Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-04-18

of that demanding quallty tliat E'eL9h'
fearing Pollyop would tell the truth,
again caught hold Of him.
Hes in love with Polly Hopkins,
Bob" she offered, trying to speak
calmly, land really It's none OF our
business. Is it2 But l do think he
ought to have doctor"
Robert staggered back, flashing a
glance at the sQuatter girl which
seemed to burn her through and
through.
"Are you married to hlm?" he de-
manded of her.
Her pale lips framed the single
word. mo"
@Then how In Gods name came he
here In your"
Two strides brought him SO close
that Polly felt his hot breath against
her cold face. She cried out In 'in-
guish and, started to speak but Eve
lyn broke in upon her In frantic haste.
"Now listen to me. Bob" she insist
ed. "You are very unkind! What's
happened here Is none Of your busi-
ness nor mine! Every squatter wom-
an has n man, and you can't expect
Polly Hopkins to be an exception. All
you can do is to get doctor"
Robert passed his hnnd over his
face. He looked 1azedly from PollSoD.
30 silent and pale TO the man 30 hor-
ribly sill on the cot.
"All right" he replied gruaiy.
aCoi., e.! This Is no place" lie
flung glance Mt Polly Ilopkirs that
struck her Ike blow from whip
and fltisheh, mo place Tor II decent
girl"
Stupcfed ty the food Of di 'asters
that had overwhelmed her, Polly
watched Robert Percival lead bis cou-
sin from the hut. After the first wild
impulse to tell him the truth, she had
made no further effort to clear herself.
Evelyn Robertson was going to hold
her to the word she had made two
years ago! Being innately honest her.
self, Pollyop could see no way to,
tighten her own detection or toy still
Roberts fierce anger. Her little world
was tumbling 20 pieces around her. No
longer could she think of him as her
own, though but a few short minutes
before he had comforted her with
kisses and promises. He had demand
ed that she should trust him, yet at
the very first trial Of his faith, he had
flung away and left her alone.
Blinded by tears, she felt her way
to the cot. Bennett lay in the same
position, his wlde-open eyes holding
an expression of horror.
"She's got lily liver all right, Os-
car" Polly Kissed through her teeth.
"Did you hear all what she said?"
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, alb
sorbed her whole attention.
"Can't you hear anything, Oscar"
she questioned. "LIsten, Inebbe 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 a mean duffer, Oscar, but you're
too d-n good for her. God, but she
we're wicked woman. wasn't she,
huh?" .a.
Not 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 a short distance down the
boulevard. In anxious inquiry she
glanced at Percival. ~.
Observing that she had been weep
ing, his anger fared again. 1t 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 to 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 Quarreling with
him, eh, girl? What did you hit him
with?"
Accusation rang against her not
only in the speakers tones but in Rob
ert'S inartlculate cry.
"Why did you strike him, Polly Hop.
kins?' he demanded hoarsely. did
you? Speak! Did your H.
That he should believe such things
of her crushed ter completely. Her
head fell forward, but not until Rob-
ert spoke again harshly did she an
Swer.
Nope" she breathed. Her tongue
felt as If it were covered with ashes.
"Nope, / didn't hit him.
That was ell she said. She looked
up at him pleadingly through her thick
lashes. Perhaps he did not really be-
lleve her guilty. Yes, he did! He was