The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-09-12

starving country people was no nov
city. Now and then, however, there did
arrive visitors from whom the spec
taele Of 40 much wretchedness wrung
a contribution, hence there was al
ways an expectant throng at the depot
On this occasion O'Rellly was sur
prised to hear the piteous whines for
charity In the name Of God turn sud
denly into a snbdued but vicious NUT
| ter Of rage. Kisses were intermlngled
with vituperations, then the crowd fell
strangely silent, parting to allow the
passage of great, thlck-set man In the
uniform Of colonel of volunteers. The
fellow was unusually swarthy and he
wore black scowl upon his face, while
long puckering scar the full length Of
one cheek lifted his mouth into a
crooked sneer and left exposed q
glimpse of wolfish teeth.
OReilly was Mt loss to fathom this
sudden alteration OF attitude. the whis-
tie Of indrawn breaths and the whis-
pered curses, until he heard some one
mutter the name. "Cobo." Then indeed
he started and stiffened in his tracks.
He fixed fascinated stare upon the
fellow.
Colonel Cobo seemed no little
pleased by the reception he created.
With his chest arched and his black
eyes cleaning malevolently he swag-
gered through the press, clicking his
heels noisily upon the stone flags. When
he had gone Jacket voiced q vicious
oath.
$50 that Is the butcher Of babiesf"
exclaimed the boy. "well, now,
should enjoy cutting his heart out"
OReilly's emotions were not entire
~ unlike those Of his small companion.
His lips became dry and white as he
tried to speak.
"What a brutei That face- Ugh |"
He found himself shaking weakly,
and discovered that new and wholly
unaccountable feeling Of discourage
ment had settled upon him. He tried
manfully to shake It of. but somehow
failed, for the sight Of Rosa's arch
enemy and the mans overbearing per-
sonality had affected him queerly.
Cobo's air Of confidence and authority
seemed to emphasize O'Reilly's impo-
tence and bring It forcibly home to
him. To think Of his lustful persecu.
ton Of Rosa varona, moreover, terri.
fed him. The next day he resumed his
hut-to-hut search. but with q listless-
ness that came from a firm conviction
that once again he was too late.
Thnt afternoon found the two friends
L nmnn0 vvniO -
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
Vorona home. More than once on his
way about the city O'Reilly 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
Tar 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 20
alone.
Little was said during the ascent.
The La Cumbre road seemed very long
and very steep. How different the last
time O'Reilly had swung up I'll The
climb had never before tired him a. Il
did now, and he reasoned that hunger
must have weakened him even more
than he real ze,l. Jacket felt the exer-
ton, 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 ut having
brought the little fellow into such a
plight as this.
swell, hombre." he said when they
paused to rest. "Im afraid we came
too late. I'm afraid we're licked"
jacket nodded listlessly; his opti-
mlsm, too. was gone. "They must all
be dead or We would have found them
before this" said he. When O'Reilly
made no answer he continued. ut Is
time we thought Of getting away from
here. chr"
Johnnie was sitting with his face in
his hands. Without lifting his head he
inquired: "How are We going to get
awayf 1t Is easy enough to get into
Matanzas. but" He shrugged hope
lessly.
jacket frightened at the thought of
escape. "Ho! I'll bet We Gun find a
hole somewhere" said he. "We're not
J like these others. They haven't the
spirit to try" There was moment of
J silence. and then: "Carambai You
. remember those jutias we atef They
J were strong, but would enjoy the
smell OF one now. Ehf Another week
OF this and We shall be living on garb-
age like the rest Of these poor peo-
pie"
Leaving Jacket to take his time
Johnnie completed the climb alone
medltatlng upon the boys words. "The