Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 May 1891 — CHUB. [ARTICLE]

CHUB.

A Romance of West Virgioia,

BY DAVID LOWRY.

CHAPTER VIII. CHUB’B RUSE. Chub talked the most. She seemed to regain her spirits sitting there with the people who prized the companionship of Dan Bash. “Was ,Dan like himself —just as he always was, Mrs. Bigger?” “Just the same, more’n ho was a bit livelier. Natrally. Seem’ as how it was his ” “Did he say anything about any one—meeting anyone on the road?” “Why, no. Leastways, not as I heerd.” Hank Dawson looked meaningly at his daughter. Chub did not notice the glance. “Did Dan ever say he had any particular enemy in school?” “Why, no, child. The folks as didn’t like Dan Bash didn’t go to school, an’ they didn’t send their children.” “Then there are folks that didn’t like him?” “Bless you, don’t everybody know them Monks can't bear the sight of him? And he hadn’t not a mite of love for the Monks. The hull parsell was agin him, and he was hot on the hull hassell.” “So?” said Hank Dawson. “Well, mind; what he said to us he wouldn't blurt out afore everybody. ” “He wasn't afraid of them, then?” “I know what’s in your mind, Chub. No! He didn’t care a mite for the hull gang o’ them, and they knew it, like as not, cos he was outspoken that way.” “I know that. ” “Course you do. Everybody knows Dan Bash speaks what's in his mind if he don’t like a thing.” “Did he ever say he met any of the Monks crowd?” “Often. ” “Well —what more?” “Why, he laughed, and said they gave him a clear track. ” “Well?” “That’s about the heft of it. ’Less it be the time he caught Bob Squatty peekin’ round the road somewhere near the failin’ rock.” “The falling rock,” said Hank Dawson. “Why, that ain’t on the road.” “Course not. Dan was out hunting. ” “Oh!” “And Squatty came round there, too, an’ something passed atween ’em. I never could just make out what ’twas. I suspect—just because, somehow —that Dan had some words with Squatty. ” “He always did laugh so when any one mentioned Squatty after that time.” “How long ago was that, Mrs. Bigger?” “Well, two weeks or more, I reckon.” Chub looked intently at her father, who returned her look meaningly. He was beginning to understand the drift of the inquiry Chub was making, for that was the practical result of her prolonged talk with the Diggers “Is your dog good?” was Chub's next query. Her father looked at her curious'y. Mrs. Bigger whispered to one of her sons: “Seems to me Chub’s gettin’ kinder out of her head. ” The son turned to Chub quickly: “Yes. I'd not swap my dog for any around these part 3.” “Is he Quick on the scent?” “None quicker. ” “Well, dad”—here Chub looked at her father smilingly—“l reckon we'll go home now. ” “Home? Home this time o’ night!” said Mrs. Bicger. “I thought you cal’lated on sleepin’ hyer,” said the oldest Bigger boy “I’ve changed my mind, ” said Chub. “Dad. let’s get our horses and go. ” “No hurry yet a while, Chub. ” “None in the least,” said Mfs. Bigger, in a friendly tone. “If so be you mustgo home, you can take a good rest afore you start'agin. ” “I’m willin’ any time.” Hank marveled much at Chub’s notion, but they sat talking at least half an hour longer, and then Chub rose. l B»n Bigger prepared to accompany them. The horses were brought around very quietly at Chub’s special request, and when they were ready to go she requested Tom to instruct his dog to keep quiet. “He will mind you, Tom. ” “He’ll do just as 1 say, that dog will.” “Well, then, keep him near you, so that you can make him obey you no matter what happens. ” Tom Bigger spoke to his dog, and then the three rode out into the darkness. Tom Bigger and his dog were in advance. Hank rode behind his daughter. “What is it, Chub?” said Hank Dawson. “Can’t you guess, dad?” “No. You know, I reckon.” “Why, I wanted the rest to go away first, and it would get out that we d stopped at the Biggers'. ” “Well?” “Then if anybody is on the lookout—anybody who knows anything about Dan, or who may be looking for him on their account, like the Monks, we may come on them unawares if we ride along quietly. ” “That’s the reason you brought the dog along. ” “To strike any fresh scent I feel pretty 6ure we’ll find somebody.” As if to verify her prediction, Tom Bigger cautioned his dog at that moment “Quiet there. Here, Hero. ” “You heard that dad?” “I’m wide awake, Chub, you bet.” They were near Tom Bigger now. “There’s something up there atween us and the rock. ” said Tom Bigger. “Dad,” said Chub in a low tone, “you go ahead; Tom, you make right after whatever it is, and I’ll stay right where 1 am. Then we’ll find out what Hero’s smelled. ” This seemed a wise course to pursue. “Dad, ” said Chub, as he left her side, “mind your shootin’ irons. ” handy,” said Hank Dawson, as he moved on. It was as much as Tom Bigger could do now. to restrain his dog. Hero wanted to rush up the mountain side. “Now, then,” said Chub, when her father had ridden out of her sight “you let the dog go, Tom. ” Tom made a sound that the dog longed to Lear, and then Hero leaped through the heavy undergrowth, crashing his

way toward the rock that rose like a wall to the right of the little party on the road. Thero was another sound heard—a sound of crackling twigs, and leaps rather than steps, as of a man or large animal brushing its way through the undergrowth. ) This was succeeded by a single sharp cry, as of one In mortal terror. Then Hero gave tongue freely. Ho howled rather than barked. Chub was all eyes and ears. She had her rifle in her hand, ready to use it She had held it ready for use during the entire search for Dan Bash. Suddenly a form leaped across the road below her. She could just distinguish the outlines of a man—then the figure disappeared in the darkness. “This way, Tom! Dad! It’s a man!” cried Chub. They both rode to her side quickly. “Where’s the dog?” “I can’t mako it out,” said Tom Bigger. “Didn't you fee Hero?” “No! But it won’t do to let the man escape. Everything depends on catching him, dad.” They sat like statues there in the darkness, listening intently. “Where can the dog be?” said Tom Bigger angrily. “That’s the first time I ever knew Hero to ” A yell, a growl, and a howl of pain startled them. Hero was proving the stuff he was made of. He had found his game.

CHAPTER IX. HUN DOWS. “Now, then. Let us be quick, dad!” | As she spoke, Chub turned her horse’s head to the left, and made her way as rapidly as the forest trees would admit of in the direction of the sound made by the man and the dog. It was plain, now, that a combat was waged between the two. The dog yoiped; the man shouted and swore. Hank Dawson was unwieldy on horseback, but he reached the dog’s side almost as soon as Tom Bigger and Chub. In an instant both were off their horses, and Tom Bigger was speaking sternly to his dog. “Hero! Quiet there. Behave yourself. Who is that? If you answer, I’ll pull the dog off. ” “My God! lie’s eating me up. Take him off. ” Bigger pulled Hero back by main strength, while Hank Dawson struck a light. “ Humph ! Thought I knew that voice. ” “It’s you, Bob Squatty.” Chub looked down on aim scornfully. Hank Dawson held a freshly lit blazing pine knot near Squatty s face. Squatty was trembling like an aspen. Tom Bigger held Hero back with his right hand. Hero licked his chops, and opened his jaws. Squatty recoiled suddenly. “What are you doing here?” demanded Hank Dawson. “Yes, that’s what I’d like to know,” said Tom Bigger. “Take the dog away, will you’” whined Squatty. “Not till 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 Biggers. “The dog won’t touch you now,” said Chub. “W'e are here. You know wo won’t permit the dog to hurt you. But tell us what you did to Hero. He is mad to get at you for v, hat you have done. ” Tom Bigger looked closely at his dog. “You mean skunk! You’ve cut him, so you have. ” “He did. did he?” Hank Dawson glared at the trembling wretch. “Anybody’d done what I did. He was coming at me with his teeth when I slashed him. ” “That’s why he howled,” said Bigger. “And I howled, too, didn’t I?” “Yes—you are a pooty one,” said Bigger, contemptuously. “Let’s take him to Diggers’,” said Chub, suddenly. “Then lie’ll tell us what we want to find out,” “No. no! don’t! Don't!” said Squatty, 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,” demanded Chub. “Yes. ” “All alone! I scarce thought it,” said Hank. “Well, I was.” “And what were you doing? “I was walking along the road just.” “Just taking a little stroll,” said Tom Bigger. “Probably he was thinking of turnin’ over a new leaf,” said Hank. “Speak out, you poor coward! Who sent you up here? And what were you sent for? Now, tell the truth, or maybe you’ll wish you had. You know I never said one thing and did another. I mean to get at the truth. Did you know where you were going?” “Y-y yes. Yes, I did.” “Oh! you did. Where were you goiug?” “J-j-just along p-p-past your p-p-lace, Mr. Dawson, to the Corners. ” “Oh! and who sent you? Who were you going to meet? Did you expect to see anybody at my house? You knew nobody was there, didn’t you?” “ I'e-yes. ” “You thought dad and mo wouldn’t be home; isn’t that it, Bob Squatty?” said Chub. He looked at her fearfully. Hank gave the pine knot a shake,.and as it played up brightly they could see now quite plainly the marks Hero’s teeth had made in bquatty's bleeding arm. “Yes—we thought you was to at Biggers’. ” “Wet Wet” Hank Dawson laughed a grating laugh. It was not like any laugh Squatty had ever heard before. He shivered with apprehension. “I —I —l guess I’d best tell all I know.” “I reckon that will save a heap of trouble,“ said Hank Dawson, dryly; “a heap of trouble. ” “Just begin at the beginnin’, Bob; an’ if you happen to forget anything, we'U try to remind you of it. so ato help yon out. Dad, you'd best get another pine knot. ” “Y-y-you’U not hnrt me—promise you won’t ” 1 “Shut up, you dog!” said Hank Dawson, sternly. “Tell us ali you know, and be quick, for I’m in a bad humor, and gettin’ no better fast ” “Then I’ll own up,” said Squatty. “That’s right Make a clean breast of the hull business,” said Tom Biggers. “I will,” said Squatty. “But mind the dog—keep the dog off me!”

■" CHAPTER X. SQUATTY'S SraPHIBINQ STATSUOBST. “I was going over to spy ’round your place, Mr. Dawson." “Just to see everything was all right —kind of you, Bob," said Hank Dawson, as he lit a fresh pine-knot “Go ahead, I’ll not spoil your story, cos it must be interestin’." “I didn’t mean to touch a thing. I was just going oyer to look around. And then I was going to the tavern. That was all. Just to look around." Squatty gulped down a big lump in his throat Nobody replied. A single night bird screamed. Squatty started, then settled down again, and glanced from one to the other. They wore not a friendly, group. Chub’s lips expressed scorn and aversion. Hank Dawson looked as he never looked before. There was a gleam in his eyes that frightened poor Squatty. Tom Biggers was as hard-looking as fate. There was a relentless stare in his big black eyes that chilled Squatty. He cleared his throat twice, and resumed his story. “I wasn’t doin’ all myself. Of course not. ” Still no response. “’Twasn’t my idea at all. ” Still that chilling silence. Squatty grew frantic with fear. “My God, folks! If I split on ’em they’ll kill me. They’re sworn to do it sure. ” “They? They? Who’s they?” demanded Chub quickly. “You know. Of course you know. ” “I know nothing,” said Chub. “Tell me." “Why Ned and Bill and Peto and all the rest of the Monks, and the crowd.” “Oh. ” “You do know, Chub. You saw everything that day. ” “What day. ” “The day at the spring. ” “What spring? Speak out plain.” Of course Chub knew very well what ho referred to; but she had an object in view. She wanted a witnoss. Hank Dawson and his daughter were good enough—it would be still better if their statements were corroborated by a third party. This was why she compelled the poor wretch to be explicit. “I mean the day you seen Ned Monk tryin’ to shoot Dan Bash. ” “You mean the same day you tried to club him while Bill Monk rushed on him with a knife —and I shot his arm, and then came between you and all?” “I never heard of that,” said Tom Biggers “You hear it fiom Squatty, now,” said Chub meaningly. “O! I’m wake-awake, you bet.” “Yes well that was the folks I meant,” said Squatty. “That was the same day the whole crowd jumped on Dan, and I threatened to put a bullet in the first man that touched him,” said Chub. “Yes. The same day. Ned and Bill sent me along ahead to-night, because ” “Stop. How did you know we wer’n’t at home?” “Why, we knew. ” “How did you know?” Hank Dawson’s look was so threatening that Squatty recoiled. “Don’t hit me ” “Hit you! Hit you, you poor devil. If I touchod you with my boot, I’d burn it. Go on.” “Why, they’ve been on the watch.” “Where?” “Everywhere.” “Be more explicit, ” said Chub. “Where were the Monks to-night‘>” “At the forks of the road. ” “Where were they?” “In the trees —up high.” “How did they learn we were not going home’” “They overheard your folks talking as they rode home. ” “Humph!” “It’s God’s truth. ” “What do you know about God’s truth, you wretch?” “Well, I ain’t lying now.” “That come 9 nearer it. Now, then, Squatty. ” Bob bounced as ho was addressed sternly. “You've spun a nice yarn to us.” “’Deed, Mr. Dawson, I—l ” “Shut up! I’d not believe you if you swore on as many bibles as you could pile up all over the county,” “Nor I,” said Tom Diggers. “Nor I either, Squatty,” said Chub, quietly. “I happen to know that part of what you say is the truth. Now to begin with. What do you know about Dan Bash? Where is he?” “I don’t know. I swear I don’t know nothin’ about him.” “Very well,” said Chub, coolly. “Now, who was in the business? Which of the Monks besides you? Or were you all in the scrape?” “Before God, Chub ” “See here,” said Hank Dawson, roughly, “I thought I told you once afore not to mention somebody as don’tjknow you, an’ ain’t likely to have you for a tenant.” “I won’t say God again. ” “Best not. You’d best talk about the devil. He’s your company, Squatty.” “Well, I swear I don’t know nothin’ about Dan Bash ” “You lie!" said Tom Biggers. “If I die for’t, I don’t, ” said Squatty. Chub looked at him earnestly. “No use in lying now, Squatty.” “I ain’t lyin’.” “And you’ll swear you don’t know who has waylaid Dan Bash?” “I’ll swear it I don’t b'lieve he was waylaid by nobody. ” “You’ll Swear Ned and Bill Monk haven't got him hid somewhere?” “I know they haven't. ” “How do you know? They don’t tell you everything. They make a tool of you." “I know it But I know they didn’t do nothin’ to Dan Bash, too. If they know'd where he was, what d they keep me trottin' roun' trying everywhere to get track of where he is afore your folks iound him for?” “See here, Squatty,” said Hank Dawson, suddenly, “if you say that again—if you pretend they don’t know where he is at this moment, I’ll smash yon.” The blacksmith drew his arm back. His tremendous fist was clenched. At that moment Chub grasped his arm. “Don't, don’t, dad ! Squatty's telling the truth I see it in his face. ” Hank Dawson’s arm fell at his side, and Squatty breathed free for the first time since he fell into their hands. [TO BE CONTINUED.]

A pupil defined crow-bar as “a bar from a musical rooster’s crow." /