Under His Thumb — page 213: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

204 | UNDER HIS THUMB. person near. At the same time the hand which held him let go, and he realized that he once more had — the power of defending himself. eghs Sh Regaining his feet, he saw another figure in the midst of the fray—a man who seemed to recklessly attack the entire crowd of ruffians, heedless of their blows in return. | A light flared from a near window at the moment, and caused the scene to appear with startling dis- tinctness. And in this light the face of Croly’s de- fender was revealed—and it was the face of Carl Brandon, the vagabond. = In that moment Croly realized that he owed his life to this man; for only the outcast’s fierce on- slaught diverted the attack of the ruffians from the detective to himself. But the combat was not yet ended. The court seemed literally to swarm with men. And the res- pite given Croly was only of brief duration. He was again assailed upon all sides. In the semi- darkness he dared not use a revolver for fear of hit- ting Brandon or Clarence Blain. He once more found himself being overpowered, when he was again electrified by a shout. This time the cry was in a boy’s voice, and a fa- miliar one at that. This was not all; he under- stood the youngster’s words, shouted at the top of his voice. ‘‘Here we come, nonpariel double-leaded wid a box of quads throwed in,’’ was the lad’s announcement, and with all the heedlessness of youth he rushed into the midst of the fray. His temerity was rewarded by a blow that sent him to the ground half stunned, and temporarily silenced. | But there were others with him who did not go down so easily. <A half dozen policemen, whom steve had secured at the nearest station, dashed in among the “‘toughs’’ with their clubs; and within a less period than is required by us to chronicle the fact, the combat was ended, with three ruffians — lying bruised and bleeding upon the flagstones, and ive more sullen and helpless with manacled wrists. Among the latter was a tall, slouching ruffian with comicbooks.