The Jasper news., 1921-12-15


a judgment was rendered in favor
OF the plaintiffs for the fun amount Of
their claim with costa. The character
OF Lionel Davis had been sufficientiy
revealed. Even the credulOus Mrs.
Kelso turned against him. AIR. Lin
coins skill as lawyer was recognized
IN the north as well as In the middle
counties. From that day forth no
man enjoyed a like popularity In Taze-
well county.
When Samson and Harry Needles
left the courthouse. there seemed to
be no obstacle between the young man
and the contamination Of his wishes.
Unfortunately, as they were going
down the steps Davis. who blamed
Samson for his troubles, flung an In
suit at the sturdy vermonter. sam
son, who had then arrived at years OF
Arm discretion. was little disturbed by
the anger of a man so discredited.
But Harry, on the sound Of the hate
ful words, had leaped forward and
dealt the speculator a savage blow in
the face which for a few seconds had
deprived him Of the power of speech
That evening a friend Of Davis called
OF the City hall with challenge. The
hot-blooded young soldier accepted 1t
against the urgent counsel of Samson
Traylor, Mr.. lincoln having left the
city.
AS to the details Of the tragic scene
that followed next day, the writer
has little knowledge. Samson was
not the type of man for such chron-
icle. Tie diary speaks Of his part IN
1t with shame and sorrow and re-
morse. We know that It was at day
break when he and Harry rode to a
point on the prairie something more
than mile from the city limits"
There he tells us they met Davis and
one friend of the latter and two sur
geons. 1t Is evident, too. that great
secrecy had been observed in the plan
and Its execution and that, until some
time after the last act, Lincoln knew
nothing Of the later developments in
the drama Of Davis downfall. For
the rest Of the deplorable scene the
historian must content himself with
the naked details In the diary Of
puritan pioneer.
Il went because there was no escape
from It and with the shadow Of Code
wrath In my soul" Samson writes
''The sun rose as we halted our horses
We paced the field. The two men tool
their places twenty yards apart. The
pistols rang out at the command to
fire and both men fell. Davis had
been hit at the left shoulder. My
handsome boy lay on his face. The
bullet had bored through his right
lung. Before Il could reach him he
had risen to his feet to 60 on with
the battle. Davis lay like one parai-
yzed by the shock of the bullet. His
seconds declared they were satisfied.
l saw them take the bullet out of
Harry's back, where It had lodged un-
der his skin. helped them put the
wounded men into the wagon and rode
to the home of one of the doctors near
the city wherein were rooms for the ac-
commodation of critical cases, leading
Hnrry's horse and praying for Gods
help and forgiveness. took care of
the boy until Steve Nuckles came to
help me. BIN arrived when Harry
was out Of his head and didn't know
her. She was determined to stay and
do the nursing. but wouldn't let her
She did not look strong. 1 loaned her
the money to pay the debt TO Davis
and persuaded her to go back to her
work in Dixon. She went and was
rather heartbroken about It.
''The surgeon said that Harry would
live II lung fever didn't set in. 1t
set in, but he pulled through. He
mended slowly. had some fear OF
arrest, but the conspiracy Of silence
kept the facts under cover. 1t was
partly due. guess. to the friendship
OF John Wentworth for me and Hon.
est Abe. he kept 1t out OF the papers.
There were no complaints and the ru-
mors soon fell into silence.
"The boy, Mr.. Nimble,' Is cum
ming little man. When he began to get
better. Harry loved to play with him
and listen TO his talks about fairies.
The young man was able to leave his
bed. by and By, but he didn't get over
his weakness and pallor. He had no
appetite. sent him with Nuckles into
the Wisconsin woods to live In the
open. Then l took the small boy to
Dixon with me In the saddle. BIN had
just got back to her work. She told
me that Eliphalet Blggs had been
there. He had heard OF the hoy and
wished TO see him and demanded to
know where he was. For fear that
BlggB would try to get possession OF