The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-03-03

| Wciit hhVW ~ ! Oh course know
IT. retorted Evelyn, resenting this
| censure In the others tones: 'sbut I'VE
got TO be free. I'm 80 frnntic. I doni
much care how. That's the way Os
cars got to help me Anyway make
him understand he's got to wait: he
must be quiet and not bother me. Then
come tonight, and let me know what
ne says. Will you, Poily7"
The squatfer girl nodded. She would
rather have been switched than see Os.
car Bennett again.
Yep" she assented. 'Tll hunt him
m le.e this afternoon and then hus-
tie right over 10 you. ! got to go now r.
\ For some moments after Evelyn
left her, Polly watched the slim fig
ure on the path to the woods. Then
she suddenly remembered Marcus Mac
Kenzie and without q backward
glance hurried swiftly toward the
south.
Meantime three squatters from the
Silent City were In the Bad Mans
ravine, dressing the fish they had net
ted the night before. One enormous
man was seated on a fiat rock, his bare
feet almost touching the water as 1t
hurried by to the lake. On his shout
ders. with his legs wound tightly
around the mans neck. sat small
boy. little more than baby. He was
shivering with cold, and, as the spring
rain shot Its drops upon his face, he
lifted small hand and brushed them
away. Seemingly oblivious OF the
weight against his swarthy head, the
man picked mp fish and contemplated
II with scowi. Then he proceeded to
Glenn 1t deftly.
The silence was unbroken for long
time except by the rushing of the wa
ter, the gruesome running OF the
knives over the fish scales and little
whimper. now and then, from the child
astrlde the mans neck.
II heard In town." broke forth Lye
Braeger, "that Old Marc MacKenzie's
comm home. Here's where us SQUAT
tiers get hi flung at us good and
plenty"
Jeremiah Hopkins stopped his work
and frowned at the speaker.
He'd best be a-loolsin out for his
self" he muttered. "Mebbe he'll get
taste Of the hot place II he does any
struttln' around the Silent City"
"Mebbe," repeated Larry Bishop,
and no more Marcus Mackenzie,
handsome, SNUG and rich, had been the
instrument that had moved the hands
Of the law to swing open the prison
doors and shove Larry Bishop inside
just when his young wife needed him
most.
Once In sight of the roaring water,
rushing In torrents from the Bad Mans
ravlne, Polly sent out peculiar little
trill; and the hoarse answer of
mans voice mingled with its echo as
II struck the enormous, up-roaring
rock slabs.
Polly's heart bounded and lost It's
heavy weight Of fear. Daddy Hop
klns had responded ponderously to her
first call. In another moment she was
crawling up the jagged sides of the
deep gulf. AS she came up to them.
Hopkins companions waved her
greeting, but stopped their work at
the sight of her sober face.
whats up lassle?" demanded Hop
kins, "You aln't seen ghost, have
your"
"Worser'n that, Daddy" she replied.
Much worser'n thatl Old Mares
home, an heard him say he's goin'
to root us sQuatters out OF the Silent
City"
a hrute-like glare flashed into Lar
nv Bishops eyes.
"Did he, now, bratf" he muttered,
taking up his knife and looking at 1t.
Polly squatted down beside her faith.
er, slipping one hand under his arm.
The other she gave to the child, who
grasped II eagerly.
"Did he, now?" came In repetition
from Bishops throat.
''Yep," asserted Pollyop, with an
emphatic bob Of her head, "an' | come
to tell you all you'd best be a-lookIn'
Out for I'm. Daddy, he says you're |
INV rWVtsi man IA tAS 6NttiCiRSutt uut /
everybody knows he's liar"
He'd best be lookin' out for his own
hide" Hopkins shot back like a flash
of steel. Il ain't In any mind to stand |
much Of his guff. the dirty duffer."
Withdrawing her arm from her faith |
er's. she leaned her chin on her hand. |
She wanted to urge them not to worry
too much. TO tell them of the other
man, rich like old Marc, who had ex-
pressed In tender tones kindly In
terest In their welfare. Somehow,
though, the words would not come. The |
peaceful figure did not fit In with the |
secret understanding that expressed IL
self In the frowning, furtive glances
that passed from one to the other of |
her men-folks.
Hes awful, powerful strong.n she |
ventured in answer to the look she |
had Intercepted, "an' powerful richl"
"An' moneys what makes the mare |
go struck in Lye Braeger.
uSura On ,fiS anS vnra5 poIl,, ssIo,,4 |