Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-11-30

so absurd.
"Well, then, git ready to jump" said
ST Sloan, in commanding tone "How
will you Jump? Run and jump, standin'
Jump, high, or Backward"
anyway. Whichever way you say, !"
said Bash.
"Thcn why don't you strip"
81 don't need to at present." said
Bash. 81 may"
The crowd formed a huge ring. Ex-
pectation was On every face as 81 Sloan
marked off a base-lne and eyed the
ground he had selected.
"Be you ready now, stranger? See
here, what might your namo be?"
"Bash-there arc several here who
know my name"
"Then, Mr.. Bash, you toe the scratch. "
CHAPTER ".
DAN BASH MAKES THEIR EYES STICK OUT.
AS Dan Bash toed the scratch on the
soft field he felt his blood ting'e.
He was in his element once .nore
Time was when he was the acknowl-
edged superior of all the runners, leap
ers, and oarsmen on the list of the ath-
letes intrusted with the representation
of a great college. He had not been the
captain of as active football players as
ever were seen-a wrestler, climbc',
boxer, swordsman, OF marksman-for
nothing.
His eve was as quick, his muscles as
hard, his knowledge of the tricks in all
methods of wrestling as thorough as
shrewduess and much practice could
make it
The crowd looked on as Dams eye
rested on a clod littlo stance from
him. Before they were prepared for it
he sprang lightly in The air, and lit firm
ly, evenly upon his feet.
"A pooty good jump-nOthing aixtra-
nothing at all aiXtra," said 81 Sloan
"Bil Peters"
The man who winkod stepped up CON
fidently.
"Pctcrs, jest kick the dust on his
tracks will you, to show him he ain
aixtra-nO great shakcs?"
Peters drew long breath, swung his
arms like fails, and lcaped.
ST Sloan and Iii Perkins solemnly
measured his jump.
"'Bout two inches MORN BaSh's."
Dan Bash turned around.
"Anybody clso going to jump with
me?"
"No," said ST Sloan, dryly. 81 gdcSS
Peters'll hold you levc'."
Bash stood with both feet square o.
the line, then rose clear in the air and
came down s1uarely, beautifully on his
feet. Both were in line. The heels
were together.
ST Sloan hastened forward, followed
by Hi Perkins. They stopped over the
marks made by Basins heels.
Bash looked on indilferently.
"About foot furder than Peters,
said Sloan.
Bash turned to the jolly-looking man.
whose face was beaming on MIN.
"Will you please measure the distance
for me?"
Certainly" said the jolly giant.
"I think | beat Peters more than
foot"
"You've beat him sixteen inches," sale
the Jolly man, who produced rule, thcr
stopped and measured the ground care
fully.
ST said something in a low tone t.
Perkins.
Perkins shook his head and said some
thing about wrestling that Bash plainly
overheard.
"Time enough, ST, then"
81 suppose you don't want to try again
Peters?" said the big man.
But Peters was resolved to make an
other trial.
He stood upon the line-swung,
heaved, worked his toes over the line
then, filled with wind, spread himself il
| the air, 1T on the ground and staggered
about to keep from fal ing.
The big man measured the jump.
He went back to whore Peters toes
made u dent in the earth, and after &c
ducting the difference, Sai1
"Bash has beaten him thirteen inches
"AnybOdy else that wants to juml
against me?" Bash a,kcd smilnyly.
"YeS-Ill jump"
A tall, spare mana man at least sil
feet two inches in his stockings (Ba'l
was barely five feet ten inches, and dit
not look his height) stood on the line
lie, too, worked his arms wildly, drew
tremendous breath, and jumped.
Bash stood on the Inc second later
The next second he Ea1 made a clear
iump, heels together again, and stooC
still and perfectly straight.
Perkins clapped his hands.
So did the jolly giant, who measured
She ground
"Pash beats Jim Dodds six inches
you can all see"
All did see p'ainly, and admiration
was expressed on many faces.
Others looked sullcn.
"You think you can jump" said S
Sloan, sharply.
a leave it for the crowd to think,
said II h, pleasantly
sI'n take the cOhceit out of yoI. More I
that-if you want the school you've go
to do durn sight better'n that"
ST Sload toed the scratch next
He did not puff and blow as the other
had done, but he swung his arms lik
fails, just as they did. When he lit h
stood up straight but it was only for
moment. Then he was compelled t
swing his arms to preserve his balance
Dan Bash stepped on the line, gathere'
himself together instantly, and at one
leaped through the air, lighting one
more heels in line together, and stoo
where he lit upright.
Then he stepped aside.
81 Perkins and the big man stoope
over the marks.
They held their heads so low tn
crowd couldn't sec the impressions mad
by Sloan and Bash.
At last Perkins stood up.
isis got it by about an inch, boys"
"Must l beat you, Mr.. Sloan, before
you give me the schoo ?"
Bash looked around on the crowd.
Nobody spoke.