The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922, April 28, 1922, Image 6
NOW TIT PLATTE S EM r-WTCTCICTj Y TRIBUNE. iGrace Ml 1 Copyright bTS5lcBxQwn. amfmgany CHAPTER XVII Continued. 19 The snow wns Htlll falling quietly Into tlio dnrk lake, and the Hqunttcr, with n throb nt bin huurt, cnunht the ihrend of light ut tlio edge of the win dow blind of IiIh home. Then his I'ol lyop wns still up. "Cover your horses nnd wnlt here," directed Perclvul to tho driver. Then (o Hopkins he Raid: "As I told you, sir, your duuRhtor's suffered frightful ly. I'oor girl, I nm afraid, If you np ponred without warning, the shock would be too much for her. Do as wo Agreed In town, and go to Ulshop's fAinck until I conic for you. I'll tell lier you and the hoy nro home." A long sigh slipped from tho squat ter's lips. He desired to rush in and liold his glrl-hrnt to his overwrought licnrt. lie had heard with suppressed emotion Robert's tale of his I'ollyop's trials, and now as he recollected them, lie could scarcely restrain himself. Yet lie realized tho young man wus right, no, pulling the child's bowed legs round his neck, he faded stolidly In to the falling snow. Inside tho hut Polly Ilopklns wnB soutcd, tensely silent, her slender An gers clasped togothcr about her knees. Suddenly she heard voices other than the low hum of MucICcnzlc's questions nd Evelyn's sobbing answers In tho coop-hole. She arose Blowly, rendy to spring at Lnrry Bishop or Lyo Uraeger If they appeared at tho door. To send them away Instantly was tho decision that she made as she saw the latch lift and the door slowly swing In. A figure she recognized with stitrtled eyes stepped across the threshold ; sho sat down, but was up ngatn before he spoke. Tho man she had so longed to see liad come again. But now he was hero, alio did not daro let hlni stay a mo luent. Marcus MncKcnzIo might como out of tho coop-holo oven before she could send tho newcomer away, While lie was pressing his great coat collar down over his shoulders, sho tiptoed to btin and with uplifted hand whis pered : "Hushl Go away I flo away quick I" Making a backwnrd gesture, sho added: "There's some one- In the coop-nolo I don't want you to see.' Ills errand having completely left Ills mind, Robert, after a moment of startled Inspection, stopped stlllly by the door. The resentment and Jealousy lie had nursed so long flared Into ac tlvo life and licked hlni like flames Clothes such as sho woro had never Jjcen paid for with squatter money I fiho was beautiful 1 So much his eyes told him, but ho knew she was not honest 1 She had Bald there wns somo one In tho Ho llxod her with storn oyes and then shoved her asldo. "I'm going to seo who ho Is," he snapped. Polly's fingers caught him as ho tried to pass her. "No, you can't go In there," she cried. "Please don't do It." The Bound of their voices brought Marcus MncKenzle out Into the kitchen In one stride. He halted at tho sight of tho squatter girl hanging desperate ly to Robert's arm. An oxclntuutlon broke from hlni; and with one wrench I'erclval was free and was at him. "So It's you I" ho said In a lone that told Polly Hopkins what was In his julnd. "Damn you, you hypocrite " His volco broke off, and ho brushed Ills eyes across with shaking lingers. There behind Marcus In the coop-hole doorway was his pale cousin. "Evelyn I" ho gasped thickly. "Clod, whnt's this nil about? Evory ouo of .you look as If as If " Bewildered and overcome, ho could not finish his sentence. .Marcus had caught Evelyn to him; and Pollyop, toarlossly ashamed, had sunk into the big chair to hide the finery which sho knew had brought tlio hurt Into Robert's eyes. Sho wished sho wns clothed In daddy's boots and her own calico dress I "Shut the door, Hob," Mnrcus or dered as calmly ns ho could. Mechanically Robert did as ho was bidden. When ho turned again, Mar cus was seated, with Evelyn clinging to hlni, and Pollyop's face was cov ered by one arm. Evelyn began to cry weakly. "Bob, dear," sho broke out, looking ,tip at her cousin with streaming eyes, -"Pollyop's been so good to mo." That sounded to Polly as If somo ,ono else were to be punlshmi for the night's work. "No, I ain't," alio protested, lifting ier head. "I was nwf ul bad I 1 wero 'tho only ono to blame. I hated every oap of you. Let mo tell nil of you about it." She began ut the beginning and re pented how she had concocted the plan to stenl Mrs. MitcKenzle. Sho spoke of Lnrry and Lyo us her two friends, but did not mention their armies. .er Whito "I thought I could kill 'er, sir," she ndded, rnlslng strenmlng eyes, "but when daddy's coat fell down, an' the big mammy an' Granny Hope smiled nt me, I quit hatln' you an' wantln' to kill your woman." She struggled up nnd moving to the wall, leaned against "The Greatest Mother In the World" as if she, too, would add herself to the vust family of hurt ones. Every ono oi' her words wns directed to MacKcnzIe. "Then I'm to understand," he nsked slowly, "Unit you dellberntely took my wife uwny to kill her?" "But she didn't, Mure," Interjected Evelyn. Marcus made a wide gesture with one arm. "Hush, Evo," he muttered. "I want to hear what Miss' Ilopklns bus to say." "Yep, I took her," trailed on Polly, an' I meant to croak her, too, an' throw 'er In tho lake. Just to get oven with you, sir." v "Then why didn't you do It?" de manded Marcus. Pollyop threw n short glance at the other man, standing white and silent. She cleared her throat, and leaned only the harder against the wnll. "On u sudden," she continued, as if eugcr to finish her tule, "I somehow remembered everything Granny Hope learned me when she was In the shack here. Sho always said, mister, when you wus devilish enough to snnko a squatter from the Silent City" Polly paused and coughed, then proceeded In the dend silence: "Granny said you was the imago nnd likeness of tho good God up In tho sky an' a brother to Jesus, the snmc ns us squatters. But I snld I didn't cvor wnnt to fly nwny to God If He looked like you I" Lenvlng the wall she enme forwnrd and hurried on : "An' I meant It them times, an' much moro utter you rail roaded my daddy and swiped Jerry uwuy from me." Marcus placed his wife In the chair and stood up. Ho started to speak to Pollyop; but Evelyn's cry caused him to turn swiftly. Tho drabness of her faco startled hlni. "Marc! Robert I" sho said. "I can't go back home until I've told you some thing. No, Mare, don't Btop mo. I will talk. Now, listen! Oh, honey I" This appeal was to her husband who had laid his fingers on her shoulder. "Won't you hold my hand while I tell It?" Much moved, Marcus did as sho re quested. Ills firm clasp seemed to encourage ISvelyn, and she went on: "Darling, I've always been dread ful to to Polly Hopkins, und and she's been an angel to me." Sho wns going to tell It nil, rnged through Polly's mind. Wus she going to bring to light her relations with tho dead Oscar? Old Marc would never forgive It! Thinking more now of the baby coming next summer to tho almost Incoherent woman than of her own happiness, Pollyop made a movement as If to contradict the state ment; but Evelyn's Impetuous rush of words halted her, "No, Polly, I'm going to put things light now, even If Marc leaves me to night," sho declared, clearing her throut. "Robert, dear boy, I lied to you. I lied to Polly and to you, Mar cus. Oscar Bennett wasn't Polly's sweetheart at all. lie ho wus my husband I" MncKcnzIc suffered, but did not drop the cold fingers he held; and Evelyn wept bitterly, unable to go on. A horso whinnied outside; but In the shanty no sound could be heard save the hysterical sobbing of Evelyn. It seemed to Robert as If he must shake from his cousin the rest of tho dark story, so Impatient was ho to hear It. "Then then when you came, my my beloved," Evelyn raised her tired eyes to her husband, "1 tried to got lid of hlni. I did my best to get Polly Hopkins to promlao she'd marry Oscar after he bad tVeed me. I wanted to get him out of tho country I" Unwilling to spuro herself tho leust humiliation, she ended In piteous con fusion: "I ws glad when I know he was dead." "Then how did ho die?" came swift ly from MacKenzlo. "Oh, Just us tlio doctor told you, Marc, dear," replied Evelyn. "Ho was struck by lightning nnd died from the shock. I was free then, und nnd I niiule Polly swenr over and over nguln she'd nover tell nny one I And and I gnvo her the silk dress sho woro that duy In tho Auburn car. I I lied about that, too. But, Mure, dour love, I Unow you hnted her and" Robert bounded to his feet ns tho girl's wonls trailed away Into silence. Over MncKonzle's fnco woro speeding so ninny different expressions thnt the searching brown eyes of Polly Hop kins could not tell whether he In tended to forgive his unhappy wife or I not. But I'erclval did not wait to find out. Ho sprang to tho door, Jerked It open and. closed It behind with n biing, In fact, he did not even sec Evelyn slip quietly Into u faint, or Marcus snatch her into his arms ns If he never Intended to let her go. It was only Polly who heard the pusslonnte love words that came from lips thnt hud so often flung oaths nt hdr nnd her people. She watched Mar cus dully, her heart aching and her muscles rigid with pain. Robert hnd not believed what Evelyn had said! Ho had gone away without a word to her! Of course, then, he did not love her nny morel Unnoticed by the MncKcnzles, Polly Hopkins snt very quiet, while Evelyn, who hud regained consciousness, wns clinging to her husband's neck nnd listening to his nssurnnces thnt she wns forgiven. Then suddenly, through the low rumble of Mnrcus' voice nnd tho sighs and sobs of Evelyn, Pollyop heard a shrill squatter call. She rose slowly to her feet and stood rooted to the spot. The voice that had sounded wns high, childish, like Wee Jerry's. With the superstition of her kind, Polly wns overcome by n grent four. Jerry wns dying nlono In a place of strangers I Ills little spirit hnd called to her In tho grief of Its going I She cast n glance nt the man and the woman. They were wholly enveloped In themselves nnd paid no attention to the plaintive wnll thnt broke from her lips. She struggled to the door nnd opened it, nnd there right before her stnrtled eyes wns Daddy Hop kins, with Jerry astraddle his neck. "Daddy I" enme In one bewildered cry from her slinking Hps. Thou they fnded from her vision, nnd the brown eyes yielded to semi consciousness, nnd semi-consciousness wns lost in complete oblivion. When Polly Ilopklns nguln lifted her lids, she wns surrounded by n group of people whom nt first she did not recognize. Then Daddy Ilopklns detached himself from the rest. lie was seated very near her. Thnt wns nice, Indeed I she thought dimly. She must have drenmcd thnt Old Mnrc hnd sent hlni to prison. Wco Jerry wns cuddled nt her side. Then he, too, hnd never gone nwny! What brought full remembrance to her wns the sight of Lurry Bishop She Was In the Big Squatter's Out stretched Arms In a Twinkling, Weeping Against His Breast. leaning against tho wnll nt the foot of the bed. He wns looking nt her with tenr-fllled eyes, his crncked lips work lug pnlnfuliy. "Lurry," sho cried, struggling up. It wns Mnrcus MncKenzle thnt shoved himself In beside Jeremiah nnd bent over her. "Lurry didn't do It, Daddy; I did," sho moaned. "Please, Mr. MncKenzle, please, believe me!" She crawled wearily Into Jeremiah's arms nnd hugged his bushy head. "Oh, Daddy Hopkins, I got to gi to to Jail. 1 been a wicked bad " She was straining so to llnlsh that Robert Perclvul wns no longer nble to keep quiet. He stepped forward so that Polly saw him over Daddy's shoulder. She glared at him wildly. "Tell 'em oh tell 'em," she shud dered. The tears In his eyes softened her expression. "it's like you to feel sorry for me sir I" She winced. "An' Kettln' Dnddy nil' Weo Jerry buck Is like you, too, Every day I'm In Jail I'll bo prajin you'll be happy." Sho strangled at the memory of Old Marc's words, "I'll get you next, huzzy 1" Then Robert, stung with remorso at bis disbelief In her, picked her out of her father's arms. When he hnd placed her In u chair, he said: "Polly, darling, wo'vo heard the whole story from from " He looked toward Lnrry Bishop, stumbling as if he did not remember his name. "And we've forgotten It, too," Mac Kenzle boomed In. "Yesterday It wouldn't have been any great loss If my whole family hnd been sunk In the hike. We wero nil more wicked than nny one In tho Silent City. But to night It's different I" Polly straightened up, her oyes brll Hunt with questioning. "Daddy," she asked, "does he mean 1 ain't goln' to Jail for my life long? Oh. Daddy" Sho was In the big squatter's out stretched arms in u twinkling, weep ing ngalnst his breast. "This night's work," said MacKcn zIe, moved nlmost beyond speech, won't pass outside the few who know It. And Polly look up, child. I want o tell you something." In silence she dared n timid glnnco at hlni. "While you you were asleep Just now, Mr. Percivnl and I made nrrnngev merits with your father to give hltn work MncKenzle told her. "Does that please you?" "Awful much," sho sighed ; then sho turned und looked nt Bishop, standing gainst the wnll. "What nbout Lnrry?" she murmured softly. "Poor, poor Lurry." "I'll help him, too," Mnrcus ngrced eagerly. Polly cogltntcd one smnll moment "There's Lye Brucgcr," she sighed gain. "Ho ain't got many friends, Lye nln't!" MncKenzlo's laugh sent n sense of relief over the gloomy group. "Then Lyo Brneger, too," ho ex- clnlmed, "nnd any other Bquatter who wants to work." Pollyop, overwhelmed with this gen erosity, stood up before him. curls showering ench shoulder nnd framing her lovely, eager face. "I guess mebbe you were nn ungel nil the time, like Granny Hope sp.ld once," she said shyly. "I'm thnnkln' you, sir, an' I I'm hopln' the little one God's scndln In the summer'll look Just like like" a smile touched her Hps "Just like Jerry," she ended. Because she was so simply natural, MncKenzle replied solemnly: "If my child looks ns much like mo ns Jerry looks like his fntber, I'll be sntlstled." Then lie hurried his wife away, of fering to curry Robert home with them. "No, sir," said that young man stoutly. "I've got to talk to Polly Hop kins." I'm goln' now, too," grunted Larry Bishop. "Got to go an' see Lye Brne ger. He's sick in bed with a stum- mlck nche. Good night, Poll! Seo you tomorrow, Jerry Hopkins." Ho mndo n gesturo of furowell to Robert; and Pollyop went to the door with hlni. There sho brought a wry, twitching smile to his Hps by throw ing her arms nbout his neck nnd kiss ing him. "It's nil right now, Lnrry, denrl" sho whispered. "Good-by." When she turned slowly to Robert, her fnco was suffused with crimson blood. "Ain't your horses gettin cold, sir?" she queried. "It's worse outside than when you cumel" Jeremiah blinked nt them, went to the cot and picked up tho drowsy baby. To hide his embarrassment, he seated himself nnd rocked tho child linck nnd forth. He wns almost afraid of Ids beautiful dnughter, dressed so unlike herself, her hnlr hnnglng in glistening curls over Evelyn Robert son's exquisite clothes. The horses nro well covered, Polly," answered Robert. "I'll niukc It worth the driver's while to wnlt n bit." Then unable to bear the strain any longer, he burst out: "Darling, can you ever forgive me?" She gave hlni one melting glnnee and like n fluttering bird sped Into his arms nnd stayed there. And thus the two young things, with nothing be tween them nnd long stretches of hap piness, clung to each other until tho tlnkle-tlnklo of tho MncKenzle sleigh bells was lost In the night. Then the squntter girl, disengaging herself from her sweetheart's arms, went to her father. "Daddy," she breathed, bending over him, "over since I mended the roof that day the same dny Old Marc came home, I've been lovln' " she reached hack her hand, and Robert clasped It, "I've been lovln'" Chok ing, she could get no farther In that Important explanation. Robert stepped beside her, nnd rest ed his hand on the down-bent head. He knew now thnt though she wns n squntter, one of tho despised of the enrth, he loved her bettor thnn the whole world. "It's Just like Grnnny Hope snld, Dnddy," Pollyop went on, the velvety brown softening the misty eyes. "She snld, Grnnny Hope did, thnt love's big ger nn' bettcr'n hnte nny dny. An' It's true, nln't It?" "Yep," nodded Hopkins, smoothing her face with one great hand. "I guess so, brat I" "It sure Is," added Robert In her our. Then he looked nt Jeremiah. "Mny I have her some dny, sir?" he nsked in reverent tones. "I'll mnko her so hnppy you won't regret It." Jeremiah's big framo shook, and Pollyop, ever devoted to him, kissed hlni tenderly. "I'll never leave you, Daddy darlln', precious old Daddy," she cried. "Meb be " She looked up nt the tall man standing by her. "Mebbe," she re pented, "you'd take Jerry nn' Dnddy too, huh? They're awful good an never got In anybody's way." "And Jerry and your father too, my darling," laughed Robert, In an outburst of happiness. "I can have your llttlo girl, Mr. Hopkins, can't I?' "Yep," whispered Jeremlnh, sighing heavily. Then while Robert wns bidding Polly good-night, Jeremlnh, with n faraway look upon his face, gathered the bow-lcggod child closer to him und rocked-hlni gently to nnd fro. THE END. The Reason Why. She He's my best friend. lit How long have you known film? Slit Since yesterday. DAIRY racrs QUALITY OF MARKET BUTTER Department of Agriculture Offers Commission Man Court of Last Resort. (Prepared by the United State Department of Agriculture.) In the pnst buttermnkers have often been in the dnrk ns to the renl quullty of the butter they put upon the mnr- ket, nnd frequently they feel thnt they hnve not been fairly treated by com mission men and others In tho mar kets. But the creamery man is not without friends, for the United States Department of Agriculture- offers hlni Stirring and Taking Temperature of Cream. nn Inspection Bervice that stands al most ns n court of Inst resort. Any person who wnnts this service mny hnve it by applying for it. The gov ernment Inspectors examine butter in cars, In storage, or in stores, and the certificates they Issue stnnd in court, but they seldom get thnt fur, ns they are almost universally accepted. At the National Dairy show, which was held In St. Paul, Minn., October 8 to IB, butter Inspectors showed how they do their work, nnd1 exhibits thnt have been prepnred by the depnrt ment showed the grent ndvnntnge thaj conies from marketing butter of n high grndo. On the face of it butter that scores SS would not seem to be much Inferior to that which scores 02, but il was shown thnt the spread of price be tween those two grades is very lnrge, fnr grenter thnn tho difference in cost of manufacture. As Poor Richard might have said : "A little better but ter makes a much bigger bunk bul mice." MAKE BETTER SWISS CHEESE Method Developed by Department of Agriculture Has Passed Into Commercial Stage. The method of making Swiss cheese with purified nnd controlled bacterial cultures, developed by the dairy di vision of the United States Depart incut of Agriculture, has now passed definitely Into the commercial stage. This new process was worked out In tho dairy laboratories, given thorough trials In the. experimental cheese fac tory operated by tho dairy division at Grove City, Pn., nnd Is now being used by n number of commercial factories In various parts of the country. The results obtained by two Ohio factories Indicate thnt it will be worth while for those interested In tho mnnufneturo of Swiss cheese to ndopt the method nnd give it n fair trial. For the cheeso made In June of this year one of these factories received a straight price of 34 cents a pound; tho other fnctory, 30 cents. At the snme time other fac torles In this area received from 20 to 22 cents. Only ono of them sue ceeded In selling for ns high ns 25 cents. Kor the July product, one of the factories received 30 cents for fnncles nnd No. 1 nnd 27 cents for No. 2. The old-system fnctorlcs received the snme price ns for June cheese, The prlnclpnl reason the buyers were willing to pay tills mnrgln over the general run of cheese made in the locality was thnt the percentage of high-grade cheese had been greatly Increased. ASCERTAIN RECORD OF BULL When Making Purchase Insist Upon Knowing Yearly Milk Production of Its Dam. When buying u bull insist upon knowing the yearly milk production of his dam and the average per cent of butterfat. A seven-dny record Is of llttlo vnluo In determining tho nctual dairy worth of n cow, for by good bundling It Is possible to greatly in crenso her percentngo of butterfat Cow Has One Purpose. A dairy cow has one purpose, which is to produce, nnd this the cows of tho recognized dnlry breeds do more profltnbly. Keep Fire In Tank-Heater. Ice wnter Is lino In summer, but keep tho stock from It in winter by keeping u lire in tho tnnk-henter. Barnyard Manure. Haul out that manure nnd spread It on your fields. It will pny you well j .: for the 1 1 in f nnd trouble. K You Need a Medicine You Should Have the Best ITrto you over stopped to reason whv it is that bo many products that are ex tensively advertised, all at once drop out of sight and arc soon forgotten? The reaton is plain the article did not fulfill the promises of the manufacturer. This applies more particularly to a medicine. A medicinal preparation that has real curative valuo almost sells itself, as like an endless chain system the remedy is recommended by those who havo been benefited, to those who aro in need of it. A prominent druggist says "Take for examplo Dr. Kilmer's Swamp-Root, a preparation I have sold for many years and never hesitate to recommend, for in almost every case it shows excellent re sults, as many of my customers testify. No othor kidney remedy has bo largo a sale." According to sworn statements and verified testimony of thousands who have used the preparation, the success of Dr. Kilmer's Swamp-Root is due to the fact, so many pcoplo claim, that it fulfills al most every wish in overcoming kidney, liver and bladder ailments: corrects uri nary troubles and neutralizes the urlo acid which causes rheumatism. You may receive a sample bottlo of Swamp-Root by Parcels Post. Address Dr. Kilmer & Co., Binghanton, N. Y., and enclose ten cents; also mention this paper. Large and medium size bottles for salt at ail ante storcs.Auvortlsement Honesty the Best. "I'm nfrnld and will find out that wo disobeyed him Inst night." "The best wny to keep him from finding out Is to tell him. Ho never remembers nnythlng." Nnshvillo Ten nesscenn. Cutlcura Comforts Babv'a Skin When red, rough nnd Itching, by hot bnths of Cutlcura Soan nnd touohen of Cutlcura Ointment. Also mnlrn nan now and then of that exquisitely scented dusting powder, Cutlcura Tnlcum, ono of tho indispensable Cutlcura Toilet xno. Advertisement. Behind In Those. "Don't you think Maud Is nn up-to-date girl?" "Yes, except with her birthdays." Boston Transcript. YOU CAN WALK IN COMFORT If you Shake Into Tour Shoes some ALLEN'S FOOToHABE. the AnttseDtle. Ueallne raw- der for shoes that pinch or feet that ache. It takes the friction from the shoe and gives relief to corns and bunions, hot, tired, sweating, swollen feet. Ladles can wear shoes one size smaller bjr shaking AUan'i FootIEaae In each shoe. Advertisement. If anyone in a camping party can fry potntoes he is made to do all the cooking. Why Men Take MastUl's Yeast Vitamon Tablets To Clear The Skin and Put On Firm Flesh Easy and Economical Results Quick Of what uao are One features with an -ugly, mottled skin, flabby flesh, sunken cheeks, pouches under tho eyes, or a careworn, sickly-looking face? If you want to quickly clear your akin and complexion, put somo firm, henlthy flesh on your cones, increase your norvo forco and power and look and feci far bettor, simply try taking two of MASTIN'S tiny yeast VITA MON TABLETS with each meal nnd watch the results. MASTIN'S VITAMON TABLETS contnin not only tho purest form of concentrated yeast vitamines, but all three vitamincs scientifically com bined with specially prepared organic iron for your blood, tho necessary lime salts and other true vitalizing brain, bono and tissue making ele ments whioh Nature provides to pro duco real "stay-thero" flesh, clear skin and incrcnao energy. Under their purifying influcnoe, many embarrassing skin eruptions seem to vanish as if by magic, leaving the skin and complexion fresh, clear and glowing with ruddy health. To protect yourself against imita tions and cheap substitutes INSIST upon MASTIN'S to get tho original and genuine VITAMON TABLETS, recommended by phyainians and used by millions. At all good druggists. MAN'S BEST AGE A man is as old as his organs; ho can be as vigorous and healthy ai 70 as at 35 if he aids his organs in performing their functions. Keep your vital organs healthy with The world's standard remedy for kidney, liver, bladder and uric acid troubles since 1696; corrects disorders; stimulates vital organs. All druggists, three sizes. Look for tho name Gold Modal on CTcrjr tot ant accent co im.'Ut .1