The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1914-02-05
p1ice round, a. - poor girls has to
pay. always pay"

.A0'0A 0Io1s00O u oVC0 tu1u&.
I tol' you you didn't know. why,
onest was good like you, too. An
now" she began to sob-"new..-I'm
down-an' can't ct up. can't git
up. It's too late"
Suddenly Gloria remembered the
power to which she would appeal.
Where minute before had been dark.
ness and uncertainty was now the
clearness Of a summer day.
Its never too late" she insieted
Remember. I'm not alone. My father
Will help me. He's brave and good and
strong, with a heart Of gold. l can't
change the worlds ways. maybe. but
can do something to make Belmont
better with my fathers help-and
yours"
Gloria was doughty Crusader, and
was eager to plunge at once into the
work of reform. She was going to
permit her father to be a ways and
means committee. but she intended to
have 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 I
do-now? I'm down, an in debt
But they can't keep you from liv.
ing"
They can send me to the work.
house." And at the thought Little
Ella shuddered.
Whom does this money go to? I
want to get that part of 1t absolutely
straight so can tell father"
1T 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 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.
Eyes, the boss gifts the money" Lit.
tie Ella saw that 1t would be neces.
sary for her to explain. II 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 we'll
what would happen to her.
who's Noonan2"
Mike Noonan? He runs the saloon
downstairs, an rents me this room.
He gifts rake-off from most every,
body down here"
HE must be rich man."
"Oh, some-but he's got to pass q
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
stalwart individual with white gloves
who halted traffic while she crossed
the avenue. To the other a police.
man was an enemy, CRATER who new.
er overlooked an opportunity to feath.
or 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. Gloria's sim.
plicity in asking it the police knew OF
his tribute caused her to reply:
They ought to-they git some Of
t. Then the man higher up gifts his"
Il can't believe it. When you get
we'll I want you to come and tell nv
ather all this. He is-he's an influ.
entail man. I'm sure he'll help you.
He shall help you," she added decisive.
y, "and every poor. unhappy person
Town here, because l shall tell him
o."
Little Ella looked at her, all admira.
ion for such power.
Gee! wisht had pa like
'ourn." was all that she could say.
He can't know that such things are
lappening-here-every day in Bel
nont."
III he did, I reckon he wouldn't tel,
ou." Little Ella was more conversant
With the ways of the world.
AAAO "AoI OAu yOu say uudlly DC. /
omes Of this money you have to
ay?"
"The boss gifts it."
"Oh, yes. This boss-who Is he?
What does he do to earn his money ?"
That's what he gifts fer pertectin'
s. He keeps the bulls from juggin'
S."
And II you don't pay?"
He gives 'em the tip an we're
auled in. and sent up for thirty days."
This didn't accord with Gloria's idea
law and Justice. Here was a man
Tho, without authority and as his
him dictated. arrested people be-
ause they would not do something
And the police, instead Of
cling instruments Of the law, were un.
or the direction Of this boss.
Cant the law touch him?" she
,ked.
Huh! He's the law In this town."
DO you mean to tell me there is a