Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-01-11
CLUB.
Romance Of Vet Virginia. 6
BY DAVID LOWRY.
CHAPTER XI. .
ANOTHER SURPRISE.

NCll, OdlQ OilA LiSSNfS. NhAAS - N--
gaul-darndeSt idee out yet"
al can't understand it," said Hank
Dawson.
81 do dad"
I Club spoke cheerily. Il was wonder
full the pluck Club Dawson displayed.
Nothing could dash her bright spirits
Although upward of forty-eight hours
had passed since she had seen her DO
trothed-he had met her at neigh6or's
the morning of the day set for their
.wedding-although everybody gave Dan
Bash up for dead, or worse than dead II
living, Clubs faith in him, her belief
in his restoration to her, WaS not les, enec
an iota.
"Dad! we're all wrong. Maybe itisnt
as we'd a right to think. Maybe some
thing else has happened to Dan. The
Monks maybe ain'tin it at all-or, least
ways, believe Squatty don't know just
now any more than we do. Say, SQuatty,
where's the rest of your gang?"
"'Nell, suppose Ned and Bill Will be
nigh your house now"
"What are they doing there?" de-
manded Hank Dawson, fiCrcely.
"O don't you make any mistake, Mr.
Dewson. Nobody would go to your
house to touch hate. You might hang
al you've got on your fence and none OF
the Monks would come nigh it..
81 believe you," said Tom Biggers
Q imlv. "You'd rather tackle locomo-
Ii q with a full head of steam on
"Woll, what are they over at my place
fOr?"
"Why-didntI just tell yoN.
"Speak out.
They've notion maybe Dan Bash
would be making for your house"
"Well? What then?"
CO. dadl Don't you see? Why, the
Monks would catch him and do some
thing with him. "
"Kill him, do you mcan?" asked Tom
BiggerS. =,
@No They're so mad at me, it would
do them more good to keep him some
where and torment him. That's moro
like the Monks Amt that what they
were after, Sluatty?" Club asked
"YeS."
81 knew it, dad" "
There was brief silence aftcr this
confession, extortcd from Squatty's 8
trembling lips. Tho trio looked at tho
trembling wretch then at each other.
Poor S1uatty's hands were shaking
now like those of paralytic.
81 guess we've got ali he's able to tell
Us" said Hank Dawson g oomly. "What
will we do next, Chub?"
an the first place, dad, let us decide
what well do with Squatty.
"My God! you won't do nothin' to me-
l cou dnt help it. They made me do it,
I'd get shot in my tracks II didn't DC
as they told me-"
"Stop your whining" said Hank Daw'
son. dts a pity the Almighty lets such
carrlon as you live. You're no moro ac
count than crOw-you're a durn sigh
meaner."
81 know I am," said SQuatty.
"Shut up!" exclaimed Tom Biggers
angrly.
81 tell you what, dad" said Club
@Let us send Squatty on ahead OF us
lust the same as if he'd not been inter
fered with. Then we'll follow, and g
on to the Corners, and maybe we'll NEE
the Monks They wont want to tgh
you, reckon.
"What if Squatty tells about mcetin
u.s."
81 won't--I swear 1 won't" saiC
SQuatty.
H@L ct him." said Club contemptuously
"Let him, if he dares, break his word t(
me-"
81 WON'T won't, Club"
"Of course yOu won't" said Tom Big
gers. "You'd best say your prayers
you do
II don't exactly follow your idea
Club" said her father, "but guess yOu
know what you want You just NEAR
that this hound is to be let go, and joir
the gang of cutthrOats that he belong:
to, and we're to spy on them, instead o.
them takin' us unawarcS.
"That's it, dad. +"
"That's oil right You can go, Squat
ty-glt out"
"Yes-light out" said Tom Biggers
"Not yet, SQuatty," said Club, IL
warning tones; "yOu've found ways tt
obey the Monks. If you don't find wa!
to let us know just where the gang Il
by 10 o'clock-mind, that's six or sever
hours yet-plenty of time to get aroun(
if you don't let me know where th'
gang is, or the Monks at least-look ou
for trouble.
"I'll mind you Be sure I'll let yo'
know"
The next moment Squatty hurried OF
in the darkness.
sI'm most sorry l didn't let the do:
fol ow him." said Tom Biggers.
"a bargains a bargain" said Club.
"Not with that gang" said Tom Big
gers. Il wouldn't believe one of them-
not if the rope was around his neck, ant
his legs in the grave" ("
Whereat Hank Dawson coughed. l
was the first sign of change in his mood
His ferceneSS had evapOrated.
"Iordl Did any one ever see such
coward as that poor fellow"
81 don't think he is bit worse thai
the Monks, dad. Did any one eve
know them to show fight unless ther'
were two or three of them together
AS nobody had, there was no more II
be said on that subject
"Listen," said Tom Biggers. THAT
him breaking his way to the road.
I'm not so sure cbout that" sa;C
Club, as she inclined an ears. "Dad
don't that sound seem to come from be
low, instead of above?"
at docs, Club"
"Let's go back on the road quick as W.
can"
They were already in their saddle
again; Hank Dawson had held the pin
knot until it was nearly all burned out
"Throw it down, dad" said Club
"Maybe its best to be quiet-sO's nc
body'll suspect us. Well hurry up o.
them"
AS they rode back to the road it wa
,,or,, ovidnnt Chuh's enrmiSe was correct