The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1906-02-16


credit for nothing more than the
grouping Of the incidents into com
plete short story.
Abraham Lincoln was studying
Blackstone in the cabin OF Minter
Grayham at New Salem when Richard
Yates came in The two young men
were the best Of friends, and it was
the custom Of Richard to ride over
from Jacksonville whenever OpPOr-
tunity offered for few days with his
friend
Going in for law, are you, Abe?"
said Yates, as he noticed the book
Lincoln was reading
Mighty interesting book, this" re-
piled Lincoln
I'm going to study law myself"
said Yates, "and let's make a bargain
to try our first case together"
sSThe bargain is made replied Lin
coin, land whoever gets the first case
calls in the other for assistance
Shfckshack was dead and New Sa-
lem mOurned for him Shickshack
the Sac Indian who preferred to live
among the whites to life with his
tribe; who had been foster father to
Peggy since the days her Spanish IA
Their had laid her, an infant in his
arms when the father was dying and
had none but this Indian friend with
whom to intrust his baby daughter;
the stepfather Of Antywine, the
French boy
Peggy was in reality COnsuelO Lori
mer. descendant Of Don Carlos Lori
mer. at one time Spanish governor Of
his majesty's possessions in the new
world All New Salem knew this, but
they did not know that around Shick-
shack's waist was carried a snakeskin
filled with Spanish gold that belonged
to the crippled child That is they
did not know this until Shickshack
was dead, when Antywine turned the
snakeskin and its contents over TO
Lincoln to keep for her
II New Salem folks had not known
Of the existence of Peggy's gold Don
Pedro LOrimer, New Orleans gam
bier. had. He had been with Peggy's
father when the little fortune had
been intrusted to the Indian for safe
keeping, and he had made more than
one effort to get possession Of IL, usu-
ally BY claiming relationship and
guardianship Of the child
Lincoln was not TO be found when
I,orimer arrived at the village after
the death Of Shickshack, and demand
ed possession OF the child and her
! belongings. He came backed by a set
of Young hoOdIums from Clary's
Grove 1t was Dick Yates who met
them at the Rutledge tavern, but he
was pOwerIess- They wanted the girl,
but they wanted her money more than
ANYTHING else, and Lincoln had the
money. Taking the girl with them,
and accompanied by Yates, they start
ed out to find Lincoln. They found
him at the home of Antywine, the
home over which Peggy, now a girl
OF Is, was to be mistress.
Lincoln, you have somewhere
snakeskin filed with gold belonging to
my young cousin over whom 7 claim
legal guardianship. ProdUie it and
you shall not be harmed" 1t was
the Spaniard, LOrimer, who spoke
Boys, you ought to be ashamed Cf
yourselves" said Lincoln, addressing
himself to the young fellows from
Clary's Grove rather than TO the Span
lard.
I'VE didn't come here for a speech,
Abe We want the money and we
want it quick yelled Redmond ClaTy.
And you won't get it, replied Lin
coin.
'.string him up like a horsethief,''
cried a man at the rear.
watt" commanded Lincoln,
stretching out his long arm
81 will not wait while boys practice
speeches. This is not what was prom
ised me- Missed the Spaniard.
what Red Clary promised you"
returned Lincoln, was that if you
would cancel his gambling debts to
yourself he would make me hand over
the girls money
Clary was of his horse and at his
accuser in a moment, and Lincoln
realized that he must fight it out He
was standing on a slight elevation
where he had stepped the better to
address the crowd, and as Clary came /
At him he caught the bull-bOdied
champion by the collar and flung him
across the ring
II was a fight to a finish now, and
Lincoln, realizing that words would
be useless should ne lose in this con-
test Of force, went at it to best his ad-
versary in the only court that ad- |
versary would recognize II was a
fierce contest for a few minutes, and /
then Ii DIN caught Clary with a /
singing blow beneath the chin and !
tumbled him to the ground, where he |
lay with the wind well knocked out OF !
him. Standing over Clary's body Lin /
coin made an impassioned speech to /
the others Of the rOWdy gang for jus !
tee for his little Spanish client He
told her history; he told who Don
Pedro LOrimer was; he appealed to &
the best that was in them; to their
love for their sisters, and he won, and /
Don Pedro Lorimer knew that he had /
won. and squirting his horse forward /
he attempted to ride the young ora /
tor down, and to grab the snakeskin 1
which Lincoln had passed to Yates at |
the beginning OF the fight As ne did /
SO Antywine, aroused from q stupor, |
darted from the cabin and, grabbing /
the bits, brought the horse to its |
launches Before the sstOnished rider |
could recover Lincoln asked with I
whimsical significance:
Boys, AOw would any OF you ike /
20. get up out OF chill and fever and
ind al Clsry's Grove helping q stran- /
ger rob yO7 Of your own dear gal %
The question had the desired ef-
fect. Down the village street went |
Don PedFa LOFimeF, and after him /
vent the crowd from Clary's Grove. I
They caught him at the banks of-the /
Sansamons and rolled him into the I