Middletown transcript., 1922-05-27

Marcus Mackenzie, covered with
snow, entered. With him were two of
his neighbors and several squatters.
Polly enjoyed glimpse Of Old
Mares agonized face; then she grlnned
at him.
"What's the matter, mister?" she
asked, showing an expanse Of even
white teeth. "What do you mean by
Dustin into my house like this, sir?"
Mackenzie threw glance from the
girl to the squatter in the chair.
"My wife's gone!" he cried in des-
peration. IL"
$50? Now is shea" broke In Polly.
smiling wider. "You don't say! Well,
golly me! That's too bad. Some other
feller run off with 'er-mebbe!"
And when she saw him trying to
master his emotion, forcing back the
heavy groans that interfered with his
efforts to answer, she laughed. Never
before had she been reckless in his
presence. She knew this was one time
Marcus Mackenzie did not want to
fight. He needed the help of the squat
tSlo " StuiCli tic Olollu Nouiitiy A'i
his wife-his bride, the very apple Of
his eye.
He did not look at oil like the flash
ing-eyed enemy of her people. All at
once lie had changed from cynical,
handsome man of the world to plead
ing, pale-faced husband.
Just then the wind shook the shanty
violently; and over his big frame
passed shudder after shudder.
"Shes been gone, oh God, don't
know how long" he groaned aloud, the
haggard expression deepening In the
| lines about his mouth as he spoke. "Ill
give-1'll give more money than any
| of you ever saw" He flung around on
Bishop and thrust out an importunate
hand.
| Larry, had been watching him GOV.
ertly, in moody silence. When Marcus
addressed him directly, he threw back
his head and let out loud malevolent
sounds more like the howls Of hyenas
than the laugh of human being; and
Polly Hopkins Joined In again, too,
dreadful sounds that made her thin,
lovely face look old.
"ThiS is a queer place to come for
your woman" she taunted Mackenzie
ITO a squatter's shack, huh? didn't
know before that rich women came to
the Silent City, least of all, yourn."
Mackenzie took step toward her.
"Oh, l was sure she wasn't here" he
thrust In eagerly. "But I want help
the aid of every one of you. Money
he cried again, convulsively. money
do you hear? Money, l said"
Polly was witnessing just the picture
that she had been holding in her minds
eye for many days.
Money can't buy everything, mis-
ter" she jeered at him. "Mebbe youl
woman's in the snow. Tomorrow
Thanksgivin' day. Mebbe you'll miss
er if she amt home with you. Scoot
out of here. Don't be laggin', Ole
Marc, or she might freeze to deatl
somewheres. It's Il bad night"
The last statement, true to ever!
word brought Il deep sob from Mac
Kenzie's throat. 1t was immediatel,
followed by more Of the bitter laugh
ter.
So changed was Polly of the Silen
City that the gaping squatters who dit
not know what was going to happel
wondered at her. They knew her II,
longer as Polly, the iove-lass, or a
Polly of the Sun.
A low rumble sounded in the girl
throat. She coughed, then flung out
II said, It's a bad night! Scoo
out, mister, an look for your d-n lily
livered woman somewheres else"
Uttering an oath, Mackenzie flee
followed by his companions, leayin
Larry Bishop staring at the pale squat
ter girl.