Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-04-05

You needn't be mad because l swatted
you one. You aren't my woman yet,
but you're going to be just as soon as
| can get shut Of my lady Robertson. :"
Observing no signs of softening In the
girls face, he switched his attack.
Say. where'd you get that lamb7'
This query unfolded new terrors for
Polly. She had not thought of the
lamb belonging to anyone but herself.
Had she not found him dying in the
water and loved and fed him ever
since2 She looked first at the man.
then down at the lamb.
Hes mine, Oscar" she hesitated.
I've had him two hull days now"
Oscar laughed.
"A likely storyi' he jeered. "How
long since sQuatters raised sheep7
Where'd you get himf'
''Found him." she answered, putting
her hand on the little animal.
''Then he isn't yours" he retorted,
"and he can't be anybody's but mine.
| thought was missing some lambs"
Polly's eyes filled with alarm. She
was trying to frame an argument In
favor Of herself and the creature she
loved.
when you find thing dyin' In a
creek. Oscar" she faitered at length
"you can take him home an love him,
now can't your"
The mans loud guffaw brought a
deep flush to the girls face. She
placed herself directly between him
and the lamb.
He's mine," she insisted. He'd
drowned sure IL i hadn't jumped into
the drink an pulled him out"
Her words made the farmer certain
where the creature came from.
dead or alive. he's minei" he ex-
claimed.
Besides coveting the lamb. he hated
the squatter girls way Of fondling ami
mails. When he got her. he deter
mined, he would take all Of that kind
of nonsense out Of her.
With one sweep OF his mighty hand,
he thrust her aside, and. whipping out
his knife. he cut the rope that held
Nanny Hopkins to Polly's arm. Then,
in spite Of the girls frantic cries and
her desperate fighting against IT. o.
car picked up the lamb.
Pollyop screamed franticaliy, for
from the look on his evil face, she saw
instantly what he intended to do. He
was going to kill Nannyopl Again she
flew at him, but he was tall and strong
and held the lamb aloft In the air,
high out Of her reach. With a rough
oath he pushed the girl from him so
roughly that she fell. When Polly
scrambled up, he had the lamb In one
hand and large stone In the other.
"OscarT' she shrieked.
She dropped to her knees, clasped
Wee Jerry in her arms. and shrouded
his face and her own In her curls.
When she dared look up again, Oscar
had thrown the dead lamb on the
ground.
There" he gritted. that's to teach
you lesson. Miss Poll Hopkins. And
now I'll open your eyes to something
else.s
AS he 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's 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
1t. Percival checked HIS horse. Bay
Dexter shook his head and chRmped
his bit In disapproval. he was &C
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 com
PEELED to mog along like a worn-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 careiessly, in mood of hot pa
triotism and because 1t was the thing
to do. Over there he had done his
share aud gained, especially from his
French comrades. an inkling of iife's
vital purpose. He had decided that,
when he returned, he would do some
thing worth while, something to make
the world 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 PoIlyop's plea. He had promised to
help the squatters. and he meant to do
1t. Suppose 1t did bring him into con-
fict with Marcus MacKenziei He
knew how to fight and 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 q woman heateDi