The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-05-04
CHAPTER ~.

As she ran, Polly Hopkins cogitated
on MacKenzie's words. Evelyn's moth
er had said hat she was as odd as she
was filthy.
Mrs. Robertson The arrogant wom-
an who lived on the hill in house al
most big enough to hold every person
In the Silent City ought not to say
anything against the squatters. III the
grand lady only knew 1t, her own
daughter had stopped to trick such
as would put to shame any hut-wom-
an. squatter wife would not leave
her man to do for himself or deny him
before the world Added to Polly's
personal humiliation was MacKenzie's
threat against Daddy Hopkins.
The hope Robert Percival's words
lad instilled In her seemed to die as
she Travelled, and her heart beat with
fear, for should Old Marc get his fin
gers on Daddy Hopkins, Polly had no
doubt there would be nothing but i'm
prisonment for him and the graveyard
for her and Jerry. She could not
think of life without her father. Not
a single night had she ever been away
from his kindly love and attention
before her of the baby's grief IL he
could not straddle daddy's neck and
play his father was a horse.
When she reached the top OF the
ragged rocks, she pulled up and cast
glance out over the lake. The calling
of her name made her turn swiftly.
Recognizing Evelyn Robertson's voice
she waited while the other girl came
down the path from MacKenzie's
woods. She was quite unlike the little
squatter. A fashionable raincoat pro-
teoted her from the wet; and she car
rled u light umbrella In her gloved
hand. The greeting between them was
one Of embarrassment.
~ were goIn' TO find my daddy"
Polly explained. Hes somewheres
along the lake. didn't know I'd come
on you this mornin'."
The memory of Mrs. Robertson's
words brought rush of color to her
face, and she looked down at her feet.
There surged up In her feeling that
any of these people. Why should shei
They were rich and she was only a
squatter brat She started to walk
away.
81 said" she flung over her shoul'
der. 81 were lookin' for my daddy
Good-by"
Evelyn Robertson was not interested
In jeremiah Hopkins. AS far as she
was concerned, the whole Silent City
might be washed off into the waves
and carried away. Her own troubles
filled her mind. The shock OF hel
mothers disclosure stunned her, fol
without the help she had expected
she could see no way out of Oscal
Bennett's clutches. In the meantime
the squatter girl was her only means
of communication.
"Wait, Pollyop, walt a minute
came down just to speak to you"
Wheeling slowly around, Polly face'
her.
"What do you wantr' she asked II
surly tones.
"Pollyop," CALCULATED Evelyn. com
Ing swiftly to her side, "I'm nlmos
scared to death. My cousin, Bob-oh
you've got to help me agalnw u
Bobl Then the soldier in the uni
form was Evelyn's cousin. Bob! Tha
was the incest name In all the world
a name fitted for the man who ha
dropped into the Silent City to he'll
along the squatters. Suddenly he
mood changed. She forgot Oscar Ben
nett and his odious words, forgot tina
the girl crying for her aid had Above
her mother to say dreadful thing
against her and Daddy Hopkins.
Evelyn were related to the soldie
then Polly Hopkins would do anythln
Miss Robertson asked of her
"What do you wantf" she repeate
shyly, blushing.
Its this" answered Evelyn. m
MacKenzie's home-and my cousi
came with him. My cousin, Robel
Perclvali 7"
"Is your cousin a handsome felle
with long legs an face"
Pollyop stopped for lack OF word
How could she describe the fine, syn
pathetic countenance she had see
from the hut rooff
"Yes." Evelyn interjected. Bob
swfully goojlooking. and he's tall to-
Now listen, Pollyop; you must 90
Oscar again for me this very day-ol
dear. he's so mean to met