Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-03-17

for composure, Mrs. Robertson and hel
daughter hung on the scene with batet
breaths.
Must l remind you whose house
this is, MacKenzie?" demanded Perez
val finally; and Marcus sank dowr
into his chair with a muttered apology,
81 didn't come to tell lies, Mr.. Mac.
Kenzie," Polly broke out impetuously
"T've come to tell Gods truth" Then
the recollection of her fathers des-
perate need overwhelmed her, and she
walled: "Your men planted a squirrel
on i'm, sir; Daddy said so, an Jerry
saw EN-"
To Percival, watching the man and
girl. came the conviction that she had
told the truth, and that Mackenzie
knew she had. Before he could break
in, Polly spoke again.
"Please, sir" she begged, 'please,
Mr.. Mackenzie, give i'm back to me.
You can. Do 1t. an, an, oh, God, I'll
die for you"
She fell forward on her knees; and
then Marcus Mackenzie laughed again.
Lower and lower fell the curly head,
for the sarcastic sound told her more
plainly than any words could have
done that she would get no aid from
him.
Rober' stopped and lifted her up.
"D-n you, Marc! Stop it," he de-
manded. IFS wicked, downright
wicked" And to her he murmured:
"Poor little girl! Poor little Polly"
He tried to lead her away; but how
could she go without making another
effort? She turned to Evelyn.
'You do something, ma'am" she
implored. please do it quick, an,
an" A light leapt into her eyes and
she burst out: "Mebbe some day you'll
be askin' me a big favor, an here's my
word before God, l do it."
For a short space Of time the two
girls stared into each others eyes, but
Evelyn's fell first. She sank back
Imply.
"Take her away, Robert!" she
groaned. "It's too dreadful"
After Pollyop and Robert had gone,
she turned swiftly on Marcus.
81 wish they were all dead, those
wretched squatters," she said fret
fully, and frowning, Mackenzie con-
tinued his breakfast in silence.
Miserable days passed for the en-
tire squatter settlement. That the
right arm of the Silent City had been
Topped off when Hopkins was impris-
oned showed plainly in the AFFECTION
of it's inhabitants. Every countenance
was wrinkled with anxiety and still
the strange men lowered about the
lakeside.
Ugly rumors circulated through the
Silent City. 1t was said that to fix a
on Hopkins, the officers claimed
that in searching him, before shutting
him up, they had found a revolver in
his pocket. Every N that knew him
secuted the idea, but Jeremiah Hop
kins was promptly indicted for carry
ing concealed weapons.
The only concession Robert had been
able to obtain was permission for
Polly to visit her father, and day after
day she carried Jerry to see him.
The day of Hopkins trial Polly had
to stay at home to care for Granny
Hope and the baby.
Late in the afternoon, while she
was rocking Wee Jerry, for there was
no other way to keep him quiet, there
came a rap on the door. Placing him
on the cot, she called a soft: "Come
in"
The entrance of Robert Percival
filed her with apprehension, he looked
so serious, so drawn and pale.
Its about daddy" she exclaimed,
forgetting for the moment how embar-
raised she was.
Robert nodded.
"Sit down, Polly" he said gravely,
"and I'll tell you"
Mutely she stood staring at him.
"Sit down, dear" he insisted.
L OOnt want TO Slt down." she
moaned. "Tell me about daddy.
What's happened?-He's goin' to Au-
burn, huh?"
Had he been able, Robert would
have c~ontradicted her. Gladly would
he have chased away the yelling tears
that came slowly into the dear eye
"Is it Auburn prison?' she whis-
pered. did the jury say he was
guilty?"
Eyes, Polly, but I've still hopes l can
get him another trial" answered Rob
ert. "Oh, little Polly, please don't cry,
please don't"
Unmindful that he was holding out
his hands to her, she sobbed historical
ly, utterly deprived of se~lf-control.
The more Robert pleaded with her to
cease, the more she kept up the inces-
sant wall.
At the sound of her anguish, Jerry
awoke and set up a loud screaming,
and, ever true to her mother instinct
for him and all others in her wild
world, Pollyop took him I'm and seat