Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-12-25
The Daughter Of David Kerr
By HARRY KING TOOTLE
by Ray aIters

final attack on the machine would be
an expose of ring methods of handling
vagabOnd voters imported for the oc-
casion.
This programme was being carried
out as originally planned, notwith-
standing the break with Gloria the
/ previous day, when Wright was in
duced to go through Noonan's hotel"
Here, deserted by Durken, who had
been his guide, he had fallen into the
hands of Turkey Ryan and Buck Kelly.
Although dazed by the unexpected
ness of the attack, he had neverthe-
less managed to give a good account
of himself. The cramped attic quar-
| tiers in which they had fought had
been in his favor The two bruisers
had been surprised by what a scien-
/ tific boxer could do in a rough-and-
tumble fight. To the momentary indie
cision resulting from his good defense
/ Wright owed his escape from the room
1 in which he had been trapped.
| A stinging blow having taken all the
| fight out of Kelly, he lprched and fell
| forward against the door just as the
newspaper man had managed to elude
his assailants for the instant and slip
| out of the room. Forced to minister
! to his companion, Turkey Ryan had
| lost many valuable seconds before he
could take up the pursuit. It was dur
ing this respite that Wright, cropping
| blindly for the stair, had tripped and
fallen, to be found unconscious by
/ Gloria in front of Little Elias door.
| No ever knew exactly what had
! taken place in Noonan's lodging house
| that afternoon in early spring. Re-
| turning from the mission with DR..
Norton, Mrs Hayes was surprised to
ans room fastened from within. When
no response greeted her knock, sur
prise gave way to alarm, and she
! called upon DR.. Norton to aid her in
opening the door. Gloria had not fast
ened it as securely as she had thought,
and it required no great strength on
| the part of the physician to force 1t
| open.
| Gloria was removed to Mrs Hayes
home in a carriage as soon as she
was revived. Little Ella, in a semi
conscious, deliTious state, was hurried
to the city hospital in a police ambu-
lance. An examination having shown
that Wright had sustained no serious
| injury, as soon as he regained con-
apartment
David Kerr was not allowed to see
| his daughter. Although the exact ma
| ture of the shock to which she had
been subjected was not known, since
| both Kelly and Ryan had disappeared,
yet the physicians did not think it
| best in her nervous condition for her
! to see even her father. The following
day she remained in bed, speaking
never a word, busy with her own
| thoughts. The next day, that of the
election, she dressed, but did not
leave her room. =
When it was seen that Gloria was
under the cloud of a settled melan-
choly, there was debate how best to
| minister to her. Her very silence
made the problem more perpIexing
they might pluck out the heart of the
mystery. Strange as it may seem, she
did not even ask about Joe Wright
She did, however, read the morning
and afternoon papers carefully. In
neither was there any reference to an
attack on the editor. AS her mind
beat upon the bars of it's new iron
cage, it sufficed her to know that all
must be well with him
Joe Wright's injuries were not of
serious nature, yet it was thought best
that he remain at home for several
days. BY means of the telephone and
through the men who came to the
house he edited the News the day
previous TO election. Over the same
telephone line came the cheering news
the next night that the dominant party
had been defeated. David Kerr's rule
had been broken.
CTO BE CONTINUED)