The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-02-20

j
Wright, the new owner Of the paper,
to dinner. 1t was just by accident
apparently, that Mr.. Kendall had been
picked up at almost the last minute
The only others present were Die
and Mrs. Hayes Sam Hayes, rls-
ing young physician and surgeon was
coroner of Belmont county, an ofnc@
which his society friends joked him
about, but one which. Hayes recog-
nized and accepted as political step
ping stone Then, too, it gave him op-
portunities to repay his political
friends. David Kerr liked to have
such young men hold office.
Dinner over, Gilbert and kendall
withdrew to the library for a final
conference over the stockyards sltua-
ton. Again they tried to telephone
David Kerr, only to receive the IN
formation that he was not at home.
You really think the Belmont
News having been bought by this out
sider," queried Kendall, puts a dill
ferent aspect on the present sltua-
tom"
Judge for yourself" answered the
/ Belmont attorney Il had Mr., Wright
to dinner tonight so that you could
meet him without arousing his suspl-
cions. wanted to help you that
much"
What Kendall really thought he evil
denced by his indirect reply
81 don't blame Dave Kerr for being
angry because Wright slipped in and
bought the paper
For a minute or more the two men
smoked in silence. Kendall was won
dering what he could say to his Chi
cago principals which would make
them understand that Belmont was
not now the Belmont Of the old days
that although to all appearances II
was the same the practiced eye could
. detect the vague unrest which per-
vaded it.
,, Judge Gilbert had been too long IN
the harness to vince at a corporation
request for the vacation OF a prlnclpal
thoroughfare and a public park, bul
y he was tired of the long fight fol
crashing masters whose one demand
was always for more more, more
s And yet he had no sympathy WITT
such men as Joe Wright. He hae
made I'D his mind, however, that NJ
would not aid the company IN this
new franchise grab. He was parti!
II led to this conclusion, all unconscious
q ", because he knew David Kerr wa
IS not betraying any interest in it,
!" "The river eats up our tracks on tn
u west" protested Kendall. 1.-THE stock
yards'n never be safe while we dc
10 pend on the one line" Then he adde
D. with emphasis, 1--WE must come dow
II Il, Maple avenue on the east and us
d Benton Park for switching yards"
~ at can't be done"
D at can be done. Dave Kerr can d
aDyG0lnS lie plSdoSS' AAS . 'hAS N~SSN
9, lutte boss of Belmont"
~ This was said with such tone
=. :: finality that Judge Gilbert saw n
% need of replying He knew that Kel
:, was the absolute boss of Belmont.
20 There flashed through the minds
~ both men the thought that the BE
~. ~ mont News might have something
10 say. 1t couldn't prevent a franchi'
NJ being passed, Of course, but publicl
w at times was unpleasant. This WI
O. something Kerr did not court, Gi1be
knew. He was the easy boss, lettil
~ every one have share of the spoil
- and thus all were satisfied. Few
'ne deed had been the times when t
q, town had attempted to revolt.
- you'd have the whole town up
~ arms" demonstrated Gilbert.
The "They've been up In arms befo
ith Once they brought ropes to hang t
tor council, but Kerr put through t
20. water works deal You're the att
,di. ney for the street railway compan
an you know what he did there"
cal Eyes, yes know" Gilbert admit
cal hastily. Then with a sigh of reli
to That's all past"
TO He ran his hand through his hs
gray long before the frost OF q
try. could come to silver it, and
err thankful that such episodes w
pre- things of the past. He was weary
cen it all. Kendall's next remark, de
INK. cred with the chill incisiveness o.
hat lawyer cross-examining a belliger
,uld witness, brought him once more to
Mr.. defense of the man who had made
,osi- success possible.
ago rs Dave Kerr keeping out of
did deal only through fear of yo'
I,o- Wright and the Belmont News?'
ming HE isn't afraid of anything,
new Kerr merely says that 1t doesn't
ed terest him at the present time.
con- for me, I'm out of it"
-so-~>~~oo~~-~~--r->-e>e