Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-03-17
Storm Country Polly
by Grace Miller White
Copyright by Little, Brown s. Co.

| when he returned, he would do some
thing worth while, something to make
the world q little better because he
had lived In 1t.
Now he was home; and almost the
first day had come to him this appeal.
He smiled ruefully at the recollection
of Pollyop's plea. He had promised to
help the squatters, and he meant to do
it. SUPPOSE 1t did bring him into con-
llct with Marcus Mackenzie! He
knew how to fight, and a good fight
was not bad fun.
Family from the direction he had
ridden, the sound Of cries came to his
ears. Idly he wondered what the row
was. Some ~squatter man disclplining
his wife, he decided but he could not
stand to have a Oma beaten!
He vaulted into the saddle and raced
back over the road. 1t was not long
before he located the place where the
screams came from. Then Bay Dex-
ter had an opportunity to show all the
speed he had.
The sight Of Pollyop writing In the
strong arms Of a man he did not recog-
nize made Percival see red. He was
off his horse with one leap, and two
long strides took him to Oscars side.
One blow from his powerful knuckles
In the farmers face staggered Bennett
and freed Polly so quickly that she
fell to the ground. Instinetively she
men. The blow that had released her
had done no damage to Bennett ex-
cept to %aggrayate his rage. He recov-
cred himself and confronted his assail-
ant, dripping oaths like ram from a
c%loudburst.
Bennett took the offensive, his fists
flying like fails. He wanted to get
his arms around the other fellow, to
trip him and make the fight a rough
and tumble on the ground, but Perez
: val avoided the rush, and struck as
Bennett went by. Again and again
Bennett tried to come to close quar-
tiers. But he could not neither could
he hit his elusive opponent, At length
he hesitated, distressed as much by
his own efforts as the blows he had
received.
Then Percival stepped in, and quick.
, ly 1t was all over. Two well-planted
thumps laid Bennett like a log on the
ground.
I Robert busted off his hands, picked
| Wee Jerry up, and handed him to his
sister.
. did he hurt you, PollyT he queried
and her answer was positively gleeful
"Nary Il bit, sir, an reckon the bis
lummox's got a plenty this time
Robert brushed off his clothes slow
ly. The farmer still lay on the ground
Get up" ordered Percival scOrnful
o ly, touching the PROSTATE man will
g the toe of his boot. 'Get up and maxi
: off If you don't want me to lick 70,
again"
Oscar rolled over and crawled slow
ly to his hands and knees.
. 1.-THE grounds kinda wabbly, amt II
e Oscar?" Polly gibed.
Y "Get out" commanded Robert, one
more.
Bennett scrambled to his feet, shool
# his fist at Polly, snatched up the littl
V dead lamb, and in another momen
had climbed the fence and was gone.
What were you fighting about?
l began Robert, looking keenly at Pc
\ lyop.
\ Tears hung on the girls lashes, an
the sensitive underlip quivered.
4 oscar said as how Nannyop wer
4 his" she murmured. weren't it awfl
\ for him to swat it with that stone tina
! wayT
Did YOU" He broke off the que'
ton abruptly. He was going to rs
her If she had stolen the lamb: but a
I expression in the pleading, misty eye
stopped him.
II found the little Teller drownin'
the creek, sir" she explained wit
n bowed head. II just took him home I
love him, that was ALL"
A The strange, thrilling emotion thu
had overcome Robert but a short tin
A ago in the presence of this sQuattt
d girl attacked him again.
4 what cnn | do to help you, child
he demanded sharply.
Polly flung out her hand. He'll
that IA what the squatters wante
The little lamb was dead. Nothir
\ could ever hurt it any more. But the
were her people
Just help Daddy Hopkins"-sl
choked and went on-'an' all the pc,
>, folks in the Silent City, an'-all-I
.. love you forever and forever"
Fl. After that the "~littlest mothe
made large strides upward toward Il
greatest mother" Every little We
ed ried thing in the woods, every hea'
lc- heart in the squatter settlement fl
the difference in Polly Hopkins. s
his smiled more, she talked more; an
by when she found a group of her worle
m folks wondering how their absent Ia
Ut, dies were, she led them In smiling ;
surance to Old Mares fence and the
nd repeated what Robert Percival h
al ..ll .l,nN thn GrnnfnSf NFnthnr IL .