The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-02-14

AANGAAC NCNh dDONG. AllHOSl Instantly
he heard cry of alarm He could hear
the shuf1ling of footsteps and the sound
of heavy bodies moving.
Someone lifted a frightened shout.
Help Help" The call had come,
he thought, from Selfridge.
Gordon flung open the door of his
room, raced along the deck and took
the stairs three at u time. A huddle
of men swayed and shifted heavily in
front of him.
Even as he ran toward the mass.
Elliot noticed that the only sounds
were grunts, stertOrous breathings.
and the scraping of feet The attack
ers wanted no publicity. The attacked
was too busy to waste breath in futile
cries. He was fighting for his life.
Two men. separated from the crowd,
lay on the deck farther aft. One was
on top of the other, his fingers clutch
ing the gullet of his helpless opponent.
The agony of the man underneath
found expression only in the drumming
heels that beat a tattoo on the floor.
The spasmOdic feet were shOd in Ok
ford tans of an ultra-fashiOnable cut.
No doubt the owner of the smart foot
wear had been pulled down as he was
escaping to shout the alarm.
The runner hurdled the two in his
stride and plunged straight at the
struggling tangle. He caught one man
by the shoulders from behind and flung
him back. He struck hard, smashing
blows as he fought his way to the heart
of the melee. Heavy-fisted miners with
corded muscles landed upon his face
lind head and neck. He did not care
4 straw for the odds.
The sudden attack of Elliot had
opened the pack. The man battling
against a dozen was Colby Macdonald.
| The very number of his foes had
saved him so far from being rushed
overheard or trampied down. His coat
and shirt were in rags. He was bruised
and battered and bleeding from the
chest up. But he was still smuggling
hard.
They had him pressed to the rail- a
huge miner, head down, had his arms
around the waist of the Scotsman and
was trying to throw him overheard.
Macdonald dashed out and landed flush
upon the cheek OF Il man attempting TO
brain him with a billet of wood. He
hammered home a shOrt-arm jolt
against the ear of the giant who was
giving him the bear grip.
The big miner grunted, but hung on
like a football tackler. With jerk
he raised Macdonald from the floor
just as three or four others rushed him
again. The rail gave way, splintered
like kindling wood. The Scotsman and
the man at grips with him went oyer
the side together.
Clear and loud rang the voice of Ell
lot Man overheard :"
The wheeIsman signaled TO the en-
CINE room to reverse and blew short,
sharp shrieks of warning.
Men OverbOard-twO of en- ex-
planned Elliot in shout from the boat
which he was trying to- lower.
The first mate and another man ran
TO help him. The three of them low
cred and manned the boat. Gordon sat
in the bow and gave directions while
the other two put their backs into
the stroke.
Across the water came a call fol-
help. 'Tm sinking hurry"
The other man in the river was q
dozen yards from the one in distress
With strong, swift, overland strokes
he shot through the water.
"AIl right" he called presently. I've
got him.
The oarsmen drew alongside the
swimmer With one hand Macdonald
caught hold of the edge of the boat
The other clutched the rescued mar
by the hair of his head.
"LoOk out. You're drowning him,
the mate warned.
Sam I?''/ Macdonald glanced Will
mild interest at the head that haC
been until that moment submerged
"ShOws how absent-minded Il man gets
I was thinking about how he tried t.
drown me. I expect"
They dragged the miner aboard.
"Go ahead. I'll swim down." Mac
donald ordered.
Better come aboard" advised tn,
mate.
mo. I'm all right"
The Scotsman pushed himself bacl
from the boat and fell into an cas-!
stroke Nevertheless. there was powe
in it, for he reached the Hannah be
fore the rescued miner had beer
helped to the deck
A dozen passengers, crowded on TIT
lower deck, pushed forward eagerl.
to see. Among them was SeIfridge, hi
shirt and collar torn loose at tn,
neck and his immaculate checked sui
dusty and disheveled. He was wearing
a pair of up TO date Oxford pumps.
Macdonald shook himself like New
foundland dog. He looked arOun'
with sardonic amusement, grin OF
his swollen and disfigured face
''Quite a pleasant welcome home" h
said ironically, his cold eyes fixed oil
a face that looked as il it might hav
: been kicked by healthy mule. ''Eh
Trelawney?'
The COrnishman glared at him, AM
: turned away with a low, savage oath
Are you hurt, Mr. Macdonald?
! asked the captain
"Hurtl Not at all. captain I "a
myself while was shaving this morn
ing-just q scratch" was the ironi
4 answer.