Cheyenne Wells record., 1922-09-21
CHAPTER xvIl-contlnu.d.

Yno snow was Still taillnG QuletIy
lnko the dark lake. and the squatter,
with throb at his heart. caught the
thread OF light at the edge Of the win
Aow blind OF his home. Then his Pol
lyop was still up.
''Cover your horses and walt here"
directed Percival to the driver. Then
% Hopkins he said: "As told you.
slr. your daughters suffered frightful-
u. Poor girl. am afraid. II you ap-
peared without warning. the shock
would be too much for her. Do as we
agreed in town and 60 to Bishops
shack until I come for you. I'll tell
her you and the boy are home"
A long slgh slipped from the squat
tors hps. He desired to rush In and
bold his girl-brat to his overwrought
heart. He had heard with suppressed
emotion Roberts tale of his Pollyop's
trials, and now as he recollected them,
ha could scarcely restrain himself. Yet
- realized the young man was right,
%, pulling the child's bowed legs
around his neck, he faded stOlidly In
to the falling snow.
Inside the hut Polly Hopkins was
seated. tensely silent, her slender fin-
gers clasped together about her knees.
suddenly she heard voices other than
the low hum of MacKenzie's questions
and Evelyn's sobbing answers in the
eoop-hole.
She, arose slowly, ready to spring
at Larry Bishop or Lye Braeger II
they appeared at the door. To send
them away instantly was the decision
that she made rs she saw the latch
lift and the door slowly swing In. A
figure she recognized with startled eyes
stepped across the threshold; she sat
down, but was up again before he
spoke.
The man she had so longed to see
had come again. But now he was here,
she did not dare let him stay mo-
Dent. Marcus Mackenzie might come
out Of the coop-hole even before she
could send the newcomer away. While
be was pressing his great coat collar
down over his shoulders, she tiptoed
20 him and with uplifted hand whis.
pered:
.Hushl Go away! Go away
auickr" Making backward gesture,
she added: "There's some one In the
eoop-hole don't want you to see."
His errand having completely left
bis mind, Robert, after q moment Of
startled Inspection, stopped stifiiy by
the door. The resentment and jealousy
he had nursed 30 long fiared into ac-
dive life and licked him like flames.
Clothes such as she wore had never
been paid for with squatter money!
|Dhe was beautiful! So much his eyes
told him, but he knew she was not
konesti
She had said there was some one
n the
He fixed her with stern eyes and
ehsn showed her aside.
"I'm going to see who he Is" he
snapped.
Polly's fingers caught him as he
tried to pass her.
'No. you can't 60 in there" she
aried. "Please don't do It."
The sound of their voices brought
Marcus Mackenzie out. into the kitchen
In one stride. He halted at the sight
Of the squatter girl hanging desperate
" to Roberts arm. An exclamation
broke from MIN; and with one wrench
Percival was free and was at him.
$50 it's you'll" he said In tone that
told Polly Hopkins what was in his
mind. "Damn you, you hypocrite-"
His voice broke off, and he brushed
his eyes across with shaking fingers.
There behind Marcus In the coop-hole
doorway was his pale cousin.
"Evelyn!" he gasped thickly. "God,
what's this all about7 Every one Of
vou look as if-as If"
Bewildered and overcome, he could
not npjsh his sentence.
NaN,hs had caught Evelyn to him;
md Pollyop, tearlessly ashamed. had
Iunh into the big chair to hide the
lnery which she knew had brought
ne hurt into Roberts eyes. She
Wished she was clothed in daddy's
,oots and her own calico dress!
~Shut the door, Bob" Marcus or
Iered a. calmly as he could.
Mechanically Robert did as he was
ptUutus WHEN NC tuAucu again. NaA-
us was seated, with Evelyn clinging
0 him, and Pollyop's face was COW
red by one arm.
Evelyn began to cry weakly.
Bob. dear" she broke out. looking
y at her cousin with streaming eyes,
Pollyop's been SO good to me-"
That sounded to Polly as II some
s,e else were to be punished for the
lights work. 1
sNo. I amt" she protested. lifting |
sr head. II was awful badl l were
b only one to blame. I hated every
~ Of you. Let me tell all Of you
bout It." .a,s f
She began at the beginning and re-
seted how she had concoctsd the plan
, steal Mrs. Mackenzie. She spoke
Larry and Lys - her two frisnds,
ut did - vocation tAsir names.