American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1922-06-15
Storm Country
Polly
CONTINUED

4hCh "a hoNlCAN wac AdhCh OuL "a
his hands. The roll of carriage wheels,
an unusual sound in the settlement,
came distinctly to their ears and
caused the girl to throw him a
startled, questioning glance. Before
he could give her the least warning,
the door flung open, and Mackenzie,
followed by three men, came into the
.shanty.
Marcus had not expected to find his
wife's cousin there after the scene of
that morning. A sneer tugged at the
corners of his mouth. Then, remem-
bering that he represented the county,
a slow smile curled his lips.
$50 you're here, young man." he
snsrled. "Well muddling in this bust
ness won't do you any good. Didn't 1
tell you yesterday what l intended to
do; and you had the nerve to upset
my wife about it. You're making
yourself the laughing stock of the
whole town! Now you'd better go if
you don't want to witness a little
comedy thatll stick in your memory
for many a long day."
The speaker turned to Pollyop.
where's that boy?" he demanded.
In~voluntarily Polly looked toward
the cot where Wee Jerry lay asleep.
you mean the baby oh, you don't
mean Jerry?" she questioned duly.
He held out a paper which the squat
tier girl took as If she had been in a
.stupor. She held it up, tried to make
out what was printed on 1t, then
dropped her hand hopelessly to her
side.
With an exclamation of pity, Robert
went to her and took the fingers that
'clutched the paper.
polly he said swiftly, you'll have
ito give Jerry up for a little while, just
a little while"
She snatched her hand away, the
document fluttering to the floor. In a
moment she had picked up the child
from the cot and Rugged him to her
breast.
"Old Marc amt come for the baby,
has hep" she shrieked, her tone high
pitched and strained. "He's mine,
Jerry is. I'm goin' to keep i'm here
till Daddy comes home; so you might
as we'll all scoot."
In the stiffness that fell as her voice
broke, each man was impressed with
the martyrdom she was passing
through. Robert had never imagined
a person could go so white and still be
alive. With an ejaculation, hoarse and
defiant, he sprang to her side.
Polly" he cried. my God, don't
Ieok that way Listen to me !"
@'Can he take the baby?" fell mOnOt-
onOusly from her blue lips.
That's just what he can do, Miss
Hopkins thrust In Mackenzie. THE
law says a child cant stay in a place
like this. You'd have seer that If
you'd taken the pains to read the pa
per. Put some wraps on the child,
Miss!'
Polly stood with Jerry gripped tight
~ against her; and, frightened, the
little boy began TO cry.
NI want my Daddy Hopkins, Polly.
op," he whimpered b%rOkenly.
Polly looked so dreadful that for a
moment Mackenzie was silent. Her
eyes had an expression Of such hate
and deadly determination in their
singular brown depths that for a mo
ment he held his breath.
"If you take him." she spoke at last
why, d-n you, I'll kill your"
At first Mackenzie eyed her con.
temptuously. What did such a girls
threats mean to him? Then he
Enr~hnI And that Iavr.k nAr,-v A6a
sensitive girl more thar if he had
struck her.
"You took our Daddy Hopkins" she
told him, dropping a little at the tell
ing. 81 Jerry He's my baby, N
keep him in the shanty till his pappy
comes home. You hear, the hull Of
you, don't your"
Her eyes we're rowing from one tt
another, but her voice lowered on eacl
word, because in the steady gaze Of
Old Marc and his deputies she saw ne
r~elenting.
"Td rather he'd die" she screamed
~Pd rather he'd be next tV Granny
Hope in the graveyard l-Get out OF
here, / say"
The scene was even more nerve
tracking than Mackenzie had expected
Take him away from her, Bowers
he ordered, turning to one OF the men
The man spoken to stepped forward
in evident unwilllngness but a shout
from Mackenzie made him grab for
the child. With one hand the frenzied
girl beat at him with all her energy.
but he struck down her slim young
fingers as IL they had been twigs.
Thrusting one arm around her, he
caught Wee Jerry by the shoulders.
But to %disengage the boys clutch from
the chestnut curls called forth all the
quickness the man possessed. Polly
struggled madly, and the child
shrieked and chung to his sister with
all the puny strength he had.