NORTH PLATTE RTiJMT-WFFKT.Y TT?TRTTNF,
Storm
CHAPTER XI. Continued.
11
Slinking off lier superstitious terror,
Evelyn touched tlio prostrate man.
Perhaps lie was (load ; and out of some
where a thought shot Into her mind
Hint If he were, her troubles were over.
"I don't know," she whispered. "Hut
he looks sol"
Pollyop shoved Evelyn aside and
slipped her arm under Rennctt's head.
8he seemed to have lost all aversion to
him. She realized then only that a
liumnn being was Buffering, perhaps
dead. At her tender touch the man's
eyes flew open; and, panic-stricken.
Pollyop withdrew her arm and was
hack beside the other girl before she
Bpoke.
"He's got life In him, Miss Eve," she
chattered between her teeth. "Look
at his eyes I God, ain't It awful!"
Quietly Oscar lay gazing at the girls
as thoy stared at him. Polly was the
llrst to go to him.
"Fool awful sick, oh, Oscar?" she
asked In a low tone.
The man did not answer even by a
movement of his lids.
"Ho can't talk," she went on, look
ing around at Evelyn. "Ho ought to
have a doctor. Can't you go up to the
boulevard an' get Doc Rneon?"
A fresh burst of tears so choked
Evelyn Robertson that for a space she
could not answer.
"No, I can't go nut In this awful
storm again." she finally replied. "Of
course, I can't," silo repeated, swat
lowing. "I'm afraid. I won't gol I
won't take a step. If any one gous
"Then stay by him," Interjected
J'olly, dully, "an' I'll gol"
Ashumed to declare- that slio was
afraid to bo left alono with Oscar,
Kvelyn watched Pollyop as she wont
out and softly closed the door behind
her. ,
Polly Hopkins lingered several nio
1 nicnts to accustom her eyes to the
night's blackness. Beyond to the east
Lake Cayuga rushed on toward Ithaca
as If Its Intentions were to swallow tho
little town In one hugo mouthful. Pol
lyop crooned over mechanically words
which fell hourly from Granny Hope,
"Ask an' It shall bo given thee," sho
whispered. "Then If that's so, let nio
get some ono to help Oscar I"
Through the clatter of the elements
Hho heard tho sound of footsteps oft In
the . dark road. An answer to her
prayer was about to step out of tho
night gloom. Sho hoped It was Larry
Rlshop or Lyo Urnogor. Opening her
lips, sho gave tho weird, crying, squat
tor-call pf tho Storm country; and w
voice that clutched at her heart an
swered her.
Then, by tho next flash of Jagged
lightning, sho saw Robert Porclval
coming townrd her.
"Is that you, Polly?" ho called.
"What's tho matter?"
'Tcp." she faltered timidly. "I got
sumo ono nick In tho shanty."
Of all tho people she bad expected
to see, ho was the last. As she waited
for him to approach, Pollyop's active
mind grasped tho fact that now Itohcrt
would know what his cousin had done.
Sho saw no way to keep hint in lg
norauco of Evelyn's relation to Oscar,
and sho was too excited to think of an
excuse to keep him outside.
"Pollyop," commenced Robort. "I
luul to see you If only for a few mln
litcs. Walt a second beforo you go
In."
Confused uud agitated, tho girl did
not stir a step until he was bending
over her. Ono arm went nround her
shoulders, ono tender hand pressed hor
head against his breast.
"Daddy's gone!" sho choked almost
Inaudlbly. "Tboy'vo took him to Au
bum, huh?"
"Yes, dear child," answered Itohcrt,
his own throat full with emotion.
"But wImU I camo to tell you Is this,
dear. I'vo already set things moving
to bring him back. I couldn't sloop to
night until I saw you."
A long shudder ran tho length of
Polly's body; her logs grow so weak
tdie would have fallen but for tho
Ktrnug arms holding her up.
"I want him awful bad," camo up In
u breath to the palo young man,
"Aud I say, Polly dear, that he's
coming homo," repeated Robert, "and
every day I want you to expect him
will you trust mo, darling?"
Uo had asked hor that question
onco, but that was before Old Marc
bad railroaded Daddy Hopkins to Au
burn.
"Will you, Pollyop?" urged Robert
passionately, lifting her face and lay
lug Ills warm lips on hers.
With swift-coming breaths sho thing
both arms around his neck.
"I'll trust you every day an' all
day I" Sho hesitated aud turned her
head, A sound In tho hut had fright
ened her. Sho knew Robert had hoard
it, too, for ho reached out his hand to
open tho door.
"Wo'll go In," said bo, taking her
ana and gathering both of her hands
Into his.
By u sudden movement, Polly
pushed him backward.
"I'd rather you'd make off," sho told
Mm, unsteadily. "Mcbbe I can find a
uquutter."
"No, my dear," returned Robert.
"When you need help, and I'm hero,
you cun3;.ull any ono else."
Wl;ik he. was speaking; ho had'dis-
Country
6,y Grace Miller White
Copyright by Little, Brown & Co.
engaged his hands aud had lifted the
latch.
Trembling from head to foot, Polly
op followed him into the hut.
Whon Robert caught sight of his
palo cousin, ho stopped short.
"You're not 111, Eve, dear?" bo cried,
going to hor quickly. "Polly said some
ono was sjck bore."
Ho glanced around the shanty. A
throb of happiness made his pulses
beat faster. "Tho Greatest Mother In
tho World" still hold her place on tho
wall. While ho was contemplating the
wonder of the picture, his thoughts
went back to the day ho had given it
to his Littlest Mother In tho World.
Rllly-goat Hopkins mousing In the
wood-box brought his thoughts back,
but not soon enough to catch the
meaning glance that Evelyn shot at
the squatter girl, who was gazing
steadily at her. With a fling of con
tempt Miss Robertson walked to him
aud laid her hand on his arm.
"No, I'm not tho least sick, Rob, but
but Just now " she hesitated, then
continued hurriedly: "There's a llttlo
boy here; and I often bring him food
and candy. When I got hero," sho
whirled around and flung her hand
toward the cot, "this man was so ter
ribly sick that I told Polly Hopkins
sho ought to get a doctor. Naturally,
I consented to stay until some one elso
came, hut I never expected you!"
The explanation brought a groan
from Pollyop.
Slowly Robort drew his gazo from
Oscar's pallid countenance and turned
to her. Ho looked so Bhockcd aud
hurt that sho Impulsively moved to
ward him.
"Ilow'd ho come hero?" Robert ex
claimed, going to tho bedside. "Why,
It's Ronuottl What's ho doing hero?"
So passlonato wore his tones, so full
of that demanding quality that Evelyn,
fearing Pollyop would tell tho truth,
again caught hold of him.
"He's In lovo with Polly Hopkins,
Hob," sho offered, trying to speak
calmly, "and really it's nono of our
business, Is It? Rut I do- think he
ought to have a doctor."
Robert staggered back, flashing a
glance at tho squatter girl which
seemed to burn hor through and
through.
"Aro you married to him?" ho de
manded of her.
Iter palo Hps framed tho single
word. "No."
"Then how In God's name camo ho
hero In your "
Two strides brought him so close
that Polly felt his hot breath against
her cold face. Sho cried out In an
gulsh and started to speak; but Eve
lyn broke In upon her In frantic haste.
"Now listen to me, Rob," she Insist
ed. "You aro very unkind! What's
happened bore Is none of your bust
noss nor mine I Every squatter wom
an has a man, and you can't expect
Polly Hopkins to be an exception. All
you can do Is to get a doctor."
Robert passed bis haiid over his
face. Ho looked dazedly from Pollyop,
"All night," He Replied Gruffly.
so silent and pale, to tho man so hor
rlbly still on the cot.
"All right," ho replied grullly.
"Come on! This Is no place " He
flung a glance at Polly Hopkins that
struck hor like a blow, from a whip.
aud finished, "no place for a decent
girl."
Stupolled by tho Hood of disasters
that had overwhelmed hor, Polly
watched Robert Porclval lead his cou
sin from tho hut. After tho first wild
Impulse to tell hi in tho truth, sho bad
niado no further effort to clear herself.
Evelyn Robertson was going to hold
her to tho word sho had made two
years ago I Relug Innately honest her
self, Pollyop could soo no way to
lighten her own dejection or to still
Robert's llerco anger. Her llttlo world
was tumbling to pieces around, hor. No"
longer could she think of him as her
own, though hut a few short minutes
beforo be had comforted her with
kisses aud promises. Ho had demand
AW'
ed that she should trust him, yet at
the very first trial of his faith, ho had
flung away and left her alone.
Blinded by tenrs, she felt her way
to the cot. Bennett lay In tho same
position, his wide-open eyes holding
an expression of horror.
"Sho's got a lily liver all right, Os
car," Polly hissed through her tcotn.
"Did you hear all what she said?"
Such Is the power of habit over a
nature like the squatter girl's that
Robert faded from her mind, and Os
car Bennett, suffering and dying, ab
sorbed her whole attention.
"Can't you hear anything, Oscar?"
she questioned. "Listen, mebbe you'll
get well. If you do, take your old
mammy an' get out quick. Eve ain't
worth ono of your too nails. You've
been a mean duffer, Oscar, but you're
too d n good for her. Go.l, but she
wero a wicked woman, wasn't she,
hub?"
Not n move of the heavy head on
tho pillow gave evidence that sho had
been heard.
She was still standing by Bennett's
side when, without knocking, Robort
opened the door and camo In, followed
by tho doctor. Polly recognized tho
stranger Instantly as the medical man
who lived a short distance down tho
boulevard. In 'anxious Inquiry she
glanced at Porclval.
Observing that she had been weep
ing, his anger flared again. It never
occurred to him Hint bis own cruelty
had drawn the tears from her eyes.
There was tho hugo farmer stretched
out on the bed; and tho squatter girl
crying beside him 1 She was mourning
over tho strlckon man! Robert
frowned; and hopelessly, In silence,
Polly moved aside to give the doctor
the space she liad occupied.
After a hasty examination of tho pa
tient, Doctor Racon turned to Polly
Hopkins.
"Something struck lilm," ho said
shortly. "You've been quarreling with
him, eh, girl? What did you hit him
with?"
Accusation rang against her not
only In the speaker's tones but in Rob
ert's Inarticulate cry.
"Why did you strike him, Polly Hop
kins?" ho demanded hoarsely. "Did
you? Speak! Did you?"
That he should believe such things.
of her crushed her completely, nor
head fell forward, but not until Rob
ert spoke again harshly did she an
swer.
"Nope," she breathed. Her tongue
folt as If it wore covered with ashes.
"Nope, I didn't lilt him I"
That was" all sho said. Sho looked
up at him pleadingly through her thick
lashes. Perhaps ho did not really be
lieve her guilty. Yes, ho did 1 He was
still fixing upon her that accusatory
gaze.
"He'd better bo moved out of this
hole," observed the doctor, looking
nround, "but It's an awful night." Ho
considered a moment and then added:
"I'll telephone to Ithnca for an ambu
lance." Sternly ho directed n look of disgust
at Polly. Ho bated attending ,the
squatters anyway, aud never would
have consented to enter the Silent City
If Robert Porclval had not como for
him.
Aghast at the horror of the emer
gency, roiiyop scorned not to notice
tho physician's contempt.
"Is he goln' to die, mister?" she
queried plaintively.
"I don't know," ho replied In gruff
Indecision, as he prepared a draught.
When everything within human
power had been dona for Oscar Ben
nett, Robert allowed the doctor to pass
out of tho hut before him. Then, like
n shot, bo turned back to Polly's side.
Ills eyes blazed with Jealousy; and
quickly It crossed her mind that he
was going to strike hor, Oh 1 How she
wished he would and then take back
all the cruel words ho had hurled at
her !
"When you said you loved me, you
lied," he gritted savagoly. "You know
all the time you had him. You let me
kiss you ! You said lovo was the
greatest thing In tho world! Oh, God!
How I wish I could hate you I"
Polly could not speak, neither could
sho move. Imprisoned tragedy lay In
the depths of her eyes. If ho had been
less violent, she would luivo Implored
him to trust her.
Porclval really hoped she would re
sent his accusations. Stormy denials
would have been sweet music to bis
cars. lie would have welcomed even
a torrent of abuse from her. Anything
was less maddening than this sinister
silence that seemed to put tho stain;
of truth upon his cousin's explanation
of Bennett's presence.
"Why don't you speak?" ho rasped.
When she showed no signs of an
swerlng. ho turned to go. The door
was swinging In his hand, hut ho did
not pass out. It was as though the
agony scorching him fused all his emo
tions; and In n flash he realized that
ho loved her Just tho same 1 No matter
what she had done, ho loved her, nnd
no woman In the world could or would
take her place.
Uo whirled around ami with one
sweep gathered her Into his arms. Un
mindful of the mnn on the bod, he
showered kisses upon her hair, her
eyes au 1 lastly seared bur lips by his
passlonvte tiros.es.
"Trust me!" sho gasped. "Please
trust me."
A contemptuous laugh fell from him.
"TrUst you?" he grated. "That I
will not I 111 never trust you again.
But you're mine Just the same. Do
you iiear? You belong to me. But
after this I'll watch every step you
take and and "
He almost crushed her Into uncon
sciousness, nnd sho hung In his arms
a fragile, beaten thing, too tired to cry
out, too weak to plead.
Then, all of a sudden, Robort loos
ened his hold upon her, strode to tho
door and, without a backward glance,
opened It nnd was gone.
For a long time after be had left the
but, prone upon the rough shanty
Large Drops Appeared on Bennett's
Brow; and Granny Hope Lifted One
Withered Hand and Brushed Them
Away.
boards, she strained her eyes at tho
door, as If a ghost had Just passed
through It.
Granny Hope's voice called her
name ; and she came limping out of
her room on hor stick.
"I hoard a lot of folks talkln', Pol
lyop," sho said, "an' I got awful palr.3
tonight. It's tho storm, I guess."
Almost exhausted, Pollyop forced
herself to stand up.
"You hadn't ought to be out of bed,
Granny," sho remonstrated. "Yep, I
guess It's the rain what makes you
ache."
Then Mrs. Hope noticed Bennett.
Ills eyes gazed at her a moment and
then moved back to Polly.
The old woman hobbled to the cot,
nnd Polly came to her side silently.
"He's awful sick, I guefes, uln't he?"
observed Mrs. Hope, looking up Into
tho girl's face.
"Yep!" The afllrmntlve was but a
breath.
"Goln' to die, huh?" whispered tho
other.
A deep sob roso to the girl's Hps,
brought almost to utterance by hor in
tense suffering.
"Mebbo!" was all she could say.
"Poor man," the woman muttered,
wrinkling up her face. "Dyln's awful
bard thing for some folks."
A stnrtlod expression, smoothing
uway some of the hard lines, spread
over Oscars face. In the presence
of death, which every squatter held
In superstitious awe, Polly dropped
down upon her knees beside the bed.
Her own hurt had been overcome by
the deslro to help him If she could.
And there, while tho rain dashed its
fury into tho lake, and tho wind shook
tho shanty, the three kept quiet vigil
Largo drops appeared on Bennett's
brow ; and Granny Hope lifted ono
withered hand and brushed them away.
"Lovo'll carry you over weary places,
big dear," she wheezed. "It's all pow
orful, love Is, sir."
Oscar's staring eyes lost something
of tho abject fear thoy had shown,
as if ho had heard and was comforted.
Then over ids fuco swept that look
that comes but once to any man,
"Aw tho Chrlst'll help you, too
honey," Granny Hope went on again
smiling.
Polly, weeping silently, bent for
ward .and gazed hard at tho dying
farmer. Oscar wanted to stay a llttlo
longer. Ho was trying to speak; but
sbu know bo could not. To help him
through tho valley of shadows and up
ward Into eternal light, she thrust her
head close to his.
"Jesus Is glvln' you rest, Oscar
man I" she- whispered.
(TO U13 CONTINUED.)
Careful Mrs. Newlywed.
"Mother" "Yes, Ethel" "Will
you do something for nio?" "Wfcut Is
It?" "1 wish you would buy mo k roll-Ing-pln."
"Why don't you buy one
yourself?" "Oh, you know Jim and I
have only been marrivd a fow weeks
and tho store man might think we
wore not getting along together."
Youngstown Telegram.
mm
TRUCK GROWERS
KEEP FEW COW
Small Herds of Animals Being
Maintained for Purpose of
Obtaining Fertilizer.
SURPLUS MATERIAL UTILIZED
Practice of Keeping Live Stock Is to
Be Strongly Recommended In
Sections Where It Can Be
Dono Profitably.
(Prepared by the United States Department
ot Agriculture.)
Truck growers and greenhouse men
In the Eustern states aro finding it
Increasingly difficult to secure n sup
ply of stable manure, und some grow
ers have adopted the practice of keep
ing a small heru of cows or other
stock for the purpose of supplying
manure, and as a means of utilizing
surplus or waste material. The prob
lem of maintaining soil fertility un
der present conditions was discussed
at the recent meeting of the Vegetable
Growers' Association of America, at
Albany, N. Y., and it wus the opinion
of the vegotnbie growers and state
federal workers present that the prac
tice of keeping llvo stock Is to be
strongly recommended In 1 sections
where this can bo done profitably.
Scarcity of Plant Food.
The head of the vegetable garden
department of the Massachusetts Agri
cultural college reported that: "A
study of tho census shows that the de
crease In horses In Massachusetts
from 1010 to 1020 Is such that 13,000
fewer acres can now be furnished
with 20 tons of stable manure per aero
than in 1010. To offset this loss in
plant food, which was formerly ob
tained from stable manure, will re
quire the expenditure of bQtwcen 5V
200,000 and 51,400,000. Even then we
lack that all-important effect of the
Inoculated organic, matter contained
in mnnure nnd for which no equally
efficient substitute has been found."
While this disregards the cost of
tho manure formerly used to supply
the plant food, it is probable that It
was much less than the cost of the
fertilizer now purchased. This prob
lem' is not confined to any one state,
but with a few local exceptions is be
ing felt throughout the territory In
which vegetable crops are grown for
the markets.
At the Lexington (Mass.) field sta
tion, which is conducted under tho di
rection of the State College of Agri
culture as an experiment station, what
are termed "manure economy Investi
gations" nre being conducted. In these
tests the uso of stnble manure in mod
erate quantities is being supplemented
Problem of Keeping Live Stock to
Maintain Soil Fertility Is Not Con
fined to Any One Section.
by commercial fertilizers, soll-bullding
crops, crop rotations and other means
of maintaining soil fertility.
Waste Is Utilized.
Growers of canning crops such as
peas and sweet corn have for years
past followed the practice of utilizing
tho vines, fodder and other waste in
tho form of silage for the feeding of
sheep, beef cattle, or dairy cows, this
practice supplying them with largo
quantities of manure. Renewed ntten
tion is now being directed to tills
practice, and In sections whero tho
European corn borer has made Its ap
pearanco many growers have found
It desirable to erect silos for the utili
zation of tho surplus material, feed
lng this to their stock, thereby secur
Ing manure for their crops, and also
largely controlling the corn borer,
The United States Department of
Agrlculturo strongly recommends
these prnctlccs wherever conditions
will warrant tho keeping of live stock
GROW CUCUMBERS ON FENCES
Plants Require Considerable Space,
and for That Reason Are Not
Suitable for Small Garden.
Two to five hills of cucumbers usual-
ly will produce enough for the ordl'
nary family. Cucumbers require con
slderablo space, and for that renson
thoy mny not fit Into tho schemo of
smnll gardens. It Is possible, howovcr,
to plant tho cucumbers along a fenco
or near a building nnd train tho vines
on a support of wire or strings so thnt
they will not encumber tho ground
or occupy tho space required by other
crops. In innklng the hills' or the row
In which tho seeds nro plnnted.
J smnll amount of well-decayed manure
should bo mixed with the soil. A lit
Uo fertilizer also helps, but It should
bo used carefully to prevent Injury.
United States Department of Agrl
culture
SOME FERTILIZER IS
REQUIRED BY ONIONS
Spading Fork Should Be Used in
Preparing Soil.
Poultry and Sheep Manure Are Both
Good for Crop, but Should Be Used
Sparingly Steel Rake Is
Splendid Tool.
(Prepared by the United Btatea Department
ot Agriculture,)
. Onions require a mellow, rich soil;
in fact, very few gardens nro rich
enough to grow good onions without
some fertilizing. In prepnring the soil
breuk it up with a spading fork, work
ing into the top three or four inches
plenty of well-rotted manure, suggest
garden specialists of the United States
Department of Agriculture. Ten
pounds of hlgh-grndo commercial fer
tilizer should also be spread over each
square rod of ground nnd well raked
into the soil a few days before plant
ing the onion "sets." Poultry nnd sheep
manure are both good fertilizers for
onions, but must bo used sparingly and
well mixed with tho soil to prevent
burning the onion roots.
Onions grow very quickly and re
quire frequent shallow stirring of tho
surface soil. Tho usual method is to
plant the "sets" In rows nbout 15
Inches apart and 3 to H inches apart in
the rows, covering them Just so the
Working In a Big Onion FieJd.
tops will be below the surfnee. A nnr
row steel rake Is n good tool for work
ing between the rows at first, but later
as the onions attain soino size a wheel
hoe enn bo used. For the very llrst
workings and for getting between tlio
Individual plants In tho rows there Is
nothing better than n short piece of
lath with three wire brads driven
through it at one end, making what Is
known as a "scratcher." By and by
the onion tops will get so large thnt
they nlmost fill the spnees between tho
rows and hand weeding may have to
bo resorted to In order to keep tho
crop free from weeds.
About tho time the onions begin to
enlarge at the base, or to "bottom," as
tho growers say. It is n good plan to
scatter a very little nitrate of soda,
not more thnn two pounds to tho
square rQd, over tho soli between tho
rows and work It in with n boo or
rake. This will stimulate the growth
Just at the time that tho plants most
need n llttlo extra food and will usual
ly increase the yield.
FINE SOIL FOR ROOT CROPS
Carrots, Parsnips and Salsify Want to
Grow Straight, but .Clods
Work Injury.
Do you .-want long, straight carrots,
parsnips, and salsify, or crooked,
forked ones? Ask your wife; she baa
to peel them. All these roots have
good intentions; thoy want to keep
straight, but they cannot stand ad
versity nor withstand temptation. If
they strike rocks or clods on the way
down, they become forked or twisted,
nnd If lumps of stable manure aro In
the soil, thoy bend townrd these or
send out branches in thnt direction.
Dig extra deep, making the soil flno
nnd mellow where these crops are to
grow, and see that all manure Is finely
pulverized and all fertilizer thorough
ly mixed with tho soil.
GROW CROP OF LATE CABBAGE
Land That Has Been Utilized for Peas,
Potatoes or Beans Is Usually
Made Use ot.
Late cabbage Is usually grown on
land (hat lias been utilized for pons,
early potatoes, or beans during tho
early part of the season. Tlio seed
should be sown In n seed box or a
special outdoor bed four to six weeks
before the plants aro needed for set
ting. The seed should not be sown too
thickly, and it Is a good plan to thin
tho plants to an oven stand In tho seed
bed, so thoy will develop uniformly.
The Innd on which late cabbage Is
grown should bo well fertilized, nnd
the plants sot 18 to 20 Inches apart In
rows three feet apart.
MONEY FOR CONCRETE ROADS
Sum of $635,000,000 Recently Appro
priated by States and Counties
for Construction.
States and counties of the United
States have recently authorized $035..
000,000 bonds for road construction,
much of it of concrete, 5391,000,000
bonds aro passing through the process"
of authorization nnd tho fedcrnl gov
ernment hns appropriated 5200,000,
000 toward road construction, mnklng
a total fund of ovor 51,200,000,000 for
l cood roads.
4