Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-12-04

was eager 10 plunge at once iu.u tne
work of reform. She was going to
permit her father 10 be a ways and
means committee, but she intended to
have q thorough grasp OF the whole
situation herself.
Why do you pay this-this black
mail?" Gloria demanded.
I've got to live What else can
do-aow? I'm down, an in debt"
But they can't keep you from Iiv-
ing"
They can send me to the work
house" And at the thought Little
Ella shuddered
Whom does this money go 10?
want to get that part Of it absolutely
straight so I can tell father"
at 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 1t would be neces-
sary for her to explain. Il 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 a
lot of it on"
And you say the police know about
this?''
Little Ella looked at her in amaze
ment. To Gloria a policeman was a
stalwart individual with white gloves
who halted traffic while she crossed
the avenue. To the other a police
man 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 could
say for any one of them was that he
was an autocratic rowdy Gl0rias sim.
plicity in asking if the police knew OF
this tribute caused her to reply:
They ought to-they git some OF
it. Then the man higher up gifts his"
81 can't believe it. When you get
well l want you to come and tell my
father all this. He is-he's an infu
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 1 shall tell him
to-"
Little Ella looked at her, all admira-
ton for such power.
Gee! I wisht l had a pa like
yourn," was all that she could say.
He can't know that such things are
happening here-every day III Bel
mont"
IF he did, reckon he wouldn't tell
you" Little Ella was more conyersant
with the ways of the world
And what did you say finally be-
comes of this money you have to
pay?"
The boss gifts it,
ooh, yes. This boss-who 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 if you don't pay?"
HE gives 'en the tip an we're
hauled in, and sent up for thirty days"
This didn't accord with GIoria's idea
of law and justice. Here was a man
who, without authority and as his
within dictated, arrested people be-
cause they would not do something
unlawful. And the police, instead OF
being instruments of the law, were I'M
der the direction of this boss.
Cant the law touch him?" she
asked.
Huh! He's the law in this town"
DO you mean to tell me there is a
man s. base" demanded the daughter
of David Kerr Indignantly, this boss,
that spends his time collecting this
money!"
(TO BE CONTINUED