Page:Lefty o' the Bush.djvu/89

 reins, "that it is time for me to take you away from here, Janet."

Trembling, she grasped his arm. "No, no!" she cried. "What are they going to do? That wretch threw his bat at—at Lefty."

"Yes; and he'll get his, if his friends don't look out for him well. Locke has got all Kingsbridge behind him, and they're a tough bunch when they get good and mad. There's likely to be some broken heads."

"Oh, wait a moment!" she entreated. "Look! They're trying to hold the crowd off, and I believe Lefty is helping them."

Out there on the diamond, raging, frothing men were shaking their fists at the offending pitcher; while others, including a number of Kingsbridge players, having packed themselves round the threatened man, were holding the hot-heads back by main force. And it was true that Tom Locke was one of those who sought to protect Jock Hoover from the wolfish mob.

"Stop!" his voice rang out, clear and distinct. "Keep back! The trouble is between that man and me. We'll settle it."

"Let-a me git at-a him!" raged an Italian, the same who had amused the crowd after the striking out of Mace in the first inning, by asking what