The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1921-10-14
CHAPTER xIx-continued.


Like many who had no experience
with such phenomena they underesti-
mated the seriousness of the panic.
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
nay be judged by the words of one
of them reported by the editor of the
Democrat:
IL failed for O hundred thousand
dollars and could have failed for q
million. If Jackson had kept his hands
off"
Hard times hung like cloud over
the city. Its population suffered some
dimInishment 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 was
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 rich man-an
oasis In the desert Of poverty. He
has loaned me a hundred dollars In
good coin"
"Who has done this?" BIN asked.
"Mr. Lionel Davis"
1--WE must not take his money" said
BIN.
81 had long talk with him." Kels0
went on. "He has explained that I'M
fortunate incident of the horse. 1t
was a bit of offhand folly born. of an
anxious moment"
'sBut the man wants to marry me-"
HE said nothing of such pur-
pose"
"He will be In no hurry about that"
said BIN. HE Is q 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 1t was |
addressed in the summer of 1874. 1t |
was found with many others that sum-
mer In Tazewell county under a barn
which its owner was removing. IL
brought to mind the robbery Of the
stage from Chicago. south of the syca-
more woods, In the autumn OF ~, by
a man who had ridden with the CHxer
from Chicago and who, II was thougO,
had been in collision with him.
curious feature of the robbery had
been revealed by the discovery OF the
mail sack. 1t was unopened, Its con-
tents undisturbed. its rusty paddock
still in place. The perpetrator Of the
crime had not soiled his person with
any visible evidence of guilt and so
was never apprehended.
Then for a time BIN entered upon
great trials. Jack Kelso weakened
Burning with fever, his mind wan
Tered I'm the pleasant paths he loved
md saw In its fancy the deeds of
lax and Achilles and the topless tow
RS of Illium and came not back again
o the vulgar and prosaic details of
ife. The girl knew not what 10 do.
. funeral was a costly thing. She
lad no money. The Kinzies had gone
m a hunting trip in Wisconsin. Mrs.
hubbard was Ill and the keis0s a.
eady much In her debt. Mr. Lionel
Davis came.
He was a good-looking young man
f Twenty-Five. those days, rather
tout and of middle stature, with dark
air and eyes. He was dressed In the
eight of fashion. He used to boast
hat he had only one vice-diamonds.
Iut he had ceasei to display them on
IS shirtfront or his fingers He car
led them In his pockets and showed
hem by the glittering handful to his
-fends. They had come to him
trough trading in land where they
ere the accepted symbol Of success
nd money was none too plePtiful
lie had melted their settings and
1rned them into coin. The stones he