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Show !HiPolIy 4 .BGrace Miller White rown and Company t Ah. surely he did love her In spite of what she had done. As a traveler In a dry and thlrsry land longs for fresh water, so he desired Polly Hopkins. Hop-kins. Vain had been his eSforts to tear her image from his heart. Often he had been tempted to marry her and take her out of her dreadful circumstances, cir-cumstances, but each time the desire came to him, the vision of the dying farmer killed It. Broodlngly his eyes swept the narrow nar-row lake and the eastern, rearing hills. He remembered how he and Polly Hopkins had sat together on the ragged rag-ged rocks, watching the clouds sweep over the sky above, like flocks of birds across wonder-blue water. With a groan he threw off these memories, and striding forward, he rapped on the hut door. Polly Hopkins opened It, looked at him, bent her head but spoke no word. "I want to talk to you, child," was the excuse he gave; and still silent, is There Still Above the Door Was the Printed Sign, "If Your Heart's Loving Lov-ing and Kind Come Right In; If It Ain't Scoot Off." she moved backward and allowed him to enter the room. Now that he was there, Robert felt as if he could not force his tongue to say the things she must hear. He was oppressed by his utter failure to keep the 'promise made that day before "The Greatest Mother In the World," and knew not how to explain it. "Polly," he had commenced, when Pollyop, because she was so tired, so forlornly helpless, began to sob bitterly. bit-terly. The sight of him after all these weary days quite overcame her. "Don't," he Interjected impetuously. "Please don't do that." Her tears only added to the remorse that scourged him and gave new vitality vital-ity to his passion; but, like a wall of Are between them, burned his jealousy of Oscar Bennett. "I want to help you," he stammered. Pollyop shook her head. "You can't do nothin1 unless you get my daddy back," she whispered. "Jerry'll die " This gave a slight opening, and Hob- : ert grasped at it eagerly. "I came to talk about him," he Interrupted. In-terrupted. "Now please don't cry any more. Don't I Sit down a minute." He placed her in a chair, going white as his hand touched her. "You say the child Is 111, Pollyop?" he went on, but paused as Polly nodded her head. "Yep, he's sick all right," she returned, re-turned, wiping her eyes. "Then perhaps if he went away somewhere, to a place where he'd have good food and care until his father fa-ther " At his words the girl suddenly grew rigidly erect, but the piteous trembling of her lips made the young man avert his eyes. "Squatter babies grow on the grub squatters give 'em," she replied huskily. huski-ly. "All they need is bread an' beans an' love," she hesitated and swallowed hard before she continued : "An' lots of love! That's what's ailin' Wee Jerry. He wants his daddy!" "But, Polly !" Robert tried to check the flow of her words, but she ran on: "He'd die sure In a strange place. Nope ! Jerry stays in the shanty with me." There was such an air of finality In her inflection and appearance that I'erclval groaned within himself and nervously paced the length of the room and back. He simply could not tell her. How could he place another burden upon the already bowed young shoulders? Then the matter was taken out of his hands. The roll of carriage wheels, an unusual sound in the settlement, came distinctly to their ears and caused the girl to throw him a startled, questioning glance. Before he could give her the least warning, the door flung open, and MacKenzie, followed by three men, came Into the shanty. Marcus had not expected to find his wife's cousin there after the scene of that morning. A sneer tugged at the corners of his mouth. Then, remembering remem-bering that he represented the county, a slow smile curled hu- lips. (TO BE CONTIN 'TEX).) sleep, he demanded to know If she were cognizant of the fact that Robert Rob-ert was trying to obtain a pardon for Hopkins. Several representative citizens, citi-zens, among whom were two distinguished distin-guished lawyers, had approached him on the subject. "And that Isn't all," he fumed. "I started something else today, and he's trying to block me." He Jerked at his coltar so violently that the stiff llneu tore with a whining whin-ing sound. "D n that thing," he exploded and threw the ruined neckwear on the floor. "I won't stand any more Interference. Inter-ference. "If you don't want to bring Bob to terms," he went on, "I will ! That's my word 1 I've held my peace as long us I can ! Good God, now, don't start to cry I" But In spite of his Imperious com-' mand, Evelyn had wept long after her husband's heavy breathing told her that he was asleep. Next morning, walking Into the dining din-ing room wearily, she found her cousin, cou-sin, Robert, standing near the window, his hands In his pockets. She went straight to his side. "Bob," she breathed. The young man turned upon her and caught the hand she laid on his arm. "You've got to help me now, Eve," lie began, without other response to her greeting. "It's all very well for Marc to take a high hand In some matters, but this thing he's planning is brutal." "I can't do anything with him," cried the girl. "He told me about it Inst -night; and I talked and talked till I'm hoarse. Bob, why don't you go away somewhere?" Robert shook his head dismally. "I can't Eve, I can't," he returned. "I know what Polly Is, but she's young and and " He paused, brushed back his hair and hurried on : "I love her, that's all 1 If Marc continues con-tinues in Ah, here he comes." The door flung open, and MacKenzie MacKen-zie strode Into the room. He came to a halt at the sight of his young wife and her cousin. "What's up?" he exclaimed testily. "Bob wants to talk to you, dear," explained Evelyn, in a conciliatory tone. She had learned in the past months that suppressing her own temper tem-per was to travel along the lines of least resistance. "Well, have some breakfast," was the ungracious reply. "Sit down, both of you." "I've had my breakfast," answered Robert. "I waited to have a word with you, Marc, before you went into towu. I want to buy of you at your own price all the land the squatters are on. That would relieve " "Squatters again, eh?" came In quick interruption. "My dear Robert," MncKenzie placed his fingers on the back of his chair and watching his wife, proceeded, "I really dislike to be abrupt In my own family and In your house, but you know there is such a thing as a man minding his own business." busi-ness." A deep flush rose to Perclval's brow. "I am minding my own business," he shot back. "If it's your will to persecute per-secute a girl who's almost dead with grief, it's mine to help' her if I can. This last thing you're trying to put over is abominable !" In rough impatience Marcus sat down, Evelyn dropping into her place opposite him. "From your interest one would think you had a more intimate reason than Just humanity, Robert," he sneered broadly. "Is that it?" Into Evelyn's pale face rushed a mass of color, and she shrank back as if she had received a blow. As quickly quick-ly the flush receded, leaving her whiter than before. Robert came forward to the table. "You're perfectly right, Marc," he confessed almost Inaudibly. "I do love Polly Hopkins I I" MacKenzie Interrupted him by rising ris-ing to his 'feet, his handsome face suffused suf-fused with anger. "Then it's time I cleared her out," he answered. "A squatter In the familya fam-ilya thief a llnr " Mrs. MacKenzie struggled to her feet and began to cry. "I can't stand any more," she whimpered, whim-pered, "I simply can't, Marc. The way you both quarrel over those people gets on my nerves. You promised mei Marcus, you wouldn't ever do it again." All the concentrated rage he had gathered In the past few weeks burst forth In a vicious snap. "Then tell your precious cousin to keep his nose out of my affairs, my dear! I'm perfectly capable of attending attend-ing to them. I don't wish to sell that land, but I do intend to get rid of that tribe; and both of you might just as well understand It now as Inter." He said it with such forceful determination deter-mination that Evelyn threw an entreating en-treating glance at Robert. Uttering a sharp exclamation, he turned swiftly and went out. The next few hours he spent In Ithaca, trying to turn aside the blow that threatened to fall upon Polly Hopkins. But so great was MacKen-zie's MacKen-zie's influence that Perclval's own friends shook their heads when he approached ap-proached them. Utterly cast down by the futility of Ins morning's work on behalf of the squatter girl, Robert I'ercival wended his way to the Silent City. He could not let the relentless law burst In upon Pollyop unprepared. Through the settlement he hurried to the Hop-Kins Hop-Kins shanty and paused before It. There stfll above me door was the printed sign. "If your heart's loving and kind come right In ; If It ain't scoot off." CHAPTER XIII 14 No more unhappy girl lived In all of Tompkins county than Polly Hopkins. Seemingly never-ending Ways dragged by their minutes one by one. When the woke up In the morning she wished" It were night ! When she crawled Into bed she wished It were morning I And every twenty-four hours brought renewed re-newed anguish to Jerry. Pollyop spent most of her time trying to soothe him. And thus the two little waifs lived until the news sprend through the Silent Si-lent City thut Evelyn Robertson and Marcus MacKenzie were going to be married In a fashionable church in llhncn. The wedding day dawned bright with sunshine; and, together with Jerry, Pollyop went Into town, hid herself in the thick shrubbery In Hewitt park nd watched with tormented soul the gorgeous display of riches. She saw Evelyn in all her beauty and the resplendent Marcus; also the haughty Mrs. Robertson, leaning on ti e arm of Robert Perclvnl. How pale tils face was! Great tears blinded Polly's Pol-ly's eyes as she wondered vaguely and bewllderedly if be ever thought of her. i It was u long, sad night which she spent after that event, hut still she lived on and carried her heavy burden in silence. Week by week she counted on her slender fingers the months which would hnve to be lived through before Daddy Hopkins could come home. Oh, how she wanted to steal into his arms, to lay her head against him and to be sure he was in the Silent City for ever and ever! Jerry must have him, too, and many were the promises she made to .the child during the wild fall weather of the Storm country that ' perhaps tomorrow Daddy would come, perhaps the next day, until the child's face too gathered an expression as if he were always listening for footsteps outside the hut. The autumn rains had no more than set In before Marcus MacKenzie took up again his persecutions of the squatters. squat-ters. On his return from his wedding trip he and Evelyn went to live with Mrs. Robertson for the vrinter. One day Percival approached MacKenzie Mac-Kenzie with another request that he ' use his influence to liberate Jeremiah Hopkins. "Il's wrong for his daughter to stay In such a place alone. witli that frail 1 child. Marc," protested Robert earn estly. Evelyn looked up from her sewing. In her own happiness the thought that her handsome cousin loved the squatter squat-ter girl had lapsed in her memory. Her eyes went from his troubled face to Iter husband's. Marc's, expression was dark and forbidding, and his full led lips dragged down at the corners! Her heart fluttered at the thought of his rage if by chance he got an inkling of her duplicity. 'The huzzy won't be there long, my friend," returned Marcus, gritting his , teeth. "I've a plan to put her out with the rest. Why you stand-by those people peo-ple has always puzzled me, Percival." "They're a forlorn lot," replied Robert, Rob-ert, flushing. "Now, what about Hopkins?" Hop-kins?" A look of contempt settled on Mne-Kenzie's Mne-Kenzie's face, and he flung out his , hands as if throwing away something lie detested. "He'll serve his time," he retorted abruptly, "and when he does come back, his bruts won't be vyhere he left them.". Keeping her eyes on her husband; Evelyn uttered an exclamation. How somber and forceful he seemed with that network of wrinkles across his broad brow. Anger distended his nostrils, nos-trils, and the look he had fixed upon Robert was full of compelling strength. "You're both sickening," she broke out fretfully. "Perfectly sickening!" "Now listen to. me. Eve," ejaculated Robert, turning to her. "You know very well that I'm Interested in the Hopkins family " She did not look at him until his sentence was chopped off in confusion. Then she threw him a peculiar glance. "Oh, 1 know thai well enough !" she lejoiucd, dropping her eyes, "but what luukes uie so impat ent Is that the sec-uud sec-uud you and Marc come within speaking speak-ing disfunce, you begin au argument about them. Why can't you both make u resolution not to talk .about those peiade:" Her cousin walked to the window and stared out Into the garden. ' A nervous cough came from MacKenzie. - "1 won't do it, Fve." asserted Rob ert presently, flinging around. "Some-tliing's "Some-tliing's got to be done for Polly Hopkins. Hop-kins. She's so young and unhappy!" "Youi:g and pretty, you mean, Bobs," laughed -Marcus disagreeably. "Why ili. n't you marry the trollop and put an end to your philanthropy? Bennett's Ben-nett's dead; so he cau't interfere with ou !" l'ercival's fists doubled as fleeing Mood left his f'-'ce wax-white. Throwing her work Into a basket at her side. Mrs. MacKenzie arose. "Marcus," she snapped, "you're perfectly per-fectly disgusting! Now here I speak my mind I I don't ever Intend to sit in the same room with you two unless you keep your conversation off the squatters." She marched to the door, her lovely head 'held high ; and Marcus strode after her. "Come back here, Evelyn," he ordered. or-dered. "How dare you talk like that to me?" It was the first time Marcus had spoken to her Just that way ; and the shurpness of ids tones and the glitter In ids dark eyes sent a sudden rage through her. She whirled squarely upon him. At the sight of her face he took a backward step. He had never seen the blue fade from his wife's eyes and a gleam like bright steel take its place. "I said exactly what I meant," she told him. "I positively refuse to listen to wrangles about the Silent City. Now you both understand, don't you?" Suddenly she went deathly pale, held out a trembling hand, and swuyed as If she were going to fall. She looked so stricken and ill that Marcus caught her to him. Everything but his lovely young bride faded from his mind. "What's the matter, dear heart?" he cried. "Sit down a minute! There! You know very well. Eve darling, I didn't mean to be brutal." She knew he did not require an answer an-swer and gave him none; she only sobbed hysterically against his arm. "Neither did I, Evelyn," said Robert, Rob-ert, in a low voice. He went to his counsiu's side Instantly, In-stantly, begging her forgiveness. The girl turned her head and impulsively kissed his hand. "Never mind now, Bob," she said faintly. "Please go away like a good boy." After Perclval's departure, Marcus gathered his wife Into his arms and sat down with her on his knee. "There now, sweetheart I" he soothed, and he drew her head to his shoulder and kissed her. "Don't cry any more !" "It makes me so nervous, Marc, dear," she explained, sitting up, ,"to "IHiiSiPl "Come oack Here, Evelyn," He Ordered. Or-dered. "How Dare You Talk Like That to Me?" hear quarrels between you and Robert. Rob-ert. And and I don't feel very well." MacKenzie studied her keenly. "Then I'll get a doctor today," he exclaimed, much concerned. A flush covered the girl's face, and she hid it against his coat. "I don't need a doctor, darling," she whispered, "but I do want care nnd quiet. That's all 1" A strange unknown thrill shot through the man. "Look nt me, beloved," he begged, quivering. He forced his wife's face up to his and searched deep into the blue eyes. "Eve, my love, my own darling!" was all he could say. Then Evelyn rested In supreme happiness hap-piness against her husband's breast for a long time. One cold blustering morning a little while before Thanksgiving. Evelyn MncKenzie came down to breakfast alone. She was very pale, and her eyelids showed signs of weeping. The night before her husband had let loose the reins upon his violent temper. Hi' had arrived home at a late hour, chafing and Irritable. Awaking his wife from a sound |