The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-05-15

II toll you you didn't know. Why,
oncet l raj good like you. too. An
now" she began to sob-"now-I'm
down-an' I 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. Ny father
will help me. He's brave and good and
strong. with a heart OF gold. can't
change the worlds ways, maybe, but I
can do something to make Belmont
better with my fathers help-and
yours"
Gloria was a doughty Crusader. and
was eager to plunge at nee 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 I
do-now? Pm 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 60 to-? l
want to get that part Of 1t absolutely
straight so l 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 a 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.
Eyes, 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. I
gives 1t 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 N%oonan?"
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 a police
man was an enemy. a CRATER who new
er overlooked an opportunity to feath-
er his own nest or line his W 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
1t. Then the man higher up gifts his"
Il can't believe 1t. When you get
we'll l want you to come and tell my
father all this. He is-he's an influ-
entail I'm sure he'll help you.
He shall help you" she added decisive
", land every poor. unhappy person
down here, because I shall tell him
to-"
Little Ella looked at her, all admira.
ton for such power.
Gee! l wisht I had a pa like
yourn," was all that she could say.
He can't know that such things are
happening-here-every day in Bel.
mont"
IF he did, l reckon he wouldn't ten
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 he3
What does he do to carr his money!
That's what he gifts fer %pertectin'
us. He keeps the bulls from juggin'
u.s."
And II you don't payf"
He gives 'em the tin an we're
hauled in. and sent up for thirty days"
This didn't accord with Gloria's idea
Of law and justice. Here vas a man
who, without authority and as his
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."
0no Won moan RI toll mo thnro Ia =