Okolona messenger., 1922-04-20
cHAP,IER VII.

To describe Oscar BENEFITS rage
when he left the two girls in Granny
Hopes shack would indeed be task.
OF late Evelyn had ceased to attract
him. In the excitement of the court
. ship he had put his best foot forward,
and for time after the marriage he
had found a great satisfaction in the
thought that she was his. When the
glamor of their secret honeymoon
time had worn of, and the farmers
crude, cruel nature had been disclosed,
Evelyn's mad infatuation had disap-
peared In terror-stricken horror.
As Evelyn was finding In Marcus
Mackenzie a mate more to her taste,
Benefits primitive passions had burst
into sudden flame for Polly Hopkins.
The squatter girls scorn Of him. her
drawing ridicule, only made him de-
sire her the more.
A couple Of days after the night
scene with the girls, he left his house
and took his way to the lake. He
crossed his fodder lot and plunged
into the Mackenzie forest which lay
between the railroad tracks and the
water. In his pocket he had letter
for Evelyn. He intended to kill two
birds with one stone. If he could find
Polly Hopkins alone, he would tell her
the decision he had come to and give
her the note to deliver.
Oscar did not relish entering the
Silent City by the highway. The
squatters hated him as much as he
did them, more, in all probability and
It was his habit to give the settlement
a wide berth. II he discovered any Of
them on his land. with the exception
Of Polly Hopkins, he drove them away
furiously. Oscar was one Of those who
would rather have produced rot on
his land than give 1t to the needy.
Before vaulting the Mackenzie
fence, the sound OF people talking on
the other side halted him. Pollyop's
voice came distinctly to him. and an
other voice, mans, answered her.
The deep well-bred tones Bennett was
sure did not belong to a sQuatter. He
listened carefully to pick up the Inn
port Of the conversation. The bass
voice mumbled something about a
mother. In response, the squatter
girls tones fell upon his ear: "Some
day you'll be the biggest an most
beautifulest daddy In the world" Then
followed the rush Of departing hoofs. j
Jealousy tore at the eayesdropper. II
did not take him long to get to the top
Of the fence,
Some sound be made brought the
sQuatter girls head around sharply
from her survey Of the picture.
"What do you wantT she asked sui
Ienlg. frOwning at him.
Oscar jumped to the ground.
n come down TO see you. Pollyop,"
he rejoined, coming forward. "Who
were you talking TOT"
The only safe way to get along with, !,
the farmer, Polly had concluded, was
to have nothing to do with him.
aLeave me be. Oscar Bennettr' she
shrilled. q don't want nothln' to do
With you. I'm goin' home"
10 cut on her retreat, Oscar needed
TO take but a couple Of strides, and he
promptly took them.
"Jeminy cricketst" he expostulnted.
eDon't be 50 eonfounded short, Pollyopi
You needn't be mad because swatted
you one. You aren't my woman yet,
but you're going to be just as soon IS
fcan get shut Of my lady Robertson
Observing no signs Of softehIng IN the
elfi's face, be switched his attack.
Asay, where'd you get that lamb1"
This query unfoIdsd new terrors for
Poliy. She had not thought Of the
lamb hsioneing 70 anyone but herself.