The Belding banner-news., 1922-02-22
CHAPTER III.

AS she ran, Polly Hopkins cogitated
on MacKenzie's words. Evelyn's moth
er had said that she was as odd as she
was filthy.
Mrs. Robertson The arrogant wom-
an who. lived on the hill in a house al
most big enough to hold every person
IN the Silent City ought not 10 say
snything against the squattcrs. If tie
grand lady only knew 1t, her own
daughter had stopped to trick such
as would put 10 shame any hut-wom-
an. A squatter wife would not leave
her man to do for himself or deny him
before the world. Added TO Polly's
personal humiliation was MacKenzie's
threat against Daddy Hopkins.
The hope Robert Percivars words
had instLled In her seemed 10 die as
she travelled, and her heart beat with
fear, for 81 ould Old Marc get his fin
gers on Daudy Hopkins, Polly had no
doubt there would be nothing but I'm
prisonment for him and the graveyard
for her and Jerry. She could not
think OF life without her father. Not
a single night had she ever been away
from his kindly love and attention
and Wee Jerry A vivid picture rose
before her Of the babys grief IL he
could not straddle daddy's neck and
play his father was a horse.
When she reached the top of the
raggYl rocks, she pulled up and cast a
glanSP out over the lake. The calling
of her name made her turn swiftly.
Recognizing Evelyn Robertson's voice,
she waited while the other girl came
down the path from MacKenzies
woods. She was quite unlike the little
squatter. A fashionable raincoat pro-
r1tted her from the wet; and she car
ried a light umbrella in her gloved
hand. The greeting between them was
one of embarrassment.
"I were goin' 10 find my daddy"
Polly explained. He's somewheres
along the lake. didn't know I'd come
on you this mornin'."
The memory of Mrs. Robertson's
words brought rush OF color to her
face, and she looked down at her feet.
There surged up in her feeling that
she did not want anything to do with
any of these people. Why should shef
They were rich; and she was only
squatter brat She started to walk
away.
II said," she flung over her shoul-
der, II were lookin' for my daddy.
Good-by."
Evelyn Robertson was not interested
In Jeremiah Hopkins AS far as she
was concerned, the whole Silent City
might be washed off into the waves
and carried away. Her own troubles
filed her mind. The shock of her
mothers disclosure stunned her, for
without the help she had expected,
she could see no way out of Oscar
Benefits clutches. In the meantime,
the squatter girl was her only means
Of communication.
"Wait, Pollyop, wait a minutel
came down just TO speak to you"
Wheeling slowly around, Polly faced
her.
"what do you want?" she asked In
surly tones.
"Pollyop," CALCULATED Evelyn, com
ing swiftly TO her side, I'm almost
scared to death. My cousin, BOb-oh
you've got to help me again."
Bob Then the soldier in the uni
form was Evelyn's cousin. Bobl That
was the incest name In all the world
a name fitted for the man who had
dropped into the Silent City to help
along the squatters. Suddenly her
mood changed. She forgot Oscar Ben
nett and his odlous words, forgot that
the girl crying for her aid had allowed
her mother 10 say dreadful things
eagainst her and Daddy Hopkins. II
Evelyn were related TO the soldier.
then Polly Hopkins would do anything
Miss Robertson asked Of her.
"What do you wantY" she repeated
shyly. blushing.
"Its this" answered Evelyn. Mr..
MaaIIenzie's home-and my cousin
caye with him. My cousin, Robert
Percivall"
rs your cousin handsome feller
with long legs an a face"
Pollyop stopped for lack of words.
How could she describe the fine, sym
pathetic countenance she had seen
from the hut roof