The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-06-01

mat your mnilil he hikin here fastfr'T
crow can rs
Evelyn raised her head.
kiss me Polly dear. she begged
with streaming eyes.
"Ali right ?" murmured the squat
ter girl "kisses're mighty eomfortin'
aint theyf"
She stopped and laid her lips on
Evelyn's and. turning swiftly. left the
room. Evelyn heard her snufing the
candles outside and then heard the
latch click as Pollyop closed the door
behind her.
Bounding out Into the snow. Pollyop
raced through the road toward BIsh-
ops hut. for she had decided 10 speak
TO him before going on. She lifted
the latch and peeped In.
Larry sat by the stove, pulling his
pipe. lie gave her but glance then
dropped his head mournfully.
Where's Lye. Larryl" Polly asked
In a kissing whisper
Gone home" came In grunt
Hes sick to his stummick. an so be
T. I'm most froze. too"
With her hand on the latch Of the
door which she had closed against
the storm. the girl stood in shivering
indecision. She felt intultively the
inner emotions going on inside the
stolid speaker She wanted to throw
her arms about him and tell him all
that had passed In her home during the
last hour. But II she did, Larry would
take the blame of the crime on him
self. or course he would Polly Hop
kns knew the heart OF Larry Bishop
as II she had made II herself from
Gods own clay. If the person In her
shack had been Old Mare he would
have had no cOmpunction In putting
him out OF the way but woman
Il don't want you for anything to
night. Larry Bishop" she broke out,
fumbling with the latch. "An' mind
you. dearie, never tell nobody you an
Lye swiped Old Mares woman. That's
a promise, Larry, amt itr
"Yep," replied Bishop. nauseated.
"Then go to bed an sleep !" returned
Pollyop. you'll get warm, an-an-
I'll see you tomorrow-mebbe. | won't
be needln' you In my shanty tonight
Then she went swiftly out, slammed
the door and was away like winter
bird, before the squatter could ques.
tion her
Swiftly she ran on, her hair almost
on end because, 10 save her friends |
she must face the naughty MacKen'
ize himself. IL had been her cruelty
that had prompted their act, and now |
besides saving Evelyn. she must shield
them. The nearer she came TO the
Mackenzie house, the harder her heart
pounded. with dread at the task before
her.
In the meantime Marcus Mackenzie
and his wife's mother were together
the lady stretched out on the diyan
and Marcus pacing the floor Since
Mackenzie had left the Hopkins shack
he had ridden madly over the hills,
urging every man available to help
him find his wife. Secretly he had
wept tears such as never had poured
from his eyes before in all his super
clllous days.
Having set in motion what aid he
could summon from town and coun-
try, he had come back home to the
forting assurances to give her. or any
TO allay the burning grief within him
self Evelyn had disappeared as IL
he ground had opened and swallowed
her up. He paused In front OF Mrs,
Robertson. his dark, handsome face
painfully.
you're very sure she was feeling
we'll Just before she went outf" he
inquired. "She didn't act as II she
lad anything to worry overf"
Mrs. Robertson used her handker-
,hief before she answered.
Il can't think Of anything she hes
tated. unless IL was about Bob. Late
y he's been so different. ] asked Eve
me day" She broke OF and dis
olved In tears
Yes, you asked her one uay-
yhatT Mackenzie urged.
1T was about Bob" continued the
weeping lady. Eve thought he was
Over-over-"
Well" snapped Marcus
Would the woman never cease her
yerlastlng crying and give him a clue
she had one1
"welll" he goaded her on more furi-
usly.
polly Hopkinsi" :" she sobbed. Eve
aid your continual pounding at the
quatters had about broken the boys
plrit~
Rubbish exclaimed Mackenzie
Eve wouldn't waste her time worry
he over such rats Bobs a fool I've
iscovered Where Is her
4 don't know. ansNered Mrs Rob
rtson. -He goes away for days a.
ne without saying . word q Eve
p ne. And he looks perfectly dread
ll ] think Eyeyu's grieyed over
im
-Why didn't y0u Tell re - beforef
"a a. u srrs@ - l.f fsFr gassE falls