The Raymer enterprise., 1922-06-29

A thoughtful moment or two passed,
while Polly Hopkins gazed at her
hands locked together In her lap.
"You can't tell me nothin' about o.
car" she remarked at length. Il know
the dirty duffer, an ! don't know
nothin' good about him. you can bet
your boots on that" She paused while
through the open doorway her eyes
were fixed upon ieecy cloud, high
up in the deep blue sky. "But that
don't make no difference" she contin-
ued. "If linked up with Oscar, would
that pup. Old Marc. let the squatters
siny In the Silent Cityr'
"why. Polly. dear. Of cours. ne will
! talked with Oscar last night. and I'll
speak to Mr.. Mackenzie Just az. soon
as you promise to do what Oscar
wants."
Again the smiling face Of Robert
Percival cut across Polly Hopkins
mental vision, and through the silence
Of the shanty she head his voice deep.
low and like music. Then the evil
face Of Bennett wormed itself into her
mind. Her lids drooped. and she shud-
dered.
Il couldn't do IT. ma'am." she
walled. Il Just couldn't do that!'
Evelyn arose and stood over her.
you must. Polly" she asserted
again. Good heavens, it's the chance
Of your life! OF course you'll do II,
Polly Hopkins. Take a little time to
think It over. I'll bring Oscar to see
you some day when Mr.. Mackenzie
and my cousin Robert are away"
At the sound Of that beloved name,
Polly's head fell forward.
"Scoot now" she said. her curis hid
Ing her face. "I'll think about It"
After Evelyn had gone. Polly me
chanically resumed her sewing. Il
seemed that her hearts Joy had wholly
died within her. Patiently she tried
to turn her attention to the work IN
her hands, but again and again SIZE
caught herself sitting with Idle fingers.
Finally, worried by the conflicting
emotions that were crowding in upon
her, Polly flung herself Into the opea
and ran swiftly along the ragged rocks
to little glen where many a time she
had been before. Here she waded
through the brook and sank down be-
side 1t. Aiind-picture after mlnd.plc.
ture passed before her. She saw
Daddy Hopkins happy with Jerry In
the shanty. no longer afraid to ash
and hunt. Then she visioned the 81
lent City, safe at last. and saved by
her. Her head sank into her hands |;
and sobs racked her slender body.
But II was not long before she sat
up and tossed back her curls. II
seemed as II she had heard a voice.
She turned her head slowly; and 10.
Robert Percival was standing across
the creek. smiling at her.
II followed you, Polly Hopkins" he
called. and springing across the water,
he added: "You ran 80 fast lost you
at the corner of the ragged rocks. and
its taken me all this time to find you"
He sat down beside her and took her
hands; but Polly could not look up
at him. Embarrassed beyond utter.
ance, she withdrew her fingers, letting
them fall listlessly. Robert laughed.
Her lovely face. first white then scar
let. only told him that she was glad
to see him. and spoke Of girlish limo.
cence. dear to all men.
"You went away so suddenly the
other night" he ranrsn. II didn't have
I chance to say half I wanted to. I
had something for you. too, but
couldn't get away until today to bring
II down."
He pulled little roll Of paper from
his pocket and handed It to her. Won
deringiy she opened It. and there was
an exact reproduction Of THE Great
est Mother In the World"
Polly was 50 overcome she contln-
ued silent.
Don't you like It, little Pollyopr
queried Robert, putting his fingers un-
der her chin and raising hsr face to
his.
"Yep!" she whispered. blushing.
"Sure. sure do. love It."
"Then why don't you smile7" he de-
manded; and az she shyly complied
with his request, he ran on: "rve
talked with Mackenzie, and he's 20
set Confound It! He makes me 20
hot can scarcely listen to him. But,
Polly dear. I'll do everything I can.
I've got money and friends, a. well a.
he has. and I'll use 'em too. VIII you
trust me. sweetY
She bowed her head In grateful a.
sent. How she thrilled at the touch
Of the warm. white hand!
"Look at me. dearie." he begged.
and. when she did flash him . rosy
glance, he caught her to him. II love
you. little girl" he whispered.
"An' loves the greatest thing 10
Ithaca. amt itr she murmured In
trembling confusion.
"Yes, yes" he breathed. Little
giri--oh. my littlest dear"
His voice trailed away. and his pas
sionate kisses made Polly Hopkins for
get everything but him. Primeval pas
sion rose within her. She had found
hor man and nothing sh0uId faka him