River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-12-18
The Daughter of David Kerr
By HARRY KING TOOTLE

7 O O 7 L E

| him much. We don't see him. but we
feel him. He lives alone, out In the
country"
Then can he really know?"
He's q man, amt he?" demanded
the woman of the streets fiercely. He
knows, but what does he care? | wisht
he had daughter"
What's that?" Gloria asked The
manner in which Little Ella had
spoken made her catch her brea* b
with a feeling that was akin to dreat
Il wisht he had a daughter, an tina:
she'd have to suffer what we down
here suffer-
Gloria held UP her hand, bidding her
cease from even thinking such a thin's.
No, no. no. not that"
Why not?" the other went on dog
gedly. Gould she be any better'n |
was oncet? tell you. I'd like to have
a daughter OF his here, and watch her
struggle to keep the breath in her
body
Have you no mercy?" begged Gio-
ria.
What mercy hev | had shown me
by Noonan-cept fer his own profit?
What mercy from David Kerr?
his in this hell-hole?" Gloria cOnval-
sively covered her eyes with her hards
as If to shut out even the thought OF
such sight. Little Ella went on
harshly, What joke it would be-,
But I'd laugh. I'd watch her, the little
darling, to see that she paid the price
as I've done"
Gloria could stand it no longer.
Stop, you senseless girl. You make
a mockery of pity and compassion. It's
absurd to vent your rage upon some
thing that doesn't exist David Kerr
has no daughter"
Little Ella accepted this answer
without question, unmindful that a
short while before her visitor had de-
MED all knowledge of the man.
Il wisht he had" she said regret
fully .
A door slammed suddenly oVerhe ad
Aren't you afraid here alone?" Clio
ria asked
Nav / amt scared in the daytime
an at night I'm out most O the time. >
The sound of scuffle on the floor
above brought both women to atten
ton. There came a sudden, smothered
cry for help which made Gloria's blood
run cold. Then there was a heavy
thud as if some one had been felled by
4 blow.
Whats it all about?" she cried,
springing to her feet in terror.
''Nothin' Stay where you are.
We're safe as long as we don open
that door"
. The sounds Of the ARRAY grew
louder Again came the cry for help.
Whats going on? must KNOW.
Some ones in trouble Didn't you hear
some one CALF"
They're maybe just foolin'.' Ella
was listening intently. Don't you
butt in
''But | can't stand here doing moth
ing. | must see what's the matter"
One could never accuse Gloria of
the horse she was afraid of, and q sail
boat in heavy sea made her laugh
the more the louder the wind Whistled
through the rigging. Her feeling OF
personal power inherited from her ia
Their. had been strongly developed. She
had by this time overcome her first
fear, and now she intended to know
what the trouble was all about. Some
one was in distress and to do what she
could was her enc thought as she
started toward the door.
Better not open that door," Little
ELLA pleaded
Even as she spoke, they heard a
door slam at the head of the stairs
above. Some one lurched heavily to
the stairway, and then to their hor-
ror-they knew it by the sound just
as well as if the scene had been en-
acted before their eyes-the man
tripped and plunged down the narrow
stairs
ITO PIE CONTIEIT ED