The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-04-15
shaking with fear from hesd - .oot.
CHAYTEI xVn.

containing <Wo men 9HS Ahue Va
vns making slow progress along the
drifted boulevard. About two miles
from Ithaca double cutter. with sleigh
bells ringing, dashing, by them, tie
lntle light on the back OF It glowing
like a steady red eye until sharp
curve in the road blotte1 1t from s!sht.
Somebody else out II IT'S bad
night" commented the older man, who
held the boy.
! They went awful fast too. Daddy
Hopkins" murmurcd tho child. "Estnt
, 'um. darlin':"
! Yep, son." was the reply. "SleIghs
60 over the snow bcttern wagons"
| The words hardly penetrated the
younger mans rcvery. His thoughts
| were busy with a squatter girl VINO
would have a real Thanks wing tie
rrxt day. Her JOY he could picture. but
he could not join It. All his thoughts
OF her were marred by another vision
that poisoned his every moment Never
since he had found Oscar Bennett dying
in Pollys bed had he known q peaceful
instant
! When the vehicle came to the corner
where MacKcnzies magnificent turnout
had swung into the lane leading to the
row OF squatter shacks at the lakeside.
| Robert Percival opened the carriage
door and thrust his head out.
This Is where we turn" he shouted
! 10 tho driver. Go slow! The drifts
are deep all the way down" -
! When he settled again into his seat
he remarked:
ITS a bad night, Hopkins. Perhaps
il would have been better to have wait.
cd until morning after ALL
The other man bent over the boys
head and laid his face against IT.
"'Twould had TO be something more'n
! snowstorm to keep me in Ithaca all
! night" he returned. where my pr :tty
brat is, want to be-"
| "ot course. of course" sighed RIB
ert. =
But he did not utter aloud the thought
which flung to his lips that he was tor
tured by the same wish, too. VIVA! he
I'D say was:
Your daughter will be asleep, I've 10
doubt"
"Mebbe," Hopkins answered. But
| Pollyopn be glad to hop out Of bed
for her daddy an Jerry baby"
Then he coughed as II trying TO add
! something else.
IT been wantin to tell you all day, Mr..
Percival," he said awkwardly, how
grateful 1 be to you. It's kinda hard to
! say 1t in words"
There's no need. I assure you" re-
turned Robert. The only thing re-
sret Is that you should have been COM
PEELED to stay in prison so long"
! But we're home now" was the hap
~ answer. AN I'm thankin' you for
me an my brats too"
"rollyop." squeaied the child. wriE-
Cling. Daddy, Wee Jerry wants Pol.
! lop."
Hush, Jerry" soother his father.
We're a-comin' near home now
There: Here We be-"
As they descended from the carriage.
the baby hid his face in his big faith
er's shoulder.
The snow was still falling quietly
into the dark lake. and the souatter.
with a throb at his heart. caught the
thread Of light at the edge Of the win
dow blind Of his home. Then his Pol
lyop was still up.
Cover your horses and walt here"
directed Percival to the driver. Then
TO Hopkins he said: "As told you.
sir your daughters suffered frightful-
/ ~. Poor girl, am afraid, IL you ap-
pearcd without warning, the shock would
be too much for her. DO as We agreed
in town. and 80 to Bishops shack until
I come for you. III tell her you and
the boy arc home
A long sigh slipped from the squat.
/ ter's lips. He desired TO rush IN and
hold his sirl-brat to his overwrought
/ heart. He had heard with suppressed
/ emotion Roberts tale Of his Poflyop's
trials. and now as he recollected them
! no could scarcely restrain himself. Yet
he realized the young man was right.
So pulling the childs bowed legs around
his neck, he faded stolidly into the
! falling snow.
Inside the hut Folly Hopkins was
! seated. tenscly silent her slender nm
gers clasped together about her knees.
/ Suddenly she heard voices other than
the low hum Of MacKenzie's questions
and Evelyn's sobbing answers in the
coop-hole
! She arose slowly. ready to spring at
Larry Bishop or Lye Braeger II they
appeared at the door. To send them
away instantly was the decision that she
made as she saw the latch lift and the
door slowly swing in. A hEure she
recognized with startled eyes stepped