Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-05-11
CHAPTER !.

-Four miles from Ithaca, N. Z.
Oscar Benefits farm spread its acres
along the face Of West Hin between
the Lehigh Valley tracks and the high
way leading to Johannesburg. Oscar
Bennett was what the country people
and even the Ithaca folks called q nne
farmer. His farmhouse faced O lane
that led TO the west shore Of Lake
Cayuga, and from the front porch he
could see, much to his dislike. the few
struggling squatter Shacks that
brought to an end northward the 81
lent City. Like ell other substantial
citizens, Oscar detested the squatters.
In his estimation they were q set OF
thieving loafers and sneaks, and many
times he had wished that he owned
the ground they sQuatted on instead
Of Marcus Mackenzie.
OF course 1t was no secret that
Mackenzie never let an opportunity
slip to pop q fisherman into jail, but
In Benefits opinion that treatment
was not severe enough, and besides, It
did not accomplish anything. Mac
Kenzie's idea was to jail the men
whenever the chance came and for a
period as long as the law would allow.
But what good did that dot Fierce
hatred famed in the haggard faces Of
the women, and they held to their
sQuatter rights with the tenacity Of
leeches until their husbands were
given back to them. Bennett would
have done away with the wives and
mothers If the Job of breaking up the
Silent City had been his. No man
would hang to a hut long without a
woman In II.
One morning in the early spring Os-
car was finishing his breakfast when
the door opened slowly. A girl with
q small tin pail in her hand stepped
into the room. She smiled at him al
most humbly.
"Shut the door I" he shouted at her
"Where's your manners, Polly Hop
kInsf Can't you see the rains com
ing In after youF'
The smile faded from the girls face
Mechanically she turned, closed the
door and, unlimited, seated herself In
4 chair and placed the pail at hes
saRe.
80 you've coma begging, POllyop,'
went on the farmer, wiping his lips
on the sleeve Of his Bingham shirt
'FWalL, you might as well turn tai
and run home again, for you're not 60
ing to get anything more from me.
don't want a poacher's brat aroun'
here"
The girls bare wet feet drew tense
ly backward under the chair; but sh
remained discreetiy silent. Oscar a
ways abused her and called her names
but that was because she was q squat
ter. After a while, he'd change hi
mind, and then she would take HON
what she came for. She noted with
quick breath that Oscars eyes softene
during the time he was silent. The
boded well for her errand; but Be-
nett's mind was not on milk or an
OF those suffering for the want Of 1t.
He had Just discovered that Poll
Hopkins was beautiful even II 81
were barefooted and ragged. III
straight young shoulders were covert
with wet curls that seemed to ha'
given to the wide eyes their shade
ripe chestnuts.
Polly expected every moment tn
Oscar would reach out for the pa
and, though with bad grace, he'd gt
her the milk Just the same. She a
geted In her chair and drew a lol
etgh--he was staring at her In such
peculiar manner from under his hea'
brows.
Why had he not noticed before tn
Polly Hopkins was so pretty, Csc
wondered, and a slow smile parted /
lips. Polly's eyes lowered. and I
long dark lashes only added to Rt
nett's sudden admiration. A gull
drawn breath slipped audibly past t
mans teeth. Pollyop sensed in his
titude toward her a new quality II
she recognized lntuitively as dang
Gus. To bring his attention back
the purpose Of her visit, she ventuI
to say:
Il thought It wouldn't hurt y
none, Oscar. to gimme a little milk
Granny Hope an Jerry. I'm alive
runnin' errands for you an "
woman"
Benefits heavy farm boots made
scraping sound under the table.
what good does that do me7s
returned. upon my soul, ] might
wan BE- without q wife as 10 have 3
who wonst live with me or tel anye
kH1w I'm her husband. nm ketl
mex, good and plenty sick, l can
y66, Miss Polly Hopkins
This speech did not disturb Pc
oy9f much, for be-. made II a doz
Dimes before. ii vas only the expr
gIDh Ia bits gaze. sbe AID not az
lka Her mind went To Evelyn n,
sff3en. the gfri ihat Oscar had rnl
Hell ~ IL It were but yesterday, j
remembered how TIVE years ago j
hsa 8ons with them uadsg profess