Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-05-25
cnAprER N.

replenlshed the nre and sat down wid
Jerry on her lap. She disrobed him
dried the small body, and placed hin
on the cot under the blankets. An
other piece Of candy was popped int
the ever-ready little mouth; and b
cuddled down contentedly.
His daughters cheerful face, wher
Jeremiah came home for his dinner
drove away, for the time being. the
dread her announcement Of Mac
Kenzie's return had stirred In him
Her description Of mending the rooi
brought a wry smile to his face. She
sat on his knee while he smoked bis
pipe and chartered Of the little int.
mate things Of the lakeside, and later
sent him and Jerry OF TO Larry
Bishops shack. feeling the better for
food and warmth and love.
At five o'clock, milk-pail In hand.
she took the lane that led to the Ben
nett farm. Nothing but her promise
to Evelyn would have dragged her
again that day into Oscars presence.
Nor did she consider that the message
she had to deliver would incline the
farmer to be very generous In the mat
ter Of milk. Suppose he demanded pay
for 1t on the basis he had suggested |
She rounded the building and went
into the COW stables. On a nail In the
wall hung q lantern, and the farmer
sat milking q COW.
"Hello, OscarF was her greeting. II
saw Miss Eve, but I didn't tell her
nothin' about the kisses you wanted"
Bennett turned and studied her curl
Ously, taking quick stock Of her. even
to the brown of her bare feet. No, he
had not made a mistake IN summing
her up that morning.
eTou better hadn't" he growled,
without interrupting his work. II sup.
pose you brought me some fool mes
sage from her, ehf" Having finished
the COW, he rose and stood with the
brimming pail Of milk in his hand.
"She sent you, didn't she7"
Polly hesitated a moment, coughed
and cleared her throat.
"A little milk for Jerry, please" she
suggested, extending her can.
Bennett snatched 1t from her hand.
"Good God. you squatters're nothing
but beggars," he grumbled, but be-
cause he was eager to get her message,
he filed the pail full. Smilingly Polly
took Il back.
"Tm thankin' you, Oscar" she
gurgled, FAN now mebbe a fresh egg
for Granny Hope?"
He made an angry motion with his
hand.
up in that box" he snapped. "Then
tell what you came fort What'd Eve
say7"
"Your woman sent werd by me, she
began-- u.s. M IA
TEL II. and don't be all day about
It" ordered the farmer.
P0iiyop took q couple Of steps back
ward3teward the door. ready TO 6y II
Oscar showed any signs OF unusual
wrath.
"She said you wasn't to write her
any more letters she replied. aShe's
awful scared. She trembled all over
when she told me-" NJ
what did she say about money!"
Bennett demanded grufgIy.
Through the dim light!of the lam
tern, Polly looked at him pleadingiy.
"she just can't got another cent"
she returned. IAN she's feelin' terrible
bad about It."
Although he had not finished his
task; Bennett Jumped up from his
stool, and n step took him very close
the nervous young speaker.
"She can't, ehT he cried. "She
means she won't. I guess. BY God, she
will. OF I'll come out with the whole
thing. You go and tell her SO. She's
got rich folks, and / didn't marry her
to keep quiet all my life. Tell her
she ZONES home here to me.
or she pays up. If she pays he
then laughed. =Oh. you need
at look ~ II I was goin' 70 swat you
one, Pollyop.s he went on, hut as /
was sayin', II she pays up and ! get
Of her, then-me for you, Polly
Hopkins" I
His voice was harsh, and his man
ners rough. Polly retreated to the.
threshold.
.sThe times here Oscar went on,
when both you women will be leap
to my CAD. Therei Get home and
say to my LADY lust what I said
again he broke ofE. only to continne.
'1eaving out the part about you. See,
Pollpopr
Dumb with dread, Polly sagged
weakly against the door casing. No
wonder Evelyn Robertson didn't want
to live with such q mani
"And you can tell her to come to-
night at nine o'clock. to Granny Hopes
lid shack" he proceeded. II want to
talk to her. Now get along and don't
come around after any more milk, or
ri throw you out Of the barn.
Glad to be gone, Polly passed out to
The lane. In little ravine at her left
! noisy stream rumbied down the hill.
With wistful eyes she watched II
through the fast gathering dusk fow
away to the lake. 1t was then she saw
something moving about In d small
pool of water in a rock basin. Care
fully she put the milk and eggs On a
DIT Of smooth turf. Down the bank
the slipped, and there In the falling
struggling In the water. was d
,ahy lamb. P0llyop tucked her skirts
ip about her waist and waded into the
Several times she fell, ana,
wet, scrambled up again.
When she pulled the lamb to the bank,
he dropped to the ground, gasping
Or breath.