Middletown transcript., 1922-03-11

peated hoarsely. II simply can't. And
and must be Free"
| A frown drew the mans heavy
brows together until they touched, and
he lifted his fist to strike; but Polly
Hopkins, by one swift movement,
thrust Evelyn from under the mans
upraised arm and crowded in between
them. Because Evelyn was his wife,
he had the right to beat her If he
pleased, Polly thought, but he would
not dare to strike Polly.
"If you've got to swat some one, Os-
car" she gritted between her teeth,
'swat 81"
The beautiful white face came close
to Benefits, and the challenge in the
squatter girls flashing eyes stirred a
feeling within him that he never had
had for Evelyn Robertson. Oscar had
always believed that woman must
fear man to respect him, and that to
respect him meant to love him. He
did not want Evelyn Robertson in the
farmhouse, but he did want money and
Polly Hopkins. If he could master
her as he had Eve, she would come to
him willingly when he was ready for
her.
Working on that principle, he struck
out. AS the huge fist came in contact
with Pollyop's shoulder, she staggered
backward. Her low cry was followed
by Evelyn's scream. The squatter girl
sank to the floor Imply. No one had
ever struck her before.
you've killed her." cried Evelyn !;
and Oscar Bennett, fearful that the
girls clamOr would summon some in
| quisitive squatter, turned swiftly to
go.
| Both of you keep mum about this,
my lady," he ordered. I'm off See?"
With that he tore open the shanty
door; and Evelyn stood painting with
her hand on her heart until the sound
of his running footsteps was lost in
the windstorm.
Then Evelyn led Polly Hopkins
home. One arm hung at the squatter
girls side; and the pain in her shoul-
der, where Oscars fist had landed. was
terrific. On nearing the shack, Polly
whispered:
"Mebbe he'll be quiet while now.
You'd best scoot home, huh?"
A small box passed from Evelyn's
handbag to the squatter girls pocket.
Il brought them for jerry" said
Evelyn softly, "and oh, Polly, what
ever can l do for you to even up
things? Perhaps"
"Scoot home," interrupted Polly,
"I'm goin' in"
POllyop stole into the shanty in the
greatest torment she had ever known.
Granny Hope and Daddy Hopkins had
gone to bed, and she could hear her
fathers loud breathing from the back
room. She was glad Of that, for if he
were to learn how she had been hurt,
his rage would know no bounds. She
lighted candle and looked about
dazedly. The billy goat was snuggled
against the wood-box; and Mamie
Lamb poked her head up and blinked
at the light. Polly put down the
candle and slipped the dress from her
shoulder. How dreadfully it hurt her
Oh, how she wanted something to
make her misery less But squatters
did not have money to spend on drug
store remedies.
From an old can she poured little
coal oil on a rag and bathed the in
jured flesh. Then she took up the
lamb and dropped into chair by the
table. In sheer exhaustion her head
sank down upon 1t. After while she
Strengthened up, threw back her curls,
and raised the lambs face to hers, q
wry smile fitting across her lips.
"It's goin' to be hard job lovin'
Oscar and Old Marc like Jesus loved
wicked folk, Nannyop," she said under
her breath, "but mebbe now I been
face to face with a angel, can do it,
Again her head fell forward; but
almost instantly she arose, and with
the lamb in her right arm like baby,
moved to the side of the bed. Then
she snuggled the lamb under the
blankets and put Granny Hopes Bible
beneath her pillow. Carefully she
slipped off her clothes and put on a
coarse nightrobe. Then, having snuffed
the candle, she crawled in beside the
lamb.