Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-01-11

skunk Squatty, Salu udph lawson
had him now, I'd smash his bones.
~Maybe we're wrong, dad, said Chuo'
allow do we know 1t amt the Monks Deen
stealing along after Squatty, and the
dogs scented them, and they've shot
him." ia
"Well, let us turn back and see" SAID
Hank.
"No! Don't, dad"
"Why, Chub?"
dts one thing to meet them at home,
another to fight them up here, where
they're at home, and you don't know
who you've got again you!"
That's so, too"
@Everybody would know who to go for
To trv in court if they came to you-up
here it's hard to tell each other. The
Monks would swear out OF It,"
"That's so, too"
81 wonder If the dogs dead?" said Tom
slowly.
The words were scarcely uttered when
Hero imped back to the spot they STOOD
on, whined, fell, and dropped in his
tracks.
Tom got off his horse and cursed as
round,y under his breath as if the ruff
fans had killed his dearest relative.
as he dead, Tom?"
"Dead as a stone. Now, then, you may
bit IN get even with them as killed Hero
IF have to hunt 'cm ten years, III get
eFcD with c n
"Letus 90 back, dad," said Club.
The trio rctraccd their stops, but no
sound was hca d. At one time Club
thought she heard a moan, but 1T was
flnOU and fh1V
moved on.
"No, l see it isn't, father" said Chuo
sadly. Il reckon we may as well give IL
up now, and go after Squatty"
So they turned their horses hcadS
again and resumed their journey homo
cautiously. They were on the Lookout,
and rode along in silence, trusting that
fortune might enable them to hear or
see something that would assist them in
clearing up the terrible mystery that In
volyed the fate Of Dan Bash
But they wero doomed to disappoint-
ment. They reached Hank Dawson 8
without encountcring anything unusual.
| All was as it should be at Hank Daw-
sons
They rode on to the Corners.
The morn was beginning to get gray
at this time. The Corners was as silent
as the grave. Not soul was in view
So they turned over the sloping hill
side. and putting up their horses and
feeding them well, the party entered
Hank DawSOn's comfortable homo.
What picture was presented there!
The dishes prepared for the feast were
as they were left by tho merrymakers.
Many of the rich viands were as yet un-
touched NThe evidences of grand frolic
were on every side.
"This don't look much like we'd
ding" said Club as she made room for
Tom B:ggers, "but you mark what tell
you. They'll be the joIliest time here
when Dan Bash gets back, as he's sure
to do"
"Don't talk that way, Club" said her
father sorrowfully.
"Why not dad? feel that way, and
I'm going to talk that way till Dan is
found, as he's sure to be soon. "
"Tell you what, Chub," said her father.
"Let's all go to bed for an hour or two
and b gin again."
after we get a little to eat, dad. Nan
and Tom must be pccky, and l know
I'll be the better of Bite"
She busted herself, and while heI
father made big blazing fire in few
minutes, Club soon had pot of tea
ready, which they all appreciated, ano
after eating heartily they all retired tol
an hour or two of sound rest
As Club lay sleeping she had strange
dream,
She thought she was walking on
bright morning along mountain pain
The path seemed natural at first, but a.
Club strolled on she realized that 1T wa:
a strange freak of nature.
1t was not path at ALL 1t was q
channel cut in the rocks-a cleft. Th(
vines grew in it; the sun shone straight
down in it, hut she could not see OF
either side She could see the tops o.
the trees. She heard the birds clearly
felt the breeze blow her hair.
Then something seemed to hold hel
there. She was unable to go forward OF
back. She was para'yzcd She wa:
not afraid, however. She simply won
dcred what was the matter. Then sht
discovered suddenly that the vines
formed vast network; they held hel
arms. her feet. She was like one tied
tound hand and foot. She could no
move finger. She was crying out TO
help when she awolle.
"What is it, Chub?" 1t was her faith
er's voice calling her.
90! I've had such q strange dream
dad"
Then Club got up and dressed herSel
with nervous haste.
HANK rose at once too, and soon thei
guest joined them.
give had the strangest dream, dad
l know where Dan is now"
"Where is he, Chub?"
"Hes caught-he's held fast some
where. Them Monks, reckon, can tell
LeaStways we'll hunt 'em up, righ
away now, and make them talk.
The breakfast was speedily prepared
They were so anxious to resume the in
quiry that they ate sparingly. Thel
they saw to their horses, and half al
hour later they were on the road, ant
at the Corners.
Tho sun was hours high, and all wa
hustle at the Corners, where eli Pott
was waiting on his customers at the Dai
aad his wife Susan was scolding her hel
for not being able to wait on her Gus
toners as fast as breakfast was calle
for Many were late callers-Srcl
rush was never known at the Corner
Tavern before since Eli Potts took charg
Of it.
As Club and her father rode up the
bchcld number of horses and men nea
the tavern. Chief among the group wa
| Nod NToDlz ond little distance frOI