The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-04-12

other. The impact of smashing blows
on naked flesh sounded horribly cruel
to Sheba.
She ran forward. calling on each by
name to stop. Probably neither knew
she was there. Their whole attention
was focused on each other. Not for
an instant did their eyes wander, for
life and death hung on the issue.
Chance had lit the spark of their re-
sentiment, but long-banked passions
were blazing fiercely now.
They got to their feet and fought toe
to toe. Sledge-hammer blows beat upon
bleeding and disfgured faces. No
thought of defense us yet was in. the
mind of either. The purpose of each
was to bruise MAIN. make helpless the
other. But for the impotent little cries
of Sheba no sound broke the stiffness
save the crunch of their feet on the
hard snow, the thud of heavy fists on
| flesh, and the throaty snarl of their
| deep. irregular breathing.
| Gid Holt. from the window of the
cabin, watched the battle with shining
eyes. He exulted in every blow Of
Gordon; he suffered with him when
| the smashing rights and lefts of Mac
donald got home. He shouted jeerS.
advice. threats, encouragement. If he
had had ten thousand dollars wagered
on the outcome he could not have been
more excited.
saltwater Peter, drawn by the
cries of Sheba, came running from the
stable. AS he passed the window, Holt
caught him by the arm.
"What are you amin to do, Pete?
Let 'em alone. Let 'em go to 1t. They
got to have it out. Stop 'em now and
| they'll get at it with guns"
Sheba ran up, wringing her hands.
"Stop them, please. They're killing
/ each other"
I Nothing of the kind, girl. You let
'em alone, Pete. The kids there every
minute, amt he? Gee, that's good
one, boy. Seven eleven-ninety-tw
'Attaboy!"
Macdonald had slipped on the snow
and gone down to his hands and knees
Swift as a wildcat the younger man
was on top of him. Hampered though
he was by his parka, tie Scotsman
struggled slowly to his feet again. He
was much the heavier man, and liz
spite of his years the stronger. The
muscles stood out in knots on his
shoulders and across his back, whereas
on the body of his more slender oppo
nent they flowed and rippled in round
ed symmetry. Active as heather cat
Elliot was far the quicker of the two.
Half-blinded by. the hammering h,
had received, Gordon changed hi
method Of fighting. He broke ava.
from the clinch and sidestepped tn,
!. bull-like rush of his foe, covering VI
as well as he could from the onset
Macdonald pressed the attack and wa
beaten back by hard, straight lefts an,
rights to the unprotected face.
4 The mine-owner shook the matte,
hair from his swollen eyes and rushe,
again. He caught an uppercut flush Of
the end of the chin. 1t did not evel
stop him. The weight Of his body wa
in the blow he dashed up from hi
side
The knees Of Elliot doubled up UT
der him like the blade of jack-knift
He sank down slowly, turned, got t
his hands and knees, and tried t
: shake off the tons Of weight tina
seemed to be holding him down.
|. Macdonald seized him about thu
waist and flung him to the grount
e Upon the inert body the victor dropped
!, his knees clinching the torso of tn
{ unconscious man.
"Now, Pete. Go to him !" urged Hol
e wildly.
;. But before saltwater could NOV,
D before the great fist of MACEDONIA
!. could smash down upon the bleedin
: face upturned to his, sharp bio
e struck the flesh Of the raised forearl
and for the moment stunned the mu
b cles. The Scotch-Canadian lifted
q countenance drunk with rage, passion
t tossed.
y Slowly the light of reason came bac
a into his eyes. Sheba was standing b.
Y fore him, his rifle in her hand. Sf
], had struck him with the butt of it.
t Don't touch him! Don't you dal
|. touch him!" she challenged.
y He looked at her long, then let h
b, eyes fall to the battered face of h
e enemy. Drunkenly he got to his fe'
s and leaned against a willow. III
forces were spent, his muscles weigh
ed as with lead. But it was not tn
b alone that made his breath come sho
and raggedly.