The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1918-08-16
RainbOW'S End
A NOVEL by REX BEACH
Thy yHmpes hN
uthor of 1.-THE IRON TRAIL,""THE SPOILERS.
"HEART OF THE SUNSET" Etc.

I train. Few people were travelling these
days, and they were, for the most part,
| Spanish officers TO whom the sight OF
starving country people was no nov
city. Now and then, however, there did
| arrive visitors from whom the spec
| tacle of so much wretchedness wrung
a contribution, hence there was al
ways an expcctant throng at the depot.
On this occasion O'Reilly was sur
prised to hear the piteous whines for
charity In the name Of God turn sud
denly into subdued but vicious NUT
ter Of rage. Kisses were intermingled
with vituperatiOnS, then the crowd fell
strangely silent, parting to allow the
passage of great, thiCk-set man in the
uniform Of a colonel Of volunteers. The
fellow was unusually swarthy and he
wore a black scOwl upon his face, while
Il long puckering scar the full length of
one cheek lifted his mouth into a
crooked sneer and left exposed a
glimpse of wOlfish teeth.
O'Reilly was at loss TO fathom this
sudden alteration Of attitude, the whls-
tie Of indrawn breaths and the whs-
pcred curses, until he heard some one
mutter the name. "Cobo." Then indeed
he started and stiiTcned in his tracks.
lie fixed a fascinated stare upon the
fellow.
Colonel Cobo seemed no little
pleased by the reception he created.
With his chest arched and his black
pvas plpaninu moIavnIantIy bo euro ~
gered through the press, clicking his
heels noisily upon the stone flags. When
he had gone Jacket voiced a vicious
oath.
$50 that is the butcher Of babies ~
exclaimed the boy. "Well now, I
should enjoy cutting his heart out"
OReilly's emotions were not entire
ly unlike those of his small companion.
His lips became dry and white as he
tried TO speak.
what brute! That face Ugh 7"
He found himself shaking weakly
and discovered that n new and wholly
unaccountable feeling OF discourage
ment had settled upon him. He tried
manfully to shake it off, but somehow
failed, for the sight Of Rosa's arch
enemy and the mans overbcaring per-
sonality had affected him Queerly.
Cobo's air Of confidence and authority
seemed to emphasize O'Rellly's impo-
tence and bring it forclbly home to
him. To think of his lustful persccu-
tion Of Rosa Varona, moreover, terri
fled him. The next day he resumed his
hut-to-hut search. but with a listless-
ness that came from a firm conviction
that once again he was too late.
That afternoon found the two friends
among the miserable novels which en-
circled the foot of La Cumbre, about
the only quarter they had not explored.
Below lay San Severino, the execution
place; above was the site OF the old
Varona home. More than once on his
way about the city O'Rellly had lifted
his eyes In the direction of the latter,
feeling great hunger to revisit the
scene of his last farewell to Rosa, but
through fear of the melancholy effect
1t would have upon him he had thus
far resisted the impulse. Today, how
ever he could no longer fight the NOR
bid desire and so, in spite of Jackets
| protest at the useless expenditure of
| effort, he set out to climb the hill. OF
course the boy would not let him go
| alone.
Little was said during the ascent.
The La Cumbre road seemed very long
and very steep. How different the Last
time 0'Rellly had swung up 1t! The
climb had never before tired him as 1t
did now. and he reasoned that hunger
must have weakened him even more
than he realized. Jacket felt the exer-
tlon, too he was short of breath and
he rested frequently. O'Reilly saw that
the boys bare, brown legs had grown
bony since he had last noticed them,
and he felt sudden pang at having
brought the little fellow into such a
plight as this. "~,,r-4.,..
swell, hombre," he said when they
paused to rest, 'Im afraid we came
too late. I'm afraid we're licked"
i. Jacket nodded listlessly; his opti-
mism, too, was gone. "They must all
be dead or we would have found them
before this" said he. When ,O'Reilly
I made no answer he continued. "It Is
I time We thought of getting away from
, here, eh?"
r Johnnie was sitting with his face In
r his hands. Without lifting his head he
inquired: "How are we going to get
away? 1t Is easy enough to get into
1 Matanzas, but" He shrugged hope.
/, lessly.
: Jacket frightened at the thought OF
l escape. "Ho! I'll bet we can find O
1 hole somewhere" said he. "we're not
3 like these others. They haven't the
|, spirit to try" There was moment Of
G silence, and then: "Caramba! Yo,
r remember those jutias we ate? The,
Q were strong, but / would enjoy tn,
smell of one now. Eth? Another weel
= of this and we shall be living on garb
. age like the rest Of these poor pee
, pie"
!. Leaving Jacket to take his time
|. Johnnie completed the climb alone
, meditating upon the boys words. "rh
r spirit to tryw Where had his splri
: gone, he wondered. Perhaps 1t hat
been crushed beneath the weight o
! misery he had beheld; surely he hat