Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-03-03

When she dared look up again, Oscar
had thrown the dead lamb on the
ground.
There" he gritted, that's to teach
you a lesson, Miss Poll Hopkins. And
now I'll open your eyes to something
else"
As ne crossed to her. she tried to
struggle to her feet; but her legs were
weak, and she was sick over the quiv-
ering body there in the road. In an
other minute Oscar had snatched her
into his arms.
She shrieked again and again; and
Jerry'se loud cries followed. as she
fought desperately with the burly
farmer.
Once out of sight of the Red Cross
poster and the little group in front of
it, Percival checked his horse. Bay
Dexter shook his head and champed
his bit in disapproval. He was ac-
customed to mad, harum-scarum gal
lops, and he loved them; but this
morning, especially since the pause by
the fence corner, he had been ON
PEELED to mog along like a w%orn-out,
old nag.
His master was thinking, really and
seriously thinking. Happily born and
the heir to an immense fortune, his
way through life so far had been
marked out for him. He had gone to
war carelessly, in a mood of hot pa
triOtism and because 1t was the thing
to do. Over there he had done his
share and gained, especially from his
French comrades, an inkling of life's
vital purpose. He had decided that,
when he returned, he would do some
thing worth while, something to make
the world a little better because he
had lived in it.
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 meant to do
it. Suppose it did bring him into con-
fllct with Marcus Mackenzie! 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 disciplining
his wife, he decided; but he could not
stand to have a woman BEATEN
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.
The sight of Pollyop writing in the
strong arms of a man he did not recog-
nize made Percival see red. He was
off 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 x
cept to a~ggravate his rage. He recov-
cred himself and confronted his assail-
ant, dripping oaths like ram from a
%cIoudburst.
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
and tumble on the ground, but Perez
val avoided the rush, and struck as
Bennett went by. Again and again
Bennett tried to come to close quar-
tiers. 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 he had
received.
Then Percival stepped in, and quick
" it was all over. Two w~ell-planted
thumps laid Bennett like a log on the
ground.
Robert busted off his hands, picked
Wee Jerry up, and handed him to his
sister.
did he hurt you, Polly?" he queried,
and her answer was positively gleeful:
"Nary a bit, sir, an l reckon the big
lummox's got a plenty this time"
Robert brushed off his clothes slow
ly. The farmer still lay OIL the ground.
sect up" ordered Percival scornful-
ly. touching the PROSTATE man with
the toe of his boot. "Get up and make
off If you don't want me to lick you
again" Z
Oscar rolled over and craw1ed slow
ly to his hands and knees.
"The grounds kinda wabbly, amt 1t,
Oscar?" Polly gibed.
"Get out" commanded Robert, once
more.
Bennett scrambled to his feet, shook
his fist 1t Polly, snatched up the little
dead lamb, and in another moment
had climbed the fence and was gone.
"What were you fighting aboutT'
began Robert, looking keenly at Pol
lyop.
Tears hung on the girls lasheS, and