The Lamar register., 1922-06-14

Sne never Tells me any tllus, Dut L
heard it, You We're quarreling over
the squatters, and In Ewes condition
| think you might spare her a little.
She's not strong So much wrang-
ling makes her sick IL wish Bob were
home. Oh. dear, l can't stand it."
It's Bob that's made all this trou-
ble," snarled Marcus. Hes spent
several months trying to circumvent
me about the squatters, and Eve and
I would have had no quarrels at all
II he had attended to his own af.
fairs."
He spoke moodily, conscious that he
had treated his wife harshly, yet un-
willing to admit 1t.
Mrs. Robertson, touched with the
same feeling, sat up. wiping her face
and brushing back her hair She, too,
remembered now all the bitter words
she had flung at her daughter.
MARCUS" she said. ''If-we-get
Eve back again"
''If we get herr he interjected, his
face going snow-white. "of course
wen get her. Why say such ridiculous
things?'' He turned away TO hide the
emotion her tremulous question had
flied him with. at will be my death
" we don't" he ended.
Mrs. Robertson raised on her ell
bow.
But Marcus she exclaimed
there's been something on my mind
ever since-slnce- Oh. you don't
think the squatters have her. do your
81 don't know" moaned Marcus, and
he sat down quickly as II his legs
would no longer bear the weight Of
his body.
And they were sitting thus. each
busy with his own unspeakable unhap-
piness. when the servant entered.
There's a girl here, sir" she be
gan. and Marcus sprang up.
Bring her in," he cried. Bring her
In instantlyT
The maid hesitated.
"She's queer looking. SIR" she said
timidly. "and she's wet through. She's
one Of them squatters."
Bring her In. l said," ordered Mar
Gus once more. and the girl went out,
closing the door SOFTLY.
Pollyop crept into the warm room,
her teeth chattering, her legs un-
steady. Her first glance fell upon
Mrs. Robertson who, when she saw
her. made q husky throat sound Then
the tall man, no longer an enemy to be
hated, merely q wounded human cres-
ture. like her dear ones In the Silent
City, to be loved and comforted.
II got your woman In my shack"
said Pollyop, straight to him, swallow
ing.
God he thanked" screamed Mrs.
Robertson.
Something snapped In MscKenzie's
head, and for moment he feared he
was losing his mind. Polly thought
by the blank expression of his face
that his wits had gone completely.
Ignoring the woman whom she de-
tested, she went rapidly to MacKen-
zies side.
Il had her roped up In the be1 when
you was there tonight, mister" she
told him, the words tumbling over
each other In the haste of confession
soih " CllOp ~
get even with you. But-but-my dead
Granny Hope, an the Biggest Nam
my in All the World wouldn't let me-"
1t seemed an eternity to the quak-
Ing young speaker before Marcus
threw up his head and took long
breath.
"She-she's alive7' he demanded
hoursely. You're very sure she isn't
deadf Girl" he bounded up and
grasped Pollyop's arm, eff you lie to
me-
Il amt lyin' to you. mister" inter
rupted Polly DULY. you don't need
to be scared for Miss Eve, but now
you'd best come along to my hut an
get her. She's mournin' for you in
Granny Hopes cOop-hole. covered up
with blankets"
Something like a huge fist struck
Mackenzie. The conviction that the
sQuatter girls words were true lifted
him Immediately from the bottom
depths of hopelessness. The sudden
thrush of joyous relief brought with
II a mental illumination, and he saw
himself as others had seen him. The
terrible, blighting uncertainty he had
borne for few maddening hours the
girl before him had known for
months If she were to blame for his
suffering, what was the measure of