Middletown transcript., 1922-06-03
CHAPTER XV-Continued.

With her eyes on the agOniZed face,
she drew gently at the corners Of the
rag stuffed into Evelyn's mouth. When
1t came out, Evelyn gave deep groan
and her cramped jaws settled rigidly.
"rm goin to feed you now," said
Polly. There amt no hurry, cause
we got aIl night"
TX n some minutes passed in silence
while the squatter girl. bit by bit,
forced the pap between Mrs. Mac
Kenzie's teeth.
"Now drink the water" she urged
grimly. "It's warm an got sugar In
It,"
AS If IN trance, she got up and
placed the cup on the table. She put
stick of wood into the stove and,
turning, caught Evelyn's eyes upon
her. Then she sat down and consld-
cred the unhappy girl who had been
delivered up to the justice Of the
Storm country.
Neither of them spoke. One of them
was praying DULY to herself, and Polly
Hopkins was recounting mentally all
the evil deeds Of Evelyn and her
naughty husband, Marcus Mackenzie.
1t was necessary to keep Daddy's grief
ever before her mind and listen with
Jerry's shrieks to be able to keep on
with the gruesome thing she had un-
dertaken.
"You amt goin' to die till tell you
something, Miss" she broke forth, final
ly. ut amt news to you. but / just
got to make you understand why I'm
putting you in the lake."
Weakness kept Evelyn from answer
ing. Her eyes rolled up toward the
shanty roof, then shut at the thought
of the icy waters of Cayuga.
II can't hurt your wicked man 'cept-
in through you," went on Pollyop. 1--WE
squatters are goin' to learn him les
son he won't forget as long as he's in
this world. You can bet your boots
on that !"
AS If in support Of the terrible
words, the shanty shook, rattling the
lOosened bits of tin on the roof. At the
ghastly sound Evelyn began to cry.
II know just how your manll feel :
continued Pollyop, bitter smile dis
torting her lips into a grimace of pain
"an' SO does Larry Bishop. Larry's
woman an baby died when Old Marc
sent him up to Auburn, an the best OF
me cracked when he grabbed Jerry
right out of my arms"
Both girls sobbed loudly. Then Pol
lyop cleared her throat and wiped hel
face.
"An' your man railroaded my daddy
to Auburn" she gasped, "after plantin
something on him he didn't do; an
you, every one of you, knew it,
Her voice rose to high-pitchet
scream as she remembered the last
scene in the county Jail.
God, wasn't 1t awful?' she cried
AN you" She leaned over ant
grasped Evelyn's arm. "You could a
let me go to Auburn if you'd a tried
but you didn't. An then-then yo,
said you didn't give me that dress
You're all rs-an'-an'-sneaks, 20,
money folks be-"
Her hand reached out and touched
adder had been under her fingers. Sh'
was not yet able to do the deed whlcl
she had longed to do and though
would be a joy. Her head sagged for
ward, and again came Jeremiah'
weeping face before her.
''If you'd "a seen my daddy In thu
Ithaca Jail, mebbe you'd be able II
t,,J, ,lx>& Nf,,y n f, oil iyhf
Yep, all right !" she rasped.
Then she went on hoarsely, falterinl
MS she described the horrors that al
her loved ones had gone through. He
voice choked and became silent as sh
thought of Robert. She could not fore
her tongue to say word about him
although her heart throbbed bitterly a
his name came to her lips.
Money!" she whispered brokenly
lifting her head. Did you hear you
man say money to us squatters as |
cash'd pay for Larry's woman an Jer
ry an my daddy? You heard, didn'
you7"
Evelyn's head sagged forward, an
spasm passed over her face as he
eyes CloStu. ollC lOoACu uS IL SiiC
died. Polly Hopkins had seen deaf
enter the Silent CITY many time; an
her heart-strinCg tightened.
"Are you gomez" she questioned in
Kissing whisper.
The other girls lids lifted slowl!
and never had Pollyop seen such a
expression in human eyes In all he
life.
mot yet" dropped from the blu
lips, "and-and-oh, Pollyop, I'm S
afraid to die. don't know how! OF
God, help me; feel so SICK"
"Daddy were sick, too," shot bac
Polly, IAN Jerry's turned up his toe
by this time! I amt heard wor
from him since he was took ava.
Mebbe l could a. seen him If 70
hadn't made your cousin believe wer
bad woman! What d'you knO'
about babies, an how cunnin' an swet
they are? You're as wicked as HI
Ithaca'll be better off when your
food for the fishes. I'm glad vol
man'll live, though. Lordy, how
laughed when he busted into til
shanty. And there was you right b.
side me! Huh? Wasn't 1t a goo
joke ON Old MarcT
The speaker held Evelyn's stare, I'll
chestnut eyes glittering as the que
ton was fairly spat out.
II can't die, Pollyopl" groaned Ev
lyn, her head dropping against IL
cot. "Oh, Polly dear, listen-please-