Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-11-28

duty as a nurse She shook her gently.
and o o WIS rewarded by seeing her
eyes open.
What you want'" asked the pa
tent
Time to take your medicine. Clio
ria answered unblushingly. This was
only a subterfuge. and 1t hurt her to
receive the p~rotuse thanks which It
evoked.
How are We going to begin to make
right down here?" Gloria asked
when Little Ella had sunk back upon
her pillow.
Begin" The girl did not under,
stand.
Yes. you and l. Things can't go
on as they are"
Why, begin with the boss, OF
Gloria could not have been stabbed
by a cruel reply,
All. yes" she sighed. but how"
That's up to you and yer pa"
Little Ella recognized that the boss
was out of her sphere OF influence.
Eyes. yes, | know. Tell me-does-
David Kerr" she spoke the name with
an effort. overcome down here?"
"Himf Nav. We never see nothin'
O. him" His daughter gave q sigh of
relief. I'VE don't know nothin' bout
him much. We don't see him. but we
feel him. He lives alone, out In the
country"
Then can he really know
Hes a man. amt he!" demanded
the woman OF the streets iercely. "He
knows. but what does he care! | visit
he had q daughter"
What's that" Gloria asked, The
manner In which Little Ella had
spoken made her catch her breath
with a feeling that was akin to dread.
Il visit he had a daughter. an that
she'd have to suffer what we down
here suffer"
Gloria held up her hand. bidding her
cease from eve thinking such a thing.
mo, 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 Clio
ria.
What mercy hev | had shown me
by Noonan-'cept fer his own profit?
What mercy from David Kerr?
Wouldn't he laugh to see a daughter O
his in this hell-hole?" Gloria c%onvul-
sively covered her eyes with her hands
as II to shut out even the thought Of
such a sight. Little Ella went on
harshly, What a 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 1t 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 q
fshort while before her visitor had de
MED all knowledge of the man.
Il wisht he had" she said regret
fully.
A door slammed suddenly overhead
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 a scufle on the foo
above brought both women to attep
| ton. There came a sudden, smotheret
| cry for help which made Gloria's blood
run cold. Then there was a heavy
thud as II some one had been felled BY
a blow.
What's 1t all about?" she cried
| springing to her feet in terror.
"Nothin'. Stay where you are
| We're safe as long as we don oper
that door"
The sounds Of the ARRAY grew
louder. Again came the cry for help
What's going on? | must know
Some ones in trouble. Didn't you heaI
some one CALI"
They're maybe just foolin'.' Eli
was listening intently. Don't YOU
butt in"
"But | cant stand here doing moth
ing. | must see what's the matter"
One could never accuse Gloria o
lack OF courage. She had never seeT
the horse she was afraid OF, and a sail
boat in a heavy sea made her laugh
the more the louder the wind whlstle'
through the rigging. Her feeling o
| personal power, inherited from her ia
Their. had been strongly developed. Sh'
had by this time overcome her frs
fear. and now she intended to know
what the trouble was all about. Som
one was in distress and to do what sh'
could was her one thought as sh'