Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-04-07

out you didn't. An tneu-tHen SOu
said you didn't give me that dress.
You're all ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, you
money folks be-"
Her hand reached out and touched
the ak. but she withdrew 1t as If an
adder had been under her fingers. She
was not vet able to do the deed which
she had longed to do and thought
would be a Joy. Her head sagged for
ward. and again came Jeremiah's
weeping face before her.
IF yoh'd "a seen my daddy in the
ithaca Jail. mebbe you'd be able to
think what I'm goin' to do IS all right
Yep, all right !" she rasped.
Then she went on hoarsely, faltering
as she described the horrors that all
her loved ones had gone through. her
voice choked and became silent as she
thought of Robert. She could not force
her n Q to say a word about him,
although her heart throbbed bitterly as
his name came to her lips.
"Money!" she whispered brokenly,
lifting her head. did you hear your
man say o to us squatters as II
cash'd pay for Larry's woman an Jer-
nv an my daddy? You heard, didn't
youY"
E%velyn's head sagged forward, n
a spasm passed over her face as her
eyes closed. She looked as if she had
died. Polly Hopkins had seen death
enter the Silent City many a time; and
her heart-strings frightened.
"Are you gone?' she questioned in a
kissing whisper.
The other girls lids lifted slowly,
and never had Pollyop seen such an
expression in human eyes in all her
life.
mot yet" dropped from the blue
| lips, "and-and-oh, Pollyop, I'm so
afraid to die. l don't know how! Oh,
God, help me; 1 feel so sick"
Daddy were sick, too" shot back
Polly, IAN Jerry's turned up his toes
by this time! l amt heard a word
from him since he was took away.
Mebbe l could a. seen him II you
hadn't made your cousin believe were
a bad womanl What d'you know
about babies, an how cunnin' an sweet
they are? You're as wicked as ii!
Ithaca'n be better off when you're
food for the fishes. I'm glad your
man'l live, though. Lordy, how l
laughed when he busted into the
shanty. And there was you right be-
side me! Huh? Wasn't it a good
joke on Old Marc?"
The speaker held Evelyn's stare, the
chestnut eyes glittering as the cues
ton was fairly spat out.
81 can't die, Pollyop!" groaned Eve
Ign, her head dropping against the
cot. "Oh, Polly dear, listen-please-'
Polly reached out for the ak.
Don't you dare Polly dear me-"
she gritted convulsively, cor I'll hit
you with this"
"God!-Jesus! came from between
Evelyn's chattering teeth. mo, don't
pick it up! Don't! oh, 1 want to tel
you something, Polly Hopkins"
"Then fire ahead" Polly grumbled
sullenly. =
She withdrew her fingers from the
ax-handle and leaned her chin in the
palm of her hand.
Evelyn Strengthened up and bent
forward, her eyes swimming with
tears.
polly" she gasped, "Pollyop, in the
summer Gods going to send me a lit
tie baby. oh, Polly"
The squatter girl scrambled up as
the speaker dropped back, terrified at
the exultant fire in the brown eyes and
the awful smile that crept across Pol
ly's face.
"Glory be to God in the sky!" she
cried. 1.-TWO of you belongin' to Old
Marc ,goin' with n swipe of the ak"
She wheeled around and paced the
length of the shanty. Old Mares baby
Old Mares woman! Both to go out
of his life forever And by her hands
hers, Polly Hopkins hands!
She lifted them up, those slender,
brown fingers, and looked at them
against the candlelight. But a few
months ago they had been the most
willing fingers in all the county! But
tonight-Marc's babyl Evelyn's baby.
Like a hive of bees, the joy of dis
sipating the home of Marcus Mac
Kenzie buzzed through her brain. No
sound came from the girl on the floor,
for Evelyn Mackenzie had given up
all hope. The squatter girl was crazy.
No human being could entertain such
a CHASTITY purpose and be in his right
mind
Presently she called Polly's name
family, and then again because Polly
gave her no heed, she cried louder:
"Pollyop, my feet hurt so! l can't
bear it,"
Polly paused, leaned against the
wall and glared at her.
"I'm glad they do that" she NUT
tered. "You can't hurt anywhere too
much to suit met"
Then something gave way behind