American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1922-03-31
CHAPTER w.

Jerry on her lap. She disrobed him,
dried the small body. and placed him
ION the cot under the blankets. An
other piece of candy was popped into
the ever-ready little mouth; and he
cuddled down contentedly.
His daughters cheerful face, when
Jeremiah came home for his dinner,
drove away, for the time being, the
dread her announcement of Mac
Kennels return had stirred in him.
Her description of mending the roof
brought a wry smile to his face. She
sat on his knee while he smoked his
pipe and chartered of the little init
mate things of the lakeside, and later
sent him and Jerry off to Larry
Bishops shack, feeling the better for
food and warmth and love.
At five o'clock, milk-pail in hand,
she took the lane that led to the Ben
nett farm. Nothing but her promise
to Evelyn would have dragged her
again that day into Oscars presence.
Nor did she consider that the message
she had to deliver would incline the
farmer to be very generous in the mat
ter, of milk. Suppose he demanded pay
for 1t on the basis he had suggested !
She rounded the building and went
into the COW stables. On a nail in the
wall hung a lantern, and the farmer
sat milking a COW.
"Hello. Oscar!" was her greeting. ST
saw Miss Eve, but l didn't tell her
nothin' about the kisses you wanted"
Bennett turned and studied her curl
ously, taking quick stock of her, wen
to the brown of her bare feet. No, he
had not made a mistake In summing
her up that morning.
you better hadn't" he growled,
without ~interrupting his work. II sup
pose you brought me some fool mes
sage from her, chr, Having finished
the COW, he o S and stood with the
trimming pail of milk in his hand.
"She sent you, didn't she?"
Polly hesitated a moment, coughed
and cleared her throat.
"A little milk for Jerry, please" she
suggested, extending her can.
Bennett snatched it from her hand.
"Good God, you squatters're nothing
but beggars," he grumbled, but be-
cause he was eager to get her message,
he filed the pail full. Smilingly Polly
took 1t back.
"Tm thankin' you, Oscar" she
gurgled, AN now mebbe a fresh egg
for Granny Hopper"
He made an angry motion with his
hand.
up in that box" he snapped. "Then
tell what you anne for! What'd Eve
say?"
"Your woman sent word by me-" she
began
Tell 1t, and don't be all day about
it," ordered the farmer.
Pollyop took a couple of steps back
ward toward the door, ready to fly If
Oscar showed any signs Of unusual
wrath.
"She said you wasn't to write her
any more letters" she replied. "She's
awful scared. She trembled all over
when she told me-"
"What did she say about money!
Bennett demanded gruffly.
Through the dim light of the Ian
tern, Polly looked at him pleadingly.
"She just can't get another cent
she returned, IAN she's feelin' terrible
bad about It,"
Although he had not finished his
task, Bennett jumped up from his
stool, and one step took him very close
to the nervous young speaker.
"She can't, eh?" he cried. "She
means she won't, I guess. BY God, she
will, or I'll come out with the whole
thing. You go and tell her so. She's
got rich folks, and 1 didn't marry her
to keep quiet all my life. Tell her
either she comes home here to me.
or she pays up. If she pays" he
paused, then laughed. ooh, you need.
MT look as If l was goin' to swat you
one, Pollyop," he went on, 'but as !
was sayin', II she pays up and 1 get
rid of her, then-me for you, Polly
Hopkins"
His voice was harsh, and his man
ners rough. Polly ~retreated to the
threshold. e
"The times here" Oscar went on,
"when both you women will be leap
ing to my CAD, There! Get home and
say to my lady just what l said"
again he broke off, only to continue,
'leavlng out the part about you. See,
PollyopT'
Dumb with dread, Polly sagged
weakly against the door casing. No
wonder Evelyn Robertson didn't want
to live with such a mani
"And you can tell her to come to-
night at nine o'clock, to Granny Hopes
old shack" he proceeded. 81 want to
talk to her. Now get along and don't
come around after any more milk, or
I'll throw you out of the barn.
Glad to be gone, Polly passed out to
the lane. In a little ravine at her left
a noisy stream rumbled down the hill.
With wistful eyes she watched II
through the fast gathering dusk flow
away to the lake. 1t was then she saw
something moving about in a small