The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1913-12-25
CHAPTER TX.

The story Wright had printed thu
Nrst day and the reply k~irew from
The Banner the next morning caused
the News to be awaited with undis
gu1sed eagerness on the second after
noon. This was heightened on the
part OF the men In the syndicate In
terested in the franchise by the peril
nent questions put to them in the
morning by News reporters. David
Kerr was called on the telephone hall
dozen times by his lieutenants, and
arrangements were made to have a
Nne open to Esmeralda Springs at
three,thirty, the hour when the News
was issued.
Although they were prepared to dis
count some of the story because Of
the questions asked them, yet more of
tne ring men was prepared for a reve-
tlatlon OF the scheme such as the News
made. Black headlines ran across
Jour columas and the story also took
up most OF the second page. There
was map Of the proposed interurban
route, ard pictures OF pretty homes on
maple Avenue. But from one end OF
the story to the other there was no
mentDn of David Kerr OF Of the local
backing being given the bill before
the council. 1t was expressly stated
ttia1 the incorporates of the new com
pany were merely dummies and that
they we're acting in the interest OF the
stock-yards company.
I Amos Gilbert in an Interview denied
any knowledge OF tie transaction. say-
ing that his connection with the stocN-
yards company was merely nominal
ana that he die not even know If the (
company was interested in the line |
proposed. Ho did not see bow, as a |
company, 1t could be.
Gilbert sat in his office as soon as he
secured paper and read the story
nRrd for word over the telephone to
Kerr. The latter promptly announced
that he would be home the next day,
And ordered that Gloria be taken from
Belmont on any pretext whatever for
y few days until the fight had been.
sllowed to die down. The next day
vas Sunday, on which Wright pub
l!shed no paper, and Kerr would be.
home before another issued appeared.
lie agreed with Gilbert that the Ban
ner ought to ridicule the alleged ex-,
pose.
Sunday night, much to her surprise
but not much against her will, Gloria
vent to st. Louis with Mrs. Gilbert to
pick out furniture for Locust Lawn.
Che did not know that her father had
returned from Esmeralda Springs that |
morning and had been closeted all aft
ernoon with Gilbert and John Ken
dali, who had hurried to Belmont in
response to telegram. The girl had
oot eeeu Wright all day, nor had she
faen HIM Saturday, but there came
from him box of roses at noon.
Little witch that she was, she meant
70 SUI prise him by sending him note
Of thanks from st. Louis. She knew
he would join her and Mrs. Gilbert
there on her hint that they would be
glad to see him.
Wright received her note and per-
ceived the slightly yelled invitation,
but he was too busy even to answer.
1t was week that contained more ex-
element than Belmont had seen since,
frontier village, it had struggled |
with the question of whether the state !
should secede or remain In the Union. |
David Kerr found himself confronted
by a formidable line of battle. The
Banner kept pounding away at the
News, but the afternoon paper was
not to be diverted from its purpose
The citizens on Maple Avenue formed
the Maple League, and wore buttons
ON which were maple leaf and the
legend, Help us save our homes"
The car line was to run through the
seventh and eighth wards, and the
aldermen in those wards were uel-
aged with letters, post cards, tele
uhone calls and personal visits Fin
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