Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-05-12

&NCAl luOA nllh, WANING AhtV NhS NhA
ing room YEARLY, she found her cou-
sin, Robert, standing near the window,
his hands in his pockets. She went
straight to his side.
Bob" she breathed.
The young man turned upon her and
caught the hand she laid on his arm.
"You've got to help me now, Eve"
he began, without other response to
her greeting. ITS all very well for
Marc to take a high hand in some
matters, but this thing he's planning
is brutal"
II can't do anything with him."
cried the girl. ale told me about 1t
last night and l talked and talked till
I'm hoarse. Bob, why don't you go
away somewhere"
Robert shook his head dismally.
II can't Eve, l can't" he returned.
II know what Polly is, but she's young
and-and-"
He paused, brushed back his hair
and hurried on:
~ love her, that's all! II Marc on
tinues in All, here he comes"
The door flung open, and MacKen-
zie strobe into the room. He came to
a halt at the sight Of his young wife
and her cousin.
"What's up" he exclaimed testify.
"Bob wants to talk to you, dear"
explained Evelyn, in a conciliatory
tone. She had learned In the past
months that suppressing her w tenn
per was to travel along the lines of
least resistance.
"Well, have some breakfast" was
the ungracious reply. "Sit down, both
of you"
1--WE had my breakfast" answered
Robert. ~ waited to have a word
with you, Marc, before you went into
town. I want to buy Of you at your
own price all the land the squatters
are on. That would relieve"
"SQuatters again, eh1" came in
quick interruption. my dear Robert"
Mackenzie placed his fingers on the
back of his chair and watching his
wife, proceeded, II really dislike to be
abrupt In my w family and In your
house, but you know there Is such a
thing as a man minding his own busl-
ness"
A deep flush rose 10 Percival's
brow.
II am minding my OWE business"
he shot back. III it's your will to per-
secute a girl who's almost dead with
grief. it's mine to help her II I can
This last thing you're trying to put
over Is abominable
In rough impotence Marcus sat
down, Evelyn dropping into her place
opposite him.
From your interest n would think
you had a more intimate reason than
just humanity, Robert" he sneered
broadly. "Is that it?"
Into Evelyn's pale face rushed a
mass Of color, and she shrank back as
If she had received a blow. AS quick
ly the flush receded, leaving her whittier
than before.
Robert came forward to the table.
you're perfectly right, Marc" he
confessed almost inaudlbly. II do love
Polly Hopkins-I-I-"
Mackenzie interrupted him by ris-
ing to his feet, his handsome face suf-
fused with anger.
'Then it's time l cleared her out"
he answered. "A squatter In the fam
ily-a thlef-a liar"
Mrs. Mackenzie struggled to her
feet and began to cry.
II can't stand any more" she whim-
pered, 81 simply can't, Marc. The way
you both quarrel over those people
gets on my nerves. You promised me,
Marcus, you wouldn't ever do it
again."
All the concentrated rage he had
gathered In the past few weeks burst
forth In a vicious snap.
"Then tell your precious cousin to
keep his nose out Of my affairs, my
dear, I'm perfectly capable Of attend
ing to them. / don't wish to sell that
land, but l do intend to get rid of that
tribe; and both of you might just as
well understand it now as later"
He said it with such forceful deter
mination that Evelyn threw an en-
treating glance at Robert. UtterIng a
sharp exclamation, he turned swiftly
and went out.
The next few hours he spent In
Ithaca, trying to turn aside the blow
that threatened to fall upon Polly
Hopkins. But so great was MacKen-
zie's influence that Percival's own
friends shook their heads when he ap-
preached them.
Utterly cast down by the futility Of
his mornings work on behalf OF the
squatter girl, Robert Percival wended
his way to the Silent City. He could
not let the relentless law burst In
upon Pollyop u%nprepared. Through
the settlement he hurried to the Hop
kins shanty and paused before II.
There still above the door was the
printed sign.
III your hearts loving and kind