Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-04

sHAHNIHlll Northumberland
. GaWd. it amt nothin' to me eitks,
I'm sick Of Il all, an I'm glad. I an:
but afore ] goes I wanter know M,
abaht Polly. Wot'd yer tyks hsr
awe for three years ago."
For the price of two Quid ps,a
weekly to a certain Mrs. Wickes
who II Polly's mother" said Can
| tain Francis Newcombe composedIv
and with which the said NJ
wickes has swum In gin ever sinces;
Mrs. Wickes fell back exhaus,sd
on her pillow.
"Wot for?" she whispered in fers
insistence. Il wanter know va.
| fort"
"Well," said Captain Francis Men.
| combe. even at fifteen Polly was An
amazingly pretty little girl-and aha
showed amazing promise. I'm
wondering how she has develonAs
Extremely clever youngster! DOM
| see, in fact. Mrs. Wickes, where sbs
dissertation Of the kings English
In spite Of the board schools,
Amazing! We couldn't lei
flower like that bloom uncultiyateS
could WEI"
The woman was up in the bed
again.
quite right, Mrs. Wickes!" s,,a
Captain Francis Newcombe i'm.
| perturbably. "And for three years
Polly has been in one of the ms,
/. exclusive girls seminaries IN
! America-and incidentally | mieb,
| say am arranging to go ovss
there shortly for a little visit
| her photographs are to be relied
upon, she has more than fulflsS
her early promise. A very beaut}fT
young woman, educated, and now
Mrs. Wickes-a lady. She has made
a circle OF friends among the best
and the wealthiest. Why, even now
with the summer holidays coming
on, You know, l understand she i
to be the guest Of a school friend
In a millionaire's home. Think IN
that. Mrs. .Wickes! What more
could any woman ask for her
| daughter? And why should yon
Tor instance, ask more tonight,
! Why this eleventh-hour curiosity,
| You agreed to 1t all three years arc
Mrs. Wickes-for two Quid a week.
YES" said the woman passion.
ately. AN I'm probably gon' TO Ell
for~it now! / knowed then yer
wasn't dom this for Polly's SAKE
an in the three years | kent on
KNOWN yer more an more for ths
devil you are. But / says to mesef
that I'm ere to see Polly don't coma
to no harm. but-but I amt RoIp'
to be ere no more. an that's wo,
wants to know tonight. An n
asks yer, wot's yer game"
Really" Captain Francis New.
combe shrugged his shoulders again
"Gawd curse yer wiz yer smooth
tongue!" said Mrs. Wickes wildly
i knows! I knows yer got a Eams
some dirty game wiz Polly in Il
Ier clever, yer are-an' yer amt
human. But yer won't win. an ALL
along % Polly. She won't do nothin'
that amt straight, she won't. Polly
amt that kind"
"Oh, as to that, and granting my
wickedness," said Captain Francis
Newcombe indifferently, Il shouldn't
worry. Having you in mind, Mrs
Wickes. / fancy even that would he
quite all right-blood always tells
you know"
Blood! Blood'u tell, will u~
The woman was rocking in the bed
again. She burst into harsh
, laughter. 1t brought on another
ana even more severe strangling III
OF coughing. "Blood'n tell, will it,N
she choked as she gasped for
breath. We'll, so it will! So Ill
Captain Francis Newcomb. star.
ca at her from narrowed eyes
What do you mean by that?" he
demanded sharply.
But Mrs. Wickes had fallen back
upon her pillow in utter exhaustion
ohe lay fighting painfully, pitlfulh
now for every breath.
| What do you mean by that?" 70.
| peated Captain Francis Newcombs /
Sill! more sharply.
| AND then suddenly. as though /
some strange premonition were al
WORK, oil fight gone from her. The !
| woman threw out her arms in Al
broken gesture of supplication.
| I'm wicked woman, a bloody /
wicked 'un I've been. Gawd forgive 4
me Tor it," she whispered. "Poly
amt no blood of mine"
captain Francis Newcombe rested
ms elbows on the back of the chair, \
and smiled coolly.
Think" he said evenly, ats nv
Turn now to ask what the game s'
Ihats q bit thick, isn't it--after
three years?"
The hectic spots had faded frsn
the woman's face. and an omlnUs
grayness was taking their plaza
S1e was crying now.
It's Gawd's truth" she said 7
was afraid yer wouldn't ave give
me the two /quid a week hif yerdH
knowd I 'adn't no old on 'er. Polly
dont know, no one knows but me
am Her voice trailed OF
through weakness.
Captain Francis Newcombe, save
tnat his eyes had narrowed little
. more. made no movement. He
watched her without comment as
sne struggled for her breath again (
II didn't mean to ave no fight
wiz yer, Gawd knows / didn't
iawd knows didn't send for yer 4
FOR that. only wanted to ask YET I
wot abaht Polly, an to ask yer y
pc good to FER. an'-an' tell yer VOL
I'm tellin' yer now afore It's tool
iate. An'-an'-" She raised herself
with a sudden convulsive effort y
her elbow. "Gawd, I'm goin' now.
CONTINUED Tomorrow -