The Raymer enterprise., 1922-05-18
CHAPTER i-Continued.

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One day Polly had found her sick In
bed. and. as she had led the f0rl0rn
billy gost home. so did she bring
Granny Hope, never realizing that In
the totterlng old figure she was en-.
tertalning an angel unawares. All she
knew was that Granny's toothIess
smile. her cheerful words OF love and
klndIIness. made the sun shine bright.
er and the meager food more filling.
During the winter, Mrs Hope had
encouraged the girl to read. At first
that hnd been difficult, for the shanty
contained nothing but the tattered
Bible the old woman had brought with
her Over and over Polly had read
the mlseries Of Job the patient, the
long lamentations OF Jeremiah. who al
ways put her in mind OF Daddy Hop
klns: and she also knew by heart the
story Of the crucifixion Of Jesus, who.
SO the Bible said, was the best man
that had ever walked the globe
SO had those winter days Of close
compnnionshlp with the woman who
tad lived long and suffered much, and
who now was almost ready to on to
larger experiences. brought out In
Polly Hopkins greater capacity for
loving The squntters called her
"Pollyop. tho love-lass," and some
times, "Polly OF the sun" Granny
Hope explained this by saying: "They
all love you, Poll, an It's out Of your
own heart they get the feelln' OF Joy
when they see ye.'
From behind the woodboX near
where the goat stood, Pollyop took up
an ar Tenderly she bent and placed
a kiss upon the goats horny head.
Then she touched Granny Hope.
The woman lifted her lids and
smiled at the girl.
whats the matter. love lass?" she
murmured.
"l'm goin' out, Granny" replied
Polly, "lf Daddy comes. tell I'm ri
be back In a while"
Into the rain she went, her bare feet
carrying her swiftly over the ragged
rocks. her curls gathered under her
chin like warm glistening hood.
When later she appeared In front Of
the shanty. her gingham skirt was
hIIed with rusty pans and old pieces
of tin She placed them on the door.
step, and looking hesitatingly at the
willow tree. went back into the house.
From a peg Polly took a pair OF her
fathers trousers and clambered into
them, tuckIng her skirts out Of sight
and rolling up the trouser legs, for
DADDY Hopkins was much taller than
his daughter, Into one OF the big
pockets Polly thrust handful OF
nails II was grotesQue looking girl
who few minutes later was fatten.
ing out the pans and the old bits Of
tin upon the stone.
When that was finished, she gath.
cred them up and, ax In hand. climbed
into the willow tree and onto the
roof. Daddy Hopkins would be glad
when he came home and found the
shack dry and warm. Then she began
Ter task OF hammerIng the pieces Of
Tin over the holes through which the
water dripped. Once In a while she
stopped working. and, fiat on her stom.
sch. sought for smaller cracks.
Just as she had mended the last
hole, she heard the sound OF horses
hoofs and mems voices. With the fear
OF the prosecuted, she crouched close
10 the roof, aud like some frightened
animal. crawled to the edge OF II.
Squa'ters did not speak like that,
neither did they ride horseback.
There In the lane, astride two mag
aiicent animals, were two men. One
she recognized Instantly. Polly had
every reason to know the tall man
whose dark. handsome face had cast
deep shadows over the Silent City.
Marcus Mackenzie had been for years
the Nemesis that hung over the Cayu.
"a lake squatters. Even during his
absence on war work abroad, his Iorg
arm had often reached back to the
Silent City to pick away some hus.
band and close the prison gates be-
hind him.
PolIyop had q passionate desire to
throw the az at him. She knew there
was not q heart In all the Silent City
that did not beat with dread At the
very mention Of his name.
Then she caught q glimpse Of the
other mans face and forgot her terror
Of Marcus Mackenzie. In Ithaca and
about II she had seen many soldiers
but never anyone like MacKenzie's
He was dressed In an Of.
scer's uniform. and. as his horse
rhi-'ed him into better view. the