Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-05-18

IN the Silent City ought not to say
anything against the sQuatters. II the
grand lady only knew It, her own
daughter had stopped to a trick such
as would put to shame any hut-wom-
an. A squatter wife would not leave
her man to do for himself or deny him
before the world. Added to Polly's
personal humiliation was MacKenzie's
threat against Daddy Hopkins.
The hope Robert Percival's words
had Instlled in her seemed to die as
she Travelled, and her heart beat with
fear, for should Old Marc get his fin
gers on Daddy Hopkins, Polly had no
doubt there would be nothing but i'm
prisonment for him and the graveyard
for her and Jerry. She could not
think of life without her father. Not
a single night had she ever been away
from his kindly love and attention
and Wee Jerryl A vivid picture rose
before her Of the baby's grief If he
could not straddle daddy's neck and
play his father was a horse.
When she reached the top Of the
ragged rocks, she pulled up and cast q
glance out oyer the lake. The calling
Of her name made her turn swiftly.
Recognizing Evelyn Robertson's voice,
she waited while the other girl came
down the path from MacKenzie's
woods. She was quite unlike the little
squatter. A fashionable raincoat pro-
tected her from the wet; and she car
ried a light umbrella in her gloyed
hand. The greeting between them was
n of embarrassment.
II were goin' to find my daddy"
Polly explained. Hes somewheres
along the lake. 1 didn't know I'd come
on you this mornin'."
The memory Of Mrs. Robertson's
words brought a rush Of color, to her
face, and she looked down at her feet.
There surged up in her a feeling that
she did not want anything to do with
any of these people. Why should she7
They were rich and she was only a
squatter bratl She started to walk
away.
II said," she flung over her shoul-
der, II were lookin' for my daddy.
Good-by."
Evelyn Robertson was not interested
in Jeremiah Hopkins. AS far as she
was concerned, the whole Silent City
might be washed off into the waves
and carried away. Her own troubles
filed her mind. The shock of her
mothers disclosure stunned her, for
without the help she had expected,
she could see no way out of Oscar
Benefits clutches. In the meantime,
the squatter girl was her only IA
Of communication.
"Wait, Pollyop, wait a minutei /
came down just to speak to YOU"
Wheeling slowly around, Polly faced
her.
what do you wantY' she asked in
surly tones.
"Pollyop," calculated Evelyn, com
Ing swiftly to her side, "Tm almost
scared to death. My cousin, Bob-oh,
got to help me againi"
Bobl Then the soldier IN the uni
form was Evelyn's cousin. Bob That
was the incest name In all the world,
a name fitted for the man who had
dropped into the Silent City to help
along the squatters. Suddenly her
mood changed. She forgot Oscar Ben
nett and his odious words, forgot that
the girl crying for her aldlhad allowed
her mother to say dreadful things
against her and Daddy Hopkins. If
Evelyn were related to the soldier,
then Polly Hopkins would do anything
Miss Robertson asked Of her.
"What do you want?" she repeated
blushing.
"It's this" answered Evelyn. "Mr.
home-and my cousin
came with him, My cousin, Robert
Perclvalls
'Is your cousin a handsome Teller
long legs an q face"
Pollyop stopped for lack of words.