The Raymer enterprise., 1922-07-20

flung away and left her alone.
Blinded by tears, she felt her way
to the cot. Bennett lay In the same
position. his wide-open eyes holding
an expression Of horror.
She's got lily liver all right. Os-
car" Polly hIssed through her teeth.
Did you hear all what she saidT"
Such is the power Of habit over a
nature like the squatter girls that
Robert faded from her mind. and Os-
car Bennett, suffering and dying, ab.
sorbed her whole attention.
Cant you hear anything. Oscar?"
she questioned. Listen, mebbe you'll
get well. II you do. take your old
nanny an get out quick. Eve amt
worth one Of your toe nails. You've
been mean duffer, Oscar. but you're
too d-n good for he' God, but she
were wicked woman, wasn't she,
hnh?"
Not a move OF the heavy head on
the pillow gave evidence that she had
been heard.
She was still standing by Benefits
side when, without knocking, Robert
opened the door and came In, followed
by the doctor. Polly recognized the
stranger instantly as the medical man
who lived short distance down the
boulevard. In anxious inquiry she
glanced at Percival.
Observing that she had been weep
Ing. his anger fiared again. II never
occurred to him that his own cruelty
had drawn the tears from her eyes.
There was the huge farmer stretched
out on the bed; and the squatter girl
crying beside him She was mourning
over the stricken man! Robert
frowned; and hopelessly, In silence,
Polly moved aside 10 give the doctor
the space she had occupied.
After hasty examination of the pa
tient. Doctor Bacon turned to Polly
Hopkins.
Something struck him." he said
shortly. you've been quarrellng with
him, eh, girl7 What did you hit him
witht"
Accusation rang against her not
only In the speakers tones but in Rob-
erts inarticulate cry.
"Why did you strike him. Polly Hop.
kins?" he demanded hoarsely. "Dld
youf Speak! Did your"
That he should believe such things
Of her crushed her completely. Her
head fell forward but not until Rob.
ert spoke again harshly did she an.
swer.
Nope" she breathed. Her tongue
felt as II It were covered with ashes.
Nope, | didn't hit HIM"
That was all she said. She looked
up at him pleadlngly through her thick
lashes. Perhaps he did not really be-
lieve her guilty. Yes. he did He was
still fixing upon her that accusatory
gaze.
He'd better be moved out OF this
hole observed the doctor, looking
around, but It's an awful night" He
considered n moment aud then added !.
"Ill telephone to Ithaca for an ambu-
lance"
Sternly he directed look Of disgust
at Polly. He hated attending the
squatters anyway. and never would
have consented TO enter the Silent City
II Robert Percival had not come for
him.
AghaSt at the horror Of the emer.
gency, Pollyop seemed not to notice
the physicians contempt.
rs he goin' to die, mister?" she
queried plaintively.
81 don't know" he replied In grnfr
indecIsion. us he prepared draught.
When everything within human
power had been done for Oscar Ben
nett, Robert allowed the doctor to pass
out Of the hut before him. Then, like
shot, he turned back to Polly's side.
His eyes blazed with jealousy; and
quickly 1t crossed her mind that he
was going to strike her. Oh How she
wished he would and then take back
all the cruel words he had hurled at
her
"When you said you loved me, you
He'd" he gritted savagely. "You knew
all the time you had him. You let me
kiss you. You said love was the
greatest thing In the world oh, God
How l wish / could hate you!"
Polly could not speak. neither could
she move. Imprisoned tragedy lay In
the depths Of her eyes. II he had been
less violent. she would have implored
him 10 trust her.
Percival really hoped she would re-
sent his accusations. Stormy denia.s
would have been sweet music to his
ears. He would have welcomed even
torrent of abuse from her. Anything
was less maddening than this sinister
silence that seemed to put the stamp
Of truth upon his cousins explanation
Of Benefits presence.
"Why don't you speakT he rasped.
When she showed no signs Of an
swerlng. he turned to 60. The door
was swinging in his hand. but he did
not pass out. 1t was as though the
agony scorchlng him fused all his emo
tions; and In a fash he realized that
he loved her just the same No matter
what she had done, he loved her, and
no woman In the world could or would