Potosi journal., 1913-09-10


could influence cut of, the paper would
be instantly crippled. II the News
had not much business, then anything
Kerr might cause to be dropped out
would only show that his power was
slight. II he had to strike a blow he
wanted it to be with a sledge hammer.
Another important consideration
which led him to take this step was
that the merchants might believe. and
he tlppeds it off in a manner which
would be most apt to make them jump
to that conclusion, that he was himself
interested in the News. This would
tend to minimize Wright's influence if
he should attempt crusade, since the
public would wink and say: It's all d
! bluff. old man Kerr himself is inter
ested in the paper The boss even
calculated that this would be strength
| ened by the frequency with which
Wright was seen in his daughters
| company. He WAS not looking for
trouble. he never welcomed ii, but he
sought always to be prepared when it
came.
During her rrst weeks at Mrs. Gil
bert's Gloria saw little OF her father
She had at first frequently dropped in
at his office, but he had intimated that
it was no place for her. Sometimes she
would be at Locust Lawn when Tom
brought him home in the afternoon
When Judge Gilbert was home from
Chicago once he dined with them.
/, IL
for some time over the telephone. He
always seemed interested, apologized
for not seeing her more. and let her
rattle on until she had quite exhausted
| the news OF the day. Occasionally he
| complained to her Of his rheumatism
- no one had ever heard him speak of
| it beforehand she would beg him to
take good care of himself. since it was
with him that she wished to dance
| first at her ball.
| There was one girl whom Mrs. Gil
bert sought as friend for Gloria She
| mentioned i to her husband the iii St
day their guest arrived, and he sug-
| gested that she be invited to lunch the
next day. Accordingly Mrs. Gilbert
asked her. For the following day
however, Miss Piper had an engage
ment. When several other days we're
mentioned she had engagements for
| those also. Could she have been made
| to accept Gloria, the task of conquer
| ing Belmont would instantly become
less arduous. Her father was head OF
the great Piper Mining company, and
her family was looked upon as cae OF
the most exclusive in the whole state.
If Laura Piper would, she could make
| 1t extremely pleasant for Gloria. But
Laura Piper had her own way and her
famlly's ideas about the Kerr breed
and no matter how nice Gloria might
be, she was still her fathers Laugh-
ter.
Mrs. Gilbert reported her lack OF
success to her husband on his return
from his first trip TO Chicago, and he
mentioned it, almost casually, to Da-
via Kerr when they met the next day
The boss inquired the particulars, but
made no comment. That he was not
unmindful OF the episode developed
company received Il complaint from
the secretary of the school board that
there was an undue quantity of slate
in the last coal furnished the public
schools. While worrying with this. the
companys legal department sent word
to the president that the city solicitor
had just notified the company that one
ftf En inn, ~ Mt into
coal yard crossed Il street without au-
thority of law.
Old man Piper sWore by all the gods
in mythology that it was the worst
outrage ever perpetrated upon him in
all his business life. He had but day
or two to catch his breath before Mrs
Gilbert telephoned at the dinner hour
asking Laura to luncheon the next day
The whole thing dawned on him when
Laura fiounced back from the tele-
phone and announced petulantly that
she would not meet that odious Gloria
Kerr. He said nothing until after din
ner, then calling Laura aside he Or
dered her to telephone Mrs Gilbert
and withdraw her refusal. His pocket
book having been hit, Piper was will
ing to make some sacrifice to deter
mine the reason and what he was to
expect T., the way of further attack.
He kept his mouth closed. and waited.
Laura returned from the luncheon
with favorable opinion of Gloria, but
she could not forget her parer,age
Upon being questioned she told her &C.
ther she did not care to put Gloria on
her visiting list.
Suppose | have some one to visit
me who asks: Who is that girl you
introduced me to?' complained Laura.
And I'll have to say: That's Gloria
Kerr, the boss daughter Then what
will the visiting girl think of Belmont
society. and what will she think of
me? I'm sure | would be surprised if
went to visit anyone and they intro
duced me to the son or daughter of q
man like Kerr
Laura" answered her father, Il
think you'd better go down to New
York for couple of months
And two days later Laura wen.. eft
er having called when Gloria was not
m tho Cf,a aforp .,ko,o