The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1919-12-26
CHAPTER a5-coNTINUED.

CHAPTER Zo-CONIiNOhD.
do you still think" Rosa hesi-
tated to voice the question which
trembled on her lips.
"rIl know for sure tonight" He d.
rected Jacket to replace the planks
over the well; then the. three OF them
stole away.
o'Reilly spent most Of that day in
a profound stupor OF exhaustion, while
Rosa watched anxiousiy over him.
Jacket. it seemed. had peacefully
slumbered on picket duty, 40 he oc-
cupied himself grinding away at his
knife. The last scraps Of food dis
appeared that evening.
when night fell and II came time to
return to the top of La Cumbre,
UReilly asked himself IL his strength
would prove SUFFICIENT for the task In
hand. He was spiritless. sore. weak;
he ached in every bone and muscle,
and 1t required all his determination
to propel himself up the hill. He won
dered IL he were wise thus TO sacri-
fee his waning energies on hope Sc
forlorn as this, but by now he had
begun to more than half believe in
the existence of the Varona treasure
and he felt an almost Irresistible
curiosity TO learn what secret. IL any,
was concealed behind those water
soaked timbers at the bottom of the
well. He realized Of course. that
every hour he remained here, now
that food and money were gone, less
ened the chances Of escape; but. on
the other hand, he reasoned. with
equal force. that II he had indeed
stumbled upon the missing hoard sal
walton for all Of them was assured.
The stake, it seemed to him, was
worth the hazard.
Given tempered tools to work with
il would have been no great undertake
ing to tear down that cemented wall
of stones, but, armed with nothing
except his bare hands and that soft
iron bar, o'Reilly spent nearly the
whole night at his task. Long before
the last rock had yielded. however. he
.. beheld that which caused him to turn
| a strained face upward to Rosa.
There's a little door. as sure a;
you live" he told her.
The girl was beside herself with
excitement. Yes? What else? What
more do you see?'
Nothing. II appears TO he made
vi mas N"O "Ao>
hand-wrouRht locks"
God! If l only had something
anything to work with" mutterec
| the American as he fell to with re
doubled energy. He no longer triec
10 conserve his strength. for tbs
treasure-seeker's lust beset him. Ross
looked on. wringing her hands and
! urging him to greater haste.
RaIf Nfha thick dnnr httilI
of some hard, native wood: it wa,
| wet and tough and slippery. O'Reilly'!
| blows made no impression upon II. mol
upon the heavy hasps and staple:
with which it was secured in place
The latter were deeply rusted. to bt
sure, but they withstOod his efforts
and he was finally forced to rest
baffled. enraged. half hysterical from
| weakness and fatigue.
Daylight was at hand once more
but he refused 10 give up. and worked
on stubborn!y. furiously. until Rosa
in an agony. besought him to desist
johnnie again collapsed on the grass
and lay painting while the other two
replaced the pIanks. -
Another hour and I'd have beer
! into it," he declared. huskily.
You would skill yourself" jacket
! told him.
| Rosa bent over him with shining
/ eyes and parted lips. Yes" said she
BE patient. We will come back
o'Reilly. and tonight we shall be
! rich"
Colonel Cobo lit a black cigarette
| leaned back in his chair. and eXhaleC
two fierce jets of black smoke through
his nostrils. For q full moment h,
scowled forbiddingly at the sergean
who had asked TO see him.
What's this you are telling me?'
| he inquired. finally.
The sergeant. a mean-faced. low
browed man. stirred Uneasily.
1T is Gods truth. There are spirit
on La Cumbre. and l wish 10 see tn,
| priest about it"
! Spirits? What kind of spirits
The fellow shrugged. Evil spirits
spirits from he'll. The men are buy
| ing charnfs.'
Bah: l took you to be a sensibI,
person"
You don't believe me? Well,
didn't believe them when they told m,
about it But l saw with my owl
eyes"
Cobo leaned forward. mildly aston
ished OF all his villainous troop
! this man was the last one he ha'