NORTH PLATTE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE.
iil BLM.E,
CHAPTER XII Continued.
13
Polly combed her hnlr and washed
licr face nnd hands. BIlly-goM Hop
Kins was In his plnco nt the wood-box
atlng a handful of oats she hnd
gleaned for him along (lie roadside.
Tolly wished (hat sho might tnko him,
too, but as long as sho could not, Hilly
houId have n hct(cr feed than usual.
After everything else was attended
to, sho unwrapped the silken dress
nnd put It on. Her bare feet showed
from under the hem, but sho had de
cided she looked better without the
hoots, and as she stood gazing at her
self up and down, she regretted that
he had not nsked Kvcljrn for n pair of
nhoes too. Being careful not to soil
her skirt, sho knelt o.ni allowed Jerry
to climb on her shon'Asrs.
The monies' she stood outside the
shanty K the rnln, slid shivered. , Tlio
dam? air nipped at her uncovered
nrfirj nnd neck. To travel tho long dis
tance to the station, so Illy covered,
was out of tho question, nnd the gown
would bo drenched through In n few
minutes. She turned back Into the
jhftck and placed Jerry on the cot.
"Jerry wants to see Daddy Hop
kins," the child whimpered. "Ain't wo
goln Pollyop?"
'.'Yep, sure!" said Polly, "nut sis
tsv's got to put on her boots. Sho
can't w this way. It's too cold and
tho walk to Ithaca's too long, honey."
Her brow puckered Into a frown as
f.he drew on her father's heavy boots
nriG clipped Into his ragged coat. Then
sho (ticked tho dress Into tho top of
tho hoots that It might show ns llttlo
an possible nnd went out again.
It was n long climb to (ho boule
vnrd ', nnd (ho boy was heavy. Hut he
tge very quiet, end n sudden rush of
trt.nv; n5mAt blinded her as she turned
townrd' tho city. How delighted both
Jerry nnd Daddy would bo when (hey
spied ench other I Gulping down her
tears, sho shut out tho thought that
perhaps somo ono would catch her
breaking tho law nnd clap her In Jail
too,
Grnrny IIopo and her toothless
smile flashed before tho eyes of her
tortuved soul.
"Ask and It shall bo given thee,"
aevjied to leap from tho vision of old
"T did nrtV' Pollyop cried aloud,
"but Old Marc sold I couldn't."
In tho past months which had tnkon
nwny three of her loves, mnny of tho
Icsvonn Mrs. Hope had taught her had
ti)en effaced. She Had even given up
tfcr. habit t nsMfrtlng with utmost
folth: "Underneath nre tho everlast
ing nrms."
Sho was Almost ovcrcoino with ter
ror and Irttlguo ns sho nenred tho stn
tlon. One tiling seemed (o clear her
Che Was Almost Overcome With Ter
ror and Fatigue as She Nenred the
Station.
brow of wrinkles nnd lighten tho load
shu was carrying. Not a soul was In
Bight. Even tho station appeared to
be deserted.
At (ho northern end of the Auburn
,:ar, which was waiting for tho engine
to pick It up, Pollyop halted. Sho
walked around It stealthily, and then
climbed up tho Btcps. A llttlo cry of
Joy leaped to her Hps as (ho door
opened under her (ouch.
Holding her breath, sho shifted
Jerry to hor arniB imd crept slowly lu.
Itapldly sho examined every corner;
but nil the places largo enough to
hold them both were In plain sight of
anyone walking through, At the ox
tremo end sho discovered the state"
room: nnd when sho went Into It, a
thankful feeling swept over her. It
was as If that empty cabin, with itn
many dark places, bad been built
there Just for them. Here sho could
stow Jerry away and hide horself out
of sight.
Under ono of tho cross scats she
placed (he child, whispering a warn
lug Hint he must bo very quiet be
cause, t." a lila: Mian found then), ho
1
ountry
by
Grace Miller White
Copyright by Little, Brown & Co.
could not go to Daddy Hopkins. Then
under the sldo -seat thnt ran length
wise, Polly crawled, and nfter sho had
completely secreted herself, she drew
down the velvet half-curtain that hung
from the scat. It seemed hours before
sho heard a sound. Sho hissed u
warning to Jerry, then waited In nerv
ous tension.
Kroin the station platform voices
seemed suddenly to rise up from every
quarter. Pollyop closed her eyes, too
conrused to think of anything to dis
sipate the agony of mind alio was un
dergoing. A few minutes boforo train time n
high-powered motor car drew up to
the platform.
"We've got tho drawing-room,
Marc," 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 Mnc
Kenzle. "Hob, I'll give you a pointer.
Drop thnt case I There's no power on
earth that can open the prison doors
for Hopkins."
To this Robert did not reply. In
deep reverie he helped his aunt and
cousin from the automobile and fol
lowed them to the car.
When Polly heard a number of
peoplo come Into the stateroom, she
put one bnnd over her Hps. She
strained her ears to hear If Jerry had
made a move. How she hoped tho
dear baby had fallen nsleep, nnd that
ho would not wnke up until they
were In Auburn I As unexpected as
the volco of one long dead, the sound
of familiar tones came to her cars.
Tho words were :
Now, Mrs. Robertson, you sit there,
and you too, Eve. Then you won't
have to rldo backward. Hob nnd I'll
sit bore."
The squatter girl's henrt yearly
Jumped out of her mouth. There, with
In touching distance, wns her power
ful enemy. Her flesh tingled ns If
bees had stung her. Robert Perclval,
and Evelyn too, were there. Pollyop
shivered and wished that sho had
waited until (omorrow, or perhnps tho
day nfter.
She tried to drive out tho fear of
being discovered and think only of
Jerry's happiness nnd Daddy's. To
make her heart beat less fast, sho
tried earnestly to think of somo words
that Jesus would hear nnd under
stand. Hut oven thnt desiro was
driven from her as two heavy bodies
dropped upon the seat abovo her.
Plainly sno snw two pairs of men's
boots near enough to touch her If sho
moved an Inch forward.
Hack against the sldo of tho car sho
pushed her head, noiselessly drnwlng
her thick curls over her shoulder to
make more room. How Intensely sho
wished they wcro In Auburn I If tho
train would only start ahead, she was
sure she would lose the Insane desire
to open hor mouth nnd scream.
Then a whistle from the engine, nnd
us If tho man at the throttle had heard
tho Inward cry of her frightened
young soul, tho train began to movo
slowly. As It crossed tho northern
end of tho town, ono of tho owners
of the boots near her face grow ex
ceedingly restless, and of n sudden ho
pushed his foot directly against her
nose. Gently sho shoved It away ; nnd
a low exclnmntlon from abovo fol
lowed Instantly.
Then a strong, large hand lifted tho
velvet hangings; nnd beforo Pollyop
could stir, a sot of fingers took sharp
hold of her face. In her frightened
stato sho threw tho hand off; nnd nn
other conciliation came to her ears.
Then two hands came under nnd
groped for a grip. Sho fought strenu
ously to hold her plnco; but tho por-
son pulled hor out by mnln force
Polly Hopkins wns almost fainting
when Robert Perclvnl placed her on
her feet. The silk dress, partly
tucked In Daddy's boots and partly
out, wns covered with dust. In silent
embarrassment sho stooped and
brushed It. Then sho glanced up Im
plorlugly.
Robert, wax-white, was staring tit
her as If ho could not believe his eyes ;
and MncKenzle, carried away by tho
rago within him, viciously clutched at
hor arm. Pollyop dragged herself
nwny frow tho strong fingers.
"Don't touch me, you," sho snnppcd
hoarsely at him. "I'm goln' to Auburn
to sco my Daddy Hopkins."
Her volco was high-pitched and
tensely toned. Her gaze sought ono
after another until It rested on Kvo
lyn Robertson, huddled back in tho
corner of tho seat.
"You can make him leave mo be,
ma'am," Polly went on. "I got a right
to go to Auburn as well's any ono
olso."
An unfeeling laugh left Mackenzie's
lips; and a sharp exclamation fell
from Perclval.
"You're a thief," Marcus thrust in
grimly. "A llttlo thief. You're steal
ing a rldo."
Willi all hor fighting instinct
roused, Polly squared herself.
"Sure, I'm stealln' a ride," sho re
torted. "I couldn't rldo honest ; you
wouldn't lot me. My Daddy Hop
kins'
"It seems to me," lnterrup(ed Mm
Robertson haughtily, "that sho's stolon
something else besides a ride. That
dress you have on, Miss; where'd you
get It?"
Polly's under Hp 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 und let me
see."
Before Robert could interfere, Mac
Kenzie had grasped Pollyop by the
shoulders and had stripped off tho
heavy coat. And there sho stood, her
bnro young nrms nnd sunburned neck
exposed, her scnrlet fnco hidden by a
hnndful of curls. She wns so over
whelmed with slinmc she could not
sny n word.
"Twice n thief," gritted MncKenzle.
"I suppose you didn't give her this,
Eve?"
With one long finger ho pointed nt
tho dress, but his eyes, spnrkllng with
nngcr, were on Evelyn.
Nover hnd Miss Robertson been in
such a dlleinmn. Never hnd she felt
so much Hko quietly fainting nway.
"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 shnrp, "You'll land
where your fath'cr Is, you huzzy,"
brought Polly's flashing glnnce upon
him. Untaught to deceive for her
own advantage, she could not fathom
Evelyn's direct falsehood. To Ho for
a daddy, to keep a squatter friend
from prison yes, she would have
dono that, but a dress 1 And Evelyn
had given It to her, tool She turned
her burning eyes upon the other girl,
and there she read with sickening
certainty thnt the gift of tho robe
must bo burled in tho grnvo with Os
enr Bennett If Jerry hnd not been
tucked nwny bnck of the skirts of the
two women, Polly would havo made
n dash for liberty, but sho could not
lenvo tho baby. Would no one help
her? Her eyes sought Robert's face,
and ns If ho were nwnklng from u
drenm, ho picked up the cont.
"I'll hand her over to the conduc
car," Marcus proceeded. "He'll know
what to do with her," and ho put out
his hand to grasp her.
"No you won't," snapped Robert,
moving in front of Pollyop. "I'll look
after her myself, and if you folks want
to stny friendly with nie, Just don't
mention this." Ho held out the coat
to Polly Hopkins. "Put It on' he or
dercd; nnd lnstnntly sho obeyed him.
What he was going to do with her,
Pollyop did not know, but this thing
she did renllze: Jerry could not see
Daddy Hopkins that day. She longed
to bo bnck In the shanty, to get away
from Mackenzie's Hashing eyes nnd
tho hnughty stnre of Mrs. Robertson.
As for Evelyn, sho despised the quiv
ering girl with nil her straightforward
self.
Frowning, Robert stepped to the
door and called tho conductor; and
when the ofllclnl appeared, Polly shiv
ered to her toes. Tho very sight of
his uniform suggested (rouble for her
and Jerry.
"A friend of mine came down to see
us off," said Robert distinctly, mak
Ing a gesturo toward her. "Tho train
started before she could get off. Just
let us stop nt MncKennoy's, will you?"
lie hnd a roll of bills In Ills fingers
which he thrust Into the ofllcer's hand
Smilingly the man bowed nnd Jerked
the cord over his hend.
'Wu're right there now, sir," said
he.
"Thanks," replied Robert. "Tlinnks;"
nnd "Come," ho snld to Pollyop
Jerry I Dnddy Hopkins bnby, went
through her mind. Wee Jerry nsleep
under the cross sent I
"Walt u bit, mister," she faltered,
"wait till I get tho haby. I were takln
him up to seo his dnddy, so ho
wouldn't die." Her Hp trembled as
sho looked at Mrs. Robertson, "Get
un. please, ma'am," sho begged. "He's
under there, whero you're slttln'I"
Mrs. Robertson nnd Evelyn rose Im
mediately ; and Polly pulled the shawl
bowrapped Jerry Into full view. In
another Instant Robert had snntched
up the child and pushed Polly out of
tho door. Ho turned nbout and looked
bnck nt tho other three, n dreadful
expression on his fnce.
"If you stick your flngor In this,
Marc," he said huskily, "you can say 01,0 (ln' w,,on 01,0 of blends and the ynte,i states Department of Ag
goodby to mo for good." And ho fol- I wuro 1,1 town together. We went ricuuure, tho average cow-testing as-
lowed Polly out of the train as it
camo to a stop.
MneKenncy's point was on the east
sldo of tho lake, about opposite the
Hopkins shanty, and when Uobert had
helped Polly off tho train nnd had
seen it pull away north, he stood a
moment considering how best to get
her back home. Me could not make
the girl tramp back to Ithaca and then
across the head of the lake to the
Sllont City.
"Stay ncro with tho child," ho said
curtly. "I'll bo back in a minute."
Polly watched htm dully as ho
strode away. When ho returned, he
had in his hand a largo key with
which ho unfastened a boathouso on
tho shore. Almost before Pollyop
sensed what wns happening, sho was
In (ho stern of n boat with Jerry
crouched down beside her, nnd Rob
ert's strong nrins wcro sending the
craft swiftly across the lake. Not a
word had been snld between them un
til they drow up under the willow
trees near Jeremiah's shack.
Polly
"Get out," exclnlmed Robert, holding
the boat thnt It might not tip.
Pollyop scrnmbled to tho bow, bring
ing Jerry with her, tho beautiful dress
now hanging In limp folds nround her
feet. Very pale, Robert lifted her,
almost fainting, from the boat, and
picking Jerry up in his arms, wnlked
ahead to the shanty.
In the terrible moment thnt Polly
bent under his dark gaze, she felt sho
must tell him the truth. How could
she let him go nway thinking her
twice n thief, besides believing Oscar
Bennett had been her man?
Sho dared n timid glnnce at him.
"What in henven's name can I do
for you?" ho demanded hoarsely. "You
don't seem to have any honor nt nil I
Can't I sny something thnt would
mnke 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 tho rush of words.
'Get Wee Jerry buck his Daddy
Hopkins," she gulped presently, "un'
"Stay Here With tho Child," He Said
Curtly. "I'll Be Back In a Minute."
nn' I'll swenr to be tho goodest squat
ter's brat in tho Silent City."
No smile answered her emphatic
promise. Robert's face was white nnd
severe, nnd ho was studying her in
silence.
"It does seem," he managed to say,
"tho more I plan and work, tho worse
things go."
He wanted to kiss the pale lovely
face, to take her away from the set
tlement. He wanted to banish the
last few months that, every time ho
thought of them, sent him dizzy with
pain.
"I've tried my best to havo your fa
ther released," ho continued in low
tones, "and I've tried not to lovo you
nt all. Hut I do want you to be good-
I mean as good as you can."
Up went tho curly bend, and straight
into his eyes she sent a piercing glance.
One slender hand Hung out toward
him.
"Couldn't you trust me, sir?" she
breathed. "Couldn't you Just forget
about about "
She advanced townrd him, her hnnds
extended and her face twitching nerv
ously.
"Of course tnklng the dress doesn't
matter to me," he choked. "Mr. Mac
kenzie is a very wicked man, nnd he
has treated you abominably. Hut, but
what hurts me so is the thought of the
man who died In youi" your home "
Ills voice broke und, turning swiftly,
ho walked away.
Polly tried to call his name, but her
throat made no sound. When he disap
peared up tho lane sho picked Jerry
up and. shivering, went into tho
shanty.
(TO HE CONTINUED.)
Embarrassing.
My most embarrassing moment wns
l()ro nnt "' Inuim nuus11 "
toothbrush. The storekeeper wrapped
It up and we started out of the store.
lie said something. I thought he
asked If we wanted anything else, so
I said "No," and we went out of the
store. When we got out on tnc steps
he camo out behind us and asked my
friend If sho wasn't going to pay for
tho toothbrush. 1 certainly felt fool
ish, because I know then thnt that
was wjiat he had asked before. lux-
change.
One of World's Great Rivers.
Tho mouth of the Yenisei Is only
open for n few weeks In the year. Ono
of the largest rivers in tho world, tho
Yenisei, which Hows into tho Arctic
sea at Yeniseisk, Is In Its lower reach
es four or flvo miles wide.
The Easier Way.
It's so easy to yell for help and get
It that a lot of people nover think It
worth while to try and work their
own way out of their difficulties.
DAIRY
HINTS
BEST TIME TO DROP CALVES
Question Best Decided by Farm Con
ditions, Considering Feed Sup
ply, Pasturage, Etc.
The best time to have cnlvcs dropped
Is debntnble. Some farmers prefer to
have them dropped In Into Februnry, In
March, or early in April, while others
prefer September or October. Thl0
question is decided by the farm condi
tions, tnklng Into consideration feed
supply, pasturngc, equipment and labor.
When calves nre dropped in the spring
they require less close nUention nnd
lnbor during the first winter and less
pasture during the first summer, since
cows nnd cnlves run together, while
tho cows may be wintered more cheap
ly by using n grealer quantity of coarse
roughage.
However, if calves are born In tho
fall, the cows ore in better condition
at calving time; they give more milk
for a longer period; the cnlves mnke
beUer uso of the grass during their
first summer; they escnpe flies and
hent while small, and may be weaned
Just before calving time. Fnll calves
should not be weaned until they are
put on grnss In the spring. No mat
ter what system Is used, nil the cnlves
should be dropped- within n period of
GO dnys to give ns much uniformity
as possible to the calf crop.
COW TESTING BENEFITS HERD
Profitable Results Obtained by Mem
bers of Organization In Wis.
consin Community.
(Prepared by the United States Department
of Agriculture.)
"As members of the Cedar Grove
cow-testing association for the past
three nnd one-half years we have ob-
ttilned some profitable results," writes
the owner of a Wisconsin farm to a
field agent of the Dairy Division of
tho United States Department of Agrl
culture. "When we stnrted, our herd
avernged 11,829 pounds of milk nnd
410.2 pounds of butter fnt, while last
yenr our average was 13,737 pounds of
milk nnd 502.2 pounds of butter fnt,
Wo were encournged by our tester to
mix our rations beforo feeding nnd to
milk some of our cows three times a
dtfy, which In one Instance brought an
Increase in production of over 3,000
pounds of mUk In the year.
"Another problem our tester helped
us solve was our calf feeding. Ho
encournged us to mix n good calf ra
tlon, nnd our cnlves have grown as
much ns two nnd one-half pounds n
Testing Association Helps Farmer to
Increase the Milk Flow By
Better Feeding.
day. Cow testing also showed the dif
ference in the profits of the different
cows. Somo of the cows made two
and one-half times as much ns other
indlvldunls do.
"It was through the tester's sug
gestion that wo started In with pure
bred cattle In earnest, and some day
we are going to have a good pure-bred
herd. Another thing the testing
showed us is that wo had sold a regis
tercd bull to be slaughtered which had
five daughters that averaged over 13,
300 pounds of milk nnd 525 pounds of
butter flit. A lesson like this one will
be remembered n long time.
"Putting Itsln few words, our asso
ciation work helped us to feed, care
for, and improve our cattle and study
the results obtained.
TESTED COW ABOVE AVERAGE
Live Stock Improvement Campaigns
Effective In Increasing Dairy
Production.
Tho average dairy cow in this coun
try produces annually about -1.000
pounds of milk and 100 pounds of but
ter fnt. According to 40,000 yearly in
dividual cow records Just tabulaled by
soclation cow produces 5,080 pounds of
milk nnd 210 pounds of butter fat a
year. The world's records arc 37,381.4
pounds of mlllc and 1,252 pounds of
butter fnt. Tho average tiairy cow lias
plenty of room for climbing, and such
commendable live stock Improvement
campaigns as tho "Hotter Sires Hot
ter Stock" drive will bo effectlvo in In
creasing tho etllclency nnd production
of American dairy stock.
Wedge-Shaped Cow,
Tho good dairy cow Is wedge-shnped
in two directions. Sho Is wide In the
roar and narrow In front Sho Is nnr
row on tho top of tho shoulders and
wide between tho forelegs. This shapo
gives room for a big heart, denoting
a strong nrterlal circulation.
Way to Spoil Good Cow.
If you want to spoil a good cow
quickly, neglect to milk her nt regular
hours and stripping her clean at each
milking. The cow wants you to like
milk well enough to take all sho has.
SPENT HALF HER
TIME IN BED
Farmer's Wife Tells How Lydia E.
Pinkham's Vegetable Compound
Made Her a Well Woman
Carter' n Crock. Tenn. ' ' Threo yeara
ago I was nlmoat an invalid. I spent
nan oi my iimu iu
i . 1 r m : a 1
Deo. DCing uuiiutvu
with a trouDio wnicn
women of a certain
ago aro apt to havo.
I took Lydia E.
Pinkham'sVegotablo
Compound Tablets
and used Lydia B.
Pinkham's Sanative
wash. I am a well
woman now and have
been for two years.
I can work as well as
nny ono who is younger and as I am a
farmer's wife I havo plenty to do for I
cultivate my own garden, raise many
chickens and do my own housowork.
You may publish this letter as I am
ready to do anything to help other
women as I havo been so well and happy
since my troubles aro past. "Mrs., E.T.
UALLOwAY, carter's ureeK, Tenn.
Most women find plenty to do. If
they aro upset with somo femaloailment
and troubled with such symptoms aa
Mrs. Galloway had, tho smallest duty
scorns a mountain.
If you find it hard to keep un. if vou
are nervous nnd irritable, without ambi
tion and out of sorts generally, give the
Vegetablo Compound a fair trial. Wo
bchevo it will help you greatly, for it
has helped others-
Piles
are usually due to training
Trhcn constipated.
Nujol being a lubricant keep
the food wait soft and there
fore prercnta training. Doctors
prescribe Nujol because it not
only soothes the suffering of
plies but rellcrcs the Irritation,
brings comfort and helps to re
move them.
Nujol Is a lubricant not "a
medicine or lain tire so cannot
gripe. Try It today.
VICTIMS
RESCUED
Kidney, liver, bladder and uric acid
troubles are most dangerous be
cause of their insidious attacks.
Heed the first warning they give
that they need attention by taking
Tho world's standard remedy for these
disorders will often ward off these dis
eases and strengthen tho body against
further attacks. Three sizes, all druggists.
Look for tho name Gold Medal on every box
and accept no imitation
Pickpockets in Hard Luck.
A social worker reports that New
York pickpockets who used to Blip a
finger Into a vest pocket and get a
watch, now get only a scratch ,from a
pin used to hold tho watchless chain
In place.
NAME "BAYER" IS ON
GENUINE ASPIRIN
rake Tablets Without Fear, If
You
Seo tho Safety "Bayer
Cross."
If you want the true, world-famous
Aspirin, as prescribed by physicians for
over twenty-ono years, you must ask
for "Bayer Tablets of Aspirin."
Tho "Bayer Cross" Is stamped on
each tablet and appears on each pack
ago for your protection against imita
tions. Advertisement.
In Tahiti serious crimes are punished
by tattooing a mark upon tho foro
hcad of the delinquent.
Cutlcura for Pimply Faces.
To remove pimples and blackheads
Binenr them with Cutlcura Ointment.
Wash oft In flvo minutes with Cutl
cura Soap and hot ynter. Once clear
keep your skin clear by using them for
dally toilet purposes. Don't fnll to In
cludo Cutlcura Talcum. Advertisement
You can't get a man of big caliber
to run a corporation unless he has his
way.
Sure Relief
FOR INDIGESTION
6 Bell-ans
Hot water
Sure Relief
ELL-ANS
254 and 75$ Packages. Everywhere
IIIIIIEI'"'lllllllll
i
I VI ''lllllll
1 "fmr
GOLD MEDAL
D