The Jasper news., 1921-11-24

CHAPTER xix-coutlnusd.

tudteu tne berlOuSncSS OF tne phnlC.
They thought that, In a week or SO,
Its effect would pass and that Illinois
would then resume its triumphal
march toward its high destiny. Not
even Samson Traylor had a correct
notion Of the slowness of Time.
The effect Of the panic paralyzed
The city. Men whose "red-dog money"
was In every ones pocket closed their
shops and ran away. The wild adven-
turers cleared out. Their character
may be judged by the words Of one
Of them reported by the editor of the
Democrat:
Il failed for a hundred thousand
dollars and could have failed for
million, If jackson had kept his hands
off,"
Hard times hung like a cloud over
the city. It's population suffered some
dlminishment In the next two years. In
spite of its position on the main high
way of trade. Dream cities, canals
and railroads built without hands be-
came part Of the poetry Of American
commerce.
That autumn, men and women who
had come to Mrs. Kinzie's party in
jewels and in purple and fine linen
had left or turned their hands to hard
labor. The Kelsos suffered real dis
tress, the schools being closed and the
head OF the house having taken to his
bed with illness. BIN went to work
as a seamstress, and with the help OF
Mrs. Kinzie and Mrs. Hubbard vas
able to keep the family from want.
The nursing and the care Of the baby
soon broke the health of Mrs. Kelso,
never a strong woman. BIN came
home from her work one evening and
found her mother Ill.
"Cheer up, my daughter" said Jack.
IAN old friend of ours has returned
TO the city. He Is a rich man---an
oasis in the desert Of poverty. He
has loaned me a hundred dollars In
good coin"
'Who has done thisT" BIN asked.
'Mr. Lionel Davis"
"We must not take his money" said
BIN.
II had q long talk with him." Kelso
went on. "He has explained that un'
fortunate incident of the horse. II
was a bit of offhand folly born OF an
anxious moment"
''But the man wants to marry me-"
HE said nothing of such a pur-
pose."
"He will be In no hurry about that"
said BIN. "He is a shrewd operator
Every one hates him. They say that
he knew what was coming when he
sold out"
That evening BIN wrote long let
ter to Samson Traylor, telling him
of the evil days which had come to
them. This letter. now In possession
of a great grandson Of Samson and
Sarah Traylor, had a singular history.
II reached the man to whom IL was
addressed in the summer OF 1874. 1t
was found with many others that sum.
mer in Tnzewell county under a barn
which its owner was removing. II
brought to mind the robbery Of the
stage from Chicago, south Of the syca-
more woods, In the autumn OF 81, by
a man who had ridden with the driver
from Chicago and who, 1t was thought
had been in collision with him. A
curious feature Of the robbery had
been revealed by the discovery Of the
mail sack. II was unopened, its con-
tents mdlsturbed, its rusty paddock
still in place. The perpetrator of the
crime had not soned his person with
any visible evidence OF guilt and so
was never apprehended.
Then for time BIN entered upon
great trials. Jnck Kelso weakened.
Burning with fever, his mind wan
dered in the pleasant paths he loved
and saw in its fancy the deeds OF
Ajax and Achilles and the topless tow
ers OF Illium and came not back again
to the vulgar and prosaic details Of
life. The girl knew not what TO DO.
A funeral was a costly thing. She
had no money. The Kinzies had gone
on a hunting trip In Wisconsin. Mrs.
Hubbard was III and the Kelsos al
ready much in her debt. Mr.. Lionel
Davis came.
lie was a good-looking young man
Of twenty-nine, those days. rather
stout and OF middle stature, with dark
hair and eyes. He was dressed in the
height OF fashion. He used to boast
that he had only one vice diamonds.
BUT he had ceased 20 display them on
his nhirt-front or his fingers. He car
tiae than In hi nockets and ehowad