The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1922-04-20


to the cot. Bennett lay In the same
position, his wide-open eyes holding
an expression of horror.
She's got lily liver all right, o.
car" Polly Missed through her teeth.
did you hear ali what she saidf'
Such ls the power Of habit over
nature like the squatter girls that
Robert faded from her mind, and o.
car Bennett. suffering and dying, alb
sorbed her whole attention.
Cant you hear anything. 0scarT'
she questioned. Listen, mebbe you'll
get well. II you do. take your old
nanny an get out quick. Eve ain't
worth one OF your toe nails. You've
been q mean duffer, Oscar. but you're
too d-n good for her. God, but she
were a wicked woman, wasn't she,
huhr
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 Percivnl.
Observing that she had been weep
Ing. his anger nared again. II 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 quarrellng with
him. eh, girl1 What did you hit him
with7"
Accusation rang against her not
only In the speakers tones but In Rob
ert's inarticuiate cry.
"Why did you strike him. Polly Hop
kinsr he demanded hoarsely. did
your Speak Did your"
That he should believe such things
OF her crushed her completely. Her
head fell forward. but not until Rob
ert spoke again harshly did she an
swer.
"Nope." she breathed. Her tongue
felt as II II were covered with ashes.
"Nope. ! didn't hit himr''
That was all she said. She looked
up at him pleadlngiy through her thick
lashes. Perhaps he did not really be-
lieve her guilty. Yes. ne did He was
still fixing upon her that aceusatory
gaze.
He'd better be moved out Of this
hole" observed the doctor. looking
around, "but it's an awful night" He
considered a moment and then added:
"I'il telephone to Ithaca for an ambu-
lance"
Sternly he directed look Of disgust
at Polly. He hnted attending the
squatters anyway. and never would
have consented to enter the Silent City
II Robert Percival had not come for
him.
Aghnst at the horror OF the emer-
gency. Pollyop seemed not to notice
the physicians contempt.
as he goin' to die, mlsterf she
queried pialnHvely.
II don't know" he replied In grufr
indecision, as he prepared a draught.
When everything within human
power had been done for Oscar Ben
nett. Robert allowed the doctor to pass
out OF the hut before him. Then, like
a shot. he turned back to Pollys side.
Hlsiseyes blazed with jealousy; and
quickly II crossed her mind that he
was going to strike her. Oh How she
wished he would and then take back
all the cruel words he had hurled nj
her
when yoI said you loved me. you
he'd" he gritted savagely. "You knew
all the time you had him. You let me
kiss you You said love was the
greatest thing In the world l-Oh. God
How | wish could hate your
Polly could not speak. neither could
she move. Imprisoned tragedy lay In
the depths OF her eyes II he had been
less violent. she would have lmplored
him to trust her.
Pereival really hoped she would re-
sent his accusations Stormy denlals
would have been sweet music 10 his
ears. He would have welcomed even
= torrent Of abuse from her. Anything
was less maddening than this sinister
silence that seemed to put the stnmp
OF truth upon his cousins explanation
OF Benefits presence.
why don't you speaiSr' he rasped.
When she showed no signs of nm
swermg, he turned to 80. The door
was swinging IN hts hand. but he did
not pass Out. II was AZ though the
agony seorchlng him fused all his emo
lions; and In a Hash he realized that
he loved hor just the same No matter
what she had done. he loved her, and
no woman In the world could or would
take her place