Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-12-07
CLUB.
A Romance Of West Virginia.
BY DAVID LOWRY.


CHAPTER Iv-Continued.
A hush fell over the crowd.
"Wi you Jump again, Mr.. Sloan?"
Sloan turned on Bash angriy.
"How high can you Jump"
"Standing or running?"
"Standin'."
For answer Bash put his right hand
up to his chin.
81 don't believe it."
"Put a stick up, string, rail-any-
thing" said Bash, coolly.
Perkins and Sloan held rail about
four feet off the ground.
Bash turned his back to it and jumped
over it.
The big man capped his hands.
They placed the rail as high as his
chin.
He stood before it, then suddenly
bounded high in the air over it.
The big man rOa ed with laughter.
"Now, Mr.. Sloan" said Bash, "yon
try it,"
Sloan jumped three times, but failed
to come within three inches Of the height
Bash jumped.
"How high can you kick?" demanded
Sloan.
AT least seven feet"
Sloan had Perkins hold stick against
q tree just that distance from the ground,
stood under it, sprang upand struck the
stick with his right foot.
Bash had Perkins raise the stick half
an inch, rose the same way, and kicked
the stick high in the air
ri ho1 inch hinhOr
then an inch, until he put the stick up
to eight feet six inches.
Then Dan Bash asked the big man to
stand on plOw and hold the stick one
foot higher.
Sloan a9d Perkins laughed.
Bash rose in the air suddenly, spring
ing off his left foot, and his right sent
the stick whirling.
"Put it three inches higher" as the
crowd looked on dumfounded.
What SORT OF man was this, anyhow?
"NO, that1l do" said the jolly giant,
laughing, 1--WE don't want you to kick
the light out of the moon"
Whcreat there was a roar of laughter
"HOw do you as'le?" said ST Perkins
suddenly.
ANY way-upper or lower holds
catch-as- atch-can-any way that you
prefer"
81 used to raS'le a little"
81 like it-wth any one who under
stands it.
"Well, strip then.
"Not if you don't want to tear my
clothes
They went att, catch-as-catch-can. In
five secOnds-lesS timc-the "boSs ras'ler
of the county" was on the fiat of his
back.
That made ST Sloan laugh, while Per.
kins was furious
"Anythin' else you can't do?" asked
the 10 ly giant, go0d-humOredy.
81 can spar"
"YOu mean EoX?"
ayes; love it. ="
81 pass" said the giant Then there
was another shout of laughter.
"Per6ins will toX with YOU"
"NO, burned if | will" said Perkins,
now laughing Gle might out box me.
/ think Bill Peters might give him a
trial"
There was another shout of laughter.
Bill Peters head was hanging low
enough now.
81 reckon you'll have to give Bash tho
school, said the big man.
"Of course" said Sloan. "Any man
that can do what he dOeS-durned if
know how he does it-can take the
school,"
"Yes, he's got a right to it," said
Perkins. stranger how much do you
weigh, Jest as you are?"
zone hundred and seventy nine
pounds" said Bash, smilingly.
"Great JehOsaphat, Sloan! Just feel
of his arms and legs"
Sloan felt; then he stood back
"Mr. Bash, you're the biggest man Of
your size | ever seed. Shake"
Then Bash shook hands all around.
The last man to hold his hand was the
big man, who shook his hand cordially.
81 would like to know your name,
sir.
"My name? Lord Everybody knows
Hank Dawson"
Hank Dawson"
"YeS; I'm the blacksmith at the Cor
ners.
So this man whom he had taken a
sudden liking to, and whose very smile
inspired confidence, was Chub's father