Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-03-28

his riding whip; and Polly stepped
upon it.
"Now you listen to me-" he said
sternly. I've come with proposition
to your father, and if you've any influ-
ence with him, you'd better talk him
into IT," o.. , -
Polly's face frightened little. Then
it was not real harm coming to Daddy
Hopkins today. She wished now that
he would come In; and, almost as II In
answer to the throbbing of her nerves,
Hopkins passed through the doorway
with Wee Jerry clinging to his neck.
The trembling girl saw his face grow
gray at the sight Of his powerful
enemy. ,.. - "a"
Jeremiah made an awkward bob Of
his head to Marcus, slipped Jerry into
his arms and without a word sat
down. And Pollyop, full Of curiosity
and anxiety, sat down too, her bril-
liant eyes steadily leveled upon Mac
Kenzie.
Hopkins" began Marcus, "rve
come with a proposal to you. II you've
got any sense, you'll impress its value
on the rest of your fellows here, for
by hook or by crook, intend to break
up this settlement and burn these
shacks."
One long gasp came from Polly. Her
father said nothing but looked back at
the speaker as If he had not heard.
Daddy amt got the hull right to
say what's what" she interrupted sud-
denly. "There's lots of squatters."
"Then call in some of the Others" |"
Mackenzie snapped. sand don't be
long about it. I want to know what's
going to be done before 60"
Polly flashed glance at her father.
"Go get 'em, brat" he directed. AN
bring Larry"
Out into the settlement she went,
and, when she came back into the
shanty, there followed her an angry
set of illy-clothed- men; and outside a
sullen group of women waited to hear
what Old Marc had to offer. Q
One by one the men silently ranged
themselves in a row around the hut
wall while Polly stood at her fathers
shoulder, one hand resting upon 1t,
and the other on Wee Jerry's head.
Marcus Mackenzie knew the group
Of men he had to deal with. He knew
their wicked ways, how they thieved,
how they used their nets against the
law, and how they shot game out OF
season. He remembered, too, how
many had been sent to prison with his
aid, but this day he hoped to get rid
of them all at once. = :. '.'
81 want to pay you fellows to go
away from Ithaca" He pumped the
proposition at them badly. IF 1t
hadn't been the easiest way out, I
wouldn't have considered it a minute.
But after talking it over with my law
yer, I've decided to give you all a
sum of money If you'll leave peacea-
bly,"
A sound of boots moving on boards
was his only answer. Polly couglSd
nervously. ''-
"Now this Is what I'm going to
offer" went on Mackenzie. "No one
can make me raise the price one cent.
I'll give you men twenty-five dollars
apiece; you sign over to me your
sQuatter rights; then take your wom-
en- and kids and 60"
There was not a word in answer to
this. Only Wee Jerry felt Daddy Hop
, kins clasp him tighter.
Realizing that the stony silence that
met his offer was practically a re-
fusal, Mackenzie got to his feet.
"You can take it, or-or go to HI
for all carel" he exclaimed.
He turned toward the door; and
then Pollyop got back her breath, and
while the squatter men watched sui
lenly, she stepped in front of him.
you're in wrong, mister" she flared.
you're ID generous, amt you?
twenty-five dollars wouldn't take M
/ anywhere, an where would WE 60,
anyhow? This amt movln' day in the
Silent City. You've made your talk,
now Scoot along"
Marcus fixed her with eyes angry
beyond description. Her own blazed
back at him us she pointed toward the
/ door.
"Scoot out" she repeated, "an' don't
be comm again"
Mackenzie lifted his riding whip
threaeningly, and every man with a
grOwl started forward; but as the
whip fell back to his side. they sank
| down again.
Then 1t was that he shifted the whip
to his left hand and took from his
! pocket shining pistol; and although
Polly whitened, she held her ground.
and you, you impudent huzzy,"
snapped Mackenzie, what have you
got to do with it? What are you, u,'any-
Hay?'
In spite Of the deadly thing held in
the white, strong fingers, PolIys head
went up a bit.