The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-06-05

brought against the machine was that
1t was colonizing hoaters in lodging
houses in the low, thickly-populated
river wards. Durken ever admitted 1t
when Wright asked about 1t, and sev-
eral days later suggested a tour OF In
spection. The blood of the star re-
porter warmed In the editors veins.
The idea was tantalizing. 1t was n
OF those stories a good man would sac
rifice half a years salary to hanile.
Without saying anything to anyone,
the owner Of the News thought Of the
expedition for several days. The more
he thought of 1t. the 1t appealed
to him. The more it appealed to him
the less was the likelihood of his con-
sidering the axiom that in battle 1t IL
a generals duty not to get hurt. In
fact, the thought Of physical injury
did not occur to him. He was q
stranger to Belmont, no one knew him,
and In the daytime there was no dan
ger.
When Wright finally decided to in
vestigate personally it was only a few
days before the election. He deter
mined that he would wander down
into the first ward two days before
h votes were cast to gather mate
rial for his story. The next afternoon,
just on the eve of the election, his
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-
ti1ic boxer could DO In a r%ough-and-
tumble fight. To the momentary indie
cision resulting from his good defense
Wright owed his escape from the room
In which he had been trapped.
A singing blow having taken al! the
fight out of Kelly, he lurched and fell
forward against the IGOR just as the
newspaper mar 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. Il 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 one 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
find the door Of the Windermere Mom-
ans room fastened from within. When
nc 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, delirious 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
sciousness he was taken to his own
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 1t
best in her nervous condition for her
to e even her father. The following
day she remained in bed, speaking
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 perplexing.
She uttered never a word by which
they might pluck out the heart of tho
mystery. Strange as i 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
hes- upon the bars OF its new iron
cage. it sufficed her 20 know that all
must be we'll with him.
Joe Wright's injuries were o OF a
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 newa
the next night that the dominant party