Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1914-01-06

every week. was IL you or Bill Stonel
in them days used to use my big atlas
for a ironin' board?"
Both of us. believe"
Kerr moved restlessly In his chair
then went on.
Many's the time I've opened that
book to show a man the plat OF an
addition and OUT would drop your
other handkerchief | guess the mirror
in your room wasn't big CROUCH tC
hold a handkerchief on your wash
cay" He looked about the library
absorbing its quiet elegance. Things
mighty different now, amt they?"
Then 1 was struggling to get .
start"
1t seemed to be a nonologue Kerr
was delivering. His questions were
answered. but he made no sign that
he heard. His remarks were 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 gil
married TO a mighty nice girl
Yes, that was about the time | was
elected prosecuting attorney"
Exactly" then after pause, land
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 | 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 it was OF great significance.
Yes, Amos Gilbert, the rising young
prosecuting attorney. had gone to see
DaTid Kerr after he had moved his Of
fee to the courthouse The boss let
that remark sink in well before he
asked.
After that how long was you OH
the bench?"
Six years"
rs that so, ! hadn't an idee it
was that long. What made you give
that up?'
Il had a family on my hands snd
needed more money. | didn't run
again, you remember. because | 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 fghtin' for
a franchise"
Well, 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 1ectric
light company. And you still come to
see me, Amos"
Why, yes, Mr. Kerr, I'm not I'M
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
il this house"
''Well-Mr. Kerr" stammered
Gilbert
The boss pulled himself together in
his chair, sat up straight and looked
at Gilbert.
But you've got a telephone" Then
he added in a gentler tone: That's
all right. Amos. I've always under.
stood" 1t seemed &c be with an eff
fort that ne continued, I'm going to
tell you some things that you know,
and some things that you don't know,
aud some you've guessed. and some
I've thought nobody'd 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 if my wife had lived 1t didn't
seem long before there | was with a
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 boy."
This thought held him silent for q
minute, and when he took up the
thread of his story again 1t was the
old weary tone.
well, it wasn't There | was with
a girl on my hands. Her mother didn'
have any relatives. Her father was q
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 AIM
been back since. | reckon Belmont:
forgot about her. | gave her plenty
OF money. but she never knew any
thing OF my-transactions. She think:
/ made il all in real estate"
Then she doesn't know
That's the hell of it--she don't"
Kerr could sit still no longer. HI
pulled himself out of his chair anC
stood with his back 10 the fire anC
directly facing Gilbert IAN these
years I've acted lie. I've made Gloria
believe I'm the leading man in Bel
mont | am-but not ia the way sh'
thinks. IL wasn't because I loved her
I can't say I do. cause ] don't know
her we'll | ain't been east to see he
/ for a couple of years. II was prid'
made me tell her that; that's what i
was, pride. wanted my girl to hav,
-~~-o-~-~~-~~--~~~o-
gate to receive their premium fzcr
I the thieves. Practically every pclic