the lamb but an
expression in the pleading, misty eyes
stopped him.
II found the little feller drownin' in
the creek, sir" she explained with
bowed head. II just took him home to
love him, that was ala
The strange, thrilling emotion that
had overcome Robert but a short time
ago I'm the presence OF this sQuatter
girl attacked him agdlh.
.'lNhat can do to help you, child r
he demanded sharply.
Polly flung out her hand. Helpi
that was what the sQuatters wanted.
The little lamb was dead. Nothing
could ever hurt It any more. But there
were her people
"Jnst help Daddy Hopklns"-she
choked and went on-"an' all the poor
folks in the Silent City, an'-all-Tll
love you forever and forever"
S-e
After that the "llttIest mother
made large strides upward toward the
greatest mother" Every little wor-
ried thing In the woods. every heavy
heart In the. sQuatter settlement felt
the difference In Polly Hopkins. She
smiled more. she talked more; and,
when she found a group Of her women
folks wondering how their absent lad
dies were, she led them In smiling as
surance to Old Mares fence and there
repeated what Robert PercivaI had
said about fNe Greatest Mother In the
World.
One morning PoIlycp was cleaning
the shanty and Granny Hope was seat