Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 18, 1922)
TITK NORTH PLATTB SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE Storm Country Polly by Grace Miller White CHAPTER XIV Continued. 16 "Good 'nongh for erl" gasped Polly, tensely, rolling her hands In her upron. "An she yelled ho liurd you could've iieard her ni'iir to Ithaca, Poll," moaned Ijiirry. "Ale, an' Lye gagged 'or." "Holy Hintitl" fell from Pollyop, ns the picture IiIm words liad made liurned Itself across her mind. "Her iiiuh'h been none nil day to Cortland," continued the squatter Inn monotone. "Lye found out Old Mis? JUobertson's been tryln' to reach hold of 1dm." "Hope she don't 1" Interjected Polly. ""Not till we set done with his woman. Are you goln' to tote her over here?" The man nodded. "Don't dare to till later, when the squatters Is In bed," he answered, slapping on his cap. "If If you vintage your inliul, Poll, come along over; an' I'll cut 'er loose an' let 'or o." A harsh sound, something like a chuckle of malicious satisfaction, (dipped through Polly's Hps and stopped the man the door. 'That nlnjt no ways likely, Larry," flhu rinld huskily. "Bring 'er here, nn' when Pin done with her, she'll have , to be took." Shu caught Bishop by the arm, whirling him around, "An' listen, Larry," she continued with cruel emphasis, "nn all the time keep rcmeinbcrln' how Hetty walled lier llfu Into the grave, an' an' that Old Marc done It." Overcome by the words she had thrown at him so deliberately, Hlshop Hung away, and the girl, quaking at what was about to happen, heard him running along the shore toward his hnck. It seemed to Polly Hopkins that -avory minute was an hour long, and every second filled with Intolerable -anxiety. Would the soft-henrtod Larry repent and surrender tho prize she longed to get her lingers on? In extreme nervousness she went from one thing to another, never fin ishing whnt she began. She paced the lint Ilopr until she was dripping wot 'with apprehenslveness. She had no means of knowing when Lye and Ijarry would come; so she dared not Ur from the shack. Many times she shoved aside the window blind and looked out. Hut the world outside was wrapped In a white silence. .She could not even glimpse tho peaked roof of a Usher junn's hut, for between her and tho Client City was a llowlng curtain of isnow, tho flakes falling like feathers from nn open bag. Larry would keep his word, sho told tierself over and over. Sho was glad it was such u night I Tho bettor could the squatters carry out their death plan. Unnoticed by tho girl, tho wood burned to embers In the stovo, nnd the luit grow colder by degrees. In one of her half hours of measuring tho whanty's length, she hnlted, breathing on her frost-bitten lingers. Sho drow about her shoulders the blanket which had covered Woo Jerry In his hut days. Her tnlnd brought back to tho baby away off In some unknown place, she crlod weakly as sho replenished the lire. Had tho wicked ones of tho curth made Jerry forgot Daddy Hop Iclns who up In Auburn was Ignorant of his whereabouts? Many times Polly had tnken up her pencil to write him of the child, but It always dropped from her lingers before It reached the imper. Daddy could not do anything; ami site would not add to his heavy burden. Sho was nt tho stove, her cold, stiff lingers spread over It, when the sound of footsteps outsldo sent her hendlong to tht' door. Appallingly torrllled, sho drugged. It open. Then, In deadening silence, Lye llrnegor and Larry Hlshop carried a largo bundle through the doorway and flirow It down on Polly's bed. Heavy-lidded, tho girl gazed upon It her eyes widening In Joy, Joy at the thought of Old Marc's misery; Jov at tho thought of getting even. The frightful, emotion that surged throuxl her boro relutlon only by contrast to tho dullghts of a few months hack when bur willing legs had trotted the country over to help every one that needed her. It wasn't the sninoaPollv sit all. This Polly lifted her foot and nicked the bundle none too lightly. "We had a h1 of a time gettln 'er jjre, Poll," growled Lyo Hraeger, -O'l'slde It's like If a million crazy devils .tas Uowlin' over the hills. Hut we brought 'er Just tho samel Now tlo what you like with 'or. brat 1" White teeth gleamod through the rnunlucal smile that parted tho girl's lips. At last! She lind not lived through Interminable days for uoth tog I "Scoot out, you!" she ordered, wnv lug her hand at thorn, "an' koop a wutch about till I got donol" Hraeger mude for tho door ns If anxlpu&'to bo gone; but Larry Hlshop hold Jo the spo whero ho stood, "SIio'h n wpinun, Polly Hopkins," he fliiuttered. his eyes turning from tho rol t the rigid girl, "If sho Is Old Copyright by Little, Brown. &. Co. Marc's wife. He's home too, so Lye says 1" "What do I care where tho pup Is?" she thrust In vehemently. " 'Course she's a woman 1 So be I ; an so were our dead Hetsy." Then she stamped her foot tem pestuously. '(let out of ficre an' watch for Mac- Kenzle an' his folks," she snapped. 'It's about time he were stonnln' tho Silent City, I'm thlnkln'." Koughly she shoved the men out Into the blizzard and closed tho door. I'lien she stood with her back to It, leep sobs racking her Ixkly. Now ns she had almost died, and Wee Jerry too, so would Marcus Muc- Kenzle. The vicious hope that she could see lilm writhe In his grief took possession of her. Dlstrauglitly she placed the liar across the door, mnklng sure It was locked. Then, creeping to the cot, she gazed down at the wet bundle. I here, where sho had helped Oscar Helmet t over dark rough places Into the light of Kternlty, lay tho dearest dear of her bitterest enemy. She uttered an exclamation when she saw a lifting shudder go over the thing on the bed. A smile llltted across her face, and her hands came together convulsively. Slowly she knelt down and un wrapped the thick blanket; and Rve lyn MacICenzle was staring out nt her, (lull eyed and torrllled. A dark rag completely lilted her mouth ; add Polly grinned at her. "Do you know what squatters do to chickens they swipe from you rich folks?" sho nsked huskily. Although sho could not speak, Eve lyn heard and understood. She closed her eyes, her face going drabber In the lllckeriug light, but at a sound tho weary 'Ids Hew open again. Polly had stepped to the wood-box and was picking up tho ax. Sho brought It forward, and smiling tho same sinister smile, showed It to the pallid girl. "This,' was all Bho said, tapping the handle. Hvolyn struggled; nnd Polly laughed, n wicked laugh, no more like tho ripple which Daddy Hopkins had loved to hear thnn the bark of a wolf Is like the lark's morning song. Tears, rose Into Evelyn's oyos nnd rolled down her cheeks. Tho smile faded slowly from Polly's face. Ever had excruciating agony touched hor; like a sunbeam through a rift In u storm cloud, tho old Polly leaped up to take hoed of nnotber's hurt. This feel- lug sho crushed down ; but sho put tho ax on the floor and squatted beside tho bed. Scarcely had sho done this bofore n loud knock came on tho door. Sho threw tho blankets over Evelyn nnd went swiftly forward and lifted tho bar. Larry Bishop thrust the upper half of his body Into the room. "Old Marc an' his gang nro In tho Silent City looklu' for his woman," ho whispered honrsely. "Where's Lyo?" came In a hiss from tho squatter girl. "Off up tho road watching," returned Hlshop. "Whnt'd you do to 'or, brnt?" "Como In," said Polly, In nn under tone, grasping the end of his scarf and pulling him through the doorway, "This," Was All She Said, Tapplnp the Handle. "an' If Maclvenz' comes here, yappln for his woman, laugh at lilm laugh nn laugh till your sides split, Larry." She closed tho door, pushed Hlshop Into a chair, and then deliberately crawled Into bed beside Evelyn, Upon tho Inert llguro of tho bound girl she piled two pillows. Then sho and Larry waited, scarcely breathing, until voices seemed to come through the clupbourds from every dl reel Ion. A mult of feet brought Hlshop bolt upright. "Keep settln'," breathed Pollyop. "They'll bo stoppln here fast enough!" Of a sudden the door burst open, nnd Marcus MncKenzle, covered with snow, entered. With him were two of his neighbors nnd several squatters. Polly enjoyed a glimpse of Old Marc's agonized fnco ; then she grinned at him. . "What's the mntter, mister?" she nsked, showing an expanse of oven white teeth. "What do you moan by bustln Into my house llko this, sir?'! MucKenzle threw n glnnce from the girl to the squatter In the chair. "My wife's gone I" ho cried In des- perntion. "I I " "So? Now Is sho?" broke In Polly. smiling wider. "You don't say I Well, golly me 1 That's too bad. Some other feller run off with 'or tnebbe!" And when she snw him trying to master his emotion, forcing back the heavy groans thnt Interfered with bis efforts to nnswer, sho laughed. Never before had she been reckless In his presence. She know this was one time Mnrcus MncKenzle did not want to tight. He needed the help of the squat ters to search the Storm country for his wife his bride, the very upple of ids eye. He did not look nt all like the flash ing-eyed enemy of her people. All at once he had changed from n cynlcnl, hnndsomo man of tho world to n plead ing, pale-faced husband. Just Mien the wind shook the shanty violently; and over his big frame passed shudder after shudder. "She's been gone, oh God, I don't know how long," ho groaned aloud, the haggard- expression deepening In the lines about Ids mouth ns ho spoke. "I'll give I'll give more money than any of you over saw " Ho flung around on Hlshop and thrust out an Importunutc hand. Larry had been watching him cov ertly, In moody silence. When Marcus addressed him directly, ho threw back his head nnd let out loud malevolent sounds "more llko tho howls of hyenas than tho laugh of u human being ; and Polly Hopkins Joined In again, too, dreadful sounds that made hor thin, lovely face look old. "Tills Is a queer place to come for your woman," she taunted MacKenzlo. To a squatter's shnck, huh? I didn't know before thnt rich women enmo to tho Silent City, least of all, yourh." MacKenzlo took u step toward her. "Oh, I was sure sho wasn't here," ho thrust In eagerly. "Hut I want help tho aid of every one of you. Money," he cried again, convulsively. "Money, do you hear? Money, I said " Polly was witnessing Just tho picture that sho had been holding In her mind's eye for many days. "Money can't buy everything, mis tor," she Jeered at lilm. "Mebbo your womna'a In the snow. Tomorrow's Thanksglvln day. Mebbo you'll miss 'er If sho uln't homo with you. Scoot out of here. Don't be lnggln', Old Marc, or she might freeze to death somewhercs. It's a bad night." Tho Inst statement, truo to every word, brqught a deep sob from Mac Kenzlo's throat. It was Immediately followed by more of the bitter laugh ter. So changed wns Polly of tho Silent City that tho gaping squatters who did not know whut was going to happen wondered nt her. They knew her no longer as Polly, tho love-lass, or ns Polly of the Sun. A low rumble sounded In tho girl's throat. She coughed, then flung out: "1 said, 'It's a bad night 1' Scoot out, mister, an look for yourid n Illy llvercd woman somewhercs else." Uttering an oath, MacKenzlo fled, followed by his companions, leaving Larry Hlshop staring at the pale squat ter girl. CHAPTER XV. There wus gloomy silence In tho shanty until the horses' hoofs could ho heard no longer in tho snow out side. Larry Hlshop crouched low In Jeremiah's rocking chair, pulling in nervous tension at his lingers until the Joints cracked. He shot Polly Hopkins a furtive glance but dropped his thick lids before the unearthly ex pression In the girl's oyos. She had lost the look of heavenly compassion that had given cheer to the squatters. As his mind went back to the spring days when she had so often smiled comfort Into his own aching heart, ho heaved a deep sigh. Tho sound of his breath, catching In his throat, brought Polly scrambling from tho cot. Unmindful of the morose squatter, she began pacing the floor, holding ley lingers to her aching temples. "Host tako tho pillows off'n her, Poll," muttered Hlshop. "She'll smoth er If you don't." The girt paused and threw hhn a glance over her shouldor. "Get out of here, you Larry," she bade him In tierce emphasis. "Sho'd better smother than got what's coniln' to 'er. Von nn Lye hang around n while till 1 cnll you. When I'm done with 'or, you'll hnvp to sink her In the lake." Staggering to his- feet, Larry brushed nwny tho water that had gathered In glistening drops upon his brow. "(tod, kid," he growh-d, juii nun t seem human no more. It's all so d d terrible I'm gettln' haunted. If you chntige your mind, Poll, an' not kill er " A gurgling noise enme from Under the pillows on tho cot, nnd as If an unseen hand were pushing her for ward, Pollyop strode to the bod nnd Jerked nwny the small feather ticks. Evelyn's eyes sough' out the squat ter man In mute pleading. Polly laughed ; and gray with horror at her merciless attitude, Larry slunk to tin door. "I guess this nln't noi-w of my busi ness,"' he mumbled, nnd opening It he fled ns If pursued by a vlndletlvs spirit of the Storm country. Again with swift, long strides th girl went to the door and barred It. Then with utmost deliberation sin lighted several other candles and set them In different purls of the hut un til n flood of light was diffused through the room. A long deep sigh fell from her llp as she finished her task. 1 She wanted to see every wave of pain that shot across Evelyn MncKenzle's pnllhl lace; and thnt was why she ap proached the cot and stood looking down upon the twisted figure. All she had endured through the rich girl's perfldy swept over her like a tidal wnve. Out of the dark dream He Fled as If Pursued by a Vindlctivs Spirit of the Storm Country. of Jerry's going sho could hear through the moaning willows the weird Inst cries of the baby. The memdry almost drew a shriek from her. Then sho rolled tho living bundle from tho bed and propped in into u sitting position. As wickedly deliberate as her every act had been, so did she lift the ax from the floor. "Like a chicken," she taunted, smil ing down Into Evelyn's hnggard face. Evelyn struggled, and n muffled sound came from back of the gag In her mouth. While Polly contemplated hor, an emotion she used to know so often rose within her and tugged nt hot heart until the hurt made her clutch nt her side. Sho dropped down nnd rnn her fingers under the heavy cord with which the girl wns bound. "Itope's hurtln you, huh?" she queried. An alllrmntlvo bob of hor bend wns tho only answer Mrs. MncKenzle could give. "I'll initio 'em a- bit," snld Polly sulkily. "Loosenln' up a few strings don't say you won't get what's coniln' to you." With her strong, white teeth and deft lingers she untied the heavy knots that pinioned the slender nrms "Did the squatters give you any thing to eat?" sho nsked, rocking back on her heels, "If you wns In Larry's hut so long with thnt thing In your mouth, then I bet you're hungry 1" It was scarcely perceptible, the negative shake that followed this question. "If you've got. to die you might as well go on a full belly," ended Polly, getting up. Sho took a piece of hard bread nnd poured sonic hot water on It. Watch lug Evelyn frownlngly, she beat them together with a tin spoon. Of course, tho stuff was tasteless without sugar! Polly knew It very well, bocnuso that was what she had for supper every night. She turned away from tho cup In her hnnd and went to a small cup board over which hung n flimsy cur tain. Hack behind a few old dishes she bad hidden a little sugar one of tho squatter women hnd given her. She had kept It against Daddy Hop kins' home-coming and for Jerry, too perhaps. With woeful, In-caught sobs, sho poured half of It Into tho cup. Then she crossed to Evelyn and picked up the ux. "I'm goln to tnke this rag out of your mouth." she said, "an' mind you don't squwal, or I'll send you double quick to your first man. Now hold still! Thls'll hurt n bit I" (TO BIS CONTINUED.) Not a Second Time. What a man has done you can do. Hut those who have been done yon cin't do so easily. Nearly nil the knowlodgo In tho world has boon acquired nt the ex ueuso of somebody's burnt flngera $90,000 STOLEN !N N.Y. ROBBERY Four Bandits Bind Man and Wife and Seven Servants; Ransacke House. ONE OF GANG IS CAPTURED The Last of the Quartette of Robbers Leaving the Houoe Was Captur ed by Police After a Short Chase. Now Vnrk. '' "wwt n'wifclntr dnv light robbery New York has known In many yeuis occurred in u.e noun of Alfred It. Sbattuck, retired flnancler. 31) Washington Square North, when four nrmed bandits overpowered Mr. nnd Mrs. Sbattuck and their seven ser vants, bound them all with rope, locked them In u wine cellar and stole Jewelry valued at $1)0,000. The robbers ransacked the dwelling for about an hour and u half, but as they were leaving, one wus captured nnd In an overcoat he bad abandoned in his flight through Washington square, jewels valued at .$20,000 wero found. Lensurely they gathered their loot, most of which it was said had been tnken from a safe which had been forced open. Charles Znug, head butler, finally managed to free his hands after an hour's tugging untied his fellow pris oners, and by manipulating the lock, he told police, opened the door slightly nnd peeped to see If any of tho bandits were near. The four wero upstairs collecting their loot. Znug, followed by his assistant, 'reached the street. Tie ran to the home of a neighbor nnd the police were summoned by tele phone. The last of the qunrtet was coming down the front steps when the police arrived. This man wns captured after a short chase. He gave the name of Eugenia DInzet. a Spanish laborer. He refused to tell who his companions were. Unable to Meet Proposals. Berlin. Germnny ennnot fulfill the conditions of the allied moratorium proposals, government spokesmen said. It wns authoritatively denied, how ever, thnt tho government hnd rejected the allied reparation commission's con ditions. Chancellor Wlrth nnd Minister Rath- ennu will continue the German pottcy used so often since the end of tho war: "Negotiate, hut never say. no." The allied demands Include payment of $750,000,000 gold marks In ensh, nnd l,4.r)0,000,000 In kind during 1022. Germany undoubtedly will ask fur ther negotiations possibly nttempt to have the mntter brought up to Genoa. Former Emporer Not Expected to Live. Lisbon, Portugal. There Is little hope thnt former Emperor Charles of Austrla-TTungnry will survive his Ill ness, nccordlng to advice received here from tho Island of Mndrlra. In nd dltlon to pneumonia there nre cerebral complications. The doctors have re sorted to tho administration of oxygen. Tho one-time emperor hns made his will. It Is rumored thnt the bishop of Funchnl hns been summoned to the bedside of former Emperor Charles to administer the Inst sacrament. Plants Tree In Honor of Dead. Seattle. Wash. Honors were rend ered the heroic dead of two nntlons In a ceremony nt Sunnydule on the Wash ington Memorial highway, between Seattle and Tncomn. Marshal .Toffre of France planted nn elm on Memorlnl Height In honor of French dead. Marshal .Toffre. In n brief speech, expressed the wish thnt "the trees will be a living reminder of eternal friend ship between the two greatest republics of the world. General Wood's Son Weds. Mnnlln, P. T.Mlss Kntherlno Thompson of Wilmington. Del., nnd Second Lieutenant Osborne Wood, son of Governor Genernl Leonnrd Wood, were married here. The ceremony wns performed nt the Malacanan palace, ofllcinl residence of the governor general. Strike Out Free Seed Item. Wnshlngtnn. D. C Ry n vote of four to three, the senate - subcommittee struck from the annual agricultural appropriation the house Item of $300.- 000 for the free distribution of seeds by members of congress. Bandits Raid Newspaper Office. New York. Three bandits wnlked Into the accounting room of the New York Trlbuno In Park Ttnw. ncross the street from City Hall police station. held up two clerks and a watchman nnd escaped with $1,000. Tornado In Alabama. Cullmnn, Ala. Several persons were reported Injured In n tornado thnt swept Crane HIU, ten miles from here. At West Cullmnn, fifteen residences nnd six business houses were badly damaged. Embezzlement Is Not Proven. Fargo. N. D. .Tudcre .T. T Cole of th Cass county district court, hns ruled that embezzlement has not Jieen prlv In the preliminary hearing nbnlnst en C. Townley, nntlonnl nonpartisan tongue Headquarters. Miserable With Backache ? Why put up with that nagging back ache? "You can't bo happy wnen every day brings morning lameness, sharp, hooting pains and that all-worn-out feeling. Tho best way to got well is to find tho cause of your troublo and correct it. Likely, a cold or a chill has slowed up your kidneys and that Is why you have backaches, stabbing pains, headaches and dlrzlnoas. JuBt take things easier and help your weakened kidneys with Doan's Kidncv, Pttls. Doan'a havo helpod thousands and should help you. Ask your neighbor I A Nebraska Case Mrs. Mlko Camp bell, W. Main St.. Genoa, Nobr., says: "I was bothered with my kidneys being dlsordorod. I had a tired worn out foellng in my oacK ami aizzy spoils came on when specks float od before my eyes. Mv klrlnevn nctod too often. Doan's KIdnBV Pllln cured Ilia nu 4 iinivii v ,( had kidney troublo In several years." 0t Dots' at Any Ston, 00c Box doan's "yKLV FOSTER -MILBURN CO., BUFFALO, N. Y. All Played Out at Quitting Time? You Need TANLAC The 'World's Greatest Tonic His Immediate Needs. Midnight wns HO minutes distant. The cufeterln was experiencing Its nightly rush us the young men return ing from their "dntes," satisfied their appetites before retiring. A young chap rushed up to tho coun ter. "Say," he demanded. "I wnnt some thing to eat, quick. I've been out to one of those upstage dinner parties and I was afraid to eat for fear I'd pull a boner. GIvo me a humburgcr, a piece of pie and a Jar of dirty water." Children's handkerchiefs often look hopeless when they come to the laun dry. Wash with good soap, rinse In water blued with Red Cross Ball Blue. Advertisement. Not In China. Traveler The Chinese make It nn Invariable rule to settle nil their debts New Year's day. Stay-ut-IIome Yes, but the Chinese don't have a Christmas the week be fore. Mrs. Emma Gunter Decatur, 111. "At various times dur ing my married life I have been great ly benefited by two of Dr. Pierce's medicines, Golden Medical Discovery and Favorite Prescription. The Golden Medical Discovery restored me to health at one time when I hnd a deep seated bronchial cough und was In a weakened, debilitated state of health; and during one of my expectant pe riods Favorite Prescription proved not only to be n splendid tonic and nervine but I had practically no suffering. It Is a pleasure to recommend medicines so reliable as Dr. Pierce's and I do so nt every opportunity." Mrs. Emma Gunter, 1228 N. Calhoun St. Your neighborhood druggist can sup ply you with either of these famous remedies in tablets or liquid. Do not neglect your health". Write Dr. Pierce, Pres. Invalids' Hotel, Buffalo, N. Y., for free medical advice. mlious Attacks Are Usually Due to Constipation When you are constipat ed, there is not enough lubricant produced by your system to keep the food waste soft. Doctors prescribe Nujol becauBo its action is so close to this natural lubricant Nujol is a lubricant not a medicine or laxative so cannot gripe. Try it today. V-k m W m Ask Your Dealer for UPExcellOI SuSPENDERO Year". Wear Guaranteed loruDia No robber to rot. NWiyt4tsa W.n't Ct.r-J0 1'hotpnor llronca Spring stretch. If Tonr dealer doeen't carry No-Wats or KiCEixoa, end direct, irivln? dealer! name. Accept no eubatitute. Nu-Way Slrech luipender ww.. mrraM Adrian. Mich. If VI mm mm 2
