Mexico Missouri message., 1918-08-22

OReilly 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 appar-
ent reason, twist and shudder, saw him
stiffen rigldly as If seized with a sud
den cramp. saw his eyes dilate and
heard him heave deep, whistling sigh.
O'Reilly could not imagine what allied
the Fellow. For an eternity, SO IL
seemed, Cobo remained leaning upon
his outspread arms, fixed in that same
attitude Of paralysis-it looked almost
as If 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 men
stared f1xedly at each other, O'ReilIy
with his head thrown back, Cobo with
his body propped rigldly upon wooden
arms and that peculiar shocked inquiry
In his glaring 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
filed his lungs with another wheeling
sigh. His teeth ground together, his
head began to wag upon his shoulders;
it 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 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 was to find him
self in utter darkness. There was a
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 1t. Even
after the flame had leaped out and he
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 dazed. 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 phe-
nomenon, what unseen hand had strick-
en- him, Johnnie was at loss to COM
prehend. 1t seemed a 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 home
made knife to which 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 impertinent, beardless,
youthful face.
He uttered Jackets name, and the
boy answered with smile. Bring my
knife with you when you come" the
latter directed.
"You" The Americans voice was
weak and shaky. 81 thought" He set
the candle down and covered his eyes
momentarily.
'That's a good knife, all right, and
sharp, too. The fellow died in a hurry,
eh? Who does he happen to be?"
"Don't you know? Tits Cobo."
"Cobol Cobo, the baby-killer!'
jacket breathed an oath. "Oh, that
blessed knifei" 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."
"Rosai Where is 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 fling
the coil within reach of his little friend
and a moment later he had hoisted
himself from that pit of tragedy.