The Copper City Read Online Free PDF

howled, leapt back, nursing his clawed hand.
    The other miners shouted and jeered, patting the big man’s back as he beamed, the congratulations easing the pain of his hand.
    â€œWhat the hell’s going on here?” a voice demanded, cutting through their pleasure. They fell into an uneasy silence as Scheller emerged from the gloom, bristling with anger. “Why aren’t you bums working?” he growled, pushing into the circle of fidgeting miners. He took one look at Quantro’s crumpled body before his eyes came to rest on the big man’s bleeding knuckles. His face twisted into a mask of disgust, then he spat into the shadows. When he turned back, his gaze fastened on the miner’s expressionless face. “I’ve had more than enough from you. You’re fired. Now get the hell out of here.”
    The big miner stood like an unscaled mountain, glowering down.
    Scheller sneered, staring back without a trace of fear. “I wouldn’t if I were you. I wouldn’t even think about it.”
    Suddenly the miner looked unsure of himself. A muscle jumped in his cheek, then he shrugged and stamped away, muttering. Scheller watched him go with something resembling satisfaction. He pointed at the nearest two men and gestured to Quantro. “You and you. Carry him out. When he comes around tell him he’s fired. No time for troublemakers down here. We got ore to shift.”
    When the two men bearing Quantro’s limp body emerged into the sunlight, Pete had just tipped a load of ore and was pushing the empty truck back into the tunnel. When he saw Quantro he left the truck and hurried over.
    â€œWhat happened?” he asked, surveying the wreckage of Quantro’s puffed and bloody face. The two miners told him the story as they looked for a piece of quiet ground where they could lay down their burden. Unconscious, Quantro lay unmoving but for the rising and falling of his chest, breath rasping between his teeth because his nose was clogged and bloody.
    â€œYou over there! Wiltshire!” an angry voice called. “Get back to your truck here. You’re holding up the line.”
    Pete, kneeling on the ground as he wiped at Quantro’s face with a bandana, looked back over his shoulder.
    â€œGet somebody else. I just quit.”
    There was a mumble of complaint, and then the caller drifted away. Quantro jacked up an eyelid as Pete looked down at him. He tried to speak but only a whisper came from his throat before he sank back into unconsciousness.
    Over by the mine company’s office there was a jangle of harness as a carriage pulled up. It carried two men, both wearing suits and smoking cigars. There were four outriders with the carriage, men with restless eyes who sat their horses easily with the patience of men used to being paid for waiting around. They were well armed and their holsters looked well used.
    One of the gunmen, seeing Pete, heeled his horse away from the carriage. When the long shadow of the animal fell over the two men below him, the rider reined in, then rested his hands on the saddle horn. His eyes were hidden by the shade thrown from his hat brim.
    â€œYou work here?”
    Pete shook his head. “I just quit.”
    The rider’s hands moved a fraction. “Then get off the mine property. You ain’t needed here.”
    â€œI’ll need a hand with my partner here…”
    The rider touched his spurs to the horse until the big animal was crowding Pete. He couldn’t step back without treading on Quantro. The gunman urged on his horse again. Pete stood his ground until the flared nostrils of the animal were only inches from his face.
    â€œUpton! Back off!”
    Pete leaned around to peer past the horse’s shoulder. Harley, the man from the Copper Queen, was striding over. It was then Pete saw the carriage for the first time. He had been too occupied with Quantro. Now he saw its occupant was leaning back into the