The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-05-18

anu foily slppeu one arm arounu heT
waist.
"You want to be free from me. chr
That's II. Is lti' he sneered. "Some
other guy looming up to love, s'pose
! Well, | don't mind who gets my leav-
| lngs II you make II worth my while
| But II not"
Evelyn's pale beseechng face lifted
! TO his She could not quit him with
out his promise that she should have
her freedom. Neither must he think
that she could get him large sum
Of money.
81 can't get another dollar" she re.
pented hoarsely. 81 simply can't. And
and | must be free"
A frown drew the mans heavy
brows together until they touched, and
he lifted his fist to strike; but Polly
Hopkins. by one swift movement
| thrust Evelyn from under the mans
uprnised arm and crowded In between
them Because Evelyn was his wife,
| he had the right TO beat her II he
pleased, Polly thought, but he would
not dare to strike Polly.
III you've got to swat some one, Os.
| car" She gritted between her teeth,
swat met"
The beautiful white face came close
| to Benefits, and the challenge In the
squatter girls flashing eyes stirred a
feeling within him that he never had
had for Evelyn Robertson. Oscar had
always believed that woman must
fear a man to respect him, and that TO
respect him meant to love him. He
did not want Evelyn Robertson in the
farmhouse. but he did want money and
Polly Hopkins. II he could master
her as he had Eve. she would come to
him willingly when he was ready for
her.
Working on that principle, he struck
out. AS the huge fist came in contact
with Pollyop's shoulder, she staggered
backward. Her low cry was followed
by Evelyn's scream. The squatter girl
sank to the floor Imply. No one had
ever struck her before.
you've killed her." cried Evelyn ;
and Oscar Bennett, fearful that the
|
quisitlve squatter, turned swiftly TO
go.
Both OF you keep mum about this,
my lady" he ordered. I'm OF Seer
With that he tore open the shanty
door; and Evelyn stood painting with
her hand on her heart until the sound
OF his running footsteps was lost in
the windstorm.
Then Evelyn led Polly Hopkins
home. one arm hung at the squatter
girls side; and the pain In her shoul-
der where Oscars fist had landed, was
terrific. On nearing the shack, Polly
whispered:
"Mebbe he'll be quiet while now.
You'd best scoot home, huh?"
small box passed from Evelyn's
handbag TO the squatter girls pocket.
IL brought them for Jerry" said
Evelyn softly, "and oh. Polly, what
ever can | do for you to even up
thingsl Perhaps"
"Scoot home," interrupted Polly,
I'm goin' in"
Pollyop stole into the shanty In the
greatest torment she had ever known.
Granny Hope and Daddy Hopkins had
gone to bed, and she could hear her
fathers loud breathing from the back
room. She was glad Of that, for II he
were to learn how she had been hurt,
his rage would know no bounds. She
lighted candle and looked about
dazedly. The billy goat was snuggled
against the wood-box; and Mamie
Lamb poked her head up and bllnked
at the light Polly put down the
candle and slipped the dress from her
shoulder. How dreadfully II hurt her
Oh, how she wanted something 10
make her misery less But sQuatters
did not have money TO spend on urug'
store remedies.
From an old can she poured a little
coal oil on a rag and bathed the In
jured flesh. Then she took up the
lamb and dropped Into a chair by the
table In sheer exhaustion her head
sank down upon Il. After while she
stralghtened up, threw back her curls
aud raised the lambs face TO hers, O
wry smile flltting across her lips.
"It's goln' TO be hard job lovin
oscar and Old Mare like Jesus loved
wicked folk. Nannyop," she said under
her breath. but mebbe now l beer
face TO face with n angel, can do it.
Again her head fell forward; buI
almost instantly she arose, and witt
the lamb In her right arm like baby
moved TO the side OF the bed. Ther
she snuggled the lamb under thu
blankets and put Granny Hopes Blbl,
beneath her pillow. Carefully she
slipped OF her clothes and put on 1
coarse nightrobe. Then, having snufreC
the candle, she crawled in beside IN,
lamb.
CHAPTER VI.