Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-01-04
CHAPTER IL.
RUN DOWN.

aNow. then. Let us be quick, dad!"
AS she spoke, Club turned her horses
head to the left, and made her way as
RAPIDLY as the forest trees would admlt
of in the direction of the sound made by
the man and the dog.
II was plain, now, that combat was
waoed between the two. The dog yelped;
the man shouted and swore.
Hank Dawson was unwieldy on horse
back. but he reached the dogs side al
most as soon as Tom Bigger and Club.
Tn an instant both were off their horses,
and Tom Bigger was speaking Sternly TO
his dog.
"Hero! Quiet there. Behave your
self Who is that? If you answer, I'll
pull the dog off,"
"My God he's eating me up Take
him off,
Bigger pulled Hero back by main
strength, while Hank Dawson struck
light
"Humph Thought knew that voice. "
"It's you, Bob Squatty.
Club looked down on MIN scornfuily
Hank Dawson held freshly lit blazing
pine knot near Squattys face.
Souatty was trembling like an aspen.
Tom Bigger held Hero back with his
right hand.
Hero licked his chops, and opened his
laws Squatty recoiled suddenly.
"What are you doing here?" demanded
Hank Dawson.
ayes, that's what I'd like to know"
said Tom Bigger.
"Take the dog away, will you ?"
whined Squatty.
@Not TIL you tell me what you were
doing on the road this time OF night,
said Bigger.
Poor Squatty was Quaking with fear.
"a nice specimen you are" said Tom
Blggers.
SThe dog wort touch you now" said
| Chub. 1--WE are here. You know we
won't permit the dog to hurt you. But
tell Us what you did to Hero. He is mad
to get at you for what you have done. 1"
Tom Bigger looked closely at his dog.
"You mean skunk! You've cut him,
so you have"
"He did, did hep"
Hank Dawson glared at the trembling
wretch
"Anybody'd done what did. He was
coming at me with his teeth when
slashed him"
"That's why he howed," said Bigger.
"And howled, too, didn't II"
"Yes-you are pooty one," said Big
ger, contemptuously.
"Let's take him to Biggers'," said
Club, suddenly. "Then he'll tell us
what we want to find out"
mo, mol don't! Don't!" said Squat
ty, shivering with terror.
"Well, then, tell us what you are doing
on the road at this hour" said Hank
Dawson.
"He seems tongue-tied," said Bigger
as Squatty continued silent, looking
from one to the other.
"Who was with you? Were you alone, J"
demanded Club.
"Yes"
"All alonel scarce thought it," said
Hank.
"Well, I was"
sand what were you doing?
II was walking along the road just I"
"Just taking little STROLL" said Tom
Bigger.
"Probably he was thinking of turnin'
over q new leaf" said Hank Speak
out, you poor cowardl Who sent you
up here? And what were you sent for?
Now, tell the truth, or maybe you'll
wish you had. You know l never said
one thing and did another. mean to
get at the truth Did you know where
you were going?"
"Y-y-yes. Yes, did,"
ooh! you did, Where were you go.
ing?n
"J-j-just along p-p-past your p-p-lace,
Mr.. Dawson, to the Corners.
ooh! and who sent you? Who were you
going to meet? Did you expect to see
anybody at my house? You knew no
body was there, didn't you?"
"Ye-yes."
"You thought dad and me wouldn't be
home; isn't that it, Bob Squatty?" said
Club
He looked at her fearfully. Hank
gave the pine knot shake, and as it
played up brightly they could see now
quite plainly the marks Hero's teeth had
made in SQuG tty's bleeding arm.
"Yes-we thought you was to stop at
Biggers'."
"WeP We2"
Hank Dawson laughed grating laugh.
1t was not like any laugh Squatty had
ever heard before. He shivered with
apprehension.
i'll guess I'd best tell all know "
81 reckon that will save heap OF
trouble" said Hank Dawson, dryly; "a
heap of trouble"
a.Iust begin at the beginnin', Bob; an
If you happen to forget anything, 'oet'
try to remind you of it, SOS to help you
out. Dad, you'd best get another pine
knot"
"Y-y-you'n not hurt me-promise
you won't"
"Shut up, you dog!" said Hank Daw-
son, sternly. "Tell us all you know, and
be quick, for I'm in bad humor, and
gettin no better fast,
"Then I'll own up" said Squatty.
"Ihat's right Make clean breast OF
the hull business" said Tom Biggers
II will" said SQuatty. "But mind the
dog-kcep the dog off mel"