The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-01-30
CHAPTER XVII-Continued

Lee Siipped aside. even rolled over,
managed TO get to his feet. Again
Trevors bore down upon him. a new
ieaping fire In his eyes. Again, though
barely in time, Bud Lee slipped away
from him He drew Tre7ors' harsh
laugh after him and TrevorS' queSting,
eager fists. Lee put up his arm. his
right arm, guarding his face, and drew
away, back and back. Carson was
almost whimpering. calling whining
ly:
stand up TO him, Budl Oh, go get
him, Buddiei"
Still up and down the room they
went, Trevors rushing at Lee. Lee
taking what blows he must, striking
out but little seeking now only TO pull
himself together, TO get his head clear
of daze and dizziness.
Run away, will your" painted Trey
ors. I've got you, On lou. Got
you right"
Lee didn't answer. He was think
ing duly that Bayne Trevors was
near telling the truth. that Bud Lee
was as far as a gentleman ever went
just TO that desperate almost
beaten" Not quite. MOI not quite.
Never that.
Both men were nearly spent; Car
son saw that while he cursed softly
In his corner; Melvin saw it and
watched for the end, wondering just
how il would come. Trevors should
swing for the point of the jaw. put all
that was in him into final, smashing
blow, beat through an insufficient
guard, do ii now, quickly. For both
Carson and Melvin saw another thing,
a thing which both had senSed at the
outset: Bud Lee was harder than
Bayne Treyors. Lee, slipping away
at every step was getting something
back which had nearly gone from
him; Trevors was breathing in noisy
jerks; save for the vital fact that he
now had two hands to Bud Lees one
Trevors was showing more signs of
WEAKNESS thai Lee.
"Budll get him-somehow," whis-
pered Carson. Good old Bud. Some
how"
What Carson and Melvin sensed
Trevors knew. He saw that Lee was
having less trouble in eluding him
now, that Lees feet were quicker,
lighter than his, that Lee was begin
ming to strike back viciously at him,
and when the blow landed, Treyors
big body rocked, shot through with
pain. There came TO him the thought
which was Melvin's. but it came in
Trevors' way: Now, quickly, before
Lee was ready for il, must come the
end. So, for the third time that day
Bayne Treyors, with much at stake,
resorted TO what weapons God gave
him, what weapons he could lay his
mind to, his eyes TO. his hands to-
his feet to. Resorting to the old
trick which came up from South
American ports in disreputable wind
TANNERS which is known TO the San
Francisco waterfront, he raised
heavy foot, striking for Lees stomach,
seeking with one low, horrible blow
to double up his already handicapped
antagonist in writhing pain on the
floor.
"An' / gave my wordw beloved
Carson. the sweat on his own tor
tured brow. "Oh, my Gawd"
But just that one brief instant too
late did Bayne Trevors lift his foot.
For Bud Lee had expected this. never
had forgotten 1t, had prayed within
his soul that the man he fought
would use it. Just by that fraction
of time which has no name was he
quicker than Trevors, and he knew
1t. Now, as he read the sinister pur-
pose in Trevors' giaring eyes. as he
glimpsed the raised boot as it left the
floor, he lowered his own head. averted
IL ever so little, stooped-and his hand
closed like locked iron about the calf
of Trevors' leg. A stified cry from
the bulkier man, little grunt of effort
from Lee, Lee straining, heaving
nightly, and Trevors went back. top
pied, fought for his slipping balance.
and fell As he went down Lee was
upon him. Lees arm about his neck
Lees weight flung upon him. Lee
holding his body between a powerful
pair of knees which rode him as they
rode daily some struggling Blue Lake
colt.
Now Buds left arm, defying the
agony of a broken hand, was around
him, Lees legs were about the fran
tically fighting body, and at last Lees
right hand went its sure way 10 the
thick, bareo, pulsing throat Treyors'
right arm was caught at his side. held
there by the body upon his. His left.
hand beat at Lees face, struck and
battered again only TO come back like
q steam-driven piston TO hammer
again. But Bud Lees pain-racked
body chung on. his thumb and fingers
sank and sank deeper into the corded
muscles of the heaving throat. crooked
like talons. white and hard and re-
ientless.
Treyors' eyes were terrible. filed
with hatred. red-flecked With rage. he
sought. with great sudden heaye, TO
roll over. But he could not shake off
the legs which were like stubborn
fentacies about him. could not free his
throat of the tensing clutch. He tore
at the wrist, smofe again at Lees
head, set his own hand TO Lees throat.
In an instant his hand was back at the
hand worrying him. but he was I'M
able to drag ii away.
His face went white, famed red.
grew purplish. His eyes bulged up
at Lees, his deep chest contracted
systematically. Lee. summoning all of
the force within him. drove thumb and
fingers deeper.
s4Gof anouah ., ha rapfod