The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-03-24

comfort to every me on earth tina
needs help"
"Golly, she's some mother. AIM
she7" breathed Polly soberIy. "She'i
beautiful too. Squatter mammies has
too many kids to stay handsome like
her." She made a backward motion
with her thumb toward the fence and
searched his face gravely.
A choking sensation IN Roberts
throat made him cough. The girls
statement was like a charcoal draw
ing In which a few broad lines tell the
whole story. He felt his interest In
her Increase. She was the q%uaintest.
prettlest and most solemn child he had
ever seen. Yes, he knew she was an
inhabitant of the Silent City by the
clothes she wore. and the thin. bow
legged child, to say nothing Of the be-
w~hiskered goat and wo0lly lamb that
were with her.
whats your name?" he inquired.
"Jusi Pollyop." was the answer.
"Polly Hopkins. My daddy is Jere-
miah Hopkins. the mayo Of this set
Element"
Surely Robert remembered very
well Mackenzie speaking Of Hopkins,
and he remembered too the painted
invitation over a hut door as II IL
we're before his eyes Looking Pollyop
over from the top of her curly head to
the tips Of her bare feet, he decided
that she had written IT.
Question after question he flung at
her, and answer after answer came
from PolIy's lips. She told him where
she lived, and how she cooked the
beans, bacon and fish Daddy Hopkins
provided how cold 1t was In the
shanty when the cruel north wind
swept up the lake: and how wet II
was when the rain fell and clammy
fogs shrouded the world in gray how
Granny Hope was sick with pains. She
gave him an inside view Of life In the
Silent City Long before she had fin
ished her recital, PercIval's courtesy
had put her at her ease. and she was
chattering like a maybe.
"Can I do something for you, Polly
queried Robert, as she fin
shed. telling about life in the squat
.ers' city.
She flung out both hands In a COM
)rehensive gesture as much as to say
he could see for himself how much she
"Sure. sure you can." she said with
ierce emphasis. "You can make Old
darc leave us squatters be. You're
he Isl The squatters need
-ou awful bad"
Her voice broke. Robert took a long
reath: OF course he could help this
irl and her people. He would, too
IS far as money gave power. he could
quail and surpass Marcus Mackenzie.
Il did try to talk sense into Mr..
IacKenzle's head" he returned pres
ntly, "but now l will make him leave
on alone"
In spite Of the curved lips about
hIch a smile lurked, there was appre-
ension In her voice when she asked:
'Can you lick I'm to . finish, mis-
Eyes, l think l could" laughed Rob-
'but 1t won't be necessary
Then | see us Silent City folks
in happy again. sighed Polly. 1--WE
It a awful lot OF things an folks to
Ike care Of here"
Robert made q sweep with his arm
at encompasssd the group before
m.
you have, evidently I" he laughed.
"An' ! got more home" Interjected
lily. II got Daddy Hopkins an
ranny Hope an this brat IL my
other. an this goat is Billy Hopkins
: this IamT's Nannyop. Oh, sure,
:. I've got 4 hull lot to love In this
cd old city"
Polly made an upward motion with
r hand toward the picture on the
'She's got a bunch to love, too" she
Id softly. "Ain't she7"
He walksd to her side and contem-
tied with her the pictured woman,
king her silent appeal to them for
wounded boy in her arms. i
OF coufse she has" answered Per.
al reverentIy. As''e's the Greatest
in the World. Polly Hopkins.
d-and-" his gaze dropped upon
and he continued. and you're the
lest mother in the world.-
glad smile widened the girls lips.
the fear that had been as a ton
light upon her had fallen away. She
nted to pay him the highest compn-
Mt she knew. When ne had mount
she told him gently:
Some day you'll be the biggest an
st beautifulest daddy in the world.