The Ordway new era., 1914-03-13
pllce round. an. - poor girls has -

u hCe TOuuus an - P0ot gum nos ~
pay. always pay"
81 never dreamed Of such thing"
'I toll you you didn't know. Why.
oncet / was good like you. too. An
now" she began to sob-"now-Tm
down-an' l can't git up. can't git
up. It's too late"
Suddenly Gloria remembered the
power to which she would appeal
Where a minute before had been dark.
ness and uncertainty was now the
clearness of a summer day.
Its never too late" she insisted
Remember. I'm not alone. My father
will help me. He's brave and good and
strong, with a heart of gold. cant
change the worlds ways. maybe. but !
can do something to make Belmont
better with my fathers help-and
yours"
Gloria was a doughty Crusader, and
was eager to plunge at once into the
work of reform. She was going to
permit her father to be ways and
means committee. but she intended to
have a 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-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? l
want to get that part Of it absolutely
straight 20 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 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. II thought
everybody In Belmont knowed that I
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."
"Oh. some-but he's got to pass .
lot of 1t on"
And you say the police know about
this"
Little Ella looked at her In amaze
ment. To Gloria policeman was 3
stalwart individual with white gloves
who halted traffic while she crossed
the avenue. To the other police
man was an enemy, 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. Gloria's sim.
plicity in asking II 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 1t. When you get
we'll want you to come and tell my
father all this. He is--he's an influ.
ential man. I'm sure he'll help you.
He shall help you" she added decisive
ly, "and every poor. unhappy person
down here. because shall tell him
to-"
Little Ella looked at her. all admira
tion for such power.
Gee! wisht had pa like
yourn." was all that she could say.
He can't know that such things are
happening-here-ev day in Bel
mont
"If he did. I reckon he wouldn't tell
you" Little Ella was more conversant
with the ways of the world.
And what did you say finally be-
comes Of this money you have ts
pay?"
THE boss gifts it,"
Oh, yes. lhls Doss-who Is mel
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 II you don't pay?"
He gives 'em the tip an we're
hauled in. and sent up for thirty days
This didn't accord with Gloria's idea
OF law and Justice. Here was man
who, without authority and as hit
whim dictated. arrested people be
cause they would not do something
unlawful. And the police. instead OF
being instruments OF the law. were un'
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 .
-I.A