Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-05-11

ACAAa ~ NaAAS &Ao1G ~ AA1a e@a 80
backed to the door. His face was red
and agftated; the cords In his neck
were swollen while his fingers twisted
eagerly. That was another thing about
which PolIy's eyes had been opened In
two years Of growing womanhood.
When a man looked as Oscar did now.
a girl got away as fast as she could.
"You might pay me In Kisses" he
muttered hoarsely, towering over her.
Ten kisses for each bucket. You're
a heap prettier than Eve"
For a long moment Polly did not
speak. Her breast heaved as she
swayed backward.
II get all the kisses ! want to
home" she said. Here, take your
hand ofrn me. Oscar, OF I'll tell Eve
the first time I get sight of her" She
giared up at him like q cornered ami.
NAL. II said I'd tell Eve. I'll do more
than thatl I'll put old woman Rob.
ertson next to your coppin' her kid
an marryin' 'er."
Oscars fingers relaxed, and his h4nd
dropped away from her arm as 9
rough laugh left his lips. She looked
so lovely, her eyes blazing. her curls
tumbled In confusion on her shoulders,
that he would have taken his pay Cor
the milk without her permission II she
had not thrown at him q threat he
feared abe would carry out.
mems kisses are what you'll get
my pretty lass" he predicted grtnly,
''and II I was finished with Eve, BY
God. I'd set about getting my share.
] won't always be married to my lady
Robertson, mind you, Poilyop.h
The blood had left his face. He
was quite white and stern, and by this
time Polly was on the porch.
"'Tain't so easy to get unmarried
as it's to get married." she told him.
San mel Tn Just Daddy Hopkins
brat, an l don't want any kisses but
his'n. I'd let Jerry's tongue 90 twist
for milk before I'd pay for It with
with
Oscar sprang at her. She was SO
tantalizingly beautiful, 80 alluring even
in her grotesque attire that for the
moment he forgot he had reason to
fear her.
"I1l kiss you. anyway" he snarled,
but Polly, fieet-footed and afraid, shot
from the porch and reached the lane,
the milk dashing against the cover Of
the pail.
The man halted, looking after her.
With a shrug of his shoulders he
turned back into the house. For the
moment he paused In the kitchen; he
could hear his old mother pottering
about overhead In his bedroom. She
was doing the work his wife ought to
dol What a fool he had been to marry
Evelyn Robertsoni Instead Of the
fortune he had expected, he was tied
hand and foot without money or won.
an. He thought Of the radiant squat.
ter. girl who had just left him. Two
years ago womanhood had not dawned
upon Polly Hopkins, but today He
undertoned an oath and went out ID
the barn. k
Polly Hopkins ran down the lane al
fast as her legs could carry her. The
milk was safe In the bucket. and she
had scarcely reached the railroad
tracks before she had decided not Il
mention Oscars vicious demand upor
her. II she told Daddy Hopkins, HI
would do some harm 10 Bennett, ant
there would be no more eggs and mill
for Granny and Jerry. II she spok'
Of 1t to Evelyn, there was nc telling
what the girl would do.
The tangle-haired sQuatter girl wa
the daughter Of Jeremiah Hopkins, tn
mayor Of the Silent City, the leader 0
all those who lived In the rows Of hut
that al along the Lehigh Vale,
tracks and On down the lakeside.
Uncouth and ignorant were Jers
+. miah and his kind, and visitors VII
came to the little city Of ithaca agree
with the towns inhabitants that
was a shame the law allowed such
blot as the Silent City upon the MAJ
ural beauty Of Cayuga and Its maize
tic surroundings.
Pollyop stood shivering, her trouble
gaze searching the lake for a boa
Daddy Hopkins had gone away earl
with Wee Jerry, and she always wo
ried a little when they were out. z,
she knew that the only way to Z,
the bread, beans and bacon for II
family was for Daddy Hopkins I
defy the law and drag his nets whel
ever the game wardens we're d,
\ about. Without the lake and its hi
den food It would be q desolate worI
indeed.
] Wee Jerry was Poily's five-year-o
brother, and long before he coul
walk, he had chosen bis fathers b
shoulders upon which to beat his WI
H through an unfriendly and often hu
y CRY world. But this same world whi,
4 had wizened Jerry had given to Pol
= a wild beauty, a body strong and
. plant as a marsh reed.
With a sigh Pollyop turned to Il
house. The door was shut against Il
storm, and a thin curl OF smol
twisted upward from the toppli
\ chimney. losing itself in the bal
\ leaves Of the willows. The little lin
that had traced the troubled brt
vanished at the sight Of a slab
wood oyer the door. On 1t was pail
ed In crude letters: If your heart
loving and kind come right II. III,
q, amt, scoot or" PoliyDp and Gran
Hope had worked Q long time to ma
g this sigh, and even logger to nan
s& up.
n 'Tt1i help the Silent CITY fol-
~ tn~orr.se ~ ~kn dAA sx4A a trf j