Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-08-03

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she was waiting for Oscar to cor
sinue. but be evidently did not inten,
-: SO. settling back as IL anxious. b
start, she said coldly:
I'm 90 10 her then, as soon as
ean."
5 ~when-today. ma'amf" asked oscal
eagerly.
II she had TO approach Polly Hop
AIMS about this disagreeable matter
xAe sooner the better. Evelyn thought
~Yes." she consented languidly. =
misht 90 now, / suppose"
'Bnt you won't find her home I'll
nlght Eve" Marcus informed her
SHE'S gone to see her father before
- goes to Auburn. tried to put the
Nuietus on that, but Bob cut up SO ]
1sld the sheriff to let her In"
''Then I'll telephone you later, Mr.
Bennett" said Evelyn. lifting her chin
Aaughtily as II he were really beneath
her consideration. Good afternoon r
The hours passed slowly byl II
seemed an eternity to Oscar while he
waited the call from Evelyn. When
he heard her voice over the telephone,
he answered grutily.
':Now. don't be nasty, Oscar" or
dered Evelyn imperiously. "T'm doing
the best can. I'm in q booth talking,
and II you'll meet me at seven, wen
50 together to Polly Hopkins. Does
that suit you all rightT
''You don't snit me very WELL" Oscar
grumbled into the receiver. "I'd like
to give you the licking Of your life,
my lady"
Eyelyn's laugh came ringing across
the wire.
Don't put yourself out, my dear
man." she taunted. "Now, don't start
bullying me over the phone, Oscar, for
won't stand 1t. Hold your temper II
you can possibly do so. For once do
as tell you'll VIII your
"Oh, l suppose So" Bennett raped
out. "Wherell meet youfv
swell, let me see. At seven on the
boulevard, near the lane"
"All right" and Oscar slammed up
the receiver without waiting to hear
any more, and proceeded about his
farm tasks. Thoughts of anger toward
i've, now so overbearlng and con-
temptuous, were soon crowded out,
however, by anticipation Of the time
when Polly would belong to hlm--be
his TO love or abuse at his ewn sweet
viii, for Oscar had little doubt that
the squatter girl would eventually
yield to his will.
PollyOp, meanwhile, quite uncon-
scious Of Oscars vicious Intentions,
was already utterly overwhelmed with
misery.
After the meager supper was over
that night, she sat crouched near the
wood-box, her arm around Billy Hop
kins' stringy neck. Granny Hope was
In bed and Wee Jerry, having cried
himself to sleep. was in Jeremiah's
Eoom, rolled up in q blanket.
For the 1rst time In her life Polly
had seen her father weep. How i'm
petuously she had kissed away his
tears How she had hung to his neck /
When they had been forced to leave
him, Jerry had shrieked his misery all
the way through the streets Of ithaca.
To make the matter worse, 1t began
TO rain, to thunder and tighten. And
new, forlorn, lonely little creature,
she eat listening to the tempest out.
side with no company but the billy
goat. t
How lIstless and hopeless she. felt |!
Only when the thunder rolled over the
lake, and the lightning flashed across
the sky, did she lift her head. When
she was happy, Polly loved the
storms, but now, with Daddy In Au.
burn, how could she bear the thrash
ing rain and the moan of the willow
trees as they swung to and fro over
the shanty roof
She found herself wishing fearfully
that the storm would sweep on to the
seuth and down behind: the hills. Over
and over In her mind went the thought
that perhaps she could have helped
Daddy II she had done what Evelyn
wanted her to. Why hadn't she con.
sented to marry Oscar two weeks agof
She knew why, and, blushing, blamed
herself. She could not keep the image
of Robert Percival from smiling at
her.
All of sudden a frightful fash Of
lightning made dim the flicker from
the small candle. and was followed In
stantly by thunderous roar that
shook the very earth. Mingled with IT
came woman's scream. Polly strug-
sied to her feet, Some one Swas in
trouble Some s1uattef-woman was
calling her. She dashed toward the
door Just as 1t flung wide open, and
Evelyn Robertson rushed In.
4 "POlly Hopkins" she cried, grasDing
the squatter girls arm. "Pollyop.
something struck Oscar. and he's dead
in the road
Frantically she dnew the dazed Pol
~ ever the threshold. The darkness
was dense, and the torrents Of rain
peited their faces. Another zigxag
streak Of fire ran across the sky, max.
ing . vivid picture as It blazed Cor
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