The Lamar register., 1922-03-08
speed ne naQ.

speed ne mao.
The sight of Pollyop writhing In the
strong arms of a man he did not recog
nize made Percival see red He was
off his horse with one leap, and two
long strides took him to Oscars side
One blow from his powerful knuckles
In the farmers face staggered Bennett
and freed Polly so quickly that she
fell to the ground. Instinctively she
crawled out of the way of the battling
men. The blow that had released her
had done no damage to Bennett ex-
cept to aggravate his rage. He recov-
cred himself and confronted his assall-
ant. dripping oaths like ram from
cloudburst.
Bennett took the offensive. his fists
flying like fails. He wanted to get
his arms around the other fellow, TO
trip him and make the fight rough
and tumble on the ground, but Perci-
val avoided the rush. and struck as
Bennett went by. Again and again
Bennett tried to come to close quar-
tiers. But he could not neither could
he hit his elusive opponent. At length
he hesitated, distressed as much by
his own efforts as the blows he had
received.
Then Percival stepped in, and quick
ly II was all over. Two well-planted
thumps laid Bennett like log on the
ground.
Robert busted of his hands, picked
Wee Jerry up. and handed him to his
sister.
"Did he hurt you. Polly?" he queried.
and her answer was positively gleeful:
Mary bit, sir. an l reckon the big
lummox's got plenty this time"
Robert brushed Off his clothes slow
iy. The farmer still lay on the ground
"Get up" ordered Percival scornful-
ly. touching the PROSTATE man with
the toe of his boot. Get up and make
of II you don't want me to lick you
again"
Oscar rolled over and crawled slow
ly to his hands and knees.
"The grounds kinda wabbly. amt II,
Oscar Polly gibed.
"Get out" commanded Robert, once
more.
Bennett scrambled to his feet, shook
his fist ut Polly. snntched up the little
dead lamb, and In another moment
had climbed the fence and was gone.
"What were you fighting aboutf"
began Robert, looking keenly at Pol
lyop.
Tears hung on the girls lashes. and
the sensitive underlip Quiyered.
oscar said as how Nannyop were
HIS" she murmured. Weren't II awful
for him to swat It with that stone that
wayf"
did you" He broke off the ques-
tion abruptly. He was going to ask
her II she had stolen the lamb but AN
expression I'm the pleading. misty eyes
stopped him.
IL found the little feller drownin' In
the creek, SIR" she explained with
bowed head. II just took him home to
love him, that was ALL"
The strange, thrilling emotion that
had overcome Robert but short time
ago In the presence Of this squatter
girl attacked him again.
what can ! do to help you, childT'
he demanded sharply.
Polly flung out her hand. Help!
that was what the squatters wanted.
The little lamb was dead. Nothing
could ever hurt 1t any more. But there
were her people
"Just help Daddy Hopkins"-she
choked and went on-"an' all the poor
folks in the Silent City, an'-all-Ill
love you forever and foreverr'
After that the ''littlest mother"
made large strides upward toward the
greatest mother" Every little wor-
ried thing In the woods. every heavy
heart in the squatter settlement felt
the difference In Polly Hopkins. She
smiled more, she talked more; and,
when she found a group of her women
folks wondering how their absent lad
dies were, she led them In smiling as
surance to Old Mares fence and there
repeated what Robert Percival had
said about the Greatest Mother In the
World.
One morning Pollyop was cleaning
the shanty and Granny Hope was seat
ed by the stove. A sharp rap came on
,ba door Wbap poIIy opanad II and