Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1913-10-16


other handkerchief. guess the mirror
in your room wasn't big enough to
hold a handkerchief on your wash
day" He looked about the library,
absorbing It's quiet elegance. Things
mighty different now, amt they?"
Then was struggling to get
start"
1t seemed to be a monologue Kerr
was delivering. His questions were
answered, but he made no sign that
he heard. His remarks were delivered
at random, and he never took his gaze
from the fire, except the one time he
had looked about the room to note
the contrast of the present with the
time when Gilbert had first come to
Belmont.
Bout that time you wanted to git
married to a mighty nice girl"
Yes, that was about the time was
elected prosecuting attorney"
Exactly" then after pause. "and
you got married"
Gilbert could not understand the
drift of the conversation, but he rec
ognized that Kerr was reviewing the
past step by step.
Then I gave up my desk in your
Office, and moved to the courthouse"
But you still came to see me,
Amos"
This was said as quietly as had
been his previous remarks. Taken
by itself 1t was harmless utterance,
but in connection with what had gone
before 1t was of great significance.
Yes, Amos Gilbert, the rising young
prosecuting attorney, had gone to see
David Kerr after he had moved his Of
fee to the courthouse. The boss let
that remark sink in we'll before he
asked
After that how long was you on
the bench?"
six years"
"Is that SO! l hadn't an idee 1t
was that long. What made you give
that up?"
Il had a family on my hands and
needed more money. l didn't run
again, you remember, because want
ed to be attorney for the new street
railway company"
Kerr seemed to be revolving some
thing in his mind, for it was some
time before he reminded Gilbert of q
step in his rise which he had not
mentioned.
II thought you was lawyer for one
of them crowds that was fghtin' for
a franchise"
well, we got the franchise"
That was what Kerr wanted to
bring out
Exactly. And you're still their law,
yer"
yes"
"And for the water company
unused Kerr. And for the lectriC
light company. And you still come tc
see me, Amos"
why, yes, Mr.. Kerr, I'm not un
mindful Of"
Kerr seemed to throw off some Of
the gloom in which he had appeared
to be wrapped as he interrupted the
attorney.
This time, Amos, I've come to see
you. It's the first time I've ever beer
in this house"
"Well-Mr. Kerr" stammereC
Gilbert.
The boss. pulled himself together II
his chair, sat up straight and looked
at Gilbert.
But you've got a telephone" Their
he added in a gentler tone: That's
all right, Amos, I've always under
stood" 1t seemed to be with an eff
fort that he continued, I'm going tC
tell you some things that you know
and some things that you don't know
and some you've guessed, and some
I've thought nobody'd ever have tt
know. Bout the time you come here
1 was married, and my wife died OF
giving birth to girl"
Gloria"
Eyes, Gloria. l was just gittin' int
politics Things might ave been diff
IcT0uI IL my WHO udu hNous IL uluu
seem long before there was with {
big girl on my handsome. DaviC
Kerr" The old feeling of powe
surged through him as he added will
spirit, "If 1t had been a boy!"
This thought held him silent for
minute, and when he took up tn
thread of his story again it was tn
old weary tone.
well, 1t wasn't. There was wit
girl on my hands. Her mother didn'
have any relatives. Her father was
| minister, same's my father was.
: didn't have anybody, either, coul
r send her to. kept her as long as
J could, but by that time my house
even in the country-warn't fit plac
for a child-specially girl. So
, sent her away to school and she ain
been back since. reckon Belmont