Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-02-08

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guarding him. >.
"Yes-I want to know" said Hd K
Dawson. "Them's strange words
"If must put it palmer, they swear
or allege he deals in the queer himself
IDEALS in the queer! Queer! what
queer, Sheriff Walker?"
counterfeit money"
The blacksmith laughed derislveiy'
"Sho! Humbug. You know it's hum
bug, Sheriff.
81 don't believe a word of it,"
81 knew it,"
"But that isn't ALL"
"Eh?"
Hank Dawson looked half angry.
"Well, what else?"
"They do say" here the SherlH
hitched his chair uneasily, "that they
can prove it. And to begin with, they
say his name isn't Bash at all his real
name is something else"
"Humbug again Sheriff. Humoug'
You don't believe it?"
"No"
"Of course not"
"Dan Bash, who was looking calmly
at the Sheriff all the while, now turned
and looked up at Chub.
"WOuld it make any difference to you
whether my name is Bash, Brown OF
Buff"
"Not the least"
at might to Others" said the Sheriff
"pll own up it might mako a heap y
| difference in this case" said Hank, care
lessly. "The looks of the thing, under
the circumstan( eS, might make Ie)ple
think maybe the Monks wasn't TO-
gether wrong 'Tain't usual for nan
to change his name.
"Of coure they are wrong, Sald inc
Sheriff. "But why they arc such t'o.s
a. to pretend to be able to prove you1
name isn't Dan Bash, but altogether an
other name, which they will reyea al
tho right time-that's what puzzles me,
nnIess it's to gain time and help PIT in
time. THEY'VE sent me here on fol
errand. of course, but dutys dlty,
Hank
@Of course-of course" said Eanl'
Dawson.
."You can prove your name is Dan 5ash
very easily. L suppOSe-can bring uoSc
who will identify you, Mr. Eash' very
sOOn."
There was 'cngthy silence. lank
Dawson stared silently at his daughter
affianccd.
Club Dawson's lips were parted. Hei
ewes seemed to read her lovers soul
At last her lover turned to the Slerln
and said slowly:
"Wel, suppose my name is not BfSh-
what then?"
"Oh, why," the Sheriff said awk
wardlv, "why, l don't know as it YOU
prove anything, or go for much |her
the facts are all known
"Well, then, my name is not BaSl, Mr.
Walker"
"Not Bash"
@Not Bash-not Bash" exclaimed
Club. as she caught her hands, imerlac
ing the fingers, "You don't man 1t
DAM"
"But I do mean it," said Dan, @liber
ately. -
"Then I'm sorry" said the Shritf
afor my instructions were to bring yol
with me, and now"
"Stop, Sheriff !"
Hank Dawson walked slowly oppsit
his daughters lover, then he bent fowl
and gazed steadily in his face.
Let me near IndU dSdln' AS ~"
name Bash or not?"
Tho lovers countenance was eqlal
solemn, his manner grave, as he repled
slowly:
at is not"
"That'S all, Sheriff. For Gods Bake
take him now-nOw. / can't bear 20 Sc
him, for he was like my own sort ii
was-he waS-Sheriff.
And Hank Dawson bowed his hqd DC
tween his hands.
Club stood. spcllbound several mir
utes. Then she rushed on her bovei
caught his sound arm cOnvu 'silel an
said:
l "There's some dreadful mis- take.
believe in you. I'll die if you ne nc
all l think you are! Say you arc wha
. we think you are-O! Dan! Dam Spea
to father"
d The Sheriff turned aside and mad
:, some suspicious movements, like ma
who was wiping his eyes.
n But the blacksmith'S head was sti
bowed in humility.