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

the man ana s0e uOS.
1t was plais, now, that q combat was
waged between the two. The dog yelped;
the man sior&e3 and swore
Hank Dawacn was -un.wieldy on horse
back, but he reached the dogs side al
most as soon q: Tom Bigger and Club.
In an instabt both were off their horses,
and Tom Bigger was speaking sternly to
his dog.
"Herol Quiet there. Behave your
self. Who is skat? If you answer, I'll
pull the dog Of"
"My Godl les eating me up Take
him off,"
Bigger pullsd Hero back by main
strength, while Hank Dawson struck .
light
"Humph! Thoxght knew that voice.
sIt's you. Bob SQuatty."
Club looked down on MIN scornfully.
Hank DawsoA held a freshly lit blazing
pine knot near Scuatty's face.
Souatty was trembling like an aspen.
Tom Bigger held Hero back with his
right hand.
Hero licked his chops, and opened his
jaws. Squatty recoiled suddenly.
"What are you doing here?" demanded
Hank Dawson.
"Yes, that's what I'd like to know"
said Tom Bigger.
"Take the dog away, will you ?"
whined Squatty.
Mot till you tell me what you were
doing on tho road this time Of night, I"
said Bigger.
Poor Squatty was quaking with fear.
"A nice specimen you are" said Tom
Biggers.
@The dog won't touch you now," said
Club. ave are here. You know we
won't permit the dog to hurt you. But
tell US what you did to Hero. He is mad
to get at you for what you have done"
Tom Bigger looked closely at his dog.
"You mean skunk! You've cut him,
so you have"
GHe did, did he?"
Hank Dawson glared at the trembling
wretch.
aAnybody'd done what did. He was
coming at me with his teeth when I
slashed him"
"That's why he howled," said Bigger.
@And ! howled, too, didn't II"
sYes-you are pooty one," said Big
ger, contemptuously.
"Let's take him to Biggers'," said
Club, suddenly. "Then he'll tell US
what we want to find out"
mo, no! don't! Don't!" said Squat
ty, shivering with terror.
"Well, then, tell US what you are doing
on the road at this hour" said Hank
Dawson.
"He seems tongue-tied," said Bigger
as Squatty continued silent, looking
from one to the other.
"Who was with you? Were you alone"
demanded Club.
"Yes."
"All alone scarce thought it." said
Hank.
"Well, I was"
"And what were you doing!
u was walking along the road just"
"Just taking little STROLL" said Tom
Bigger.
"Probably he was thinking Of turnin'
over a new leaf" said Hank Speak
put, you poor coward! Who sent you
up here? And what were you sent for?
Now, tell the truth, or maybe you'll
wish you had. You know never said
bne thing and did another. mean to
get at the truth. Did you know where
you were going?"
"Y-y-yes Yes, I did"
"Ohl you did. Where were you 60
ing?"
"J-j-just along p-p-past your p-p-lace,
Mr.. Dawson, to the Corners"
"Oh! and who sent you? Who we're you
going to meet? Did you expect to see
anybody at my house? You knew no.
hoI1 In
"Ye-yes"
"You thought dad and me wouldn't be
home; isn't that it, Bob Squatty?" said
Club.
He looked at her fearfully. Hank
gave the pine knot shake, and as it
played up brightly they could see now
quite plainly the marks Hero's teeth had
made in SQuatty's bleeding arm.
"Yes-we thought you was to stop at
Biggers'."
aver We?"
Hank Dawson laughed grating laugh.
It was not like any laugh Squatty had
ever heard before He shivered with
apprehension.
"I-I-I guess I'd best tell all I know"
n reckon that will save a heap Of
trouble" said Hank Dawson, dryly; "a
heap of trouble"
"Just begin at the beginnin', Bob; an
if you happen to forget anything, 10eu
try to remind you of it, SOS to help you
out Dad, you'd best get another pine
knot"
"Y-S-youll not hurt me-promise
you won't"
shut up, you dog!" said Hank Daw-
son, sternly. "Tell US all you know, and
be quick, for I'm in bad humor, and
gettin' no better fast"
"Then III own up," said Squatty.
"That's right Make clean breast Of
the hull business" said Tom Biggers.
81 will" said Squatty. "But mind the
dos-keeD the dog off mel"
CRATER K.
soUArTY's SURPRISING STATEMENT.
II was going over to spy round your
place, Mr.. Dawson"
"Just to see everything was all right
kind of you, Bob" said Hank Dawson,
as he lit fresh pine-knot "Go ahead,
I'll not spoil your story, cos it must be
interestin'."
u didn't mean to touch thing. I
was just going over to look around. And
then was going to the tavern. That
was all. Just to look around"
Squatty gulped down big lump in his
throat
Nobody replied.
4 single night bird screamed. Squat
ty started, then settled down again, and
glanced from one to the other.
They We're rot a friendly group.
Clubs lips expressed scorn and aver
sion.
Hank Dawson looked as he never
looked before There was a CLEAN in
his eyes that frightened poor Squatty.