The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-04-17

scf1Deu. Judge Cone was q very giant
IN size and muscular development, vet
the frail man whom he addressed, with
aggravating politeness, and without
hesitating a moment. replied: Pardon,
me, sir, | have already written you on
that subject; i must decline TO discuss
it further
Am / to take this as your aHswer?''
asked Cone. eNcitedly.
1T is the only answer | have to give
You, was the calm reply
Then / denolsnce You as a miserable
little traitor. cried Cone. mad with
excitement. The last words had hardly
left his lips, when light cane welded
by the quick hand OF the man he had
msnlted left scar across his eheaix.
Wild with pain and passion, without
uttering a word, he drew a keen-pointed
dirk knife and made one furious thrust
at his weak little adversary s heart. In
stantiy as he did SO, however, Stephens,
Selling a stout umbrella which he held
in his left hand, interposea it as lie
Tense. and was able fer moment to
hold him at arm 3 length. The knife fell
short of its mark. Once more il was
thrust at Stephens. cutting deep cash
IN his arm, but reaching no vital point;
eighteen times it cut deep into his
breast, arms and body, but still he did
not fall. Then he could hold ont no
longer. No courage, 40 spirit, how
ever firm and unyieldino, could long
withstand such an attack Cone was
determined to finish his work He
threw all his great weight against the
umbrella which held him away from the
man he intended to kin. 1t broke;
Stephens, half fainting, fell upon his
back. The giant Cone was ut his throat
in moment; his head, by grip of
iron, was held against the cruel floor;
the keen and blood-dripping knife was
neld aloft before him ready for the fatal
thrust, but still the poor, pale face of
the little hero was set and defiant
black eyes still flashing undaunteoily.
"Retraet, or I'll cut your cursed
throatr' Kissed Cone
CUT III never retractr' gasped the
almost lifeless Stephens.
Like flash the knife came down.
With an almost superhuman effort the
PROSTATE man caught it in his right
hand Clean through the muscles,
tendons and bones of the hand il cut,
then stuck fast and reached no vital
part. With desperate strength Cone
tried to wrench it free. With grasp
almost of death the horribly mangled
and mutilated hand still held it fast
Ia the struggle Stephens was once more
dragged to his feet; the blood was rush
ing in streams from his many wounds;
his hold upon the knife which sought
his brave heart began to relax; he
was dying. But even when he believed
the next moment would be his last.
strong men came to his relief.
Then quickly the wounds which Mr.
Stephens had received were examined
1t was found that one of them had pen
etrated to within the sixteenth of an
inch of his heart. An intercostal artery
had been cut. The doctors declared |
that he would surely die. Happily |
their predictions were not verified. His |
life was saved by the unremittinm care |
of a surgeon, his devoted friend, who, |
as good fortune would have it, hap |
pened to be in Atlanta at the time |
When he recovered, with mannanim- |
ity Of which few men are capable even /
Of understanding. he refused to prose-
cute Cone, and that person, instead OF I
getting his deserts in the dark cell Of a
State Prison, was fined 81 900, and, |
with his honor indicated was al |
lowed to so free bir- Stephens always /
spoke of him in terms of consideration
and forgiveness. Not long ago refer
ring To the terrible struggle | have at
to describe, and showing me
the great hole in his mangled hand, he
said, with Il quiet and far-aWaS look in
his deep, dark eyes: Poor Cone! I'm
sure he'd be sorry if he knew what
trouble I have to write with these stiff |
fingers of mine