Middletown transcript., 1922-05-06

MacKenzie's sharp, "YouU Ian,
where your father is, you huzzy,'
Drought Polly's flashing glance upor
MN. Untaught to deceive for he)
own advantage, she could not fathon
Evelyn's direct falsehood. To lie 70,
daddy, to keep a squatter frien,
from prison-yes, she would hav,
done that, but n dressl And Evelyr
had given 1t to her, too! She turned
her burning eyes upon the other girl
ana there she read with slckenin,
certainty that the gift Of the robt
must be buried in the grave with Os
car Bennett. If Jerry had not beel
tucked away back Of the skirts Of tht
two women, Polly would have mad,
dash for liberty, but she could no
leave the baby. Would no one hely
her? Her eyes sought Roberts face
and as If he We're awaking from ,
dream, he picked up the coat.
I'll hand her over to the conduc
ear" Marcus proceeded. Hell know
what to do with her" and he put Out
HIS manu- 10 grasp ner
mo you won't" snapped Robert
moving in front of Pollyop. "Ill look
after her myself, and if you folks want
to stay friendly with me, lust dom
mention this" He held out the Goa,
to Polly Hopkins. "put 1t on" he or
dered; and instantly she obeyed him
What he was going to do with her
Pollyop did not know, but this thing
she did realize: Jerry could not sec
Daddy Hopkins that day. She longed
to be back in the shanty, to get awn,
from MackenZies flashing eyes and
the naughty stare of Mrs. Robertson
AS for Evelyn. she dcspised the quiv.
ering girl with all her straightforward
self.
Frowning, Robert stepped to ths
door and called the conductor: and
when the official appeared, Polly shiv.
cred to her toes. The very sight of
his uniform suggested trouble for her
and Jerry.
"A friend Of mine came down to sec
us off," said Robert distinctly, max.
ing a gesture toward her. "The trp;r
started before she could get off. Jus,
let us stop at MacKenney's, will you?'
He had roll of bills in his fingers
which he thrust into the officers hand
Smilingly the man bowed and jerket
the cord over his head.
"We're right there now, sir" said
he.
"Thanks," replied Robert. "Thanks -
and Come" he said to Polyop.
Jerry! Daddy Hopkins baby, went
through her mind. Wee Jerry asleeI
under the cross seat!
"Wait Il bit, mister" she faltered,
"wait till get the baby. were takin'
him up to see his daddy, so he
wouldn't die" Her lip trembled as
she looked at Mrs. Robertson. "Get
up, please, ma'nm," she begged. "He's
under there, where you're sittin'"
Mrs. Robertson and Evelyn rose i'm
mediately; and Polly pulled the shawl.
bewrapped Jerry into full view. In
another instant Robert had snatched
up the child and pushed Polly out of
the door. He turned about and looked
back at the other three, n dreadful
expression on his face.
"If you stick your finger in this,
Mare" he said huskily, you can say
goodby to me for good.' And he fol-
lowed Polly out of the train as it
came to a stop.
Muckenney's point was on the east
side of the lake, about opposite the
Hopkins shanty, and when Robert had
helped Polly off the train and had
seen it pull away north, he stood n
moment considering how best to get
her back home. He could not make
the girl tramp back to Ithaca and then
Silent City.
"Stay mere with the child" he said
curtly. "Tll be back in n minute"
Polly watched him duly as he
strobe away. When he returned, he
had In his hand large key with
which he unfastened a boathouse on
the shore. Almost before Pollyop
sensed what was happening, she was
in the stern of a boat with Jerry
crouched down beside her, and Rob-
ert's strong arms We're sending the
craft swiftly across the lake. Not a
word had been said between them un-
til they drew up under the willow
trees near Jeremiah's shack.
Get out" exclaimed Robert. holding
the boat that 1t might not tip.
Pollyop scrambled to the bow, bring
ing Jerry with her, the beautiful dress
now hanging in limp folds around her
feet. Very pale, Robert lifted her.
almost fainting, from the boat. and
picking Jerry up in his arms, walked
ahead to the shanty.
In the terrible moment that Polly
bent under his dark gaze, she felt she
must tell him the truth. How could
she let him go away thinking her
twice thief. besides believing Oscar
had been her man?
She dared timid glance at him.