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Show Storm Country Polly by Grace Miller White Copyright by Little, Brown & Co. T III! IIHII1BBII "fTlW "Get outt" exclaimed Hubert, holding the bout that It might not tip. Pollyop scrambled to the bow, bringing bring-ing Jerry with her, the beautiful dress now hanging in limp folds around her feet. Very pale, Hubert lifted her, almost fainting, from the boat, and picking Jerry up In his arms, walked ahead to the shanty. In the terrible moment that Polly bent under his dark gaze, she felt she must tell him the truth. How could she let him go away thinking her twice a thief, besides believing Oscar Bennett had been her man? She dared n timid glance at him. "Yhat in heaven's name can I do for you?" he demanded hoarsely. "Yon don't seem to have any honor at all ! Can't I say something that would make you a better girl?" Polly swayed and pushed back her curls. Her tired head fell forward on her chest, and she bit her tongue to keep back the rush of words. "Get Wee Jerry back his Daddy Hopkins," she gulped presently, "an' "Stay Here With the Child," He Said Curtly. "I'll Be Back in a Minute." an' I'll swear to be the goodest squatter's squat-ter's brat In the Silent City." No smile answered her emphatic promise. Robert's face was white and severe, and he was studying her In silence. "It does seem,'' he managed to say, "the more I plan and work, the worse things go." He wanted to kiss the pale lovely face, to take her away from the settlement. set-tlement. He wanted to banish the last few months that, every time be thought of them, sent him dizzy with pain. "I've tried my best to have your father fa-ther released," he continued in low tones, "and I've tried not to love you at all. 'But I do want you to be good I mean as good as you can." Up went the curly head, and straight into his eyes she sent a piercing glance. One slender hand flung out toward him. "Couldn't you trust me, sir?" she breathed. "Couldn't you just forget about about " She advanced toward him, her hands extended and her face twitching nervously. nerv-ously. "Of course taking the dress doesn't matter to me," he choked. "Mr. Mackenzie Mac-kenzie is a very wicked man, and he has treated you abominably. But, but what hurts me so is the thought of the man who died in your your home " His voice broke and, turning swiftly, he walked away. Polly tried to call his name, but her throat made no sound. When he disappeared disap-peared up the lane she picked Jerry up and, shivering' went into the shanty. (TO BE CONTINUED.) CHAPTER XII Continued. 13 Polly combed her hair and washed her face and hands. Billy-gnat Hopkins Hop-kins was in his place at the wood-box eiiling a handful of oats -she had g'l-aiHMj for Mm along the roadside. Polly wished that she might take him, too, but as long as she could not, Billy should have a better feed than usual. Afler everything else was attended to, she unwrapped the -silken dress anil put It on. Her hare feet showed from under the hem, but she hail decided de-cided she looked better without the hoots, and as she stood gazing at herself her-self up and down, she regretted that die had not nsked Evelyn for a pair of shoes too. Being careful not to soil her skirt, she knelt and allowed Jerry to climb on her shoulders. The moment she .stood outside the shanty In Ihe rnln, she shivered. The damp air nipped at her uncovered nrms and fiock. To travel the long dis-.'ance dis-.'ance to the station, so Illy covered, was out of the question, and the gown would he drenched through in a few minutes. She turned hack Into the shark and placed Jerry on the cot. "Jerry wants to see Daddy Hopkins," Hop-kins," the child whimpered. "Ain't we Coin', Pollyop?" "Yep. sure I" said Polly. "But sister's sis-ter's got to put on her hoots. She crn't go this way. It's too cold and the walk to Ithaca's too long, honey." Her brow "puckered Into a frown tts she drew on her father's heavy hoots and slipped Info his ragged coat. Then she fucked the diess into the top of the hoots that It might show as little as possible and wont out again. It was a long climb to the boulevard: boule-vard: and the boy was heavy. But he was very quiet, and a sudden rush of tears almost Minded her as she turned toward the city. How delighted both Jerry and Daddy would be when they spied each other! Gulping down her tears, she shut nut the thought that perhaps some one would catch her breaking the law and clap her In Jail too. Cranny Hope and her toothless ("idle flashed before the eyes of her tortured soul. "Ask and It Khali be given thee," seemed to leap from the vision of old age. "I did ask," Pollyop cried aloud, "but Old Marc said I couldn't." In Ihe past months which had taken away throe of her loves, many of the lessons Mrs. Hope had taught her had been effaced. She had even given up the habit of asserting with utmost faith: "Underneath are the everlasting everlast-ing arms." She was almost overcome with terror ter-ror and fatigue as she neared the station. sta-tion. One thing seemed to clear her Mm L She Was Almost Overcome With Terror Ter-ror and Fatiaue as She Neared the Station. brow of wrinkles and lighten the load she was carrying. Not a soul was in sight. lCven the station appeared to he deserted. At the northern end of the Auburn ar, which was waiting for the engine ,n pick it up, Pollyop halted. She walked around It stealthily, and then climbed up the steps. A little cry of Joy lesped to her lips as the door opened un-'erher touch. Ilohknu her breatU. she shifted Jerry to her arms and crept slowly In. l;::iiill.v she examined every currier; hut all the j'laces large enough to null! IlK'Hi bot were in plain sm'ht of anyone waUtini; through. At the ex-tren ex-tren e end she discovered te state-riiti state-riiti n; and hen she wen', into it, a thankful feeling swept over her. It-was It-was as -f t tin t eni ty cabin, with '.ts many ljn, places, had beec. built theie Just for them. Here she cou'O slow Jerry away mid hide herself out of sight. Under on of the cross seats srte pi.icod the child, whispering a warning warn-ing Nirt he mnBt be very quiet be-uuac. be-uuac. if a bis man found them, he could not go to Daddy Hopkins. Then under the side seat that ran lengthwise, length-wise, Polly crawled, and after she had completely secreted herself, she drew down the velvet half-curtain that hung from the seat. It seemed hours before she heard a sound. She hissed a warning to Jerry, then waited In nervous nerv-ous tension. I'rom the station platform voices seemed suddenly to rise up from every quarter. Pollyop closed her eyes, too confused to think of anything to dissipate dis-sipate the agony of mind she was undergoing. un-dergoing. A few minutes before train time a high-powered motor car drew up to the platform. "We've got the drawing-room. Mare," explained Robert Perclval, "and while you three are shopping, I'm going to dig around Auburn a hit." "I suppose you're going to call on your friend, Jeremiah," taunted Mac-Kenzle. Mac-Kenzle. "Bob, I'll give you a pointer. Drop that case! There's no power on earth that can open the prison doors for Hopkins." To tills Robert did not reply. In deep reverie he helped his aunt and cousin from the automobile and followed fol-lowed them to the car. When Polly heard a number of people come Into the stnteroom. she put one hand over her lips. She strained her ears to hear If Jerry had made a move. How she hoped the dear baby had fallen asleep, and that he would not wake up until they were in Auburn ! As unexpected as the voice of one long dead, the sound of familiar tones came to her ears. The words were ; "Now, Mrs. Robertson, you sit there, and you too, Eve. Then you won't have to ride backward. Bob and I'll sit here." The squatter girl's heart nearly .lumped out of her mouth. There, within with-in touching distance, was her powerful power-ful enemy. Her flesh tingled as if bees had stung her. Robert Percival. and Evelyn too, were there. Pollyop shivered and wished that she had waited until tomorrow, or perhaps the day after. She tried to drive out the fear of being discovered and think only of Jerry's happiness and Daddy's. To make her heart heat less fast, she tried earnestly to think of some words that Jesus would hear and understand. under-stand. But even that desire was driven from her as two heavy Dodles dropped upon the seat above her. Plainly sne saw two pairs of men's boots near enough to touch her If she moved an inch forward. Back against the side of the car she pushed her head, noiselessly drawing her thick curls over her shoulder to make more room. How intensely she wished they were In Auburn ! If the train would only start ahead, she was sure she would lose the Insane desire to open her mouth and scream. .Then a whistle from the engine, and as If the man at the throttle had heard the Inward cry of her frightened young soul, the train began to move slowly. As It crossed the northern end of the town, one of the owners of the boots near her face grew exceedingly ex-ceedingly restless, and of a sudden he pushed his foot directly against her nose. Gently she shoved It away; and a low exclamation from above followed fol-lowed instantly. Then a strong, large hand lifted the velvet hangings; nnd before Pollyop could stir, a set of fingers took sharp hold of her face. In her frightened state she threw the hand off; and another an-other ejaculation came to her ears. Then two hands came under and groped for a grip. . She fought strenuously strenu-ously to hold her place; but the person per-son pulled her out by main force. Polly Hopkins was almost fainting when Robert Perclval placed her on her feet. The silk dress, partly tucked In Daddy's boots and partly out, was covered with dust. In silent embarrassment she stooped and brushed it. Then she glanced up imploringly. im-ploringly. Robert, wax-white, was staring at her as If he could not believe his eyes; and MacKenzie. carried away by the rage within him, viciously clutched at her arm. Pollyop dragged herself away frow the strong fingers. "Don't touch me, you." she snapped hoarsely at him. "I'm goin' to Auburn to see my Daddy Hopkins." Her voice was high-pitched and tensely toned. Her gaze sought one after another until It rested on Evelyn Eve-lyn Robertson, huddled back in the corner of the seat. "You can make him leave me be. ma'am," Pe-li went on. "I got a righ' to go to Auburn as well's any one else." An unfeeling laugh left MacKenzie's lips; and a sharp exclamation fell from Percival. "You'n a thief," Marcus thrust In grimly. "A Ifttle thief. You're stealing steal-ing a ride." With all her fighting Instinct roused, Polly squared herself. 'Sure, I'm stealin' a ride," she re-tu re-tu led. "I couldn't ride honest ; von wouldn't let me. My Daddy Hopkins Hop-kins " "It seems to me," Interrupted Mrs Robertson haughtily, "that she's stolen something else besides a ride. That dress you have on, Miss; where'd you get It?" Polly's under lip dropped. It seemed as if a thousand hostile eyes were glaring at her. "It's Evelyn's dress," went on the lady. "Take that coat off and let me see." Before Robert could Interfere, MacKenzie Mac-Kenzie had grasped Pollyop hy the shoulders and had stripped off the heavy coat. And there she stood, her hare young anus and sunburned neck-exposed, neck-exposed, her scarlet face hidden by a handful of curls. She was so ever-whelmed ever-whelmed with shame she could not say a word. "Twice a thief," gritted MacKenzie. "I suppose you didn't give her this, Eve?" With one long finger he pointed at the dress, but his eyes, sparkling with anger, were on Evelyn. Never had Miss Robertson been in such a dilemma. Never had she felt so much like quietly fainting away. "Did you?" demanded Marc, once more. "No, no," denied the girl, trembling. "No, of course I didn't give It to her. Why should I?" MacKenzie's sharp, "You'll land where your fnther Is, you huzzy," brought Polly's flashing glance upon him. Untaught to deceive for her own advantage, she could not fathom Evelyn's direct falsehood. To He for a daddy, to keep a squatter friend from prison yes, she would have done that, but a dress! And Evelyn had given it to her. too! She turned her burning eyes upon the other girl, and there she read with sickening certainty that the gift of the robe must be buried in the grave with Oscar Os-car Bennett. If Jerry had not been tucked away back of the skirts of the two women, Polly would have made a dash for liberty, but she could not leave the baby. Would no One help her? Her eyes sought Robert's face, and as if he were awaking from a dream, he picked up the coat. "I'll hand her over to the conduc-ear," conduc-ear," Marcus proceeded. "He'll know what to do with her," and he put out his hand to grasp her. "No you won't," snapped Robert, moving in front of Pollyop. "I'll look after her myself, nnd if you folks want to stay friendly with me, .fust don't mention this." He held out the coat to Polly Hopkins. 'Tut It on," he ordered or-dered ; and Instantly she obeyed him. What he was going to do with her, Pollyop did not know, but this thing she did realize: Jerry could not see Daddy Hopkins that day. She longed to be back in the shanty,' to get away from MacKenzie's flashing eyes and the haughty stare of Mrs. Robertson. As for Evelyn, she despised the quivering quiv-ering girl with all her straightforward self. Frowning, Robert stepped to the door nnd called the conductor: and when the officlnl appeared, Polly shivered shiv-ered to her toes. The very sight of his uniform suggested trouble for her and Jerry. "A friend of mine came down to see us off," said Robert distinctly, making mak-ing a gesture toward her. "The train started before she could get off. Just let us stop at MacKenney's, will you?" He had a roll of bills In his fingers which he thrust into the officer's hand. Smilingly the man bowed and jerked the cord over his head. "We're right there now, sir," said he. "Thanks," replied Robert. "Thanks;" and "Come," he said to Pollyop. Jerry 1 Daddy Hopkins' baby, went through her mind. Wee Jerry asleep under the cross seat! "Wait a bit, mister," she faltered, "wait til! I get the bahy. I were takin' him up to see his daddy, so he wouldn't die." Her lip trembled as she looked at Mrs. Robertson. "Get up, please, ma'am," she begged.. "He's under there, where you're sittin' !" Mrs. Robertson and Evelyn rose immediately; im-mediately; and Polly pulled the shawl-bewrapped shawl-bewrapped Jerry into full view. In another instant Robert hud snatched up the child and pushed Polly out of the door. He turned about and looked back at the other three, a dreadful egression on his face. "If you stick your finger In this. Marc," he said huskily, "you can say goodhy to me for good." And he followed fol-lowed Polly out of the train as it came to a stop. MacKenney's point was on the east side of the lake, about opposite the Hopkins shanty, and when Robert had helped Polly off the train and had seen it pull away north, he -stood a moment considering how best to get her back home. He could not make the girl tramp back to Ithaca and then across the head of the lake to the Siler.t City. "Stay nere with the child." he said curtly. . "I'll be back in a minute." Polly watched him dully as he strode away. When he returned, he had in his hand a large key with wdiich he unfastened a boathoue on the shore. Almost before Pollyop sensed what was happening, she was in the stern of a boat wlrh Jerry crouched down beside her, and Robert's Rob-ert's strong arms were sending the craft swiftly across the lake. Not a word had been said between them until un-til the.r drew up under the willow "es near Jeremiah's shack. |