The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-05-12
CHAPTER xvI-continued.


that your manIl be hikin' here faster
crow can fly"
Evelyn raised her hend
kiss me. Polly dear" she begged
with streaming eyes.
"All rIghtr murmured the squat
ter girl. "Kisses're mighty comfortin
amt they7"
She stopped and laid her lips OF
Evelyn's and, turning swiftly. left tn,
room. Evelyn heard her snufing thu
candles outside and then heard tn,
latch click as Pollyop closed the dooi
behind her.
Bounding out into the snow. PoIlyoI
raced through the road toward Bish
ops hut. for she had decided to speak
TO him before going on. She lifted
the latch and peeped In.
Larry sat by the stove. putting his
pipe. He gave her but glance then
dropped his head mournfully.
"Where's Lye, Larry?' Polly asked
In a kissing whisper.
"Gone home" came In grunt
"IIes sick TO his stummjck, an so be
J. I'm most froze. too"
With her hand on the latch of the
door which she had closed against
the storm, the girl stood In shIvering
indecision. She felt intuitively the
inner emotions going on inside the
stolid speaker. She wanted to throw
her arms about him and tell him all
thu: had passed In her home during the
last hour. But If she did. Larry would
take The blame of the crime on him.
self. OF course he would Polly Hop
kins knew the heart of Larry Bishop
as If she had made It herself from
shack had been Old Marc, he would
have had no conjunction In putting
him out Of the way. but a woman
81 don't want you for anything to-
night. Larry Bishop" she broke out.
fumbllng with the latch "An', mind
you, dearie, never tell nobody you an
I.ye swiped Old Mares woman. That's
q promise Larry, amt it?"
"Yep," replied Bishop. nauseated.
"Then go to bed an sleepl" returned
Pollyop. you'll get warm. an'-an'-
III see you tomorrow-mebbe. won't
be needn' you In my shanty tonight"
Then she went swiftly out, slammed
the door and was away like a 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 act. 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 wife's mother were together.
the lady stretched out on the divan,
and Marcus pacing the floor. Since
Mackenzie had left 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
cilious days.
Having set in motion what aid he {
could summon from town and coun-
Try, he had come back home to the !
lysterical mother. He had no com
orting assurances to give her, or any I
o allay the burning grief within him .
elf. Evelyn had disappeared as II :
he ground had opened and swallowed q
er up. He paused in front of Mrs. +
robertson. his dark. handsome face 4
'orking painfully.
you're very sure she was feeling h
ell just before she went out?" he
lqulred. "She didn't act as IL she :.
nd anything to worry over?"
Mrs Robertson used her handker- II
lief before she answered.
~ can't think of anything" she hes :,
ated, unless it was about Bob. Late :
he's been so different. / asked Eve !"
he day" She broke off and dis :"
lived In tears.
"Yes. you asked her one day =
hat?" Mackenzie urged. =
at was about Bob" continued the
eeping lady. Eve thought he was y
lffering over-over-"
"Well !" snapped Marcus. !"
Would the woman never cease her
;erlasting crying and give him clue
she had one? u
''Weil !" he goaded her on more furi- o.
lsiv
'I'o'ly Hopkins :" she sobbed "Eve g
I'D yous continual pounding at the q
luatters had about broken the boys
,lrfr.~- M
Rubbish :" exclaimed Mackenzie st
Eve wouldn't waste her time worry NJ
x over such rats. Bob's fool I've he
scovered Where is hep tn
81 don't know" answered Mrs. Rob- tn
tson. 'He goes away for days at ha
ne without saying "a word to Eve tn
me. And he looks perfectly dread CT
!. think Evelyn's grieved over
~ Sa
aWhy didn't you tell me 80 beforeT I'M
ed the man, turning on her swiftly.
d have soon made my young gentle Re
n nut on smile. at least when
-.