Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-04-19


~YOu want 20 be free from me. Ell?
That's IL, Is itT" he sneered. "Some
other guy looming up TO love. I s'pose.
Wei. l don't mind who gets my leav-
ings II you make IL worth my while.
/ But n not"
Evelyn's pale. beseeching face lifted
20 his. She could not quit him with
out his promise that she should have
her freedom. Neither must he think
that she could get him a large sum
Of money.
Il can't get another dollar" she re-
peated hoarsely. Il simply can't. And
and must be free
A frOwn drew the mans heavy
brOws together until they touched. and
he lifted his fist 10 strike; but Polly
/ Hopkins. by one swift movement,
thrust Evelyn from under the mans
appraised arm and crowded In between
them. Because Evelyn was his wife.
he lad the right TO beat her II he
pleased, Polly thought, but he would
not dare TO strike Polly.
IF you've got to swat some one. os-
car" she gritted between her teeth,
swat meT
The beautiful white face came close
10 Benefits. and the challenge In the
squatter girls flashing eyes stirred
| feeling within him that be never had
had for Evelyn Robertson. Oscar had
always believed that a woman must
fear a man TO respect him, and that 10
respect him meant 10 love him. He
did not want Evelyn Robertson In the
/ farmhouse. but he did want money and
Polly Hopkins. II he could master
her as he had Eve. she would come 10
him willingly when he was ready for
her.
Working on that principle, he struck
out. As the huge fist came In contact
with Pollyop's shoulder. she staggered
backward. Her low cry was followed
by Eyelyn's scream The squatter girl
sank 20 the floor Imply. No one had
ever struck her before.
you've killed her" cried Evelyn
and Oscart Bennett. fearful that the
girls cIamor would summon some in
quisitive sQuatter. turned swiftly 10
90.
Both OF you keep mum about this,
my lady," he ordered. I'm of Sect"
With that he tore open the shanty
/ door: and Evelyn stood painting with
her hand on her heart until the sound
of his running footsteps was lost In
| the windstorm.
Then Evelyn led Polly Hopkins
home. one arm hung at the squatter
girls side; and the pain IN her shoul-
/ der. where Oscars fist had landed. was
terrific. on nearing the shack, Polly
whispered:
sATebbe he'll be quiet a while now.
You'd best scoOt home. huhT"
A small box passed from Evelyn's
handbag to the squatter girls pocket.
Il brought them for Jerry" said
Evelyn softly. "and oh. Polly, what
ever can I do for you TO even up
things7 Perhaps"
~Soo0t home" interrupted Polly.
SIN goin' In"
Pollyop stole into the shanty in the
greatest torment she had ever known.
Granny Hope and Daddy Hopkins had
gone 10 bed. and she could near her
fathers loud breathing from the back
room. She was glad of that. for II he
were 10 learn how she had been hurt,
/ his rage would know no bounds. She
lighted a candle and looked about
dazedly. The billy goat was snuggled
/ against the wood-box; and Mamie
Lamb poked her head up and blinked
AZ the Hight. Polly put down the
candle and slipped the dress from her
shoulder. How dreadfully IL hurt herl
/ oh. how she wanted something 10
make her misery lessl But squatters
ara not have money TO spend on drug
store remedies.
From an old can she poured a little
coal oil on a rag and bathed the In
iured flesh. Then she took up the
lamb and dropped into a chair by the
table. In sheer exhaustion her head
sank down upon H. After a while she
straightened UP. threw back her curis'
and raised the lambs face 10 hers. a
WY smile aitting across her lips.
ats goin' 20 be a hard Job loyin'
Oscar and Old Marc like Jesus loved
wicked folk, Nannyop." she said under
her breath. hut mebbe now ! been
face 60 face with a angel, can do H..
Again her head fell forward; but
almost Instantly she arose. and with
the lamb IN her right arm Ike a baby
moved TO the side OF the bed. Then
she snuggled the lamb under the
blankets and put Granny Hopes Bible
beneath her pillow. Carefully she
slipped OF her clothes and put on a
coarse nlghtrobe. Then. having snuffed
the candle, she orawled In beside the
lamb.
CHAPTER VI.