Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1920)

82 Photoplay Magazine Polly went on with a mysierious air. "I heard about it today. It's a angel. After a while you can hunt an ftsh an be happy just as if there weren't any old McKenzie — when he gets to workin'." "What's eatin' ye, brat?"' grunted Jerry, interested in spite of himself, though he took no stock in angels. PoUyop told them of Evelyn Robertsons cousin and what he had said that morning as he rode through the Silent City with old Marc. Perhaps his words would not have meant much to an older and less optimistic person, but Polly believed them utterly and she wove them into a shining promise which she held before the eyes of her menfolks. "He's richer'n old Marc, Polly," said Jerry visibly influenced, but still not entirely convmced by her oratory. "It's just that we don't happen to be a settin' on his ground that he ain't wantin' us off." But Pollyop would none of his doubts. She picked up Granny Hope's tattered Bible. "I know he'll help us," she said, "an' you both got to promise me now, right on Granny Hope's good book, and kiss it, and swear to God that you won't hurt old Marc." Pollyop was used to being obeyed— and the two grizzly men who adored her were used to obeying. So they did as she said — even though it was no mean thing to do. For when a squatter swore an oath, he kept it. When Pollyop whispered to Evelyn, out in the Robertson arbor a little 'later, that Oscar demanded to see her that night at nine at Granny Hope's deserted shack, the r.ch girl shuddered, and grew pale, then whined that she was afraid to meet him all alone. "Pollyop, you must meet me there too, she whimpered. "I'll do something for you some day." "All right.'' answered Pollyop. And as Polly Hopkins raced back through the dark to Daddy Hopkins, Evelyn Robertson listened apathetically to Marc McKenzie's threats to wipe out the Silent City, to send its men to jail, and its children to orphanages. Pollyop, escaping from her father's cabin a few minutes before nine, was the first to reach Granny Hope's old cabin .set by its lone in the rocks. She went in and lighted a candle in the kitchen and sat down to ponder on this strange affair. Pretty soon she heard crunchings on the gravel, and the evil Oscar leered inside. "I come to see that she got home safe." said Polly swiftly in answer to Oscar's frown. "She'll be here soon. "I'm thinkin'. Oscar,'" went on Pollyop. as gently as she could, "that she isn't loving you any more." Oscar looked at the floor sullenly for a moment, then at Polly. "I bin a fool. Poll. Fd a done better by marryin' you. Maybe some day when I get Evelyn's cash — " Oscar ' left his sentence unfinished for Pollyop's eyes flashed scorn at him. "Don't you be talkin' about love to me." she said. Oscar looked at her amazed. Then he rose suddenly and made a step towards her. Here was something to his liking, "By God, you're a pretty brat," he broke forth. "I'm going to kiss you.'' But he didn't, for just then Evelyn entered the door, and Polly went quickly to her side. Oscar's rage, at finding out that Evelyn really had no money, was terrible to behold. Polly feared that the man's violence of passion would destroy them all. "You want to be free?'' repeated Oscar •with scornful lips. "Some other guy. I suppose. Well, it's easy enough — all you got to do is make it worth while." "But I haven't any money — I can't live with you — I loathe you— I must be free," Evelyn said distractedly. The brute lifted his powerful fist to strike her. and he would have done so if Polly had not adroitly crowded in between them. It did not occur :o her that Oscar would strike her — he had no right, since she was not his wife. But Oscar w^as seized with an overwhelming "You're bi desire to crush, to beat the slender girl who defied him. Here was some one worth taming, some one worth loving and being loved by! He raised his hairy fist and brought it down. Polly reeled backward and lay still. "Both of ye keep mum about this, see?'' Oscar said sharply, thinking of the terrible vengeance the squatters would have if his blow should prove fatal to Pollyop. "I'm off."' He ran from the door. "Polly, what can I do for you to even up things?"" murmured a conscience stricken Evel)-n as she left Polly, limp and suffering, at her door. "Scoot home,"' said Polly simply. "I am goin" in." Two days later spring smiled down from imclouded turquoise skies on peaceful lake and verdant shores. And in the Silent City the squatters' wives took advantage of the day to air their blankets on the lines. Daddy Hopkins had to go to Ithaca. So Pollyop took wee Jerry and Billy the goat, and Nannyop, the lamb, tethered to her wrist, for a walk. As she walked with her loved ones on the road, she suddenly halted and slipped wee Jerry from her shoulder. There on the fence was the picture of a woman with great sad eyes which looked appealingly straight into Pollyop's. In her arms she held the form of a sick man, and Polly knew instinctively that she was protecting him from some enemy who had hurt him — ^perhaps as old Marc wished to hurt the squatters. A sound roused her, and .she turned to find the "beautiful angel" Evelyn Robertson's cousin Robert Perceval jumpaig from his horse and coming towards her. He looked at the picture, then on to Polly. Then he read the words beneath the picture. "The Greatest Mother in the World." "Does that mean that she was a mother to the squatter boys who were hurt in the war?" she asked. The question was too serious to invite levity. "She is the mother to everv' hurt person in the world," Bob Perceval replied. "She's some mother,'" said Pollyop soberly. (Continued on page 8j) gger than old Marc — make him leave us alone ! "" she said suddenly.