The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-06-16

was losing mis- mind. Polly Thought
by the blank expression Of his face
that his Wits had gone completely
4 Ignoring the woman whom she de
tested, she went rapidly to MacKeu.
| xie's side,
| ~ had her roped up In the bed when
| you was there tonight, mister she
| told him. the words tumbiIng over
each other In the haste OF confession.
II were goin' 10 chop her head Off to
| get even with you. But--but--my dead
Granny Hope, an the Biggest Mann
my In All the World wouldn't let me. :
IL seemed an eternity TO the qunk-
Ing young speaker before Marcus
threw up his head and took long
breath.
"She--she's alive7" he demanded
hoarsely. you're very sure she isn't
dead? Girl" he bounded up and
grasped Pollyop's arm, III you lie to
me-"
Il ain't lynn to you, mister" inter
rupted Polly duly. "You don't need
to be scared for Miss Eve, but now
you'd best come along TO my hut an
get her. She's mournin' for YOU In
Granny Hopes coop-hole, covered up
with Blankets.
Something like O huge fist struck
Mackenzie The conviction that the
squatter girls words were true lifted
him Immediately from the bottom
depths of hopelessness. The sudden
thrush Of joyous relief brought with
It mental Illumination, and he saw
himself as others had seen him. The
terrible, blighting uncertainty he had
borne for few maddening hours the
Girl before him had known for
months II she were to blame for his
suffering, what was the measure Of
his own responsibility
lie turned swiftly to his mother-in-
law and said huskily:
"Call some one to get this child
some dry clothes Take anything Of
Ewes you can find that will keep her
warm, and for Gods sake, take those
ragged boots off her feeti" He sprang
to the bell. "I'll order the team"
When he had given his orders to the
servant who appeared at the door. he
sank back into chair, and Mrs. Rob-
ertsou went swiftly out.
Utterly oblivious Of the squatter
girls presence, Marcus Mackenzie
hurled his face In his hands. The new
Pollyop, the Polly of the Sun, crept
forward and touched him.
"Your woman's all right" she said
huskily. .Don't cry She told me
about about the little kid a-comin' In
the summer an she howled like mad
to come along with me. But says to
her she couldn't walk all this way to
You without dyin'."
The soft tones vibrated sympathe-
tically as she voiced the assurances.
Mackenzie thrust up mis- hand and
clutched the slim brown fingers.
Tell me something about Ii while
we're alone" he whispered.
pollyop shuddered.
swell, sir" she began, so low that
Mackenzie had to raise his head to
hear, FALL the squntters hate you, but
none Of 'em was wicked like me.
said, did, that you couldn't be hurt
no way only through your woman, an
AMI was goin' to cut her head off
with the AK an then sling Ter in the
lake. s'nose I'm goin' TO get sent up
for years but just had to come and
*ell you"
Before Mackenzie, nghast at the
Hanger his dear one had faced. could
answer. Mrs, Robertson entered, fol-
lowed by Eyelyn's maid.
"I'll get my coat" exclaimed Mar.
CHS, jumping up. Dress the girl warm
and send along Eselyn's fur motor
coat"
A furtive smile curled the maids
lips as she helped pull off Jeremlah's
heavy coat, and then grew broader
as Poliyop slipped out of Daddy's
great boots. Yet the woman admitted
20 herself as she dried the wet feet
and alfred the squatter girl In her
mistress beautiful clothes that she
was pretty, even prettler than Mrs.
When the robing process was fin
ished. Mrs. Robertson glanced over the
little figure and grudgingly acknowl,
edged TO herself that there was some.
thing Of elegance in the girls bearing,
even II she were a squatter.
"Come here = she said. A naughty
gesture indicated the. spot, fright
here before me-
Po'ly's shaking legs carried her
within few inches OF the august
presence.
You're very sure, girl" asked Mrs
Robertson, that my daughters safe
in your shack? How did she come
thereg'
Polly remembered Larry Bishop and
Lye Braeger. She had been instru-
mental in bringing them within the
prison shadows and II any one suffered
from the deed done that night, ii must
NOT he her friends She uiona ,,,,,,st