Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-11-30
Rnt Chnh stnod. long after he had left

turned and retraccd hor STEPS over the
mountain side in the opposite direction.
Dan Bash pushed on quickly to SOU re
Meeks', whore ho found the two direc-
tors who controlled the school district
They were both noted men.
One was the best jumper in the county,
lie had. jumped farther and higher than
any man who had stood before him. lie
could-had, more than once-jumped or
the ground, clOuted one mans ears with
one foot, and the next instant clouted
another's. To kick mans hat off was
as easy as breathing to 81 Sloan.
The other man was the best wrestler
In the county. Hi Perkins had laid every
man on his back that had the tcmcrlty to
| meet him. He did not care how his op-
ponent wrestled. Whether it was one
STYLE or another style, it was all one to
Iii. He would take his chances, and
whether he learned the other mans
tricks or not made little difference. lie
employed few tricks of his own as soon
&s it was possible to do so with safety,
| and hence it was that Hi Perkins floored
| all comers in such short order that nc
was terror to all in the county. lie was
! not bad hand at boxing, either. lie
| could whip almost any man in the county
with his bare fists; bat, with feet and
fists at his command, no man could be
found in that part of the State to try
conclusions with Hi Perkins
When Dan Bash appeared on the
ground the crowd were laughing at some
witt'csm made by jolly looking man
with tremendous shoulders, a neck that
seemed strong enough to sustain any
blow a fist could give it, and arms
and legs that indicated extraordinary
strength.
When Dan entered tho crowd, a good
many there who had never seen him
stared at him curiously. He felt sOmo-
what abaShed at first, but he addressed
the man nearest him politely, and IN a
low tone said:
"Will you please inform me which is
Mr.. S'oan?"
"I'm Sloan. ST Sloan's my name Want
me?"
"And will you be kind enough to tell
me which is Mr.. Perkins,"
"Hyer. Perkins, ye're wanted!"
Perkins approached Bash. Tho crowd
| stood gaping at the three, wondering
what the young man was there for
"Td like to speak to you apart, SAID
Dan Bash.
Now, this was something Sloan and
Perkins either did not or would not un-
derStan1.
"Spit it right out here" said Sloan
"Wc're all neighbOrS here. "
"Gotno secrets specially with stran-
! gers" sal Perkins.
"This is not secret business affair,
and yet l don't see that it concerns
everybody 1t concerns the directors OF
the school and myself"
"Ohl you are a teacheS," said SlCan,
contemplating Bash cOldly.
"Applyin' for the place" sad Perkins,
"Prec'sely. am prepared TO submit
my recommendations.
"Wcll, Perkins, l don't know as we
want any recommendations, do we?"
81 reckon not, Si
The crowd Uttered, and Bash's face
famed with modification and anger.
But he retained his sclf-posscssion.
His tongue was at his command.
"Will you tell me, then, what are the
qualifications you expect in teacher. 4"
Sloan looked him over slowly, thea
drawled, 81 scarcely think you'll fill the
bill, young man."
ais it age you are looking for?"
"No, it amt age nuther," said S'oan.
The crowd Uttered again.
Bash turncd around quickly.
"YOu are worry ill-mannered-cSpccially
you there winking at your neighbors, "
sad Bash calmly.
The young man singled out straight
ened himself up suddenly, and advanced
threa eningly.
"You hold your horses, Bill Peters,
said Perkins, dryly. at amt your put
in yct."
Then 81 Sloan said very deliberately,
"You don't seem to be jist the sort of
fellcr we re on the look out for for our
school,"
"You amt got the backbone the grit
and grip, | reckon" said Perkins.
"But how do you knOw-why make up
your mind without giving me trial?"
said Bash, tart V. 81 think it an alto
gcther unwarrantab!e assumption to
say that l lack courage. You do not
know me-never beh Id me until now. "
"Wcll-you wanted to know the quail
lcatons," said 81 Sloan.
"Tell him what they are, 81, said Per-
kinS, sneeringly.
81 didn't mean you hadn't a mind to
it's the ability Many a man would
stand up to '2nother an get knocked
down right along-'tain't that. It's the
man as can knock the Othe.' follow down,
and hold him level"
"Oh" said Bash, "yOu mean good
fghter?"
"No, nor | don't mean fghtin man.
A man that can fight, an knows how to,
but don't until he's druv to it,"
81 sec
"And Perkins and l see you don't sOmc
how lCok thtt way You are tall enough
but You look light"
81 begin TO understand, gentlemen,
said Bash.
"Another thing-wo don't set up fol
gentlemen We're all plain folks here
81 like plain folks" said Bash.
"Now he's cotton'n up to en-" said
the man Bash had spoken to-Bill Pc
tcrS-winking at his fellows.
"Peters," said the jolly-looking giant
all give you lesson if you mcddlC
with him any more. He has right to
look for job-what is it to you, you
| cub?"
Bash looked at the man gratefully.
"Im obliged to you, sir.
Then Bash dc ided on the inStant
what he must do to secure the school
and maintain has manhood, or rather de-
monstrate his manhood to the directors
and thOs> present
Il gather from your remarks that
must be able to hold my own, say in any
| exercise, with any one. VIVA must