The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-04-14


Blinded by tears. she felt her wa.
TO the cot. Benneti lay in the san'
position, his wide-open eyes hoIdin,
an expression of horror
She's got lily liver all right, Os
car" Polly Kissed through her teeth
did you hear all what she snid2"
Such is the power of habit over {
nature like the squatter girls thai
Robert faded from her mind. and 0s
car Bennett. suffering and dying, alb
sorbed her whole attention.
Cant you hear anything. OscarY
she questioned. Listen, mebbe you'll
get well. If you do. take your old
nanny an get out quick. Eve amt
worth one of your toe nails You've
been mean duffer, Oscar. Eut you're
too d--n good for her God. but she
were wicked woman. wasn't she,
huh?"
Not a move of the heavy head on
the pillow gave evidence that she had
been heard
She was still standing by Benefits
side when, without Knocking Robert
opened the door and came In. followed
by the doctor. Polly recognized the
stranger instantly as the medical man
who lived a short distance down the
boulevard. In anxious inquiry she
glanced at Perciyal.
Observing that she had been weep
ing, his anger fiared again. 1t never
occurred to him that his own cruelty
had drawn the tears from her eyes.
There was the huge farmer stretched
out on the bed; and the squatter girl
crying beside him She was mourning
over the stricken mani Robert
frowned; and hopelessly, in silence,
Polly moved aside to give the doctor
the space she had occupied.
After hasty examination of the pa
tient. Doctor Bacon turned to Polly
Hopkins.
Something struck him." he said
shortly. you've been quarreling with
him, eh. girl? What did you hit him
with?"
Accusation rang against her not
only in the speakers tones but in Rob
ert's inarticulate cry.
"Why did you strike him. Polly Hop
kins?" he demanded hoarsely. did
you? Speak Did you?"
That he should believe such things
of her crushed her completely. Her
ert spoke again harshly did she an
swer.
Nope" she breathed. Her tongue |
felt as If it were covered with ashes. |
Nope. | didn't hit himl''
That was all she said. She looked |
up at him pleadingly through her thick
ashes. Perhaps he did not really he
Iieve her guilty. Yes, he did He was
still fixing upon her that accusatory
gaze.
He'd better be moved out of this
hole" observed the doctor. looking
around, but it's an awful night" He
considered moment and then added
III telephone to Ithaca for an ambu-
ance"
Sternly he directed a look of disgust
It Polly. He hated attending the
quatters anyway. and never would
lave consented to enter the Silent City
Robert Percival had not come for
lin.
Aghast at the horror Of the emer-
.ency. Pollyop seemed not to notice
he physicians contempt.
rs he goin' to die. mister?" she
ueried plaintively.
81 don't know" he replied in gruT
as he prepared draught.
When everything within human
over had been done for Oscar Ben
EFT, Robert allowed the doctor to pass ,
ut of the hut before him. Then. like ,
shot, he turned back to Polly's side. .
lis eyes blazed with jealousy; and
uickly it crossed her mind that he {
as going to strike her. oh How she
ished he would and then take back I
II the cruel words lie had hurled at
erl r
when yoI said you loved me. you I
ed" he gritted savagely. "YOu knew
! the time you had him. You let nue. h
ISIS you'll You said love was the y
-ea:est thing In the world oh. God
ow | wish / could hate you 7" h
Polly could not speak. neither could q
lie move. Imprisoned tragedy lay In
e depths Of her eyes. If he had been =
SIS violent. she would have implored .,
m to trust her. n
Perciyal really hoped she would re- ri
mt his accusations. Stormy denials
)uld have been sweet music TO his n
RS. He would have welcomed even :,
torrent of abuse from her. Anything
is less maddening than this sinister "a,
ence that seemed to put the stamp -
truth upon his Cousins explanation IN
Benefits presence. 81
why don't you speak?" he rasped. ri
When she showed no signs of an ~.
erng. he turned TO go. The door n,
IS swinging in his hand but he did
I pass out. II was as though the m
eny scorchlng him fused all his emo
ms: and in a flash he realized that
loved her just the same No matter
at she had done. he loved her and
woman In the world could or would 20
,e her place. it,
re whlrled around and with one in