Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-10-04

O'Rellly had been standing petrl1ed.
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 shudder, saw him
stifen rigidly as II seized with a sud-
den cramp, say his eyes dilate and
heard him heave a 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, fixed in that same
attitude Of paralysis-it looked almost
as IL 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 astonlsh-
ment was stamped upon II. The men
stared flxedly 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 glarlng eyes. But slowly this
expression changed; the colonel bent
as II beneath a great weight, his head
rose and turned back upon his neck, he
filled 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 go Imply as oil resistance went out
of his big body. There came q 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 hfeless 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, 1t was to find HIM
self In utter darkness. There was q
heavy weight against bis 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 1t. Even
after the flame had leaped out and he
saw what shared the pit with him he
could barely credit his enses. The ma.
ture Of his deliverance was uncanny,
supernatural-it left him dazed. He
had beheld death stamped upon Cobo's
writing 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 a loss to COM
prehend. 1t seemed a miracle, indeed.
until he looked closer. Then he I'M
derstood. Cobo lay in a formless, bone
less heap; he seemed to be oil arms
and legs; his face was hidden, but be-
tween his shoulders there pr0truded
the crude wooden haLdle Of a home
made knife to which q loop Of cord was
tied.
O'Reilly stared stupidity at the
weapon; then he raised his eyes. Peer
ing down at him out Of the night was
another face, an impertlnent, %beardless,
youthful face.
He uttered Jackets name, and the
boy answered with q smile. Bring my
knife with you when you come" the
latter directed.
"You" The Americans voice was
weak and shaky. II thought" He set
the candle down and covered his eyes
momentarily.
THAT'S q good knife, all right, and
sharp, too. The fellow died In a hurry.
eh2 Who does he happen to bel"
"Don't you know? Tits Cobo."
"Cobol Cobo, the baby-killerl"
Jacket breathed an oath. "Oh, that
blessed knife" The boy craned his
small body forward until he was In
danger of following his victim. NOW.
this is good luck indeed! And to think
that he died just like any other man.
"Rosal Where Is she?" O'Rellly In.
quired in a new agony Of apprehension,
ooh, she is here" Jacket assured
him, carelessly. II think she has
tainted"
"Help me out, quick! Here, catch
this rope" Johnnie managed t. fling
the coil within reach Of his little friend
and a moment later he had hoisted
himself from that pit Of tragedy.
CTO BE CONTINUED.)