The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-08-16

tophelIan, his voice edged with
irony. 1 was startled l admit. but 1
tried TO put good face on il.
Hello" ! said; I'm just taking q
stroll"
His black eyes pierced me. his black
brows met sayagely. The heavy jaw
shot forward, and for moment ,he
man, menacing and terrible, seemed
to tower above me.
"You lie /" like explosive steam came
the words, and wolf-like his lips
parted. showing his powerful teeth.
"You liel" he reiterated. "You fol-
lowed me. Didn't l see you from the
hotel? Didn't ] determine to decoy
you away. You would try to cross me.
would you? You would champion
damsels in distress7 You pretty fool
you simpleton, you meddler-"
Suddenly, without warning, he
struck me square on the face, blind
ing. staggering blow that brought me
to my knees as falls a pole-axed steer.
| was stunned, swaying weakly, trying
vainly to get on my feet Then he
struck me again, bitter, telling blow.
l was completely at his mercy now
and he showed me none. He was like
a fend. Rage seemed TO rend him.
Time and again be kicked me. brutal
ly, relentlessly, on the ribs, on the
chest, on the head. Was the man go
ing TO do me to death? | shielded my
head. I moaned in agony. Would he
never stop? Then | became uncon-
scious, knowing that he was still kick
ing me, and wondering if would ever
open my eyes again.
Long live the coId-feet tribeI Long
live the soreheads!"
II was the Prodigal who spoke.
This outfit buying's got gold mining
beaten to a standstill. Here I've been
three weeks in the burg and got over
ten thousand dollars worth of grub
cached away. Every pound of it will
net me 100 per cent profit"
He was very sprightly and elate,
but ] was In no sort of mood TO share
in his bouyancy. Physically had
fully recovered from my terrible man.
handling, but in spirit still vrithed at
the outrage of it And the worst was
| could do nothing. The law could
not help me, for there were no wit
nesses 10 the assault ] could never
cope with this man in bodily strength
Yet how bitterly brooded over the
business. At times there was even
black murder in my heart ! planned
schemes of revenge. grinding my teeth
in impotent rage the while; and my
feelings were complicated by thar
awful gnawing hunger for Berna that
never left me. 1t seemed to me as if
saw all the world through the me-
dunn of my love for her, and that all
beauty, all truth. all good was but
setting for this girl of mine.
Come on" said Jim; let's 60 for
walk in the town."
The Modern Gomorrah" he called
it, and he was never tired of expatiat
ing on its Iniquity.
We met the Jam-wagon. He had
mushed in from the creeks that very
day. Physically he looked supreme
He was berry-brown. lean, muscular
and as full of suppressed energy as an
inspiring bear trap. Financially he
was well balIasted Mentally and
morally be was in the state of
volcano before an eruption.
You could see in the quick breath
ing, in the restlessness of this nan, q
pent-up energy that clamOred to ex-
haust itself in violence and debauch.
His fierce blue eyes were wild and
rowing, his lips twitched nervousiy. He
was an atavism; of the race of those
white-bodied. ferOciOus sea kings that
drank deep and died in the dir of
battle.
AS we walked along, Jim did most
of the talking in his favorite morality
vein. The Jam-wagon pulled silently
at his briar pipe, while |, very Iistless
and downhearted. thought largely OF
my own troubles. Then, in the middle
Of the block, where most of the music
halls were situated. suddenly we met
Locasto.
| had thought much over this meet.
ing. and had dreaded it. There are
things which no man can overlook,
and, If il meant death TO me, must
again try conclusions with the brute.
He was accompanied by a little
bald-headed Jew named Spitzstein, and
we were almost abreast of them when
stepped forward and arrested them.
My teeth were cIenched; | was all
a-quiver with passion; my heart beat
violently.
He was dressed in that miners cos
tune in which he always looked so
striking. His mouth was grim as
granite, and his black eyes hard and
repellent as those of a toad.
"Oh, you coward" l cried. You
vile, dlthy cowardI"
Get out of my way" he snarled
I've got TO teach you a lesson"
Once more before could guard he
idhucu On uc Will ludl lGTElDle TlSlI
arm swing, and down ! went as if d
sledge hammer had struck me. But
instantly | was on my feet, a thing of
blind passion, of desperate tight. |
made one rush to throw myself on
this human tower of Drawn and mus
Gle. when some one pinioned me from
behind. Ii was Jim
Easy, boy" he was saying; "yc
can't fight this big fellow"
Spitzstein was looking on curiousIy.
There was breathless pause, then.
at the psychological moment, the Jam
wagon interviewed
The sm0ldering fire in his eye had
Frightened into fierce joy I; his witch
ing mouth was now grim and stern as
a prison door. For days he had been