Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-02-01

"It's q short story. You know how
much reason | had to be on the lockout
or the gang"
81 do indeed, Dan," said Club. 81
thought you would surely ksop sharp
ookOut."
81 did. When I got ready to go to
your house, instead of riding on the
.oad, cut off on by-path and kept on
;he mountain side, where | thought L
would have an opportunity to see any
one who might be concealed. You
know they swore there would never DC
any wedding"
ayes, / know" said Club, in a low
;ono.
"Well, 1 was riding along all right,
when the strangest thing happened. a
Tree fell right a~roSs the path ! was on.
1t would have pinned me to the earth
had l not sprung Quickly off nv horse.
AS it was, a limb torn off in the crash-a
big linIb-struck my arm, knocking me
to the ground and breaking my arm 1t
was almost the size of tree The man
ner in which l fell prevented me from
twisting from under it, and it settled
down on me, pressing me fiat against
the ground"
"Oh! That was dreadful" said Club.
"The body of the tree struck the
horses flank. He bounded, but was
caught among the branches. He made
tremendous struggles. l could see him
l founder, but he probably was not SO.
yereIy injured; but the broken, Jagged
branches doubtless hurt him. One small
broken branch cut my head-you can see
the mark"
He he up his hand.
"That explains where the blood came
FROM" said ChuD.
"What blood9"
"Your horse came galloping up to OIL
fence long after the time you shoule
have been there l saw blood on the
saddle-and marks on your horse"
"You must have been frightened
greatly"
at was terrible, Dan-terrible.
at has been terrible for both of us" +
ayes, but you, you have suffered @
| thousand fold more than have Baf
you have not told US ALL" <
"No. Well, l lay there, he'd to the
ground by the big broken limb, until J
thought | would die. l tried to free my
self. tried to move away from under
ito slip out from under it-but every
time ImOved, it seemed to- settle heavier
upon me "
"That was enough to drive you crazy. "
81 thought of yOu-or it might have
Then l tried to get a hand In my POCKET
for my knife. | thought if | cou!d get
1t out, it would be possible to dig holo
in the ground large enough to lct-me
work out from under the limb that way. "
THAT was awful"
81 did not know thcn-nor until they
found mc-that the limb was not broken
clean off the tree. A great big silver
tremendous splintcr-and the bark
held it to the main trunk, and it settled
down Just as the wind shook it, or
moved under it..
"Could anything be more horrible than
that" said Club
81 can't imagine it," said Hank Daw.
son. ut beats all ever heard Of"
81 got my knife out at last | worked
at the ground near my side. But it was
so slow, oh, such slow work.
"Poor Dan-it was enough to turn your
mind"
81 believe I might have freed myself
in time, but just as it began to look as il
| would be able to free myself, loud
hello attracted my attention. l an
swered. Think how long | had been ly'
ing there"
"How long were you under the branch,
Dan?" Club asked, fearfully.
"Until some time last night or carly
this morning."
Club uttered cry of terror.
"What All that time."
"Al that time-it seemed ages-ages
to me-"
Hank Dawson turned to look at him,
"Out all that time! Under a big limb
pinned under limb to the ground!
wouldn't believe any one could stand it
And with broken arm."
"We will nurse you into good spirits
again." said Club, in a low tone.
81 am in as good spirits now as | eveI
will be, Belle" said Dan Bash.
Then Club had to tell him her dream.
AS lie listened, Dan Bash looked very
grave.
"Its strange story, Belle, The
dream is very near the truth. Sec how
was he'd under the big limb. | was
covered with the branches / could not
mOve-c0uld only TURN anu LOOK uR
through the leaves. Then, when they
took me from the branch, they put me
in that hole you found me in. And that,
too, was like your dream. A crevice in
the earth-just rooted in little with
earth and stones and no way to work
out--rocks on each side. 1t was very
much like your dream."
"Well, we're back to plain facts now,
said Hank Dawson; sand the plain facts
is, we've got the hull Monk gang by the
neck and heels, and if we don't pitch
them into the penitentiary, why-l'
won't te my fault"
"They deserve to be put there fol
what they've done to YOU" said Club
ayes, said her father, in low tone
sand with the witnesses we've got agin
them we'll make 'cm wish they'd never
seed Dan Bash. Well make 'em swear
they'd run ten mile just to get around
his shadow"
And Hank Dawson shook his head
He meant it, He was in dead earnest
| TO BE CONTINUED.
Bi; War Ships
Up to the recent launching Of thC
| l. ! l.,