The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-08-16


the man nearest him politely, and In a
low tone said:
"Will you please inform me which is
Mr.. Sioan?"
sim Sloan. 81 Sloan's my name. Want
me?"
sand will you be kind enough to tell
me which is Mr.. Perkins,"
"Hyer. Perkins, ye're wanted!"
Perkins approached Bash. The crowd
stood gaping at the three, wondering
what the young man was there Tor.
AID like to speak to you apart" said
Dan Bash.
Now, this was something Sloan and
Perkins either did not or would not Tn
6erstand
"Spit it right out here" said Sloan.
SWe're all neighborS here"
"Gotno secrets-'specially with stran-
gers" said Perkins.
This is not secret business affair,
and yet I don't see that it concerns
everybody. 1t concerns the directors Of
the school and myself"
"Oh you are teacher" said Sloan,
contemplating Bash coldly.
"Applyin' for the place." said Perkins.
"Precisely. am prepared to submit
my recommendations.
"Well, Perkins, 1 don't know as we
want any recommendations, do we?"
u reckon not, ST."
The crowd Uttered, and Bash's face
famed with modification and anger.
But he retained his self-possession.
His tongue was at his command.
foil
qualifications you expect in teacher. !"
Sloan looked him over slowly, then
drawled, II scarcely think you'll I'LL the
bill, young man."
ais it age you are looking for?"
mo, it amt age nuther," said Sloan.
The crowd Uttered again.
Bash turned around quickly.
"You are very ill-mannered-especially
you there winking at your neighbors, !"
said Bash calmly.
The young man singled out straight
ened himself up suddenly, and advanced
threateningly.
"You hold your horses, Bill Peters, !"
said Perkins, dryly. at amt your put
in yet"
Then ST Sloan said very deliberately,
3You don't seem to be jist the sort OF
feller we're on the look out for for our
school"
"You amt got the backbone-the grit
and grip, reckon" said Perkins.
"But how do you know-why make up
your mind without giving me trial?"
said Bash, tartly. II think it an alto
gether unwarrantable assumption to
say that I lack courage. You do not
know me-never beheld me until now"
"Well-you wanted to know the quail
fcations," said ST Sloan.
"Tell him what they are, ST." said Per-
kins, sneeringly.
II didn't mean you hadn't mind to
it's the ability. Many man would
stand up to another an get knocked
down right along-'tain't that. It's the
man as can knock the other fellow down,
and hold him level"
"Oh!" said Bash, @you mean a good
fghter?"
mo, nor l don't mean a fghtin' man.
A man that can fight, an knows how to,
but don't until he's druv to it."
u see."
@And Perkins and I see you don't some
how look that way. You are tall enough
but you look light"
II begin to understand, gentlemen" +"
said Bash.
"Another thing-we don't set up for
gentlemen. We're all plain folks here.
II like plain folks" said Bash.
@Now he's cotton'n up to 'em," said
the man Bash had spoken to-Bill Pc
ters-winking at his fellows.
"Peters," said the jolly-looking giant,
sI'll give you a lesson If you meddle
with him any more. Ire mas right to
look for a job-what is it to you, you
cub?"
Bash looked at the man gratefully!
am obliged to you, sir"
Then Bash decided on the inStan /
what he must do to secure the school
and maintain his manhood, or rather de-
monstrate his manhood to the directors
and those present
81 gather from your remarks that
exercise, with any one. What must
do? I'm willing to make trial, here
and now"
The crowd pricked up their ears.
This promised to be vastly more inter-
esting than the plowing match.
"You are most too free, young man, I"
said 81 Sloan. "May-be you'll wish you
hadn't There are some mighty likely
chaps right here, so there be-"
"Then I'll not be ashamed if they
best me-"
"If you hold your own, why the schools
yours, (" said Perkins
"You heard him." said Bash, gravely.
ais it running or lifting or climbing,
Or"
mo; We'll begin with a ras'le; just a
ras'le, Perkins," said 81 Sloan.
NO, Si; he'd best begin with jump
in. >" said Perkins, solemnly.
Bash could scarcely preserve his coun.
tenance. The idea Of jumping and
wrestling his way into school seemed
SO absurd.
"Well, then, git ready to jump" said
81 Sloan, in commanding tone. "How
will you jump? Run and Jump, standin
Jump, high, or backward?"
anyway. Whichever way you say, I"
said Bash.
"Then why don't you strip"
81 don't need to at present." said
Bash. 81 may"
The crowd formed huge ring. Ex-
pectation was on every face as ST Sloan
marked off a base-line and eyed tho
ground he had selected.
"Be you ready now, stranger? See
here, what might your name be?"
@Bash-there are several here who
know my name"
sTheu, MIR. Bash. you toe the scratch. "
CHAPTER ".
DAN BASH MAKES THEIR EYES STICK OUT