The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-03-31


the world a little better because he
had lived In 1t.
Now he was home; and almost the
first day had come to him this appeal.
He smiled ruefully at the recollection
of Pollyop's plea. He had promised to
help the squatters. and he mean to do
It. SUPPOSE 1t did bring him into N
hict with Marcus MacKenziel He
knew how to fight. and a good fight
was not bad fun.
Family from the direction he had
ridden. the sound of cries came to his
ears. Idly he wondered what the row
was. Some squatter man discipIining
his wife, he decided; but he could NOT
stand to have a woman beateni
He vaulted into the saddle and raced
back over the road. 1t was not long
before he located the place where the
screams came from. Then Bay Dex-
ter had an opportunity to show all the
speed he had.
h sight of Pollyop writhing In the
strong arms of a man he did not recog-
nize made Percival see red. He was
OF his horse with one leap. and two
long strides took him to Oscars side.
One blow from his powerful knuckles
In the farmers face staggered Bennett
and freed Polly so quickly that she
fell to the ground. ~Instinctively she
crawled out Of the way of the battling
men,. The blow that had released her
had done no damage to Bennett ex-
cept to %aggravate his rage. He recov-
cred himself and confronted his assail-
ant, dripping oaths like ram from a
cloudburst.
Bennett took the offensive, his fists
flying like fails. He wanted to get
his arms around the other fellow, to
trip him and make the fight a rough
val avoided the rush, and struck as
Bennett went by. Again and again
tried to come to close quar-
ters. But he could not neither could
he hit his elusive opponent. At length
he hesitated, distressed as much by
his own efforts as the blows hi had
received.
Then Percival stepped In, and quick
Y 1t was all over. Two well-planted
humps laid Bennett like a log on the
Robert busted of his hands, picked
Wee Jerry up. and handed him to his
did he hurt you. Polly?- he queried,
md her answer was positively gleeful:
."Nary a bit, Sir, an | reckon the big
ummox's got a plenty this time"
Robert brushed off his clothes slow
The farmer still lay on the ground.
sect up" ordered Percival scornful-
Y. touching the PROSTATE man with
he toe of his boot. Get up and make
ff If you don't want me to lick you
gain"
Oscar rolled over and crawled slow
? to his hands and knees.
1.-THE grounds kinda wabbly, amt 1t, ,
Polly gibed.
"Get out" commanded Robert, once
lore. :
Bennett scrambled to his feet, shook I,
Is fist at Polly, snatched up the little ,
cad lamb, and In another moment
ad climbed the fence and was gone.
"What we're you fighting aboutT :
sgan Robert, looking keenIy at Poll. Z
op. =
Tears hung on the girls lashes. and :
Ie sensitive underlip quIvered. :
oscar said as how Nannyop were .
she murmured. Weren't 1t awful .
IT him to swat 1t with that stone that I
q
On abruptly. He was going to ask $
IT IL she had stolen the lamb but an q
preston in the pleading. misty eyes
opped him. n
II found the little Teller drownin' In IL
e creek, SIR" she explained with g
wed head. II just took him home to
We him. that was ALL"
The strange, thrilling emotion that b
d overcome Robert but a short time
in the presence of this squatter a
attacked him again. 81
"What a | do to help you. child?' Sc
demanded sharply. ST
Polly flung out her hand. Helpi W
at was Wndt the SqudtterS Wanteu.
le little lamb was dead. Nothing II
ever hurt II any more. But there "
re her people 81
',Just help Daddy Hopkins'-she NJ
oked Inc went on-"an' all the poor
ks in the Silent City, an'-all-TIl of
'e you forever and forever" m
he
that the "~iittlest mother In
de large strides upward toward the GO
mother Every little wor- mn
d thing In the woods. every heavy nj
irt In the squatter settlement fclt of
difference In Polly Hopkins. She
He'd more, she talked ore and.
she found a group of her az
ks wondering how their absent lad =
$ we're. she led them in smiling as ~
to Old Mares fence and there w
what Robert Percival had o'
d about the Greatest Mother In the Ne
rid. ="
me morning poilyop was cleaning ~
ufton.y 0nl Er,,pxr 49,. mac caaf