The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-08-09
CHUB.
ARonance eof West Virginia.
BY DAVID LOWRY.
CHAPTER
TIE FIGHT AT THE CORNERS.


shoot as quick as she would look or
speak.
Club Dawson held her head erect, de-
fIant: her bosom heave6 with emotion.
Her hands clutched her rifle with tense
grasp that afforded an outlet for the
passion that blazed out in the defiant
threat that caused those nearest her to
recoil in dread.
"You are lot Of towards. A great
set OF big, hulking loafers, to set on one
man. II he had q fair show-as he Will
Aave-he'd whip the best man your
crowd can pick to set up against him. !
want you to leave him. Git, now. II
there's any shootin' done now, III take
hand in 1t myself" =.
"Shol now, Club, you'd onghtn't to-"
"Steve freddie, the best thing you can
do is to cut sticks. Who made you
spokesman for the Corners?"
The crowd laughed, family, to be sure,
but the contempt in Chub's voice echoed
the sentiments Of more than one there.
Besides, the crowd was ready now to
laugh at anything.
They had witnessed enough blood
letting for one day, and Chub's appear
ance on the scene, unexpected as 1t was,
proved timely in more ways than one.
The crowd looked at each other sheep
ishly, and skunk off. Soon there was
only Club aud Dan Bash left.
@You had to fight, I suppose" said
Club, as she looked, first at the ground,
then at Dams face.
Dams eye was marked. There was a
red cash on one cheek, too, and his
clothes were covered with dust-dust
that had been lying on the road.
II couldn't help it,"
Dan did not apologize-did not ex-
plain. He simply told the truth.
II suppose can tell how it happened.
You quarreled with Ned Monk.
sNo He quarreled with me-"
Couldn't you get awayfrom him?"
~Why should try to avoid any man?"
Dan looked at Club in way that
brought the blood to her cheeks, and
knowing it Club grew, or pretended to
grow, very angry again.
@Yes it is nice way for men to maui
and pound each other-to bite and kick,
and and - and scratch - and and
Club paused for lack Of words to ex-
press her disgust.
than it is yours. E.e crowded me twice.
was here on business. I didn't come
Of my own choice. ! had to talk to the
school directors-had to wait here to See
two OF them, and the crowd was here,
shooting at mark. ! was sitting right
where you are standing, when first Ned
Monk tramped on my foot. I pushed
him off. and when he didn't apologize ]
saw he was half drunk. Then he was
beaten-they all beat him shooting-and
he wanted to fight, aud picked on me.
When he said he could whip me, what
ought I to have done? Run?"
No." said Club in low tone, with
flaming cheeks.
= II didn't! 7 stood up; they all gath
cred around, and. before he suspected it,
] had him on his back. Y knocked
him down three times in succession, and
then his brother Bill came at me.
knocked him down, too; l had them
down, when one Of the gang hit me with
Q stone on the cheek-bone, here"
~That knocked me down-then three
of them were on me at one time. That
was what made me pull the gun, and
shoot Ned Monk. II l had shot him
through the heart, would have served
him right, the coward"
YaYes, you wouid:S sad Club, admir-
ingly. "Well, didn't know the ins and
outs Of it. / believe you, though. I'D
sooner take your word, Dan Bash, than
the whole crowds"
. aim obliged to you, Miss Dawson
aDon't Miss me-my names just
Club"
~Well, Club. then. I owe you my
hfe"
aNonsense. Nothing OF the kind. !
Just happened to come over in time
that's all. l thought our Ben was here
and"
Club paused. She could not, would
not teiH > lie. and the truth was she had
heard the shouts of the combatants as
she stood on her fathers back porch.
There was no one in the house but
herself.
TO pick up the rife she was familiar
with, and had used for more than year,
and run over the low hill between her
fathers house and the tavern and
smithy occupied less than two minutes.
She burst upon the crowd like an
avenging angel.
Her hair, worn in loose curls, was fly
ing over her shoulders, her bonnet had
fallen back on her neck. and her face
was set with scorn and passion as she
aimed her gun at the crowd and COM
manded them TO desist
Half dozen had gathered about Dan
Bash; they meant murder, but Dan
managed to get his back against the
smithy, and was striking out right and
left when Club Dawson interposed in the
very nick of time.
YOU'D maybe best go to our house
till pa comes home, Mr.. Bash"
Dan Bash meditated.
1t was good advice. The chances
were that If he met any Of the crowd
controlled by the Monks they would re-
sume the quarrel, and he would either
suffer at their hands or be compelled to
kill some of them to save his own life.
But Dams sober second thought gov
erned him.
mo, l am obliged to you for the offer,
but III not let anything prevent me
from attending to the business that
brought me here. III go back the way
came"
You know best" said Club, stiffly.
Then she looked at him covertly, turned
and hastened home, while Dan Bash
looked after her.
"She don't think how Euch I've saved
her. What a splendid woman she isl"
Dan added to himself as he SGT down
again and sighed.
The landlord. who had remained In
mis- house all this time, !ooKlng On, camo
cut now.
Then his wife, an old woman, much