Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-01-04
CHAPTER VIII.
CHUB'S RUSE.

they didn't send their children.
"Then there are folks that didn't like
him?"
@Bless you, don't everybody know
them Monks can't bear the sight OF him?
And he hadn't not mite of love for tho
Monks The hull parsel was agin him,
and he was hot on the hull hasSell"
"So?" said Hank Dawson.
"Wel, mind; what lie said to us he
wouldn't blurt out afore everybody"
ale wasn't afraid of them, then?"
81 know what's in your mind, Chu0.
No He didn't care a mite for the hull
gang O. them, and they knew it, like as
not, cos he was outspoken that way"
81 know that"
"CourSe you do. Everybody knows
Dan Bash speaks what's IN MS mlno II
he don't like thing"
"Did he ever say he met any OF the
Monks crowd?"
GOTTEN"
"Well-what more?"
"Why, he laughed, and said they gave
him clear track"
"Well?"
"Thats about the heft of it. Less it
be the time he caught Bob Squatty peek
in round the road somewhere near the
fallin' rock"
"The falling rock" said Hank Dawson.
"Why, that amt on the road"
"Course not Dan was out hunting"
ooh"
"And SQuatty came round there, too,
an something passed atween 'em. l
never could just make out what twas.
suspect-just because, somehow-that
Dan had some words with SQuatty."
ale always did laugh so when any one
mentioned SQuatty after that time.
"How long ago was that, Mrs. Bigger"
"Well, two weeks or more, reckon"
Club looked intently at her father,
who returned her lcok meaningly. He
was beginning to understand the drl1e
of the inquiry Club was making, for thai
was the practical result of her prolonged
talk with the Biggers
ais your dog good?" was Chub's next
query.
Her father looked at her curiousy.
Mrs. Bigger whispered to one OF her
sonS
"Seems to me Clubs gettin' kinder out
of her head.
Tho son turned to Club quickly:
ayes. I'd not swap my dog for any
around these parts.
as he quick on the scent?"
"None quicker
"Well. dad"-here Club looked at her
father smilingly-"I reckon We'll go
home now"
"Home? Home this time O. night"
said Mrs. Bigger.
'I thought you callated on sleepin'
hyer," SAID the Oldest Bigger boy:
"I'vc changed my mind" said Club.
"Dad, let's get our horses and 60"
~No hurry yet while, Club. "
@None in the least" said Mrs. Bigger,
in a friendly tone. "If so be you must
go home, you can take good rest afOre
you start agin."
"I'm willin' any time"
Hank marveled much at Chub's notion,
but they sat talking at least halfln hour
longer, and then Club rose.
Tom Bigger prepared to accompany
them. The horses were brought around
very Quietly at Clubs special request,
and when they were ready to go she re-
ouested Tom to instruct his dog to keep
quiet.
"He will mind you, Tom"
"Hell do just as l say, that dog will.
"Well, then, keep him near you, Sc
that you can make him obey you nc
matter what happens"
Tom Bigger spoke to his dog, and then
the three rode out into the darkness.
Tom Biggsr and his dog were in ad-
vance. Hank rode behind his daughter.
"What is it, Chub?" said Hank Daw-
son.
"Cant you guess, dad?"
"NO You know, ! reckon"
"Why, l wanted the rest to go away
first, and it would get out that we'd
stopped at the Biggers'."
"Well?"
"Then if anybody is on the lookout
anybody who Knows anything about
Dan. or who may be looking for him on
iheir account, like the Monks, we may
come on them unawares if we ride along
quietly"
"Thats the reason you brought the
dog along"
STo strike any fresh scent. l feel
pretty sure we'll find somebody"
AS if to verify her prediction, Tom
Bigger cautioned his dog at that mo-
ment
"Quiet there. Here, Hero"
"You heard that, dad?"
Il Ill Wlut dWdhts NuuD, JOu OOO'
They were near Tom Bigger now.
There's something up there atween
us and the rock" said Tom Bigger.
dad" said Club in low tone, "you
go ahead; Tom, yOI make right after
whatever it is, and III stay right where
an. Then we'll find out what Hero
smellel."
This seemed a wise course to pursue.
"Dad," said Club, as be left her side,
"mind your shOotin' irons
They're handy" said Hank Dawson,
as he moved on.
1t was as much as Tom Bigger could
do now to restrain his dog. Hero wanted
to rush up the mountain side.
"Now, then," said Club, when hel
father had ridden out of her sight, "you
let the dog go, Tom"
Tom made sound that the dog longet
to hear, and then Hero leaped through
the heavy underground, crashing hl!