The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-06-23
CHAPTER xviI--contInusd


thread Of light at the edge OF the win
dow blind of his home. Then his Pol
lyop was still up.
Cover your horses and walt here"
directed Percival to the driver. Then
to Hopkins he said: "As told You,
sir, your daughters suffered frlghtful-
ly. Poor girl, am afraid. II you APP
peared without warning, the shock
would be too much for her. DO ms we
agreed In town, and go to Bishops
shack until come for you. I'll tell
her you and the boy are home"
A long sigh slipped from the squat
ter's lips. He desired TO rush In and
hold his girl-brat to his overwrought
heart. He had heard with suppressed
emotion Roberts tale OF his Pollyop's
trials, and now as he reccllected them,
he could scarcely restrain himself. Yet
he realized the young man was right,
SO, pulling the child's bowed legs
around his neck, he faded stolidly In
to the falling snow,
Inside the hut Polly Hopkins was
seated. tensely silent, her slender fin
gers clasped together about her knees
Suddenly she heard voices other than
the low hum Of MacKenzie's questions
and Evelyn's sobbing answers in the
coop-hole.
She arose slowly, ready to spring
mt Larry Bishop or Lye Braeger If
they appeared at the door. To send
them away instantly was the decision
that she made as she saw the latch
lift and the door slowly swing in. A
figure she recognized with startled eyes
stepped across the threshold; she sat
down, but was up again before he
spoke.
The man she had so longed to see
had come again. But now he was here.
she did not dare let him stay mo-
ment. Marcus Mackenzie might come
out of the coop-hole even before she
could send the newcomer away. While
lie was pressing his great coat collar
down over his shoulders. she tiptoed
TO him and with uplifted hand whis-
pered:
.Hushl Go awayl Go away
quick I" Making backward gesture,
she added: There's some one In the
coop-hole don't want you TO see."
His errand having completely left
his miad, Robert, after moment of
startled Inspection, stopped stiffiy by
the door. The resentment and jealousy
he had nursed so long iared into ac-
tive life and licked him like flames.
Clothes such as she wore had never
been paid for with squatter money !!
She was beautiful So much his eyes
told him, but he knew she was not
honestl
She had said there was some one
In the
He fixed her with stern eyes and
then showed her aside.
I'm going TO see who he Isl he
snapped.
Polly's fingers caught him as he
tried to pnss her.
mo, you can't go in there" she
cried, please don't do Ia
The sound of their voices brought
Marcus Mackenzie out into the kitchen
In one stride. He halted at the sight
If the squatter girl hanging desperate
broke from him; and with one wrench
perciral was free and was mt him.
$50 its you'll" he said In tone that
:old Polly Hopkins what was In his
mind. Damn you. you hypoertte"
His voice broke off, and he brushed
oils eyes across with shaking fingers.
There behind Marcus In the coop-hole
doorway was his pale cousin.
EVELYN" he gasped thickly. "God,
what's this ali aboutf Every one OF
/ You look as if--as #
BsSiidered and overcome. he could
not anlsh his sentence.
! Marcus had caught Evelyn to him
md Pollyop, tearlessly ashamed. had
sunk into the big chair TO hide the
dnery which she knew had brought
The hurt into Roberts eyes. She
wished she was clothed in daddy's
boots and her own calico. dress!
shut the door, Bob" Marcus or.
uered as calmly as he could.
Mechanically Robert did as he was
hidden. When he turned again. Mai
cas- was seated. with Evelyn clingins
70 him. and Pollyop's face was coy
i cred by one arm
Evelyn began TO cry weakly.
Bob, dear" she broke out. looking
mp at her cousin with streaming eyes
-Potiyop's been SO good to me"
That sounded TO Polly as If some
one else were TO be punished for the
nights work.
40. amt" she protested. liftinl
ler head. Il was awful bad! l wer,
the only enc to blame. hated ever,
one Of you, Let me tell all OF yor
about it,
She began at the beginning and re
peated how she had coneocted the piaI
70 steai Mrs. Mackenzie. She spok,
i ( Larry and Lye MS her two friends
4 nj de not mention their names.