The Washington herald., 1919-12-27

stone TO slip out Of his grasp. II fell
with a thud at O'Reilly's feet. causing
the assassin TO laugh once more.
'Ho. no. he hiccoughed. NV
fingers are clumsy. Ell? But there -
no need for haste" He stretched out
his arm again. laid hold OF another
missile, and strained 10 loosen il from
its bed. Jewels, Pearls the size Of
plums. And l a poor man. can't
believe it yet" He could not de.
tach the stone. so he fumbled farther
along the curbing. Pearls. indeed,
1 would send a dozen men TO hell for
one =
O'Reilly had been standing petrihef
his body forced tightly against tn"
rough surface behind him following
with strained fascination the deli =
ate movements OF the man above 2
now he saw Cobo. without the d
apparent reason. twist and shudde
saw him stiffen riEidly a. n seized
with a sudden cramp. saw his eyes
dilate and heard him hcaNe a deer.
whistling sigh. O'Reilly could not
imagine what allied the fellow. For
an eternity. so II seemed, Cobo re-
manned leaning upon his outspresd
arms, fixed in that same attitude Of
parslysis-it looked almost as 81 he
had been startled by some sound close
by. But msnifestly that was not the
cause Of his hesitation, for his face
became convulsed and an expression
Of blank and utter establishment was
stamped upon II. The men stared
fiXedly at each other. O'Reilly with
his head thrown back. Cobo with his
body propped rigidly upon wooden
. 49,
CURRY in his Elaring eyes. But slowly
this expression changed: the colonel
bent as IL beneath a great weight.
his head rose and turned back upon
his neck. he filed his lungs with an
other wheeling sigh Christ, y
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 sus-
pended from the waist; then he sp-
peared to let so Imply as all re-
sistence went out OF his big body.
There came a warning rattle OF dirt
and mortar and pebbles; the next in
slant he slipped into the well and
plunged headlong down upon O'Reilly,
an avalanche OF lifeless flesh.
Johnnie shielded himself with his
upfiung 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
heavy weight against his legs. With
a strength born OF horror and revul-
sion he freed himself; then hearing no
sound and feeling no movement. he
fumbled for the candle and with
clumsy fingers managed TO relight IL.
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 I'M
canny, 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 ofIecte1
the phenomenon. what unseen hauA
had stricken him, Johnnie was at q
loss TO comprehend. II seemed q
miracle, indeed. until he looked closer,
Then he understood. Cobo lay in q
formless. boneless heap; he seemed
to be all arms and legs; his face was
hidden, but between his shoulders
there protruded the crude wooden
handle Of a homemade knife to which
a loop Of cord was tied.
(To Be Continusdl =