Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1933-01-26
CHAPTER II-Continued

Elk lI-Contlnued
Voices. then, sharp and profan
Someone struck him on the cheek. ar
with an uppercut John dropped a ma
who charged in from the right. TIL
taste of blood on his lips goaded hin
They came with -aLrush-H
kicked ones feet from under him. an
the falling fellow tripped another. FL
struck and kicked and elbowed an
ducked. His head rocked sidewav
from a blow. and he squeezed his eve
shut for a split instant TO check tn
mounting dizziness. They could havY
had him down and beaten to a pulp il
n minute. If they'd used their heads
They were too mad. too eager to carr,
the fight; they got in one another,
way, Tended off the blows of theil
fellows.
A man. charging him. checked ana
veered. and he had a fleeing glimpse
OF a small figure on the edge of the
group, showing at his assailants. hold.
ing up a dissuading hand.
a voice, then, a girls voice. was
raised sharply.
stop Stop I'll Tiny, Ezra. way
Bill Let him alonert"
The him, was beyond d doubt Toh
Steele Belknap, but that young man
was now In no mood to be LET alonet
The figure Of the leader was before
him, poised, waiting; perhaps In in.
decision at the sudden willing of spirit
or intent among his fellows. perhaps
waiting on this stranger who was so
unWelcome in their midst RI for
the latter his wait was brief he
cause as he kicked free from those
impending hands John rushei him
striking out quickly with short. saw
age blows, glorying in this moment OF
even odds.
Inc man retreated slowly. Once he
landed and jolted John severely. bur
TINS advantage worked against him
because II tapped buried reservoirs of
strength and fury and hard fists bore
him backward into the glare that
sfreamed from the open station door.
way.
A cry, then. as John. b~areheaded,
set. burst into the light.
faint him. Tiny ] 'Tain't him y
Now this Tiny might. in another In.
slant, have had reason 70 claim that
ne shout distracted him. did he are
g lay upon an alibi. But even before
ne words were past the lips that
7elped them. John found the opening
bad been fighting for.
ruli on the point of Tiny's chin his
struck and the mans legs
Jagged. The force of the blow rocked
Inn backward and he crumpled. His
lead, lolllng to one side. crunched
IDLY as it struck the wheel of q bag.
,age truck.
John heard that sound and a tinp,a
an through him. He lurched on for.
Vard, crouching as II to pounce uDon
rs fallen adversary. Well nough to
mock the big devil out. but he did
'ot IKE that crunch Hands clufched
{ his shoulder and a haarse protest
vas In his ear.
Get away" John cried, shaking off
ne hands, needless Of the words. and
ronTred Fof his knees In the snow be-
lde the fallen man.
Tilt his head" someon cried nc
hey gathered closely about. q weir az
ags damming back light from the
Doorway.
Get back Il John snapped. "out
I the light. yout"
The voice Of authority. that. and IT
through a rising mutter from tba
'oWd, forced a falling hack to let
elbow light filter on the PROSTATE
my.
The mans face was bruised and
.eeding. He lay lax. and when .Iohn
n Of the great arms II
'opped back Imply. The man
'eathed heavily, and apprehension
ounted in the boys consciousness.
Get hold here l"-sharplv. "Carrv
m inside where | can sect" And
'ntly, easily. considering the mans
eight, ne slid an arm beneath the
Dad shoulders and raised the torso !
Others helped. for the most nart |
ordlessly, and they shuffled into fbe
iltlng room with their burden. Dlac. t
: 1t carefully on the floor beside tba q
Dve.
John was Needless of the Grove that |
essed close again. He rem0yed the
lck cap from Tiny's head and with n
ht, careful fingers rummaged through d
9 stiff hair He encountered no r
brnise. no depression. The can
d been ample protection; no frac. /
re, perhaps not even y
Tiny stirred and mnaned. II
Get me some snow Y John said. and +,
0 scnrried outside. +,
With his handkerchief he wlned h
cd from the mans chin. and when j
) snow came he took a great hand h
and held 1t against brow and II
nples. T.
TINY grimaced and puckered his lips v,