The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1918-10-18
n Nove3


O'Reilly had been standing petriled.
his body forced tightly against the
rough surface behind him, following
with strained fascination the deliberate
movements Of the nan above him; COW
he saw Cobo. without the least appar-
ent reason, twist and shudder. saw him
stiRen rigidly as II seized with a sud
den cramp, saw his eyes dilate and
heard him heave Q deep. whistling sigh.
O'Reilly could not imagine what allied
the fellow. For an eternity. 80 1t
seemed, Cobo remained leaning upon
his outspread arms, nxed In that same
attitude Of paralysis-it looked almost
as II he had been startled BY some
sound close by. But manifestly that
was not the cause of his hesitation. for
his face became ~cOnvulsed and an ex
preston Of blank and utter astonish-
ment was stamped upon Il. The meh
stared f1xedly ut each other. O'ReiHy
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 a great weight his head
rose and turned back upon his neck. no
filed his lungs with another wheeling
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
ed 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 flesh
Johnnie shielded himself with his up
flung arms, but he was driven to his
knees, and when he scrambled to his
feet, half stunned, It ri to ind him.
self in utter darkness There wal
heavy weight against his legs. With .
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 fame had leaped out and h
saw what shared the pit with him he
could barely credit his senses. The ma
ture Of his deliverance was uncanny,
supernatural-it left him uazed. He
had beheld death stamped upon Cobo's
writhing face even while the fellow
braced himself to keep from falling.
but what force had effected the pho
nomenon. what unseen kand had strick.
en- him, Johnnie was n q loss to con
prehend. It seemed Q miracle, indenA
until he looked closer. Then he u%
derstood. Cobo lay In Z 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 a home
made knife to which . loop Of cord wal
tied.
O'Reilly stared stupidity at the
weapon: then he raised his eyes. Peer.
ing down at him put Of the night wa
another face, an impertinent beardless,
youthful face. !;
He uttered Jackets name, and the
boy answered with q smile. Bring my
knife with You wnen you come" the
latter directed.
"Youl" The Americans voice was
weak and shaky. II thought" He Get
the candle down and covered his eyes
m~omentarily.
THAT'S q good knife, Ill right, and
sharp, too. The fellow died In Z hurry.
eh7 Who does he happen to be1'
.Don't You know1 tits Cobo."
sCobol CObo. the baby-killeri r.
Jacket breathed N oath. .Oh. that
blessed knifer The boy craned his
small body forward until he was IN
danger Of following his victim. Snow.
this II good luck indeedi And to think
that he died just Ike any other man."
"Rosal Where 10 she1' O,Reilly In.
CURED In . new agony Of apprehension.
SOh, she II here" Jacket assured
him. c~arelessly. II think abe has
tainted
Help me out, quick! Here, catch
this rope" Johnnie managed to aine
the coil within reach Of his little friend
and . moment later he had hoisted
himself from that pit Of tragedy.
(TO BE C~oNTINUED.)
0ne-Man pontoons.
Building bridges under Are. the
greatest ordeal that the army enph