Las Vegas optic., 1913-07-21

|, David Kerr; ard | will-on
condition. Gloria Kerr muss have the
place she thinks is hers rs Belu.
He paused to let the LAWYER eras1
the Importance and the value of such
an undertaking, and then disclosed
the means by which the fortune was
to be secured. If a man should ever
pay another out of his own pocket
for such a service he would be
philanthropist and not political
leader; Kerr was certainly not the
former, and his life training had
never caused him to separate a dollar
from his own bank account when he
could extract It without pain-to aim
from some one else.
For this one thing, he exclaimed,
Il give freely into your hands any
franchise you may draw for the stock
yards belt line railway. Disguise it
as street railway line to run down
Maple avenue. Make what bargain
you like, five hundred thousand a
million dollars, it's worth it. And al
ways remember, I'm back of you"
The possibilities Of the scheme
overwhelmed Gilbert. What he was
to do for Kerr, even the fight for the
franchise, did not enter his mind. He
was busy thinking of the freedom he
could purchase in SO short a time |
All that he had ever dreamed Of could |
be brought to pass. Kerr, who knew
almost to a dollar the financial stand |
ing of every man in Belmont, was |
well aware that Gilbert had been hard
hit in several stock exchange trans |
actions SO badly in the last one that |
he had called upon the boss for as
sistance. Yet he had just told Ken
dali that he would have nothing mere
to do with that kind Of work. He had
begun to develop a conscience--for
Julia's sake. perhaps, for his daugh-
ter's future-and here came Kerr who
wanted him to go down once more
into the maelstrom Of shady politics
for the sake of his daughter.
His gratitude for what Kerr had
done for him was great enough to
cause him to do anything for Kerr's
daughter he could, but since the boss
had put 1t up to him and he had back
of him all the boss's power, he began
to wonder why he should not accept
the opportunity to make fortune
quickly. 1t had been held out to him
as meaning leisure, travel, friends
and a roseate future for his Julia. He
longed for those things for himself.
no less, and here was the chance Of
his lifetime. He would know how to
make those Chicago schemers pay
well for the legal advice he would
give them.
1T won't be easy" said Gilbert
finally
Kerr had won his first victory. The
lawyer had surrendered.
That's why came to you," was
the boss's answer, reply charged
with subtle fattery Gilbert really did
represent in his autocracy the best
element; SNUG set, perhaps, but
still the best To other lieutenants
were delegated hammer and tong
Jobs; Gilbert was the instrument
when tinesse was required
There's a certain element, Mr.
Kerr, it will be hard to win over
that wholesale clique. You have no
direct dealing with the men, and
well-that is-you see, they don't
know you and they might not be in
terested in Gloria. They're clan
nish lot"
i've fought many a fight, Amos,
but never one like this. If it develops
into real fight, still hold the whip
hand" He raised his right arm men
acingly, his hand clenched to a pugna-
cious fist 'Let any silly girl sneer at
my daughter, let any ninny of boy
be uncomplimentary, and no sooner
hear Of It than III put the screws on
and then God help EN-. They don't
know me! Well, they may yet"
When can Mrs. Gilbert meet
Gloria?"
7 brought her with me-she's in
the carriage"
She came with you!"
Eyes, told her we were going to (
the theater Then we stopped here on
important business"
Bring her in. I'll call Mrs Gil
bert
While Kerr went for his daughter,
the lawyer called his wife into the IL
brary and explained the situation to
her as best he could in so brief a
time. He only told Of Gloria's belief
in her fathers social importance.
nothing of how he had promised to
introduce her OF course his wife
would never know his wages for act
Ing as Glorias sponsor.
What remarkable thing to dol"
exclaimed Mrs. Gilbert when she final
" realized Glorla's position.
I think Kerr was crazy, Julia, ever
to start it, but here she is in our
house and we must help carry out the
But DR.. and Mrs Hayes?"
who made Hayes coroner?"
But Mr.. Wright? VIII he meet
w. 4