The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-09-06
BY DAVID LOWRY.
CHAPTER VIII.
CHuR'S RUSE.

~lQ Dan ever say ne naC any par
ticular enemy in school?"
"Why, no, child. The folks as didn't
like Dan Bash didn't so to school, an
they didn't send their children"
'eThen there are folks that didn't like
himp",
.Bless you, don't everybody know
them Monks can't bear the sight OF him?
And he hadn't not mite OF love Tor the
Monks. The hull parsell was agin him,
and he was hot on the hull hassell. F"
~So?" said Hank Dawson.
"Well, mind; what he said to us be
wouldn't blurt out afore everybody"
@He wasn't afraid Of them, then?"
~ know what's in your mind. Club.
mol He didn't care mite for the hull
gang O. them, and they knew it, like as
not cos he was outspoken that way"
II know that
~Course you do. Everybody knows
Dan Bash speaks what's in his mind If
he don't like thing"
"Did he ever say he met any Of the
Monks crowd?"
"Often."
!. "Well-what more?'
~Why, he laughed, and said they gave
him clear track
~Well?"
"That's about the heft of 1t. LESS 1t
be the time he caught Bob Souatty peek
in round the road somewhere near the
fallin' rock"
THE falling rock" said Hank Dawson.
~Why, that amt on the road"
"Course not Dan was out hunting"
"Oh!"
"And Squatty came round there, too,
an something passed atween 'em.
never could just make out what twas.
] suspect-just because, somehow-that
Dan had some words with Squatty."
HE always did laugh so when any one
mentioned Squatty after that time"
~How long ago was that, Mrs. Bigger"
swell, two weeks or moro, reckon"
Club looked intently at her father,
who returned her look mcaningly. He
was beginning to understand the drift
of the inquiry Club was making, for that
was the practical result of her prolonged
talk with the Biggers.
ais your dog goodP" was Chub's next
query.
Her father looked at her curiously.
Mrs. Bigger whispered to one OF her
sons:
Seems to me Chub's gettin' kinder out
Of her head"
The son turned to Club quickly:
ayes. Id not swap my dog for any
around these parts"
ais he Quick on the scent?"
~None quicker"
swell, dad"-here Club looked at her
father smilingly-"1 reckon we'll 60
home now"
tc - Dirh{
said Mrs Bigger.
II thought you cal'lated on sleepin'
hyer," said the oldest Bigger boy.
"l've changed my mind" said Club.
dad, let's get our horses and 60"
mo hurry yet a while, Club" Z"
"None In the least" said Mrs. Bigger,
In friendly tone. "1f SO be you must
30 home, you can take good rest afore
you start agin."
~I'm willin' any time"
Hank marvcled much at Clubs notion,
but they sat talking at least half an hour
longer, and then Club rose.
Tom Bigger prepared to. accompany
them. The horses were brought around
vcry quietly at Chub'S special request,
and when they were ready to 60 she re-
auested Tom to instruct his dog to keep
quiet.
"Hc will mind you, Tom"
~He'll do just as l say, that dog will"
swell, then, keep him near you, so
shat you can make him obey you no
matter what happens"
Tom Bigger spoke to his dog, and then
fhe three rode out into the darkness.
Tom Bigger and his dog were in ad-
vance. Hank rodo behind his daughter.
ANLI y L.,
son.
Cant you guess, dadp"
mo. You know, ] reckon"
~Why, wanted the rest to 60 away
first, and it would get out THAT we'd
stopped at the Biggers'."
"Wcll?"
Then II anybody is on tho lookout
anybody who knows anything about
Dan, or who may be looking for him on
their account, like the Monks, we may
como on them unawares if we ride along
-Quietly."'
- &That's the reason you brought the
dog along
@To strike any fresh scent. ! feel
pretty sure wei! find somebody"
As il to verify her prediction, Tom
Bigger cautioned his dog at that mo-
hcnt
"oeiet there. Hero, Hero"
@You heard that, dad?"
~I'm wide awake, Club, you bet"
They wcrc near Tom Bigger how.
~Therc's something up there atween
rs and the rock" said Tom Bigger.
~Dad," said Club in a low tore, "you
70 ahead; Tom: you make right after
whatever it is, and III stay right where
1ar. Then we'll find out what Hero's
smcllcd."
This seemed q wise course to pursue.
dad" said Club, as ho left her size,
~mind your shootin' irons.
They're handy" said Hank DAWSON
as he moved On.
1t was as much rs Tom Bigger could
do now to restrain his dog. Hero wanted
to rush up the mountain side.
Nov, then" said Club, when her
father had ridden out Of her sight, @you
let the dog 60, Tom"
Tom made sound that tho dog longed
to hear, and then Hero leaped through
the heavy underground, crashing his
way toward the rock that rose like
wall 20 the right OF the little party on
the read.
There was another sound Eeard-a
eonE> of cracking twigs and leaps
rather than STEPS as OF a man or large
animal brushing its way through the
underground.
This was succeeded by single sharp
cry as o? one in mortal terror.
Then Hero gave tongue freely. lie
howled rather than barked.
Club was all eyes and ears. she nad