Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
CHAPTER XXvI-Continued from Last
Sunday

CHAPTER XXvI-Continued from Last
Sunday
HOW CoBO STOOD ON HIS HEAD.
wait, There's enough-for all of
u.s. oReflly feebly protested; then, as
he heard the click of the cooked wea-
pom: Let me out TIL pay you we'll
make you rich" In desperation he
raised his shaking hand to dash out
the candle. but even as he did so the
colonel spoke, at the same time care
fully lowering the revolver hammer.
You are right. What am 1 thinking
about? There must be no noise. Ca
ramba, A pretty business that would
be- wouldn't it? With my men run
ming UP here to see what it was all
about. No, no, No gunshots. no dis
turbance of any kind. You under
stand what I mean, eh?"
His face twisted into grin as he
tossed the revolver aside. then under
took to detach a stone from the crum-
bling curb No noise." he chuckled
NO noise whatever.
OReilly, stupefied by the sudden ap-
pearance of this monstrous creature
stunned by the certainty of catas-
trophe to Rosa, awoke to the fact that
this man intended to brain him where
he stood. In a panic he cast his eyes
about him. thinking to take shelter In
the treasure-cave, but that retreat was
closed to him, for he had wedged the
wooden timbers together at the hrst
alarm He was like a rat IN pit
utterly at the mercy of this maniac
And Cobo was a maniac at the mo-
ment; he had SO far lost control OF
himself as to allow the stone to snip
out of his grasp. 1t fell with thud at
O'Reiny's feet. causing the assassin
to laugh once more.
.rIo. ho.' he hiccoughed. MY fin
gers are clumsy. Ell? But there rs no
arm again, laid hold of another missile.
and strained to loosen it from its BED;
Jewels, Pearls the size of piums.
And 1 a poor man. l can't pehexe II
yet He could not detach the stone
SO he fumbled farther along the curb
ing. PEARLS, indeed, l would send a
dozen men to hell for one
O'Reilly had been standing petrified.
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 APP
parent reason, twist and shudder, saw
him stiffen rigidy as If seized lie e wlss
dilate and heard him heave deep
whistling sigh O'Reilly could not
imagine what allied the fellow For an
eternity. SO 1t seemed. Cobo remained
leaning upon his outspread arms, nxed
in that same attitude of paralysis-lt
looked almost as IL he had been startled
by some sound close by. But mani
testify that was not the cause OF his
hesitation, for his face became con-
vulsed and an expression of blank and
utter establishment was stamped upon
it. The men stared fixedly at each otner'
O'Reilly with his head thrown back.
Cobo with his body propped rlglaIy
upon wooden arms and that peculiar
shocked inquiry in his glazing eyes
But slowly this expression changed,
the colonel bent as if beneath a great
weight, his head rose and turned back
upon his neck. he filled his lungs with
another wheeling sigh. Christ!
Christ" he whispered.
His teeth ground together. his head
began to wag upon his shoulders; IL
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 go 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
O1Reilly, an avalanche OF lffeless hesh.
Johnnie shielded himself with his up
knees, and when he scrambled to his
feet, half stunned, it was to find him
self in utter darkness There was
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 flame had leaped out
and he saw what shared the pit with
him he could barely credit his senses.
The nature of his deliverance was un-
canny supernaturaIitl left him daZed.
Cobo's writhing face even while the
fellow braced himself to keep from
falling, but what force had effected the
phenomenon, what unseen hand had
stricken him, Johnnie was at a loss to
comprehend 1t seemed a miracle. In
deed, until he looked closer. Then he
understood Cobo lay in formless.
homeless heap; he seemed to be all
arms and legs: his face was hidden,
but between his shoulders there pro-
truded the crude wooden handle of
homemade knife to which loop of
cord was tied.
OReiliy stared stupidity at the
weapon; then he raised his eyes Peer
ing down at him out of the night was
another face. an irnpertinent, beardless.
youthful face.
He uttered Jackets name, and the
boy answered with a smile. Bring my
knife with you when you come" the
latter directed.
your The Americans voice was
weak and shaky II thought" He
set the candle down and covered his
eyes romentari1y.
That's a good knife. all right. and
sharp. too. The fellow died IN hurry,
en- Who does he happen to be-"
Don't you know? Tits Cobo."
"Cobo, CODY, the baby-kiIler," Jacket
breathed an oath. "Oh. that blessed
knife" The boy craned his small body
forward until he was in danger of fol-
luck indeed, And 10 think that he died
Rosa! Where is she?" O'Reilly in
dufred, In new agony of apprehen-
sion.
ooh. she is here" Jacket assured him.
careless1y. '1 think she has tainted
miss all the fun? But, compadre-
People win talk about me when I'm as
slayer of Cobo'-that's what they'll call
me" Jacket gigg1ed hystericany. q
! thought he would jump up and run
himse didn't he? His flesh was like
butter. O'Reilly."
Help me out. quick. Here. catch
the coil within reach of his little friend
himself from that pit of tragedy.