Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1922-07-13

that his wits had gone completely.
Ignoring the woman whom she de-
tested, she went rapidly to MacKen-
zie's side.
II had her rOped up in the bed when
you was there tonight, mister" she
told him, the words tumbling over
each other in the haste of confession.
Il were goin' to chop her head off to
get even with you. But-but-my dead
Granny Hope, an the Biggest Man,
my in All the World wouldn't let me-"
1t seemed an eternity to the Quak-
ing young speaker before Marcus
threw up his head ana took a long
breath.
"She-she's alive?" he demanded
hoarsely. You're very sure she isn't
dead? Girl" he bounded up and
grasped POllyop's arm, "if you lie to
me-"
81 amt lynn to you, mister" inter-
rupted Polly duly. "You don't need
to be scared for Miss Eve, but now
you'd best come along to my hut an
get uVL' oAS . IuOuAAlu LUZ yOu III
Granny Hopes cOop-hole, covered up
with blankets"
Something like huge fist struck
Mackenzie. The conviction that the
squatter girls words were true lifted
him Immediately from the bottom
depths Of hopelessness. The sudden
thrush of joyous relief brought with
1t a mental illumination, and he saw
himself as others had seen him. The
terrible, blighting uncertainty he had
borne for a few maddening hours the
girl before him had known for
months. If she were to blame for his
suffering, what was the measure Of
his own responsibility?
He turned swiftly to his mother-in-
law and said huskily:
Call some one to get this child
some dry clothes. Take anything Of
Ewes you can find that will keep her
warm, and for Gods sake, take those
ragged boots off her feetv He sprang
to the bell. "I'll order the team"
When he had given his orders to the
servant who appeared at the door, he
sank back into a chair, and Mrs. Rob-
ertson went swiftly out.
Utterly oblivious of the squatter
girls presence, Marcus Mackenzie
buried his face in his hands. The new
Pollyop, the Polly of the Sun, crept-
forward and touched him.
"Your woman's all right" she said
huskily. "Don't cry! She told me
about-about the little kid a-comin' in
the summer, an she howled like mad
to come along with me. But I says to
her she couldn't walk all this way to
you without dyin'."
The soft tones vibrated sympathe-
tically as she voiced the assurances,
Mackenzie thrust up his hand and
clutched the slim brown fingers.
"Tell me something about it while
we're alone" he whispered.
Pollyop shuddered.
swell, SIR" she began, so low that
Mackenzie had to raise his head to
hear, "all the squatters hate you, but
none Of em was wicked like me.
said, did, that you couldn't be hurt
no way only through your woman, an
AMI was goin' to cut her head off
with the ak an then sling 'er in the
lake. s'pose I'm goin' to get sent up
for years, but just had to come and
tell you"
Before Mackenzie, aghast at the
danger his dear one had faced, could
answer, Mrs. Robertson entered, fol-
lowed by Evelyn's maid.
"I'll get my coat" exclaimed Mar
Gus, jumping UP. 'Dress the girl warm
and send along Evelyn's fur motor
coat"
A furtive smile curled the maids
lips as she helped pull off Jeremiah's
heavy coat, and then grew broader
as PollyOp slipped out of Daddy's
great boots. Yet the woman admitted
to herself as she dried the wet feet
and attired the sQuatter girl in her
mistress beautiful clothes that she
was pretty, even prettier than Mrs
Mackenzie.
When the robing process was fin
ished, Mrs. Robertson glanced over the
little figure and grudgingly acknowl-
edged to herself that there was some
thing of elegance in the girls bearing,
even If she were squatter.
"Come here !" she said. A naughty
gesture indicated the spot. Fright
here before me-"
Polly'ss shaking legs carried her
within a few inches Of the august
presence.
you're very sure, GIRL" asked Mrs.
Robertson. shat my daughters safe
in your shack1 How did she come |
thereY'
Polly remembered Larry Bishop and |
Lye Braeger, She had been instru-
mental In bringing them within the
prison shadows, and If any one suffered |
from the deed done that night, It must |
not be her friends. She alone must
take the blamei
II wheedled 'er there, ma'am," she
replied humbly. "I'm goln' to tell her
man all about Il"