The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1914-01-24

was eager tn prange at once into the
work of refo,ni She was going to
permit her fRyner to be 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
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?
want to get that part of it absolutely
straight so can tell father"
ut 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 haveJto 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 it would be neces-
sary for her to explain. 81 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 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 a
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 a
stalwart individual with white gloves
who halted traffic while she crossed
the avenue. TO the other police
man was an enemy, a CRATER who new
er overlooked an opportunity TO fcath-
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
1t. Then the man higher up gifts his"
81 cant believe it. When you get
well I want you to come and tell my
father all this. He is--he's an infiu.
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.
tion for such power
Gee! | wisht | had pa like
yourn," was all that she could say.
He cant know that such things are
happening -here-every day in Bel.
mont"
IF he did, 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 to
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'
us. He keeps the bulls from juggin
us"
And IL 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 a man
who, without authority and as his
within 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 a
man so base" demanded the daughter
of David Kerr Indignantly, this boss,
that spends his time collecting this
money!
CTO BE CONTINUED