Part 51 (2/2)

With his last word he sprang across to the sill of the open window, five feet away. Tom had noted Foley's glance and his edging toward the window, and guessing that Foley contemplated some new move, he had held himself in readiness for anything. He sprang after Foley, thinking the walking delegate meant to leap to his death on the stone-paved court below, and threw his arms about the other's knees. In the instant of embracing he noticed a fire-escape landing across the narrow court, an easy jump--and he knew that Foley had had no thought of death.

As Tom jerked Foley from the window sill he tripped over a chair and fell backward to the floor, the walking delegate's body upon him. Foley was on his feet in an instant, but Tom lay where he was with the breath knocked out of him. He dimly heard the union break again into cries; feet trampled him; he felt a keen shooting pain. Then he was conscious that some force was turning the edge of the mob from its path; then he was lifted up and placed at the window out of which he had just dragged Foley; and then, Petersen's arm supporting him, he stood weakly on one foot holding to the sill.

For an instant he had a glimpse of Foley, on the platform, his back to the wall. During the minute Tom had been on the floor a group of Foley's roughs, moved by some strange reawakening of loyalty, had rushed to his aid, but they had gone down; and now Foley stood alone, behind a table, sneering at the crowd.

”Come on!” he shouted, with something between a snarl and a laugh, shaking his clenched fist. ”Come on, one at a time, an' I'll do up every one o' youse!”

The next instant he went down, and at the spot where he sank the crowd swayed and writhed as the vortex of a whirlpool. Tom, sickened, turned his eyes away.

Turned them to see three policemen and two men in plain clothes with badges on their lapels enter the hall, stand an instant taking in the scene, and then with drawn clubs plunge forward into the crowd. The cry of ”Police!” swept from the rear to the front of the hall.

”We're after Foley!” shouted the foremost officer, a huge fellow with a huge voice, by way of explanation. ”Get out o' the way!”

The last cry he repeated at every step. The crowd pressed to either side, and the five men shouldered slowly toward the vortex of the whirlpool. At length they gained this fiercely swaying tangle of men.

”If youse kill that man, we'll arrest every one o' youse for murder!”

boomed the voice of the big policeman.

The vortex became suddenly less violent. The five officers pulled man after man back, and reached Foley's body. He was lying on his side, almost against the wall, eyes closed, mouth slightly gaping. He did not move.

”Too late!” said the big policeman. ”He's dead!”

His words ran back through the crowd which had so l.u.s.ted for this very event. Stillness fell upon it.

The big policeman stooped and gently turned the long figure over and placed his hand above the heart. The inner circle of the crowd looked on, waiting. After a moment the policeman's head nodded.

”Beatin'?” asked one of the plain clothes men.

”Yes. But mighty weak.”

”I'll be all right in a minute,” said a faint voice.

The big policeman started and glanced at Foley's face. The eyes were open, and looking at him.

”I s'pose youse're from Baxter?” the faint voice continued.

”From the District Attorney.”

”Yes.” A whimsical lightness appeared in the voice. ”I been waitin' for youse. Lucky youse come when youse did. A few minutes later an' youse might not 'a' found me still waitin'.”

He placed his hands beside him and weakly tried to rise, but fell back with a little groan. The big policeman and another officer helped him to his feet. The big policeman tried to keep an arm round him for support, but Foley pushed it away and leaned against the wall, where he stood a moment gazing down on the hundreds of faces. His s.h.i.+rt was ripped open at the neck and down to the waist; one sleeve was almost torn off; his vest was open and hung in two halves from the back of his neck; coat he had not had on. His face was beginning to swell, his lips were b.l.o.o.d.y, and there was a dripping cut on his forehead.

One of the plain clothes men drew out a pair of handcuffs.

”Youse needn't put them on me,” Foley said. ”I'll go with youse.

Anyhow----”

He glanced down at his right hand. It was swollen, and was turning purple.

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