The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1901-03-01


tering Cinnamon into the next room
was out again and had thrown his
soiled coat over the sleeping Ha Hin.
Quickly drawing on tweed vest from
nail in the wall, he uttered rapid
warning to the questioning group
that watched his movements in con-
sternation, and disappeared stealthlly
by a side door into the darkness of a
deserted lane.
Lee Fee crept to Ha Hin's bunkan
gently shook him into wakefulness.
He was shivering with vague alarm
and his eyes looked pitiful appeal
for protection that banisheu from Ha
Inns features the smile that his
slumbers had left upon them.
"What is the matter, little Lee Fee?
Who hurts you?" he asked hoarsely.
listen, they're coming" whispered
the boy, and buried his face upon his
| friends breast.
"Who are coming, little one? Be
quick, what is it?" cried Ha Hin, ten
derby raising the boys face.
'There, you can hear them bowling.
Big To Ko, the Mantchoorian, he ran
in one second ago and ran out again.
He was all blood and had a knife. And
his eyes-oh, his eyes. Somebody had
torn his clothes, and he cursed at me
with the terrible oath. He had drunk
the strong waters again, and now we
will be killed"
Ha Hin listened with a growing
fear, and there burst from the head
of neighboring street, wild, frenzied
cries. He jumped to the middle of
the floor, and swung Lee Fee onto his
back.
"Out of this, all of you. To 10 has
got into trouble, and must have hurt
some one. Hark! they are coming for
him, and to them it will matter little
-Mantchoor1an or us. We must get
out of this for tonight, anyway.
Come on, little Lee Fee, thou and
will risk it together"
A heavy stone came crashing
through the glass of the front en-
trance and rolled to Lee Kings feet.
Ha Hin stopped and picked it up. The
rush of a score. of feet ratified the
crazy windows in their frames and the
door broke inwards. AS it flew torn
from it's hinges, Ha Hin raised the
stone high above his head and hurled
it at the oncoming tide of humanity
that surged in. 1t caught fat Ger
man full upon the chest, and he sank
to the floor with choking gasp that
sent the blood yelling from his
mouth.
Cup again, Lee Fee" he cried, and
the boy sprang into his arms.
The Chinese had slipped out by the
side door, and Ha Hin threw himself
after them. With the raging crowd of
roughs yelping at his heels, he ran
for his life and prayed to the gods
with fierce despair for strength to
elude them. Lee Fee hung tightly to
his back and closed his eyes to the
swollen, angry faces racing behind.
An iceman's assistant in the rear
stopped and threw wooden mallet.
Little Lee Fee gave a gurgling
groan of pain and his head fell for
ward upon Ha Hin's shoulder, while a
gush of warm blood spattered Ha
Hin's face. He stopped and laid the
boy tenderly upon the ground. The
pursuers uttered yell of triumph
and were upon him.
| With all the might of wild passion
and lost hope let loose, Ha Hin struck
blindly out. An Italian fruit vendor
went reeling back senseless upon his
companions, and as he fell dropped
the glittering stiletto that he had
raised to deal the death stroke. Ha
Hin's claw-lilke fingers closed upon it,
and his eyes narrowed with hideous
JOY as he sent the cold steel home in
to the shoulder of the nearest assail-
ant. A maddening joy was pulsing
through his veins and he leaped for
ward to meet them. Twice, thrice he
struck, and the knife came back dyed
was swung upon his head, and earth
and sky rocked horribly as he stag
gered backward out of reach of
second blow. A swarthy figure bound
ed to his side and sinewy arm en-
circled his neck. Ha Hin grasped the
uplifted hand and strained with
fast failing strength to tear the
Italian from his hold. His brain
was throbbing duly and the ring of
brutal faces that encompassed and
strove to reach him, blurred red and
indistinct. With a jerk the Italian
freed his wrist and the knife was
buried to the hilt in Ha Hin's breast.
He saw. the Yangtse-Kiang rolling
dreamily on, and upon the reed-clad
bank Yateesha spread her soft arms
| to welcome him. Ha Hin sighed
TREMENDOUSLY and sank lis head upon
his arm. The murmur Ct many voices
sounded faint and far away, and he
smiled; he was going back to Yatee-
sha and his happiness.
| The moon rose over the city blood
red and the air was suffocating with
oppressive heat. A hugs uniformed
figure stood sentry before thelaundry
and saluted with easy familiarity the
sergeant upon his rounds.
81 was afraid there would be trou-
bic, Lane" said the sergeant. "That
Chinee, To Ko, didn't do for Casey,
but he did fer his countryman. It's
unfortunate we didn't arrive in time