White County record., 1922-07-27
Copyright by LiHle9eBrown and Company


 at me, l quit hatin' you an wantin' to kill your woman"
 She struggled up and moving to the wall, leaned against Ihe Greatest Mother in the World' as if she. too. would add herself to tile vast family of hurt ones.
 Every one of her words was directed to Mackenzie.
 "Then I'm to understand" he asked slowly, that you deliberately took my wife away to kill herr"
 But she didn't, Marc" interjeeted Evelyn.
 Marcus made wide gesture with one arm.
 Hush, Eve" he muttered. q want to hear what Miss Hopkins has to say"
 Yep, l took her." trailed on Polly, "an' l meant to croak her, too an throw Ter in the lake. Just to get even with you, sir"
 "Then why didn't you do it?" de- manded Marcus.
 Pollyop threw a short glance at the other man, standing white and silent. She cleared her throat and leaned only the harder against the wall
 "On sudden" she continued, as if eager to finish her tale, "I somehow remembered everything Granny Hope learned me when she was in the shack here She always said, mister, when  you was devilish enough to snake a squatter from the Silent City"-Polly | paused and coughed, then proceeded in the dead silence: Granny said you was the image and likeness of the good God up in the sky an brother to Jesus the same as us squatters. But 1 said I didn't ever want to fly away to God if He looked like you!"
 Leaving the wall she came forward and hurried on: An meant it them times, an much more after you rail roaded my daddy and swiped Jerry away from me"
 Marcus placed his wife in the chair and stood up. He started to speak to Pogyop; but Eyelyns cry caused him to turn swiftly. The drabness of her face startled him.
 Mare. RObertp p she said. "I can't go back home until I've told you some thing. No, Marc don't stop me. l will talk Now, listen Oh, honey w This appeal was to her husband who had laid his fingers on her shoulder. Wont you hold my hand while I tell it?"
 Much moved, Marcus did as she re- quested. His firm clasp seemed to encourage Evelyn, and she went on:
 Darling, I've always been-dread- full toto Polly Hopkins, and-and she's been an angel to me"
 She was going to tell it all, ragged through Polly's mind. Was she going to bring to light her relations with the dead Oscar? Old Mare would never forgive 1t Thinking more now of the baby coming next summer to the almost incoherent woman than of her own happiness, Pollyop made a movement as if to contradict the state ment but Evelyn's impetuous rush of words halted her.
 "No. Polly, I'm going to put things right now, even if Mare leaves me to- night" she declared, clearing her throat. Robert. dear boy l lied to you. I lied to Polly and to you, Mar GUS. Oscar Bennett wasn't Polly's sweetheart at all. He-he was my husband!'
 Mackenzie suffered, but did not drop the cold fingers he held; and Evelyn wept bitterly, unable to go en-
 A horse whinnied outside; but in i the shanty no sound could be heard save the hysterical sobbing of Evelyn
 If seemed to Robert as if he must shake from his cousin the rest of the dark story, so impatient was he to hear it.
 mThen-then when you came, my my beloved" Evelyn raised her tired eyes to her husband, "I tried to get rid of him. I did my best to get Polly Hopkins to promise she'd marry oscar after he had freed me. wanted TO get him out of the country v
 Unwilling to spare herself the least humiliation, she ended in piteous con fusion; q was glad when l knew he was dead" n
 .0rben how did he die?" came swift ly from Mackenzie.
 "oh, just as the doctor told you' Mare dear" replied Evelyn. "He was struck by lightning and died from the shock I was free then, and-ahd l made Polly swear over and over agaln she'd never tell any one! And-ahu I gave her the silk dress she wore tllat day in the Auburn car l-l--ileu about that, too. But, Marc uear loFe' I knew you hated her and
 Robert bounded to his feet as the girls words trailed away into silence Over MacKenzie's face were speeoins so many different expressions that 'iie | l,ou,n avQS of POlly f1op-