The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22

| Marcus. "Say. you! Come and stand
here before me-"
He touched spot on the floor with
his riding whip; and Polly stepped
upon 1t.
"Now you listen to me-" he said
sternly. 1--WE come with proposition
to your father, and If you've any influ-
ence with him. you'd better talk him
into IT,"
Polly's face frightened little. Then
| II was not real harm coming TO Daddy
! Hopkins today. She wished now that
he would come In and, almost as If In
| answer to the throbbing of her nerves,
Hopkins passed through the doorway
with Wee Jerry clnging to his neck
The trembling girl saw his face grow
gray at the sight OF his powerful
enemy.
! Jeremiah made an awkward bob or
his head to Marcus, slipped Jerry into
his arms and without a word sat
down. And POllyop, full of curiosity
and anxiety, sat down too. her bril-,
liant eyes steadily leveled upon Mac
Kenzie.
Hopkins" began Marcus, "I've
come with proposal to you. If you've
got any sense, you'll impress its value
on the rest Of your fellows here, for
/ by hook or by crook, i intend to break
up thise settlement and burn these
slacks."
One long gasp came from Polly. Her
/ fatLer said nothing but looked back at
the speaker as If he had not heard.
Daddy amt got the hull right TO
say what's what she interrupted sud
denly There's lots of squatters."
Then call in some of the others"
Mackenzie snapped. "And don't be
long about it. / want to know what's
going TO be done before l 60"
Polly flashed glance at her father.
go get EN- brat" he directed. San
bring Larry"
out into the settlement she went,
and when she came back into the
shanty. there followed her an angry
set of illy-clothed men; and outside a
sullen group of women waited 10 hear
what Old Marc had TO offer.
One by one the men silently ranged
themselves in row around the hut
wall while Polly stood at her fathers
shoulder, one hand resting upon 1t.
and the other on Wee Jerry's head
Marcus Mackenzie knew the group
Of men he had TO deal with. He knew
their wicked ways, how they thieved,
how they used their nets against the
law, and how they shot game out Of
season. He remembered, too, how
many had been sent to prison with his
aid but this day he hoped to get rid
of them all at once.
~ want to pay you fellows to go
away from Ithaca" He pumped the
proposition at them badly. IF it
hadn't been the easiest way out,
wouldn't have considered II minute.
But after talking 1t over with my law
yer. I've decided to give you all a
sum Of money If you'll leave peacea-
bly,"
A sound Of boots moving on boards
was his only answer. Polly coughed
nervousIy.
Now this is what I'm going TO
offer" went on Mackenzie. mo one
can make me raise the price one cent.
. I'll give you men twenty-five dollars
apiece: YOU sign over TO me your
squatter rights then take your wom-
en- and kids and CO."
There was not a word In answer to
this. Only Wee Jerry felt Daddy Hop
kins clasp him tighter.
Realizing that the stony silence that
met his offer was practically re-
fusal. Mackenzie got to his feet.
"You can take II, or-or go to h
for all care!" he exclaimed.
He turned toward the door; and
then Pollyop got back her breath, and
while the squatter men watched sui
lenly. she stepped in front of him.
you're In wrong, mister" she fiared
you're id generous, amt youl
twenty-five dollars wouldn't take M
anywhere, an where would we 60
anyhow? This amt movin' day In the
Silent City. You've made your talk
now scoot along"
Marcus fixed her with eyes angry
beyond description. Her own blazee
back at him as she pointed toward thu
door.
"scoot out" she repeated, IAN dom
be comm again."
Mackenzie lifted his riding whiI
threateningly, and every man with I
growi started forward; but as thu
whip fell back to his side. they sanl
down again.
Then 1t was that he shifted the Will
TO his left hand and took from hi
pocket a shining pistol; and although
Polly whitened, she held her ground
4 "And you, you impudent huzzy.
snapped Mackenzie. "what have yo'
got to do with TT What are you, any
8 wayr'
d In spite oA,<he deadly thing held Il
the white, strong fingers. Polly's hea'