The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-11-30

effort, he plunged toward her and fell,
huddled in a shapeless heap, at her
feet. She could hear the rasping gulps
of his breath as he lay there. There
were vague shouts of "Kill the mig
ger!" but salutations to the girl al
most drowned them out: Hello, my
beauty! Let the niger be strung up.
but you come with us!" For an In
slant AIMS mere presence held them
at bay, but the pressure behind was
strong, and all at once the entire
group burst on them, overwhelming
them. The girl cad the old negro we're
hustled roughly into the square.
Ann, feeling for the first time strange
and compelling hands upon her, struck
out with primitive fury. The men
about her fell back laughing. LET
him co." she cried, taking advantage
of the momentary lull. "Let me have
him."
A burst of laughter greeted his plea.
A man shouted, "Give us kiss, my
dear" Then the demand to xiii the
nigger!" arose again, more fiercely.
Under the confusion Of her fright,
Ann began to plan, and she steadily
pressed back down the square toward
Fifth avenue and the haven of her
guardians house. She dragged Joseph
bodily, her compelling hand on his
arm.
"Let the girl have him." voice
arose Unexpectedly, and the crowd
stilled to hear "Who is he, missT
"Why, he is just our butler" Her
young voice fioated out clearly, every
one heard.
A great roar of laughter greeted
her announcement "D-n the rich ="
some one called out. "They don't have
to be drafted They pay their dirty
money for us to go and be killed"
Her champion dropped out, as sudden
| ly as he had interviewed.
Lets take the girl, too" A rough
looking youth Ann had identified as
the leader caught her by the wrist.
and pulled her toward him, grinning.
She leaped back, ducked under his out
stretched arm, and wrenched herself
| free. The men about her fell back,
laughing and half good-natured, wait
ing to watch her fight She thought
that she might take advantage of this.
and she tried to shake old Joseph into
some vitality, so that they might at
| tempt a dash to safety, but he was
too terrified to understand. She could
only drag him after her, hopelessly,
so she began to plead with the men
nearest them; breathless and desper-
ate, she begged them to have mercy
Here and there Ann caught a sympa-
| thetic look on a mans face and felt
| that she was making some Roadway
| They were nearing her guardians
house when the leader Of the mob
thrust his flushed face almost against
her own; without further preliminary
he flung his arm about her and said
briefly, You're coming with me-"
Ann pushed him off feebly; her heart
was beating sickeningly, and she had
almost stopped struggling, when all al
once she was conscious of new ele
ment in the crowd There was confu
sion on its edge; some one was hitting
out wildly. In moment she could see
that man was pushing toward her
his fierce attack had opened wide
lane in the tight-pressed group and
almost before she realized that he was
there, he was at her side he was white
and-breathless, but she had hearten
ing realization of his courage.
us there decent man in this gang?'
he shouted. "Stand by me, boys =
Two or three shamefaced volunteers
pushed their way to his side. That's
the ticket!" He turned to Ann. "Let
the niger co." he said briefly.
She looked at him with wide and des
perate eyes, Il won't" she said "That
is my house, just there Can't we
make it?"
lance. Run for It," he ordered. as
with a savage kick he helped the limp
negro to regain his agility.
Ann thrust her arm through the Ole
mans. Her courage and her strength
came flooding back to her with the
opportunity TO escape. Joseph rolled
desperate eyes around him, and then
seeing that he was so near home and
safety, he tore himself from her grasp
and ran. The basement door was open
with Fanny's frightened face behind
it, and the fugitives fell into the house
safe The rioters flung themselves
against the stout oak door as the boil
shot into place. Ann ran tumultously
up the basement steps.
where are you going?' Fanny
called after her, terrified.
Ann paused for an instant "You
stand by the door," she directed. "That
man out there-he saved my life !
Let him in when he comes" AnG
without waiting for an answer she
1 hurried on, lame, breathless, an(
often stumbling, up the long. cruelty
steep stairs to her uncle's ROOM There
In the drawer of the table by Mr.. Cort
landts bed, she found what she want
ed. 1t was revolver, blue black ant
heavy in her hand. She was breathins
so hard that she had to wait for JUS
an instant before she opened the win
dow in the balcony overhanging the
square For moment she could MOI
see her protector, and cold terror
gripped her until the discovered him
where the knot Of men was thickest
The attack on the door had been aban
doned for the more exciting event o.
mauling the girls champion.
Ann had never fred a revolver, ant
her hands were trembling so that ever
when she used both, the long muzzl,
swept the crowd In wide curves. 81
/ shoot straight, I shall probably xii
him." she reflected grimly, as sh,
pulled very hard indeed, and managed