Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-06-29

Grufiy. II want to talk to YOU"
"In . minute. then" returned Mar
Gus. +Tl get the book FIRST"
Very white, Robert walked before
Mackenzie to the bookcase. Then
with one sweep Of his arm he moved
aside the curtain and with it-POlIy
Hopkins. He could feel beneath the
thick material the slender, ~quiyerins
body. And there, as the two men
stood facing the shelves aaden with
the masterpieces Of the world, and
Marcus was running his eye up and
down. Robert felt that first wonder
full protective love that comes to q
man when he 10 shielding a woman.
Evelyn said 1t was here" observed
Mackenzie carelessly. Let me look !
A-B-C-Here's d. It ought to be
on this shelf"
he read aloud the names Of the
books under his eye while still the
strong hand OF his companion held up
the curtain and the girl.
"Ah, here 1t IT," came in exclama-
ton. There! Thanks, Bobi Now
I'll sit down a minute"
He walked back to the table, and
Perciyal carefully dropped the drap-
cries. Keeping his eye on the other
mans back, he ran his fingers over
the curtain until he came to the curly
head Of Polly Hopkins. Two tender
pats fell upon 1t. Then he, too, crossed
to the center Of the room.
You're q hospitable chap, Bob"
laughed Marcus. "Heigh4hol but to-
day I've been some busy. I'll bet you
q quarter Of a dollar 1t won't be three
months before l get every sQuatter Off
that shore. The fact of It is, I've only
got to catch Hopkins, and the restll
be easy. He's a bad actor; and that
girl Of his is a saucy baggage"
"She's a very good girls Robert In
terposed In deep tones. "and very pref
ty, too"
The bookcase draperies moved ever
30 little. Polly Hopkins almost burst
with joy when she heard those words.
Pretty enough, l suppose" Marcus
conceded, "but not good, She's like
the rest-bad clean through"
The curtains moved a little more;
and Robert caught the sway Of them
out OF the tail Of his eye. He felt that
Il Mackenzie did not go soon, he would
throw him out. What the girl would
do If Mare started a TRADE against her
Robert did not dare contem-
plate.
Look mere, Mare" he burst forth,
you're all wrong about those people,
all dead wrong. They don't harm any
one, as l can see. Why can't you live
and let liveT'
! His eyes flashing, Marcus stood up.
mo harm, no harm, you say" he
why, they steal everything in
sight. and in q few more years there
won't be a fish left In the lake. There
won't be anything to catch In season
Or out, II the squatters keep up their
Internal poaching. Hunting and fish,
Ing are for gentlemen. my dear Bob
Don't forget thatp
"Gentlemen be DIR calculated
Robert, and then the curtains swayed
70 that he got to HE feet and started
the door.
"Marc." ne continued. perhaps we
agree on this matter at all, but
| really do want i h~aart-to-heart talk
you about 1t. But not nowI The
TACT is I was busy when you came
Thinking up a few more pleas for
he sQuatters, ehT' the other man
swell, old fellow, Just remem-
Der this. I've got at least twenty-five
men watching everything that scamp
II a Hopkins does. and when I get
something on him, there won't be TWEEN
hours between that time and
Ills arrest.
Robert almost showed the speaker
out Of the door; but Marcus only
chuckled good-naturedly as he went
away. When Robert turned the key
the lock, he stood quite still, breath
ng, hard.
From behind the curtain, Polly
thrust out her head, her small face
Rrinkled and tears standing thick In
her eyes.
"I'm a-goin' after that pup an swat
she Kissed stormily. HE lies
When he says my daddy's a scamp
Percival lifted a precautionary hand.
"Not toe loud" he warned. "Come
lere." She went slowly forward, her
head hanging; but when he held out
his hands she snatched them and bent
Ter curly head oyer the strong fingers
ind kissed them passionately.
"Poor little girl, poor little Polly"
nurmured Robert, brokenly. Then as
he swayed toward him, his arms went
around her, and for a moment he
pressed her head against his breast.
"Polly, Pollyop," he whispered, kiss
her hair. "oh, God, II I owned that
AXE property rd--Td-"
A certain deep tone la his voice
brought up Pollyop's head, and she
Iaw in his eyes an expression that
made her struggle from his arms.
to the porch window, she was
rome before Robert could stop her.
"Bob's a queer fish. Eve" laughed
as he came into the music
where Evelyn Robertson was
for him. "Tf / hadn't kept my
just now, we should have
bad friends
.EThat,s like You, dear" she smiled.
J3ut then, Of course, yen wouldn't let
i'm bother you. Fussing about the
uquatters again. I suppose
49, =. aEaf4 - -Nut4. .H .SnH