Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-11-20
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
GlOria's announced intention Of re-
T joining Mrs Hayes was not the only
/ motive that had brought her into the
/ library. The angry hum Of voices had
been borne to her even through the
/ closed door, and with woman's i'm
! patience and curiosity she was anxious
/ TO know what was going on. Greater
/ than all else, however, was her desire
to be with Wright. She thought that
1 by appearing she could bring matters
TO conclusion and carry off with her
/ the man she loved. Now that she was
in the library and Wright had said
! that he was ready to go whenever she
was, David Kerr's daughter forgot
about her desire to go to Mrs. HAYES.
DR.. Hayes and his wife were return
! ing to Judge Gilbert's office when Clio
ria had seen them, and soon Williams
ushered them into the library. The
| presence of the two women prevented
all open discussion of political mat
tiers. Even had it not been for Miss
koTr and Mrs. Hayes there could have
been 10 controversy, because after
/ Wright had made his position clear he
would not talk further about it. Now
he was merely waiting for Gloria.
Il thought you said you wouldn't be
| loEs." was the way, in a playful at
tempt at seriousness, Gloria upbraided
her sovereign lord when they found
themselves a little apart from the
others.
1T wasn't my fault" was all he
could say.
You haven't told father, have you?
No. He wasn't in the mood for
such a pleasing revelation. l hope
you've thought about leaving for St.
Louis tonight. It's now imperative
that you go"
4 thought about it, dear, but | can't
go. What would l say to father?"
Wright was on the point of again
urging her to leave Belmont when he
heard the faint cries Of newsboys far
down the street. Nearer and nearer
came the boys. Louder and louder
were their cries. Street sales in Bel
mont were so small that the little
urchins who sold papers to chance
customers were never very noisy. An
unusual clamOr on their part beto-
kened some extraordinary piece of
news. Their shouts at last began to
attract the attention of others in the
room. Kerr, Kendall and Hayes looked
at Wright questioningly. Then. as
they began to distinguish the cries of
one boy in advance of the others. the
three men walked hastily to the win
dow and looked out en- the street. Ev-
eryone was rushing for a paper. or
else standing with the sheet in his
hand staring at the first page with
it, big black type
Recovering himself suddenly, Wright
tried to talk 10 Gloria to drown the
noise, but it was too late.
What is that noise? What are they
>houting foT?" she asked. Listen"
She put her hand on his arm as sig
nal to say nothing while she tried to
hear what the boys were saying.
"Extry Extry! Get a News! All
about the grafters! Extry! Read the
big steal! Full account O. the railroad
grab! Big men and boodlers in COM
bine! Extry! Extry!"
1t was now a flood OF sound as the
boys came under the window.
What's it all a5out?" the girl
asked.
That's nothing. only a crowd of
newshoys raising a racket Gloria,
listen TO me. We must get away from
here. Even If you're happy in Bel
mont, I'm not. Won't you do this for
ne? Let's set away from this Office
and talk it over"
She shook her head and refused to
move.
Gloria, you must do as 1 say with
out question. Just this once. please >"
Both turned at this instant, as did
the others, startled by a hubbub in
the outer office. Suddenly the door
was burst open violently by young Jim
Winthrow, the Banners political re
porter. He rushed breathlessIy into
the room, fourishing copy of the
Belmont News. Following him came
Williams with a look of amazement on
his face as he read the headlines of
the copy of the paper he had.
Judge Gilbert! Judge GILBERT"
gasped the reporter, with eyes for no
one else. Have you seen the News?
Big story bout the belt line railway
and the lection! Gimme the facts SO
I can show the News up
Let me see your paper"
Here it is-with big headlines"
Wright knew better than anyone
else in the room what was in the pa
per What was written there was not
for Gloria's eyes 10 see. nor for her
ears to hear.
You must go. Gloria. Don't stay for
this; I'll drive you 10 Locust Lawn"
He was almost out Of the room with
her when something the reporter said
caused her to stop.
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