Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-02-01
CLUB.
ARoInanCe West Virginia.
BY DAVID LOWRY.
CHAPTER XVII.

forward and caught the mans arms
firmly in his great hands
"Don't! Don't! You'll break my
bones" said the man as he writhed.
T don't care if do"
Hank lifted the man up on his feet by
sheer main strength.
"There now. What does this mean,
Chub?"
"You can see for yourself, dad"
Hank, still graspiny the mans wrists,
glanced at the man lying on the ground.
"Why, if it amt RaSh-Or the man as
calls himself Bash"
81 reckon he's hurt pretty bad"
Club bent over Mr. Bash and assisted
him to a sitting posture. Bash sat up,
looked around like man just aroused
from slumber, and looked lnQuiringly at
Hank Dawson.
Bv this time haf dozen of the men
and boys who had followed Hank Daw-
son approached the spot, with wonder
depicted on their cOuntenances,
"What is it?"
Mr.. Bash felt his head, then rose to
his feet
"Why, don't you know?" said Hank
Dawson.
dts not strange if he doesn't, dad"
said Club.
"'Pears as if be doesn't know where
he is yet" said Dawson
"This fellow" said Club, pointing to
the man she held at bay-"thiS Dick
freddie can tell you. If he doesn't, I'll
tell
Dick looked sulenly on the ground as
Hank whipped handkerchief out of his
pocket and bound his hands behind him
quickly.
"Mr Bash and me were standing here,
or Just over there We didn't suspect
there was any one near us. l was tell
ing Mr.. Bash this would be good place
to make a corner where no one would
find one, when / heard a shot. The
coward meant for Bash-buj he missed.
wheeled, saw Whit of smoke and
tried to make out who was there. 1t
took some time, then, seeing the vines
move in there, fired.
"There wasn't sound | wa kcd
around right here in front of this round
topped rock, and Mr.. Bash walked
around the other way just as got
here there was another shot, and /
hurried and found Mr.. Bash lying on the
ground, with freddie there standing
over him.
81 had my rife on him in an instant.
l kept it on him and called, and he
swore awful-you heard him, l reckon,
Dad?"
ayes, l heard him"
Hank Dawson looked as though his
hearing was as keen as his desire to
mete out punishment to Treddle. He
turned on him abruptly.
"Where's the other fe lowe"
"What fellow?"
There must be two of YOU"
"There just amt, then"
"No use lying, Dick freddie"
81 amt lying"
"You are here alone. What are you
doing?"
"Find out, Hank Dawson"
81 will"
Hank and Fash, who was none tho
worse for the blow that stunned him
freddie had clipped his hair with his
bullet, then struck him with the butt OF
his gun as he fell, rendering Bash who'll
lv unconscious for the time-immediate
lv approached the cabin formed between
the rocks, while the others stood near
them
"HellO!"
Basins exclamation was natural.
There, just beside the entrance to the
cabin, were articles with which Mr.. Bash
was familiar Numerous. dies, bright
drops of metal sparkling on the ground,
various tools were lying near.
While Bash was examining these, di-
recting Hank Dawson's attention to
them, Club darted past them into the
~oor Of fbo hin
The rear of the cabin was dark. But
Club was fearless
Besides she was firmly convinced that
her affianced was near by. Something
in her heart told her he was near. She
was in flush of excitement as she
peercd about in the back part OF the
cabin,
While hor father and the detective
were talking pointing out this and that
tool, they heard quick, low exclama'
tion from the rear Of the cabin.
"It's Chub-shes found something.
Hank was going back when Bash said,
"Well, let's strike light.
His action was suited to the word. A
light was struck, and Hank Dawson and
the detective walked back to the rear OF
the cabin or hut.
There they beheld another opening,
leading still farther back between the
two rocks, through which Club had dis
appeared.
@Where in the name of all that's won
derfu has she gomez" demanded Hank
Dawson.
"Here let's get better light" said
the detective.
He looked about him, and at last found
a lamp, which he lit Meanwhile they
could hear Club talking to some one.
"She's found him! She's found him,
Bash" exclaimed Hank.
There some one. l hope it is Dan
Bash"
They walked back, where Club pressed
in the darkness.
But Club had an infalibe guide-the
voice of her lover.
Yes, it was indeed tho voice of the
missing bridegroom Club heard as she
stood in the back part of the rude hut
1t was like a moan, but to Chubs acute
ear it sounded like "Belle"-the name
her lover called her. 1t was then that
Club darted back through a door she
had not noticed till that low sound fell
upon her eager ear.
She fel. her way cautiously but quick
ly as she has!ened to the back room, and
there. reaching out hand, guided only
by pencil of light that stole in from the
rear. sh felt around until her hand
touched q rough ladder.
Passing both hands over this to assure
bo,,olf Lor curpoiSo was correct. she