American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1922-03-24

"And You Heard What Marcus SAID
Last Night About the Silent City
Folks" Went on Mrs. Robertson.
vent on Mrs. Robertson. What you
want Of that Hopkins girl l don't un-
derstand. Marcus says her father In
the most dangerous man among the
lot of them, and the girl herself is
queer"
"Oh, don't talk about the sQuatters
all the time" cried Evelyn. II hate
the very sound Of the word. What's
Polly Hopkins, anyway? Now
Marcus is home"
Darling" the mother interrupted
eagerly, 1T has always been my hope
that you n Marc would grow to care
for each other. He is so rich and %
handsome! Now, isn't her"
A groan almost leapt from Evelyn's
lips. What a fool she had been Here
she was married to a man she loathed,
a man she vas ashamed of The
realization that another man, rich,
good-looking and in every way desira-
BILE, had turned his serious eyes upon
her, almost made her blurt out the
whole story to her mother; but hav-
Ing kept silent so long, she dared not
speak now. All through the night she
had tossed and turned, hunting some
way to get Oscar Bennett out Of her
life without Marcus Mackenzie know
ing anything about 1t. She dared not
go to Oscar himself; Polly Hopkins
was the only hope she had. All Ben
nett cared for was money. He was an
tired Of her as she was Of him. Per-
hRps he would go away quietly ana
set her free II she gave him money
enough. Would her mother give 1t to
herr
Mother, do you honestly want m@
to marry Marc7" she asked, trembling
Mrs. Robertson caught at the out
flung hand.
81 do, / do indeed, darling" she an
swered. "And he'll ask you too, rm
uure. Perhaps not today or tomorrow,
for he's just renewing his ~ac0uaint-
Gnce with you. By the way he locked
last night 1 could tell he was cOnsid7
ering it,"
A handkerchief dropped from Eve
lyn's fingers, and she stopped to pick
It up.
IF l lead Marcus on" she suggest
ed, rising, 'and-and get him to ask
me to marry him, will you give me any
sum Of money 1 want1"
Her voice shook with emotion, and
her young face seemed suddenly old
and haggard. Mrs. Robertson had
never seen her daughter I'm such Il
state.
"Sit down a minute, Evelyn" she
commanded. Nov tell me what you
want money for. l know very well
that you haven't spent what I've al
lowed you upon yourself. That's why
Eve refused you so much lately. No
more secrets or mystery 1 want the
facts. Now tell me this minute"
The girl dropped into a chair and
buried her face in her hands.
II can't" she whispered.
For some time she remained In the
same attitude, while her mother
studied her silently. AZ length the
girl lifted herself erect.
II can't explain" she broke out,
land l suppose you're thinking all
kinds of things. l can't help it II you
do. You'll have to give me the money
l need, If you want me to marry Marc,
There's no ifs and 'ands' about that
If you'll give me the money"-she fall
tered, wiped her lips and concluded
slowly, "T1l marry Marcus MaeKen-
zie."
"You must be crazy, Eve" Mrs. Rob
ertson said in a cold voice, ito talk to
me like that. If you have any secrets
from me, it's time you told them"
"Well?' shot from Evelyn sharply,
suppose l have? It's my secret. isn't
itF Are o going to help me OF not.
that's the question"
1t was evident to Mrs. Robertson
that the situation was not to be trified
with. In a twinkling her daughter
had changed from a meek and timid
girl to an aggressive woman. To try
to bully her any more would be a mere
waste of effort.
Heavens" she began, this is a
pretty how to do, ! must say. l can't
imagine why you should want money.
Il doesn't make much difference. any
way. There are more reasons than
one why you can't get II from me-"
"What are they?' fell from the girls
lips.
To Be Continued