American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1922-03-24
Ccountinued from page u

straight young shoulders were covered
with wet curls that seemed to have
given to the wide eyes their shade of
ripe chestnuts.
Polly expected every moment that
Oscar would reach out for the pail,
and, though with bad grace, he'd give
her the milk just the same. She I'D
geted in her chair and drew a long
sigh-he was staring at her in such a
peculiar manner from under his heavy
brows.
Why had he not noticed before that
Polly Hopkins was so pretty, Oscar
wondered, and a slow smile parted his
lips. Polly's eyes lowered, and the
long dark lashes &nly added to Ben
nett's sudden admiration. A quick
drawn breath slipped audibly past the
mans teeth. PollyOp sensed in his at
titude toward her a new quality that
she recognized int~uitively as danger
u To bring his attention back to
the purpose of her visit, she ventured
to say:
II thought 1t wouldn't hurt you
none, Oscar, to gimme a little milk for
Granny Hope an Jerry. Pm always
runnin' errands for you an your
woman"
Benefits heavy farm boots made a
scraping sound under the table.
what good does that do me2" he
returned. upon my soul, 1 might as
well be without a wife as to have one
who won't live with me or let anyone
know I'm her husband. I'm gettin'
sick, good and plenty sick, l can tell
you, Miss Polly Hopkins"
This speech did not disturb Polly
over much, for he'd made it a dozen
times before. 1t was only the express
sion in his gaze, she did not quite
like. Her mind went to Evelyn Rob-
eFtseR, the girl that Oscar had mar
RED. AS IL 1t were but yesterday. she
remembered how two years ago she
had gone with them under protest to
a minister far back In the hills. Eve
lyn had explained that for some time
10 come no one but the three must
know OF the marriage.
Pollyop had learned a great many
things In two yearsl What girl does
not after she's passed her fifteenth
birthday? One of the things she had
found out was that Oscar was a dread
full person, more dreadful than most
Of the squatter men. OF course the
men folks of her people did beat their
women, now and then. That was their
right without any question. The blood
colored even her ears as she remem-
bered how Oscar hectOred his wife for
the money it was so hard for Evelyn
to get. Another. thing she had come
to understand was that. If Oscar had
not been afraid of the powerful Rob
ertson family, he would have forced
Evelyn into his home long before this.
1T had been a hard two years. task to
keep him quiet.
"Mebbe you are gettin' sick, Oscar"
she interposed. q" don't know
mebbe; but you know what that old
Miss Robertson would do to you an
her girl If you told. You'd get Eve,
nebbe, but you sure wouldn't get ans
more money"
The mans face darkened.
'4That's just the rub" he conceded,
but at that Eve Amt playing square
with me. The ROberts0ns have money
to burn, and she deals 1t Out to me In
small little dollars. / tell you I'm sick
Of the whole thing"
Polly noted the glitter In Benefits
angry eyes and felt again the CULVER
Of fear.
"She gives you all she gets her dn.
gers on" she came back at him In de-
tense of the absent Evelyn. Lots OF
dimes she's got along on about nothin'
to send you cash, an didn't / come
runnin' up here with it as soon as she
give 1t to me2 Now her mas gettin'
on that Eve amt spendin' her money
on herself, an she watches Ter like q
hawk does a chicken. She told inc
that only yesterday"
The squatter girl rose to her feet,
anxious to be gone.
oscar, you might be lettin' me
have Just a wee bit Of milk. You
amt losin, nothin' through me-"
She picked up the pail, and with q
growI the man snatched 1t out of hel
hand.
"Women're a did nuisance" he
grumbled. "Well, wait here"
He went a of the room, and Polly
Hopkins drew a long breath. 1t wal
getting harder every day to get this
milk she needed.
When Bennett returned, she wa
standing with her hand on the dool
knob, ready to 60. In silence she toel
the pail he offered her.
'Looka here. POllyop," he began alb
ruptlv. as Polly opened the door