The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-06-16
cHAPTER xvl--centlnusd.

now while I'm Rnuc you Just la,
quiet-like, askin' Jesus every minnt,
that your NASH be hikln' here faster'f
crow can ny.s
Evelyn raised her head.
kiss me. Polly DEAR she begged
with streaming eyes.
SAN right" murmured the squat
scr girl eKisses're mighty comfortin'
ain't theyr'
She stopped and laid her lips on
Eveiyn's and, turning swiftly. left the
room. Evelyn heard her shutting the
candies outside and then heard the
latch click MS pollyop closed the door
behind her.
Rounding ont Into the snow, pnlIynp
raced through the road toward Bish-
ops hut. for she had decided TO speak
20 him before going on. She lifted
the latch ana peeped In.
larry sat By the stove. pulling his
pipe. He gave her bur glance then
dropped his head mournfIiliy.
'Where's Lye. Larryl" Polly asked
In kissing whisper.
Gone home" came IN grunt
"Hess sick 70 bis stfmmick. an so be
!. TEp most froxe. too
With her hand on tile latch Of the
door which she had closed against
the storm, the girl stood IN shIvering
iudeeisien. She felt lntuitiveiy the
inner emotions guing on inside the
stolid speaker She wanted to throw
her arms about him and tell him al
tlia had passed In her home during the
last hour. But II she did. Larry would
take the blame OF the crime on him.
self. OF course he would Polls Hop
klns knew the heart or Larry Bishop
as II she had made II herself from
God's own clay, II the person In her
shack had been Old Marc, he would
have had no compunction In putting
hIm out Of the way. but q woman
4 don't want you for anything to-
night, Larry Bishop" she broke out,
fumhiIng with the latch. "An'. mind
you, denrie, never tell nobody you an
I.ye swiped Old Mares woman. That's
q promise. Larry, alnt III"
yep replied Bishop, nauseated.
'"rhen so to bed an sleepls returned
rollyop. You'll get warm. an'--an'--
I'll see you tomorrow -mebbe. won't
be needin' you In my shanty tonight"
Then she went swiftly out. slammed
the door and was away like winter
bird. before the squatter could ques.
tion her.
Swiftly she ran on, her hair almost
on end because. TO save her friends.
she must face the naughty MacKen-
lie himself II had been her cruelty
that had prompted their net, and now.
besides saving Evelyn, she must shield
them, The nearer she came to the
Mackenzie house. the harder her heart
pounded with dread at the task before
her.
In the meantime Marcus Mackenzie
and his wIfs's mother were together.
the lady stretched out on the diyan.
ard Marcus pacing the floor. Since
Mackenzie had let the Hopkins shack.
he had ridden madly over the hills,
urging every man available to help
him find his wife, Secretly he had
wept tears such as never had poured
from his eyes before in all his super
c'llous days.
Having SET In motion what aid he
could summon from town and conn
try. he had come back home to the
historical mother. He had no conn
forting assurances 70 give her. or any
10 allAy the burning grief within him.
self Evelyn had disappeared as II
che ground had opened and swallowed
her up. He paused In from, of Mrs.
Robertson. his dark, handsome face
working painfully.
You're very sure she was feeling
we'll Just before she went outY' he
Inquired. "She didn't act as IL she
had anything to worry overf"
Mrs Robertson used her handker-
chief before she answered.
Il can't think of anything she hes.
Hated, -unless Il was about Bob. Late
" he's been so different. asked Eve
one day" She broke of and dis
solved In tears.
.Yes you asked her one day
ghatf" Mackenzie urged.
"lt was about Bob" continued the
weeping lady, Eve thought he was
suffering oyer--oyer--"
well !" snapped Marcus.
Would the woman never cease, her
everlasting crying and give him clue
II she mad one3
Well" he goaded her on more furi.
auSlv.
''I,olly Hopkinsn she sobbed. "Eve
saln your continual pounding at the
squatters had about broken the boys
sprrig.
-Rubbishi' exclaimed Mackenzie.
sEye wouldn't waste her time worry
ing over such rats. Bob,s a fool, I've
discovered Where is her"
50 don't know answered Mrs. Rob-
ertson. SHE goes away for days at a
time without saying word to Eve
or me And he looks perfectly dread