Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-03-24
CHAPTER Viii.

with nothing to comfort them but
Polly Hopkins. Scarcely an hour
passed without strangers walking over
the rough road through the settlement
and every one knew that these men, so
curious and yet so unwilling to speak
even a "good-day," were doing service
FOR Marcus Mackenzie.
At last one day, crushed with APP
prehension and despair, Jeremiah
Hopkins decided that one of them
should 60 to Robert Percival to ask
his aid in keeping the settlement to-
gether. Polly was so sure he would
keep his word to her-now they would
give him the chance.
Its a choice of the three OF you,
Poll" said Lye Braeger, "you or your
daddy or Larry Bishop"
HE wouldn't listen to me, %lassie,"
Hopkins mourned. "Mebbe he would
to you. l dunno, but mebbe."
Before the girls sensitive mind
flashed the face of Robert, and she hid
her red cheeks against the speakers
knee.
"Oh, l couldn't never go to i'm,
Daddy honey" she murmured. please,
Daddy"
"We amt got a chance without
some ones help, Poll" insisted Brae-
ger. you go along, an do your d-dest
for the squatters!'
"All right, Lye," she managed to say.
"IIl 20 after Jerry's In bed, an the
supper's over"
So it came to pass that nightfall
found Polly Hopkins struggling up the
hill to the railroad tracks. She turned
south on the boulevard and stole eau
tiously along the edge Of the road
She had no desire to meet Old Marc
or Evelyn. AS she went on she muir
INJURED to herself some Of the love
words Granny Hope had planted IN
her memory, and when she turned into
the ~carriageway leading to the Rob-
ertson home, she held her head a little
higher and walked with less nervous
ness.
Around and around the house she
crept. until with trepldation she
mounted the steps leading to the front
porch and tiptoed to a long French
window. 1t was partly open and there
seated before a table, was the man she
sought.
Polly knocked once, but the SOUND
was so faint Robert did not hear 1t.
Hist" came from between Polly''
lips, and the young man glanced up
At the sight of her he got to his fee
slowly. Then Polly showed the win
dow open a crack and squeezed int
the room.
A strange mixture Of conflicting ex
pressions swept over his face, blu
pleasure at the sight of her predomi
mated them all.
"Pollyop!" he exclaimed. "Poll,
Hopkins, what's the matter?"
"Old Mares goin' to turn us all out
mister" she whispered huskily, search
ing his face, IAN Daddy sent me t
ask you to help US"
Robert drew one hand across hi
bsOw helplessly.
ave said everything I could t
make him understand the crime of
ALL" he apologized. Hes like a Graz
man! l can't see how he car think Q
such a thing, ever though your pee
pie were willing to go, Polly"
I'VE amt; w can't 60" she replie'
ouivering. "There amt a place in tn
world for squatters but the Siler
City"
: II know It," he returned gloomily
"And can't Love do nothin' for us
q implored the girl. Granny Hope say
It can, an once II heard you so
b twas the-the@"
1 Just at that moment the sound
e footsteps was heard outside in the haI
Robert thrust out his hand, graspt
II Polly by the shoulders, and In anoth'
d moment she found herself behind Il
IS thick curtain hanging in heavy folt
& over rows of books which rose to Il
e ceiling.
The door opened; and Perclval spI
1t around to meet Marcus MacKenzI
If He crushed down his embarrassing
and offered his visitor a chair.
'e Evelyn sent me for a book" Ma
er u explained. pardon me for d
turbing you, old chap"
y "Sit down." Robert requested wi
an effort.
ID Marcus shook his head.
a 81 can't" he replied. Eve and
are ~confabing over something. l to
her I'd get a book and come rig
r. back"
Id He made q movement TO walk
ne ward the book shelves; but Rob-
er stopped him.