The Ordway new era., 1913-12-12
heDkUGHrERof of
DAVID KERR ste
.1y Harry Nir5 1ootle
Illustrations 1y N1y IAlT=es %
M eY A.c.r1ecLuec & CO, fsta

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self and meet on friendly ground the
politics. Judge Gilbert invited Joe
Wright. the new owner of the paper.
to dinner. It was Just by accident.
apparently. that Mr. Kendall had been
picked up at almost the last minute.
The only others present were DR..
and Mrs. Hayes. Sam Hayes. ris-
ing young physician and surgeon. was
coroner of Belmont county. an office
which his society friends joked him
, about. but one which Hayes recog-
nized and accepted as political step
ping stone. Then. too. 1t gave him op-
portunities to repay his political
friends. David Kerr liked to have
such young men hold office.
Dinner over. Gilbert and Kendall
withdrew to the library for a final
conference over the stock-yards situa-
ton Again they tried to telephone
David Kerr, only to receive the In
formation that he was not at home.
you really think the Belmont
News having been bought by this out
sider." queried Kendall. puts a DIFF
ferent aspect on the present situa-
tion?"
Judge for yourself" answered the
Belmont attorney. Il had Mr.. Wright
to dinner tonight 80 that you could
meet him without arousing his suspi-
cions. wanted to help you that
much" A.
What Kendall really thought he evt-
denced by his Indirect reply.
Il don't blame Dave Kerr for being
angry because Wright slipped in and
bought the paper"
For a minute or more the two men
smoked in silence. Kendall was won
dering what he could say to his Chi
cago principals which would make
them understand that Belmont was
not now the Belmont of the old days.
that although to all appearances 1t
was the same the practiced eye could
detect the vague unrest which per-
vaded it.
Judge Gilbert had been too long in
the harness to vince at corporation
request for the vacation of principal
thoroughfare and a public park, but
he was tired of the long fight for
grasping masters whose one demand
was always for more, more. more.
And yet he had no sympathy with
such men as Joe Wright. He had
made up his mind. however. that he
would not aid the company in this
new franchise grab. He was partly
led to this conclusion. all unconscious
ly, because he knew David Kerr was
not betraying any interest in it.
THE river eats up our tracks on the
west" protested Kendall. THE stock
yardsM never be safe while we de-
pend on the one line" Then he added
with emphasis. I'VE must come down
Maple avenue on the east and use
Benton Park for switching yards"
"It can't be DONE"
ut can be done. Dave Kerr can do
anything he pleases. He's the abso-
lutte boss of Belmont"
This was said with such . tone Of
finality that Judge Gilbert saw no
need of replying. He knew that Kerr
was the absolute boss of Belmont.
There flashed through the minds of
both men the thought that the Bel
mont News might have something to
say. 1t couldn't prevent franchise
being passed, of course, but publicity
at times was unpleasant. This was
something Kerr did not court, Gilbert
knew. He was the easy boss. letting
every one have a share of the spoils,
and thus all were satisfied. Few in
deed had been the times when the
town had attempted to revolt.
You'd have the whole town up in
arms" demonstrated Gilbert.
They've been up in arms before.
Once they brought ropes to hang the
council. but Kerr put through the
water works deal You're the attor-
ney for the street railway company;
you know what he did there
Yes. yes know" Gilbert admitted
hastily Then with a sigh OF relief.
That's all past"
He ran his hand through his hair.
gray long before the frost of age
could come to silver it. and was
thankful that such episodes were
things of the past. He was weary OF
it all. Kendall's next remark. deliv-
cred with the chill incisiveness of a
lawyer cross-examining belligerent
witness. brought him once more to the
defense OF the man who had made his
success possible.
"Is Dave Kerr keeping out of the
deal only through fear of young
Wright and the Belmont News?"
| He isn't afraid Of anything. Mr..
Kerr merely says that 1t doesn't in
terest him at the present time. AS
for me, I'm out of It,"