Middletown transcript., 1922-05-27

the man at the door.
THAT amt no ways likely, Larry"
she said husklly. Bring 'er here, an
when I'm done with her, she'll have
TO be took"
She caught Bishop by the arm,
whirllng him around.
"An' listen. Larry" she continued
with cruel emphasis, "an' all the time
keep rememberin' how Betty walled
her life into the grave, an'-an' that
Old Mare done it"
Overcome by the words she had
thrown at him so deliberately, Bishop
flung away, and the girl, quaking ut
what was about to happen, heard him
running along the shore toward his
shack.
1t seemed to Polly Hopkins that
every minute was an hour long, and
every second filled with intolerable
anxiety. Would the soft-hearted Larry
repent and surrender the prize she
longed to get her fingers on?
In extreme nervousness she went
from one thing to another, never fin.
ishing what she began. She paced the
hut floor until she was dripping wet
with apprehensiveness. She had nc
means of knowing when Lye and
Larry would come; so she dared not
stir from the shack.
Many times she showed aside the
window blind and looked out. But
the world outside was wrapped in q
white silence. She could not even
glimpse the peaked roof of fisher.
mans hut, for between her and the
Silent City was flowing curtain OF
snow, the flakes falling like feathers
from an open bag.
Larry would keep his word, she told
herself over and over She was glad
1t was such night! The better coult
the sQuatters carry out their deatf
plan.
Unnoticed by the girl, the woot
burned to embers in the stove, and the
| hut grew colder by degrees. In one
| Of her half hours Of measuring the
shanty's length, she halted, breathln;
on her frost-bitten fingers. She drew
about her shoulders the blanket whicl
had covered Wee Jerry in his hu
days.
Her mind brought back to the baby
away off in some unknown place, sh,
cried weakly as she replenished thu
| fire. Had the wicked ones of tn,
earth made Jerry forget Daddy Hop
kins who up in Auburn was ignoran
Of his whereabouts? Many times Poll,
had taken up her pencil to write hin
Of the child, but 1t always dropped
from her fingers before it reached tn,
paper. Daddy could not do anything
and she would not add to his heav,
burden.
She was at the stove, her cold, stiff
fingers spread over 1t, when the SCUM,
of footsteps outside sent her headlon;
to the door. Appallingly terrified, sh
dragged 1t open.
Then, In deadening silence, Ly
Braeger and Larry Bishop carried
large bundle through the doorway an,
threw it down on Polly's bed.
Heavy-lidded, the girl gazed upon II
her eyes widening in joy, JOY at tn
thought Of Old Mares misery; joy n
the thought of getting even. TIL
frightful emotion that surged througl
her bore relation only by contrast +
the delights of few months bach
when her willing legs had trotted tn
country over to help every one tina
needed her. 1t wasn't the same Poll
at all. This Polly lifted her foot an
kicked the bundle none too lightly.
1--WE had HI Of time gettin' e
here, Poll" growled Lye Braegel
"Outside it's like If million Graz
devils was howlin' over the hills. Blu
we brought 'er just the same No,
do what you like with 'er, brat"
White teeth cleaned through tn
maniacal smile that parted the girl
lips. At last She had not live
through interminable days for notl
ing!
"Scoot out, you!" she ordered, wa,
ing her hand at them, IAN keep
watch about till get doner'
Braeger made for the door as
anxious to be gone; but Larry Bisho
held to the spot where he stood.
"She's a woman, Polly Hopkins" h
muttered, his eyes turning from tn
cot to the rigid girl, "if she is OF
Mares wife. He's home too, so Ly
says!"
"What do care where the pup Isl
she thrust in vehemently. occurs
she's woman! So be 1; an so wer
your dead Betsy"
Then she stamped her foot ten
pestuously.
"Get out of here an watch for Ma,
Kenzie an his folks" she snappe,
"It's about time he were stormin' tn
Silent City, I'm thlnkin'."
Roughly she showed the men OIL
into the blizzard and closed the doc
Then she stood with her back to |
deep sobs racking her body.