The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-08-25
CHAPTER IX-Continued

thing 90 do, first"
AS ne trotted around the pond, un-
der the slide and made for the car
from which four thousand feet of logs
had rumbled down to menace him,
Ole put down his pike-pole and fol-
lowed.
AS the Swede rounded the halfemp-
tied car he saw John squatted low to
the snow.
Careful, Ole!" the boy cautioned.
teeth chattering. Don't step in his
tracks. Got a match?"
Edging along so that his feet would
not Obliterate any of the traces there
in the newly fallen snow, the older
man drew matches from his pocket
and lighted one.
HE came in from yonder," John
said, pointing to lumber piles. HE
stood there behind that truck, a while;
squatted down. see? Here's where his
weight rocked up on the balls of his
feet. =. Came over here and after
wards went out that way. See where
he RAM"
"Who. Yohn?" Ole asked, puzzled
whoever tripped the stakes to LET
the load down on mel" John laughed
harshly. "YOu didn't think they just
let go, did you, Ole?"
"Yumpin' Yesusr % breathed his COM
panion.
Hustle with the light now. Let's
see what we can see!"
Together they bent low over the
tracks, while Ole struck a fresh match
New rubbers. see, Ole? :. See
that star brand in the heel? Old
ones wouldn't leave a clean mark like
that: looks like the work of
die. Heavy big man."
Quickly he spanned the footprints with
spread fingers to gauge the dimensions
of the footmarks. Long stopper, too
See how far he stepped when he Lii
out for cover? Tall as am, Ole"
The Swede was speechless until
John. staring off into the shadows of
the lumber yard, involuntarily moaned
with the cold.
''Py gosh, Yonny, you come by a
fire now quick!"
He went then, standing before open
fire-box in the boiler room, undressing
there, staring at the roaring. orange
mass of blazing wood which drove the
cold from his body and set his gar
ments steaming. The fighting light in
his eyes was something to behold,
and as he later changed from his half
dried clothing in his room. rubbing
his great body briskly to drive out
the last of the chill, his movements
were quick and sharp, possessing
distinctly vindictive quality.
He did not eat. He went, instead,
from store to store where footgear
was sold in Kampfest. In the third
and last place where he might find
clew the proprietor advised one to bet
his life he had rubbers.
New stock. Just opened 'em this
week." he said. They're the best
buy for the money I've found and"
John did not listen as the man ex-
tolled the virtues of his wares. He
held a rubber in his hand. gazing at
the raised star in the heel with it's
constellation of little stars about it, at
the heavy, crepe sole like the surface
of a spring mushroom.
"Sold many?"
swell, not many. Only two pairs,
yet You ask the boys. though. They'll
tell you they fit fine around the foot
Try one on and"
"Not now. Who bought?"
The merchant scratched his head
and told him the names of his pur-
chasers. The last man mentioned
crystalized the suspicion that had been
In Johns mind.
The recreation hall was accommo-
dating its usual evening throng when
John entered. He passed among
tables where smear and checkers en-
gagged, attention, went past the fire.
place towards the pool tables with
their shaded green lights.
Baxter was sitting against the WALL
a pimply faced lad grinning at him
from one side; another loafer sitting
bent far forward, elbows on his
knees: sycophants. He looked up. per-
haps a trifie warily, as John ap-
preached. His hands were in his
pockets, one foot crossed over the
other knee.
"Put up your foot, Baxter!" John
said sharply, coming to halt before
him.
The man started
''Huh?" he asked.
"Put up your foot"
"Who says so?' he asked trucu-
lently.
81 do. Put IL upl"
The man laughed.
IF you want my foot up" he
growled, drawing his hands from his
pockets. you go down and git il
and"
John went down with q swoop and
crouch, swing of his one hand. fasten-
ing on the mans ankle, backward
sway. dragging Baxter from his chair
with a thud. crash. an OATH
One leg in the air. held there by
that hand, seated on the floor for a
split second, the man gawped while his
face flooded with ugliness.
John stared down at the sole: big
star; little stars. crepe rubber on the
sole.
Thought sol" he said with a sharp
nod and let the resisting leg go.
Baxter had started to turn over
with a mighty heave of his great body
as John relinquished his grip. His
foot dropped and upset him again but
he came up with an agile scramble,
cursing, clenching his fists
But a man, even a fighting man. q
bullying fighting man, doesn't wade in
and crush a man who stands before
him. mind on something other than
fighting so completely that be pays
no attention to the drawing back of