The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-05-15
Zee round, an US poor girls has 70

pl!ce round, an US poor girls has 10
pay, always pay"
Il never dreamed of such thing."
q tot you you didn't know. Why,
oncet | was good like you, too An
now" she began to sob-"now-l'm
down-an' can't git up. | cant 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 insisted.
Remember, I'm not alone. My rather
will help me. He's brave and good and
strong, with heart of gold. cam
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 a 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 liy-
ing"
They can send me to the work
house" And at the thought Little
Ella shuddered.
Whom does this money 90 to? |
want to get that part of it absolutely
straight so | can tell father"
1T goes to the boss, of course"
Little Ella made this statement in
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 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" roth 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 it 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? If
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 q
lot of it on"
And you say the police know about
this?"
Little Ella looked at her in amaze.
ment. To Gloria policeman was a
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 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
we'll l want you to come and tell my
father all this. He is-he's an influ
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 | shall tell him
to-"
Little Ella looked at her, all admira
ton for such power.
| Gee! visit had a pa like
yourn," was all that she could say.
He can't know that such things arr
happening -here-every day in Bel
mont"
If he did, | reckon he wouldn't tel
you" Little Ella was more conversan
with the ways of the world
And what did you say finally be
comes of this money you have tt
pay"
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
u.s. He keeps the bulls from juggin
u.s."
And If you don't pay?'
HE gives EN- the tip an wer
hauled in, and sent up for thirty days.
This didn't accord with Gloria's ldei
of law and justice. Here was maj
who, without authority and as hi
within dictated, arrested people be
cause they would not do something
unlawful And the police, instead o
/, being instruments of the law, were IN
der the direction of this boss.