American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1922-07-13

AAaC HHN III
putting you in the lake,
Weakness kept Evelyn from answer
ing. Her eyes rolled up toward the
shanty roof, then shut at the thought
of the Icy waters of Cayuga.
i can't hurt your wicked man cent
in through you" went on Pollyop. "We
squatters are goin' to learn him a les
o he won't forget as long as he's In
this world. You can bet POUR bootn
on thatF"
AS IL In support Of the terrible
words, the shanty shook, rafting the
loosened bits Of tin on the root. At the
CHASTITY sound Evelyn began to cry.
Il know just how your man'll feel"
continued Pollyop, a bitter smile dis
torting her lips into a grImace of pain,
"an' so does Larry Bishop. Larry's
ON an baby died when Old Marc
sent him up to Auburn, an the best Of
me cracked when he grabbed Jerry
right out Of my arms"
Both girls sobbed loudly. Then Pol
lyop cleared her throat and wiped her
face.
An your man %railroaded my daddy
to Auburn" she gasped, 'after pIantin'
something on him he didn't do; an
you, every n of you, knew It,"
Her voice rose to a high-pitched
scream as she remembered the last
scene in the county jail.
"GOd, wasn't 1t awful?" she cried.
An you" She leaned over and
grasped Evelyn's arm. "You could "a
lot me go to Auburn If you'd "a tried,
but you didn't. An then-then you
said you didn't give me that dress.
You're all NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., you
money folks be-"
Her hand reached out and touched
the ak, but she withdrew 1t as If an
adder had been under her fingers. She
was not yet able to do the deed which
she had longed to do and thought
would be q Joy. Her head sagged for
ward, and again came Jeremiah's
weeping face before her.
IF you'd "a seen my daddy in the
Ithaca jail, mebbe you'd be able to
think what I'm goin' to do is all right.
Yep, all right" she rasped.
Then she went on hoarsely, faltering
as she described the horrors that all
her loved mes had gone through. Her
voice choked and became silent as she
thought Of Robert. She could not force
her tongue to say a word about him,
although her heart throbbed bitterly as
his name came to her lips.
Money I" she whispered brOkenly.
lifting her head. did you hear your
man say money to US squatters as II
cash'd pay for Larry's woman an Jer-
ry an my daddy? You heard, didn't
your
Evelyn's head sagged forward, and
a spasm passed over her face as her
eyes closed. She looked as If she had
died. Polly Hopkins had seen death
enter the Silent City many a time and
her heart-strings frightened.
Are you gomez" she questioned in a
kissing whisper.
The other girls lids lifted slowly,
and never had Pollyop seen such an
expression In human eyes in all her
life.
Not yet" dropped from the blue
lips, "and-and-oh, Pollyop, I'm so
afraid to die. I don't know howl oh,
God, help me; / feel so sick"
Daddy were sick, too" shot back
Polly, IAN Jerry's turned up his toes
by this time! l amt heard a word
from him since he was took away.
Mebbe. / could a. seen him If you
hadn't made your cousin believe / were
a bad woman What d'you know
about babies, an how cunnin' an sweet
they are? You're as wicked as hill
Ithacall be better off when you're
food for the fishes. I'm glad your
manll live, though. Lordy, how /
laughed when he busted into the
shanty. And there was you right be-
side mel Huh? Wasn't 1t a good
Joke on Old Marc2"
The speaker held Evelyn's stare, the
chestnut eyes glittering as the ques-
ton was fairly spat out.
Il can't die. Pollyop !" groaned Eve
Ign, her head dropping against the
cot. "Oh, Polly dear, listen-please-'
Polly reached out for the ak.
Don't you dare Polly dear me-"
she gritted convulsively, "or Ill hit
you with thisl
''Godi-Jesus - came from between
Evelyn's chattering teeth. mo, don't
pick it up! Don't! Oh, | want to tell
you something, Polly Hopkins"
"Then fire ahead" Polly %grumbled
suiienly.
She withdrew her fingers from the
ax-handle and leaned her chin In the
palm Of her hand.
Evelyn Strengthened up and bent
forward, her eyes swimming with
tears.
Polly" she gasped, "P0llyop, In the
summer Gods going to send me a lit
tie baby. Oh, Polly"
The squatter girl scrambled up as
the speaker dropped back, terrified al
the exultant fire in the brown eyes and
the awful smile that crept across Pol