The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-09-06

aMy God, folks! II I split on 'em
they'll Kill me- They're sworn to do 1t
suren
"rhey9 TheyP Who's they?" demand
ed Club quickly.
"You know. Of course you know ="
~ know nothing" said Club "Ieil
me-" .,
aWhy Ned and Bill and Pete and all
the rest of the Monks, and the crowd. ="
"Oh."
aYou do know, Club. You saw
everything that day"
what day."
1.-THE day at the spring"
sWhat spring? Speak out plain:
OF course Club knew very well what
he referred to; but she had an object IN
view.
She wanted q witness. Hank Dawson
and his daughter we're good enough-lt
would be still better II their statements
were corroborated by q third party.
This was why she compelled the poor
wretch to be explicit.
Il mean the day you seen Ned Monk
tryin' to shoot Dan Bash.
"You mean the same day you tried to
club him while Bill Monk rushed on him
with knife-and I shot his arm, and
then came between you and alp"
II never heard Of that" said Tom
Biggers. -,
aYou hear it from Squatty, now," said
Club meaningly.
70! I'm wake-awake, you bet"
sYes-well that was the folks I
meant" said Squatty.
"That was ,the.sam day the whole
crowd jumped on Dan, and threatened
to put bullet in the first man that
touched him." said Club.
ayes. The same day. Ned and Bill
sent me along ahead tonight be-
"stop. How did you know we wer'n't
at homer"
@Why, we knew"
GHow did you know?"
Hank Dawson's look was so threaten
Ing that Squatty recoiled
"Don't hit me-
@Hit you'll Hit you, you poor devil. II
I touched you with my boot, I'd burn 1t.
Go on"
"Why, they've been on the watch"
"Where?"
Everywhere"
~Be more explicit" said Club. "Where
were the Monks tonight"
"At the forks of the road"
"Where were they?"
ain the treeS-uD hirh.n
show did they learn we were not going
home9"
"They overheard your folks talking as
they rode home"
"Humph!".
ats Gods truth"
"What do you know about Gods truth,
you wretch?"
"Well, amt lying now."
THAT comes nearer it. Now, then,
Squatty."
Bob bounced as he was addressed
sternly.
"You've spun nice yarn to u.s."
G'Deed, Mr.. Dawson, I-1-"
'@Shut up! I'd not believe you II you
swore on as many bibles as you could
pile up all over the county,"
"Nor l." said Tom Biggcrs.
"Nor I either, Squatty," said Club,
quietly. Il happen to know that part OF
what you say is the truth. Now to begin
with. What do you know about Dan
Bash? Where is hep"
~ don't know. I swear I don't know
nothin' about him"
Every well, said Club, coolly.
"Now, who was in the business?
Which OF the Monks besides you? Or
were You all in the scrape?"
"Before God, Club"
"See here" said Hank Dawson, rough
ly, u thought I told you once afore not
to mention somebody as don't know you,
an amt likely to have you for ten
ant"
II won't say God again"
"Best not. YOU'D best talk about the
devil. He's your company, Scuatty."
swell, I swear l don't know nothin'
about Dan Bash"
3You ie!" said Tom Biggers.
aIf die fort, I DON'T" said Squatty.
Club looked at him earnestly.
"No use in lying now, Squatty."
II amt lyin'."
@And you'll swear you don't know who
has waylaid Dan Bash?"
"I'll swear it. l don't b'lieve he was
waylaid by nobody"
you'll swear Ned and Bill Monk
haven't got him hid somewhere?"
II know they haven't"
"How do you know? They don't tell
you everything. They make tool OF
YOU"
81 know it. But know they didn't
do nothin' to Dan Bash, too. If they
know'd where he was, what'd they keep
me trottin' roun' trying everywhere to
get track of where he is afore your folks
found him for?"
"See here, SQuatty," said Hank Daw-
son, suddenly, "if you say that agaln--if
you pretend they don't know where he is
at this moment, I'll smash YOU"
The blacksmith drew his arm back.
His tremendous fist wae clenched.
At that moment Club grasped his arm.
Don't, don't, dad! Squatty's telling
the truth. 1 see it in his face"
Hank DawSon's arm fell at his side,
and Squatty breathed free for the first
time since he fell into their hands.
ITo RE Continued