Adventures in the Far Future & Tales of Outer Space — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

It was too late. His knees sagged and gave way under him. But Brent did not see that. He’d made a diversion. He had the pack fighting blindly. He dived into the fray. There are tricks of fighting among rioters and drunken men. They are not pretty tricks, but they are effective. Brent used them—sparingly. Brent got through; crouched below visibility and fighting his way savagely, he reached Rudi. And the pimply man did not know he was endangered until a fist sank deep into his belly, and he collapsed—and a fist connected scientifically with his jaw. Then Brent crouched over him, searching him swiftly. He found a flat case. He reached up and put it in the pocket of one of the surging mob about and above him. Then he dragged the pimply man to the wall and, crouched low, with his head protected by his hunched shoulders, he worked his way out again. He was not unscathed. His clothes were ripped and he was bleeding when he dragged Rudi out of the door. He was Staggering and panting, alike from the beating and the exertion, when he blindly essayed to open a cabin door and drag Rudi inside. Two figures followed—kKit and her father. “Close the door!” Brent panted. Instantly he began to tear strips from the bed clothing to bind his victim: his hands ... his feet. He disarmed and gagged the pimply Rudi. “l should—kill him,” he said, breathing hard when it was done. “He was an agent provocateur assigned to stir those drugged fools to murder one another ... and you. He had a communicator on him. It carried every sound he heard and every word he spoke to the control room. One of those drunks in the bar has it on him now. It’s still keeping the listeners in the control room entertained. But | haven't got much time—” Kit said quietly: CORniclooo SS (SO)