The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1913-12-05
The Daughter of David Kerr
By HARRY KING TOOTLE
HIustra Walters
T O O T L E

| him much. We don't see him, but we
| feel him. He lives alone, ont In the
| country"
Then can he really know"
He's man, amt he?" demanded
the woman of the streets fiercely. "Hs
knows, but what does he care? wisht
he lad daughter"
Whats that?" Gloria asked The
| manner in which Little Ella had
spoken made her catch her breath
with feeling that was akin to dread.
81 wisht 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 even thinking such thing.
mo, no. no. not that"
"Why not?" the other went on dog
| gedly Gould she be any better'n
was oncet? l tell you, I'd like to have
daughter Of his here, and watch her
struggle to keep the breath in her
body"
Have you no mercy" begged Clio
ria
What mercy heY I had shown me
by Noonan-'cept fer his own profit?
What mercy from David Kerr?
Wouldn't he laugh to see daughter O.
his in this hell-hole?" Gloria convul-
sively covered her eyes with her hands
IS if 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 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"
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 overhead
Aren't you afraid here alone?" Clio
ria asked.
Nav. l 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
| hod fnIl nv
a 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? l must know.
Some ones in trouble Didn't you hear
some one call?"
They're maybe just foolin'.- Ella
was listening intently. Don't you
butt in
"But I can't stand here doing moth.
| ing. | must see what's the matter"
! One could never accuse Gloria of
| lack of courage. she nad never seen
the horse she was afraid of, and sail
boat in a 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 one 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 we'll as if the scene had been en-
acted before their eyes-the man
J tripped and plunged down the narrow
| stairs.
| (TO BE CONTINUED