The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-06-30
CHAPTER II-Continued

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Voices, then. sharp and profane.
Someone struck him on the cheek, and
with an uppercut John dropped man
who charged in from the right The
taste of blood on his lips goaded him
They came on with a rush. He
kicked ones feet from under him, and
the falling fellow tripped another. He
struck and kicked and elbowed and
ducked His head rocked sideways
from blow, and he squeezed his eyes
shut for a split instant to check the
mounting dizziness. They could have
had him down and beaten TO pulp in
one minute, if they'd used their heads.
They were too mad, too eager to carry
the fight; they got in one another's
way. Tended off the blows of their
fellows.
A man, charging him, checked and
veered, and he had a fieeting glimpse
of a small figure on the edge of the
group, showing at his assailants, hold
ing up a dissuading hand.
A voice, then, girls voice, was
raised sharply:
stop! Stop It'll Tiny, Ezra, Way
Bill Let him alone"
The him" was beyond a doubt John
Steele Belknap. but that young man
was now in no mood to be let alonel
The figure of the leader was before
him, poised, waiting; perhaps in in
decision at the sudden whiting of spirit
or intent among his fellows; perhaps
waiting on this stranger who was so
unwelcome in their midst. If for
the latter his wait was brief be-
cause as he kicked free from those
impenc:Ig hands John rushed him,
striking out quickly with short, saw
age blows. glorying in this moment of
even odds.
The man retreated slowly. Once he
landed and jolted John severely, but
this advantage worked against him
because it tapped buried reservoirs of
strength and fury and hard fists bore
him backward into the glare that
streamed from the open station door
way.
! A cry, then, as John, bareheaded,
face set, burst into the light.
"'Tain't him, Tinyl Tain't him!"
Now this Tiny might, in another In
slant, have had reason to claim that
the shout distracted him, did he care
to lay upon an alibi. But even before
the words were past the lips that
yelped them, John found the opening
he had been fighting for.
Full on the point of Tiny's chin his
knuckles struck and the mans legs
sagged. The force of the blow rocked
him backward and he crumpled His
head, lolling to one side, crunched
oddly as it struck the wheel of bag
gage truck.
John heard that sound and Jingle
ran through him. He lurched on for
ward, crouching as If to pounce upon
his fallen adversary. Well enough to
knock the big devil out, but he did
not like that crunchl Hands clutched
at his shoulder and hoarse protest
was in his ear
"Get away!" John cried, shaking off
the hands, needless Of the words, and
dropped to his knees in the snow be-
side the fallen man.
"Hit his head !" someone cried, as
they gathered closely about, a weir of
legs damming back light from the
doorway.
"Get back" John snapped. "Out
of the light, your
The voice of authority, that, and 1t
cut through rising mutter from the
crowd, forced falling back to let
yellow light filter on the PROSTATE
Tiny.
The mans face was bruised and
bleeding. He lay lax, and when John
raised one Of the great arms 1t
dropped back Imply. The man
breathed heavily, and apprehension
mounted in the boys consciousness.
Get hold here w-sharply. Garry
him inside where can sect" And
gently, easily, considering the mans
weight, he slid an arm beneath the
broad shoulders and raised the torso.
Others helped, for the most part
wordlessly. and they shuffled into the
waiting room with their burden, plac-
ing it carefully on the floor beside the
stove
John was needless of the crowd that
pressed close again He removed the
thick cap from Tiny's head and with
light, careful fingers rummaged through
the stiff hair. He encountered no
great bruise, no depression. The cap
had been ample protection; no frac-
ture, perhaps not even
Tiny stirred and moaned.
Get me some snow !" John said, and
two scurried outside.
With his handkerchief he wiped
blood from the mans chin, and when
the snow came he took great hand
full and held 1t against brow and
temples.
Tiny grimaced and puckered his lips
and stirred. He moaned next, and
opened one eye and whimpered.
What tn HI" he began. and the
crowd stirred. as in relief.
John drew deep breath, then. and
looked up at the faces above him:
weather-beaten, vigorous faces, they
were, and as his eyes swept them they