Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-02-15
CHATTER XXI.
A NOTEWORTHY EVENT.

When the trial that consumed three
davs was concluded, and Dan Ross, one
of the most prominent If not the chleI
fpure in the courtroom, where his tes'
tfmonv was listened to breathlessly, re.
turned to Hank Dawson to "oe on hano
for the wedding this time," as Tom Big
gers and the school directors laughlngly
said. Pine County had but one suoJec'
to talk about o
The events of the past week were
rubIiShed throughout the length and
breadth of the land
The newspapers were filled with the
savinus and doings of the Monks. Thei1
nefarious practices, long suspected Ont
never fully understood by the people OF
the counties where they operated, were
fully exposed-their method OF max
ing and circulating the counterfeit money
laid bare to the public gaze
Very naturally, the Government ue'
tortive. Dan Bash, figured in all the &C
counts His shrewdness and decision,
his tact and courage, were the theme OF
the hour.
The peculiar characteristics Of Hank
Dawson were described at length, until
Hank asked Eli Potts in confidence "if
he wasn't enough of public character
now to run for President"
Eli Potts said he thought they some
times got worse material on Presldentai
tickets -,
But the public gaze turned with ten
fold more curiosity upon the young
man whose extraordinary experiences
and adventures made him the romantic
Ggnre in the trial. Dan ROss-his attn
jetic exhibitions at the plowng match'
his endurance when lying one ON tnt
mountain side, his courage when IN th'
hands of the ruf1ians who had decreet
his death-these were the things Ina
the public talked of increasingly.
And beside this figure OF brave &C
complished, highly educated young maj
demonstrating his strength and energy
the public placed anOther-Chuo' Vn'
rich blacksmiths daughter.
The men could not find words stron'
enough to voice their admiration OF Ben
Dawson: the women were enthusiasm
when they spoke OF the bearing OF Dal
Ross. "The Missing Bridegroom" wh
lived TO turn the tables upon his CO"
ardlv v.captors and to enjoy the surprlS
he gave his most intimate friends whel
tbev discovered in Dan Bash, the miss
inc bridegroom and schcolmaster, wh
became the object of the wrath Oh
gang of counterfeiters, their OLD schoo
fo low. Dan Ross, who was the mo-
accomplished athlete among hVe huiule
students. ,od
The citizens of Pine County deemed
incumbent upon them to demonstraI
their gratitude to Club Dawson anu
the schoolmaster, who had been iargel
instrumental in bringing gang Oh I"
fans to justice.
This was the drift of public sentlmei
when the blacksmith of the CORNERS
, sued anew the invitations to his daugl
ters wedding, and prepared TO celeoId
the event in manner unparaueieo
that part of the State.
"Most people only get married once nc
0 said Hank Dawson. "I'm able 10 al
it, and just because Dan R( IS was caug
@ under a tree, and then fell INTO vi
: gangs hands, and the marriage coulon
take place, that's just the reason /
4 going to make it more enJoyaole' al
n try to give everybody chan,e TO nave
bigger time" -,
The enormous quantity of things IN
came to the Corners in boxes, barre
|. | and sacks seemed to the wondering ey