Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-11-21

p1ioe round. an US poor girls has "a
pay, always pay"
Il never dreamed OF such a thtrg."
Il toll you YOU didn't know. Why.
oncet was good like you. too An
now" she began to sob-"now-I'm
down-an' l can't git up. l can't git
up. It's too late"
Suddenly Gloria remembered the
power 10 which she would appeal.
Where a minute before had been dark
s and uncertainty was 10Y the
clearness OF a summe day.
Its too late" she insisted.
Remember, I'm not alone. My rather
will help me. He's brave and good and
strong, with a heart Of gold. | cant
change the worlds ways, maybe, but |
can do something to make Belmont
better with my fathers help-and
yours"
Gloria was a doughty Crusader. and
was eager to plunge at once into the
work Of reform. She was going to
permit her father to be a ways and
means committee. but she intended to
have a thorough grasp OF the whole
situation herself.
why do you pay his-this black
mail?" Gloria demanded.
I've got to live. What else car |
do-now? I'm down, an In debt"
But they cant keep you from iy-
ing"
They can send me to the work
house." And at the thought Little
Ella s%huddered.
Whom does this money go to? l
want to get that part Of 1t absolutely
straight 81 | can tell father"
ut goes to the boss, Of course"
Little Ella made this statement in
a matter-of-fact manner. The methods
OF the system" were so notorious
that she did not have to think a mo-
ment before giving her answer,
The boss. Here was a factor in the
game Of which Gloria as yet had had
no inkling. The boss, What does he
do? Now she desired to know about
this boss.
THE boss?" Both the tone OF her
question and the look on her face de-
noted her interrogation.
"Yes, the boss gifts the money" Lit.
tie Ella saw that it would be neces.
sary for her to explain. 81 thought
everybody in Belmont knowed that. |
gives it to Noonan mostly, but some
times the round-sergeant collects. an
sometimes they both do"
This double collection wasn't on the
square, but what was she to do? II
she complained, she knew too well
what would happen to her.
who's Noonan?"
Mike Noonan? He runs the saloon
downstairs, an rents me this room
He gifts a rake-off from most every
body down here"
HE must be a rich man."
ooh, some-but he's got to pass q
lot Of it on"
And you say the police know about
| this ?"
Little Ella looked at her In amaze
To Gloria a policeman was q
ystalwart individual with white glove!
who halted traffic while she crossed
the avenue. To the other a police
mar was an enemy, a CRATER who new
er overlooked an opportunity to feath
er his own nest or line his own pocket
book. The best that she ever coult
say for any Il Of them was that hi
was an autocratic rowdy. Gloria's sim
plicity in asking If the police knew o
this tribute caused her to reply:
They ought to-they git some o.
1t. Then the mar higher up gifts his.
II can't believe 1t. When you ge'
we'll | want you to come and tell my
father all this. He is-he's an influ
entail man. I'm sure he'll help you
He shall help you" she added decisive
ly, "and every poor, unhappy person
down here, because l shall tell hin
to-"
Little Ella looked at her, all admira
ton for such power.
Gee! ] wisht | had a pa lik,
yourn," was all that she could say.
HE can't know that such things ar,
happening-here-every day in Bel
mont"
"If he did, | reckon he wouldn't tel
you" Little Ella was more %conversan
with the ways Of the world.
And what did you say finally be
comes of this money you have Il
pay?"
"The boss gifts it,"
ooh, yes. This boss-wbo Is he
What does he do to earn his money!"
That's what he gifts fer pertectin
US. He keeps the bulls from juggin
u.s."
And II you don't pay?"
"He gives 'em the tip an we'r,
hauled in, and sent up for thirty days.
This didn't accord with Gloria's ide'
of law and justice. Here was a mai
who, without authority and as hi
whim dictated, arrested people be
cause they would not do something
unlawful. And the police, instead o
being instruments of the law, were un
der the direction Of this boss.
Cant the law touch him." sh,
asked.
Huh! He's the law in this town"
DO you mean to tell me there is
man so base" demanded the daughte
OF David Kerr Indignantly, this boss
that sDends his time collecting thu