The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-09-20
CLUB.
ARonance Of West Virginia,
BY DAVID LOWRY.
CHAPTER VII.

THE CLIMAX AT THE CORNERS.
sWell, will give you an opportunity
arst."
The crowd pricked up their ears.
~Wha were you doing on the road
near Biggers' about three o'clock this
morning?"
~Who says we were on the road9"
Answer"
sWho says it? How'd you know it?"
81 was on the road.
@Oh, you was! What was you doin'
ON the road, then? Didn't you tell the
folks you'd stop till daylight at Big
gers'?"
Eyes"
"But you didn't"
@No? Least my recollection is met
one Of your gang on the way home"
"Well, why don't you tel why you said
ono thing and did another?"
"You haven't answered my question.
"Nor you mine"
"You deny being on the road"
. II can prove we weren't"
"How? All of your associates will
swear it, will they?"
"No matter-I can prove wasn't on
she road, nor five miles near Biggers', il
that's plain enough"
"Wel, suppose you don't know who
shot Tom Bggcrs' dog along about three
this morning?"
"Didn't know it was shot"
"You didn't shoot it?"
: 3No."
"Nor year brother Ned, nor Pete, nor
6quatty there?"
u guess not May be the dog shot
hisse!f."
The Monks laughed now.
1t was very funny.
.~Say, Hank Dawson, how do you know
Dan Bash didn't run off-kind rued,
an lit out in tinc?"
"What 10 you mean, Bill Monk? Put
It in plain words"
"Why 'taint the first time a mans
changed his mind. And ii he did, whose
business is it, 'cept yours? The hull
county amt interested in it, or oughtn't
TO be-"
mo! Very true Ny friends might
be. Well. any more, Bill? Speak freely
now whatsocver'S II your mind"
"Since you want to know, I think
and there's morc'n me thinks it's mighty
Gurus how chap nobody knows any.
thin about 'ccptin' he's spry an sharp
an Il crack shot and jumper, can co,ce
here an get school,, an put on heap
o. airs over people as were here aiore he
was born."
"Yes," said Ned Monk. "Who is this
-herc Dan Bush anyhow? Nobody knows
where he come from, 90 they? Don't
know II he has folks, or whether he
hain't something to keep dark about,
,pl epooG-od pE hora IN fbn ,rcrr-
taibs, where nobody would think Of look
ing for him."
"Lots O. people are saying inst the
same thing, Hank Dawson" said Bill
Monk, with AZ ugly leer at those nearest
him.
@Are you through now?" inquired
Club Dawson, quietly.
The Monks stepped closer together;
there was movement as though they
were preparing for an attack.
20, don't mind your pistols and knives
Just yet. Let's talk little longer. You,
Nod and Bill Monk-you know you
tried to murder Dan Bash once. Ioa
dare not deny it.
40, pshaw. you mean the fight we had
that day right here."
NO. 1 don't. mean when you two
and ono Of your gang laid among ths
bushes by tho spring, and when Ned
aimed at Dan, scared HIN, shooting
over his head. When yon jumped out
OIL the road with knife On Dan, ard The
coward with you had club. Butt Shot
your arm-you dare not bare i: 1ow-and
Dan and ME drove you three Down the
road like dogs"
As Club uttered these words, she ex-
tendad her lsnd toward the Monks,
WHO fell back in diSmay.
They rallied. however, again, and Bill
Moak iaugaed---a hard, unnatural laugh
1t was.
$50 on! Why, that's as good as what
q clown tells in the circus. But it's a
lie-a lie out of whole cloth, Club Daw-
SOM"
"Very we'll. suppose you are ready
to swear now you weren't OIL the road
this morning."
"Of course we will swear it-and prove
IT."
-And you didn't see Dan Bash?"
no"
aNot since the day he rode over from
1siggers'?"
"No."
aYou didn't look for him?"
~No. 'Twan't none OF our business.
You was lookin' for him."
"You hadn't any one out on the road,
Aeither?"
xNo - nna