The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-09-26

OReilly had been standing pethned.
his body forced tightly against the
rough surface behind him. following
with strained fascination the deliberate
movements of the man above him: now
he saw Cobo. without the least appar-
ent reason. twist and shuddef. saw him
stiffen rigidly AZ II seized with . sud-
den cramp. saw his eyes dilats and
heard him heave q deep. whistling sigh.
O'Reilly could not imagine what allied
the fellow. For an eternity, % II
seemed. Cobo remained leaning upon
bis outspread arms, nxed In that same
attitude of paralysis-it looked almost
sound close BY. But manifestly that
was not the cause of his hesitation. for
bis face became convulsed and an ex-
preston Of blank and utter astonish-
ment was stamped upon II. The men
stared fxedly at each other. O'Reilly
with his head thrown back. Cobo with
his body propped rigidly upon wooden
arms and that peculiar shocked inquiry
In his glaring eyes. But slowly this
expression changed; the colonel bent
as II beneath q great weight, his head
rose and turned back upon his neck, he
filled his lungs with another wheezing
sigh. His teeth ground together. his
head began to wag upon his shoulders
1t dropped lower and lower; one hand
slipped from its hold and he lurched
forward. An instant he hung suspend
I'D from the waist: then he appeared to
let 60 Imply as all resistance went out
of his big body. There came a warning
rattle Of dirt and mortar and pebbles |:
the next instant he slipped into the
well and plunged headlong down upon
O'Reilly, an avalanche Of lifeless aesh-
Johnnie shielded himself with his up
flung arms, but he was driven to his
knees. and when he scrambled to his
feet, half stunned, II was to find HIM
self In utter darkness. There was q
heavy weight against his legs. With q
strength born Of horror and revulsion
he freed himself: then hearing no
sound and feeling no movement he
fumbled for the candle and with clumsy
fingers managed to relight It Even
after the flame had leaped out and he
saw what shared the pit with him he
could barely credit his senses. The na-
ture Of his deliverance was uncapny.
supernatural-it left him dazed. He
had beheld death stamped upon Cobc's
writhing face even while the fellow
braced himself to keep from falling.
but what force had effected the phe-
nomenon, what unseen hand had strick-
en- him, Johnnie was at loss to com.
prehend. It seemed miracle. indeed.
until he looked closer. Then he un-
derstood. Cobo lay In formless. bone
less heap; he seemed to be all arms
and legs; his face was hidden. but be-
tween his shoulders there protruded
the crude wooden handle Of q home
made knife to which loop Of cord was
tied.
O'Heilly stared stupidity at the
weapon; then he raised his eyes. Peer
ing down at him out Of the night was
another face, an impertinent. beardless,
youthful face.
a0 OttCLCu SoCRCSD nunSCp uuO IU0
boy answered with smile. Bring my
knife with you when you come" the
latter directed.
"You" The Americans voice was
weak and shaky. II thought" He ut
the candle down and covered his eyes
momentarily.
"That's q good knife. all right. and
sharp. too. The fellow died In Q hurry,
ehf Who does he happen to bef"
"Don't you knowf lifts Cobo."
'Coboi Cobo. the baby killer I"
Jacket breathed IN oath. "Oh. that
blessed knifei" The boy eraned his
small body forward until he was In
danger Of following his victim. "Now.
this IL good luck indeedi And 70 think
that he died just like any other man.
"Rosai Where 10 she" |O'Reilly In
quired In new agony Of apprehension.
"Oh. she Is here" Jacket assured
him. carelessly. II think she has
tainted"
Help me out, .Quicki Here, catch
this rope" Johnnie managed to fins
the coil within reach Of his little FRIEND
and q moment later he had hoistsl
himself from that pit Of tragedy.
(TO BE CONTINUEDJ
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