Middletown transcript., 1922-03-18

when he returned, he would do some.
thing worth while, something to make
the world 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 meant to do
1t. SUPPOSE 1t did bring him into con-
flict with Marcus Mackenzie! He
knew how to fight, anG 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 dsciplining
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 writhing in the
strong arms of 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. Instnctively 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-
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
and tumble on the ground but Perci-
val avoided the rush, and struck as
Bennett went by. Again and again
Bennett tried to come to close quar-
ters. But he could not neither could
he hit his elusive opponent. At length
his own efforts as the blows he had
received.
Then Percival stepped in, and quick
ly 1t was all over Two wel-planted
thumps laid Bennett like u log on the
ground.
Robert busted off his hands, picked
Wee Jerry up, and handed him to his
sister.
'Dd he hurt you, Polly?" he queried,
and her answer was positively gleeful {:
mary bit, sir, an l reckon the big
lummox's got plenty this time"
Robert brushed off his clothes slow
ly. The farmer still lay on the ground.
Get 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."
Oscar rolled over and crawled slow
ly to his hands and knees.
"The grounds kinda wabbly, amt it.,
Oscar?" Polly gibed.
"Get out" commanded Robert, once
more.
Bennett scrambled to his feet, shook
his fist at Polly, snatched up the little
dead lamb, and in another moment
had climbed the fence and was gone.
"What were you fighting about 2"
began Robert, looking keenly at Pol
lyop.
Tears hung on the girls lashes, and
the sensitive underlip quivered.
oscar said as how Nannyop were
his" she murmured. weren't it awful
for him to swat it with that stone that
way?"
did you-" He broke off the ques-
tion abruptly. He was going to ask
her If she had stolen the lamb but an
expression in the pleading, misty eyes
stopped him.
Il found the little feller drownin' in
the creek, SIR" she explained with
bowed head. Il just took him home to
love him, that was ALL"
The strange, thrilling emotion that
had overcome Robert but short time
ago In the presence of this squatter
girl attacked him again.
"What can l do to help you, child?"
he demanded sharply.
Polly flung out her hand. Help!
that was what the squatters wanted.
The little lamb was dead. Nothing
could ever hurt it any more. But there
were her people
"Just help Daddy Hopkins'-she
choked and went on-"an' all the poor
folks in the Silent City, an'-all-Tll
love you forever and forever!"
After that the "littlest mother"
made large strides upward toward the
greatest mother" Every little wor-
ried thing in the woods, every heavy
heart In the squatter settlement felt
the difference in Polly Hopkins. She
smiled more, she talked more; and,