The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1919-12-28
XXVII
MORN. THE FISHERMAN.

NORM, THE FISHERMAN.
When Rosa VsrOna regained con-
seriousness sufficiently to understand
what had happened she proved herself
person of no little self control. She
went to pieces for a moment. as was
only natural, but O'Reilly soon sue
ceeded in calming her. Nor did he
have to remind her twice that this
was no time for weakness or hysteria:
It was she. in fact. who first voiced
| the fear that Cobo dead was scarcely
less of a menace than Cobo alive.
What are we going to do with him
she inquired.
Jacket too. appreciated the dangers
Of the situation. We must get rid
of him quickly" said he. for his men
| are close by; he will be missed and
| there will be a search"
Il don't intend to make him q pre-
sent Of that treasure" O'Reilly said.
grimly. 1T is our only salvation
But how are we going to hide him.
Jacket inquired. "One might as well
| try to conceal a church; oxen couldn't
hoist him out of that hole"
Precisely, He has made our work
easy for us. We can't take more than
a small part of the money with us,
I until the war is over. Well, We shall
leave CobO on guard over what re-
| mains"
Jacket was immensely pleased with
| this idea. once he had grasped it.
What could be better" he cried.
THE mans spirit H. evil enough To
| brighten people away and we will drop
! stones upon him, so that he can learn
the taste of his own medicine. 1t
| suits me exactly to think OF Col. Cobo
standing upon his head in a hole in
the ground for the rest OF eternity"
OReilly was by this time suffering
the full reaction from the events of
the past half-hour and he was nearer
exhaustion than he dreamed. but. con-
quertng his repugnance for his I'M
escapable task. he lowered himself
once more into the we'll. His arms
| were weak. however. and his fingers
| numb, so he fell rather than slid the
length of the rope. He managed to
open the door of the treasure chamber.
then entered and loaded his pockets
with gold. He sent up the jewel box
at the end of the rope. dragged the
body of Cobo into the cave, then
wedsed the barricade back into place.
1t required the combined strength Of
Rosa and jacket to help him the last
few feet of his climb.
Now fetch stones. rubbish. any
thing-and throw it in there" he
gasped.
The boy and the girl fell to with a
will. and after a time Johnnie Joined
them. Slowly. laboriously. the three
of themscsrried debris from the edge
Of. the quarry and bricks from the
ruined house; they scraped UP arm
fuls Of leaves and trash-anything,
in fact, which would serve to raise
the bottom of the shaft and conceal
the entrance to their enemy's resting
place. 1t was slaVish work, but O'Ren
ly kept them at II until they were
ready to drop. Daylight overlook
them at their task.
They were weak, sick, deadly tired;
. they could barely shuttle q few yards
at time when they finally reached
Asensio's hut; nevertheless there was
hope in their hearts. for O'Reilly's
ragged clothes sagged with the weight
OF gold pieces and the little metal
box he carried was heavy. Nor were
they greatly concerned about the safe
ty Of the treasure they had left be-
hind, for the entrance to the cavern
lay deeply buried, and Cobo. the
guerrilla, stood guard over the chests
ofSplate and casks of coin.