American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1922-04-14
SYNOPSIS

CHAPTER I.-occupying a dilapidated
shack in the Silent City, a squatter settle
kins lives with her father, small Jerry,
ana an old woman, Granny Hope. On an
adjacent farm, Oscar Bennett, prosperous
farmer, ts a netRhbor. He is secretly
married to Evelyn Robertson, supposedly
wealthy girl of the neighborhood. Polly
alone knows their secret. Marcus Mac
kenzie, who owns the ground the squat
ters occupy, Is their determined enemy.
Polly ~overhears a conversation between
Mackenzie and a stranger, in which the
former avows his intention of driving the
sQuatters from his land. The stranger
sympathizes with the squatters, and
earns Polly's gratitude.
CHAPTER I.-Evelyn Robertson dis
covers from her mother that they are not
rich, as she supposed, but practically liv-
Ing on the bounty of Robert Percival,
Evelyn's cousin.
CHAPTER IIL-Pony learns from Eve
lyn that the sympathetic stranger is Rob-
ert PercivaL. Evelyn charges Polly with
. message to Bennett, telling him she ar
give him no more money, and urging him
to be patient. She already bitterly re-
grets her infatuahon with and marriage
to the ignorant farmer.
CHAPTER IV.--Polly conveys her mes
sage, and Oscar makes threats. He In
~@N W~~
has her father and Larry Bishop, a squat
ter who has suffered from the enmity of
Mackenzie, take an oath to do him no
injury.
(CONTINUED)
He took a step toward her and Polly
scrambled up. Just at that moment
Evelyn Robertson entered. Oscar Ben
nett turned swiftly, ind Polly, very
pale, placed herself at Ewes side. And
as the wind foamed the lake to fury
and shock Granny Hopes forsaken lit
tie hut, the man and two girls stood
silent a long, tense minute.
Then Oscar smiled at Evelyn, a tri-
umphant, insulting smile.
$50 o thought 1t best to mind me,
my lady" he laughed. II guess after
q while you'll come to know | mean
what l say"
Eve tried to speak but could not.
Polly squeezed her arm e~ncouragingly.
You're a mean duffer, Oscar" she
thrust in. your wonan's scared Of
you, that's all. Try bein' better, an
see how she likes it."
Shes got a good right to be id
scared" grunted Bennett. Nov out
with 1t, Eve. What's the rumpus7 You
haven't sent me a cent for a month";
With shaking fingers Evelyn pushed
back her wind-blown hair.
II couldn't get any money, Oscar
she walled. my allowance is all gone.
/ gave every cent of 1t to you. You
know very well mother won't give me
any more"
She had one card left to play, and
abe hoped 1t would AXE the trick.
II might as well tell you," she con
tinued, the steel in her eyes wipIng
away the blue. Mother hasn't any
money. All I thought we had belongs
to Cousin Bob
She ceased speaking and waited an
instant to note how her news struck
her husband. Ee flung up a clenched
fist.
The devil take you, Ever he cried,
Don't try to put anything over on me
like that. You're the biggest liar in
Tompkins county"
That he partly believed her showed
In his manner.
"Td never "a married you If I'd a
known that two years ago. Oscar as
serted hoarsely. "You can be dead
certain Of that, my lady. You were
pretty careful to keep your money
troubles to yourself, ST down, both Of
y5b You're shiverlng ike Two CATS
Impulslvefy Evelyn went toward hin,
"Oh, Oscar, listen, listen to me" she
said, trying to steady her voice. II
want to be free. I can't, / can't live
this way any longer"
A coarse oath fell from Benefits
lips.
you don't need TO-" he shouted.
"You got a home to come tony
home. You can do the work my old
mothers doing. It's your job, not hers.
You're my wife, by ginger, and as
said to Pollyop here, you live with
or you pay W. I don't give a
d-n which you do"
His voice grew deep as he finished
and an evil. haunting smile drew VI
his lips. Evelyn shuddered and swayed
and Polly slipped n arm around heI
waist.
"Yon want 10 be free from me, Ell
That's 1t, is itf" he sneered. "Som'
other guy looming up to love. ! s'pose
Well, / don't mind who gets my leav
ings If you make 1t worth my while
But If not"
Hyelyn's pale, beseeching face lifte'
to his. She could not quilt him with
out his promise that she should hav'
her freedom. Neither must he thinl
that she could get him a large sun
of money.
II can't get another dollar" she re
peated h~oarsely. II simply can't. An
land ! must be free"
A frown drew the m&n's heav'
brows together until they touched, an
he lifted bis hst to strike; but Poll
Hopkins, by n swift movement
thrust Evelyn from under the man