The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-09-27
CLUB.
.ARonance Of West Virginia.
BY DAVID LOWRY.
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
UHUB's COMPACT WITH TIE DETECTIVE.
.~If you arrest Bill Monk-well, you
may prove it on him, and he may find a
way to get pardoned out of the peniten-
tiary, or he may get of altogether
Mr.. Potts and his wife were never out
OF Pine County They might mix them
up In court, and then where's the proof?"
SWELL, what do you propose, Miss
Dawson?"
~Plain sense You've got all you can
in this case. 1t won't hurt it to try and
get another-as many as you can, es-
pecially If you have a chance of getting
one of the gang to confess all he knows
~Ah! That would be something.
Counterfeiters don't usually leak so
easily, though"
@Don't they? Well, maybe you know
your business, Mr.
-~Call mccall me Bash,s said the
stranger, in q low tone
What! Are you any kin to Mr.
Bash?"
II can't answer that now. I've told
you what to call me for the present, II
you use name at all.
.~Well, Mr.. Bash" with an emphasis
on the name that brought faint tinge
70 the travellers cheeks, "that's all I've
got to say"
~But You was going to put me on a
plan"
.Oh, no! Not if you don't want to be
put on pIan."
~But do"
Then you must be guided entirely by
me.
S1nty
~That's al. II you are ready to do as
Of Sny, NV father and Mr. Potts" = 9
sand what will you promise?"
.:~I'll promise on my honor to tell you
how you will find proof that will place
every one Of the gang-mind, all OF them
in the penitentiary, and to clear Pine
County Of the meanest, lowest lot that
ever lived on the mountains"
ats . bargain. I'll take my solemn
oath in the presence of the"
There, there! If your word won't do
your swesring's Of no account with me,
Mr.. Bash,' said Hank Dawson. "If
Club says thing she'll do it Rely
on it."
~Yes, you may. Mr.. Bash," said Mr..
Potts, greatly relieved by the turn af-
fairs had taken.
He was very much indebted to Club,
aud pressed her hand gently when unob-
served by the stranger who called him
self "Mr. Bash for the present"
"Now, then," said Club, suddenly;
shave you any men with you? Can you
set out right away-in an hour, say-on
che lookout for the factory?"
Il can pay any one you employ or
name" =.
aYou have power to search every
where?" =.
Everywhere.
'FThen, dad, We'll start in new drec-
tion this time. How much can, you pay
day?" :.
81 can pay much or little-a great deal,
Il choose"
That's all, Mr.. Bash. Stop right
where you are till you hear from US
again. Now, dad, let's get as many
men. and boys, and dogs as we can find
we'll just comb the woods in every d.
rection, Just the same as if we'd never
hunted for Dap at all" -
That's sensible, too, Club"
am going tS find the counterfeiters'
factory, and I'm going to find Dan be-
fore sundown, dad"
II hope you may, Chub-I Eope you
may" said Hank Dawson.
But in his secret soul he believed Dan
Bash was dead-that he would never be
found alive. and that the chances were
he would never be found in time to re-
ceive decent Christian burial.
While Mr.. Bash was waiting at the
Corners he drew Mr.. and Mrs. Potts out
freely.
That's bright girl, that"
"Who, Club Dawson?" Eli Potts
stroked his chin. "Bright's no name for
It. I never knew girl like her."
~Nor l." said Mrs. Potts.
~She don't seem the least bit proud. "
.Well, she might be. Hank Dawson's
about the richest man In this-yes, in
three counties. You can't find a man in
Oak, Pine. or Forest County like Hank;
that is, for ready cash. But you see wha,
he is. No airs at all. "
~Any more children"
~No, Chub'll get it all"
sCurious name?"
s'Taint her name at all, said Mrs
Potts aHcr names Belle. That's th'
nickname her dad gave her-and every
body kept calling it, because She wa
such a chubby little girl. Shed climl
the biggest trecs-hunt and ride, and
well, there's nothing Club Dawson
can't do"
Except play the piano-and painf
and crochet" said Mr.. Bash, Slyly.
Mrs Potts looked at him. MIR. Pott
made a wry face. FSen they looked
each other and smiled.
"What are you looking at each othel
shat way for?" said Mr.. Bash.
because it is so easy to fool the
world"
~Meaning me?"
"Yes; you, too"
"Why?"
you've seen Club in her plain gown
heard her talking just as all talk-ant
YOU think she don't know no better"
.Does she?"
aShe can teach you anytbing-that is
about how to behave-and about book!
md music and painting"
aHello! How's that?"
~D'ye think Hank Dawson, II he wa
alone. would allow daughter to grow
DID without giving her the best chances