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
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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
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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
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A young chap rushed up to tho coun
ter.
"Say," he demanded. "I wnnt some
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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
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dry. Wash with good soap, rinse In
water blued with Red Cross Ball Blue.
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New Year's day.
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