The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1913-09-27
heDAUGHTERo Of
DAVID KERR .,e
.1y Harry Nn5 1ootle
Illustrations 1y N~1 I]l1=es %

Manys the time I've opened that
book to show a man the plat OF an
addition and out would drop your
other handkerchief. l guess the mirror
in your room wasn't big enough to
hold a handkerchief on your wash
day" He looked about the library.
| absorbing it's quiet elegance. Things
| mighty different now, amt they"
Then l was struggling to get a
| start"
1t seemed to be monologue Kerr
was delivering. His questions were
| answered. but he made no sign that
+, he heard. His remarks we're delivered
at random, and he never took his gaze
from the fire. except the one time he
had looked about the room to note
the contrast OF the present with the
| time when Gilbert had first come to
Belmont.
Bout that time you wanted to git
married to mighty nice girl"
Yes, that was about the time was
elected prosecuting attorney"
Exactly" then after pause. and
you got married"
! Gilbert could not understand the
drift of the conversation, but he rec
| ognized that Kerr was reviewing the
past step by step.
Then l gave up my desk in your
Office. and moved to the courthouse"
But you still came to see me,
Amos
This was said as quietly as had
been his previous remarks. Taken
by itself it was a harmless utterance.
but in connection with what had gone
before 1t was of great significance.
Yes, Amos Gilbert. the rising young
prosecuting attorney. had gone to see
David Kerr after he had moved his Of
fee to the courthouse. The boss let
| that remark sink in we'll before he
asked
After that how long was you ON
the bench?"
six years"
rs that so, l hadn't an idee it
was that long What made you give
that up?"
Il had a family on my hands and
needed more money. I didn't run
again, you remember. because l want
ed to be attorney for the new street
railway company"
Kerr seemed to be revolving some
thing in his mind. for it was some
time before he reminded Gilbert OF a
step in his rise which he had not
mentioned.
Il thought you was lawyer for one
of them crowds that was 1ghtin' for
franchise"
We'll, We got the franchise"
That was what Kerr wanted to
bring out.
Exactly And you're still their law
yer"
Yes"
And for the water company"
unused Kerr. And for the lectric
light company. And you still come to
see me. Amos"
Why. yes, Mr.. Kerr. I'm not un-
mindful Of"
Kerr seemed to throw off some of
the gloom in which he had appeared
to be wrapped as he Interrupted the
attorney.
This time, Amos, I've come to see
you. It's the first time I've ever been
in this house"
'Well-Mr. Kerr-I-" stammered
Gilbert
The boss pulled himself together in
his chair, sat up straight and looked
at Gilbert.
But you've got telephone" Then
he added in gentler tone: That's
all right, Amos, I've always under
stood" 1t seemed to be with an ef-
fort that he continued, I'm going to
tell you some things that you know.
and some things that you don't know.
and some you've guessed. and some
I've thought nobodyd ever have to
know Bout the time you come here
was married. and my wife died on
giving birth to girl"
Gloria"
Yes. Gloria. l was just gittin' into
politics. Things might ave been diff
ferent II my wife had lived. 1t didn't
seem long before there l was with
big girl on my hands-me. David
Kerr" The old feeling of power
surged through him as he added with
spirit, IF it had been a boy!'
This thought held him silent for
minute. and when he took up the
thread Of his story again it was the
old weary tone.
We'll, it wasn't There l was with
girl on my hands. Her mother didn't
have any relatives. Her father was
minister, same's my father was.
didn't have anybody, either, could
send her to. kept her as long as
could. but by that time my house
even in the country-warn't fit place
for a child-specially girl. So |
sent her away to school and she amt
been back since. l reckon Belmont's
gate to receive their premium from