Cheyenne Wells record., 1922-07-27
CHAPTER xl.-continu.d.

Shaking OF her superstitious terror.
Evelyn touched the PROSTATE man.
Perhaps he was dead; and out Of some
where thought shot into her mind
that II he were, her troubles were over.
II don't know" she whispered. But
hs looks So"
Pollyop showed Evelyn aside and
slipped her arm under Benefits head.
She seemed to have lost all aversion to
him, She realized then only that
human being was suffering, perhaps
dead. At her tender touch the mans
eyes dew open; and, panic-stricken.
Pollyop withdrew her arm and was
back beside the other girl before she
spoke.
"He's got life in him. Miss Eve" she
ehattered between her teeth. Look
At his eyes! God. amt 1t awful"
Quietly Oscar lay gazing at the girls
% they stared at him. Polly was the
arst to 60 to him.
"Feel awful sick, eh. Oscar?" she
asked in low tone.
The man did not answer even BY q
movement of his lids.
"He can't talk" she went on, look
ing around at Evelyn. HE ought to
have a doctor. Can't you so up to the
boulevard an get Doc BacOn.7"
A fresh burst of tears SO choked
Evelyn Robertson that for space she
could not answer.
"No, can't go out in this awful
storm again." she finally replied. "Of
course, l can't" she repeated, swal-
lowing. "Im afraid. l won't go! l
won't take a step. II any one goes"
.4Then stay by him." interjected
Polly. duly, "an' I'll go!"
Ashamed to declare that she was
afraid to be left. alone with Oscar,
Evelyn watched Pollyop ~ she went
out and softly closed the door behind
her.
Polly Hopkins fingered several mo-
ments to accustom her eyes to the
nights blnckness. Beyond to the east
Lake Cnyuga rushed on toward Ithaca
a. II its intentions were to swallow the
little town In one huge mOuthful. Pol
lyop crooned over mechanically words
which fell hourly from Granny Hope.
"Ask an 1t shall be given thee" she
whispered. "Then II that's SO. let me
get some one to help Oscar!"
Through the clatter Of the elements
she heard the sound of footsteps on In
the dark. road. An answer to her
prayer was about to step out Of the
night gloom. She hoped 1t was Larry
Bishop or Lye Braeger. Opening her
lips, she gave the weird. crying. squat
ter-call of the Storm country; and
voice that clutched at her heart an
swered her.
Then, by the next flash of jagged
lightning, she saw Robert Percival
coming toward her.
"Is that you. Polly?" he called.
"What's the matter?"
"Yep." she faltered timidly. II got
some one sick In the shanty."
OF all the people she had expected
to see, he was the last. AS she waited
for him to approach. PollyOp's active
mind grasped the fact that now Robert
would know what his cousin had done.
She saw no way to keep him In ig-
porance of Evelyn's relation to Oscar,
and she was too excited to think OF an
excuse to keep him outside
"Pollyop." commenced Robert. II
had to see you II only for few min
utes. Wait second before you go
In"
Confused and ngitated, the girl did
not stir step until he was bending
over her. One arm went around her
shoulders, one tender hand pressed her
head against his breast.
"Daddy's gone!" she cholsed almost
inaudibly. "They've took him to Au-
burn, huh?"
"Yes, dear child" answered Robert,
his own throat full with emotion.
"But what l came to tell you is this
dear. I've already set things moving
to bring him back. couldn't sleep to-
night until l saw you"
A long shudder ran the length Of
Polly's body; her legs grew SO weak
she would have fallen but for the
strong arms holding her up.
II want him awful bad" came up In
4 breath to the pnle young man.
"And ] say. Polly dear, that he's
coming home," repeated Robert, ''and
every day want you to expect him.
VIII you trust me. darling?"
He had asked her that question
once. but that was before Old Marc
had railroaded Daddy Hopkins to Au-
burn.
"Will you, Pollyop?" urged Robert
passionately, lifting her face and lay
ing his warm lips on hers.
With swift-coming breaths she flung
both arms around his neck.
"I'll trust you every day an all
day!" She hesitated and turned her
head. A sound in the hut had fright
sued her. She knew Robert had heard
II, too. for he reached out his hand to
open the door.
"Well 60 in," said he, taking her
arm and gathering both Of her hands
into his.
BY a sudden movement, Polly
pushed him backward.
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