Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1919-01-23

fellow.
Colonel Cobo seemed no little
pleased by the reception he created.
With his chest arched and his black
ewes cleaning INDEPENDENTLY he swag
cered through the press, clicking his
heels noisily upon the stone flags. When
he had gone Jacket voiced vicious
oath.
$50 that is the butcher Of babies -
exclaimed the boy. "Well, now,
should enjoy cutting his heart out"
O'Reillys emotions were not entire
ly unlike those OF his small companion.
His lips became dry and white as he
tried TO speak.
"What brute That face Ugh !!
He found himself shaking weakly,
and discovered that new and wholly
unaccountable feeling of discourage
ment had settled upon him. He tried
manfully to shake II Off. but somehow
failed, for the sight of Rosa'S arch
enemy and the mans overbearing per
sonality had affected him queerly
Cobo's air of confidence and authority
seemed TO emphasize O'Reilly's impo-
tence and bring IT forcibly home TO
him. To think of his lustful persecu
ton of Rosa Varona. moreover. terri
fled him. The next day he resumed his
hut-to-hut search. but with a listless-
ness that came from firm conviction
that once again he was too late.
That afternoon found the two friends
among the miserable novels which en-
circled the foot of La Cumbre. about
the only quarter they had not explored.
Below lay San Seyerino. the execution
place; above was the site of the old
Varona home. More than once ON his
way about the city O'Reilly had lifted
his eyes in the direction of the latter,
feeling great hunger TO revisit the
scene of his last farewell 10 Rosa. but
through fear of the melancholy effect
1t would have upon him he had thus
far resisted the impulse. Today. how
ever, he could no longer fight the NOR
bid desire and so. in spite of Jacket 5
protest at the useless expenditure of
effort. he set out 10 climb the hill. OF
course the boy would not let him go
alone.
Little was said during the ascent.
The La Cumbre road seemed very long
and very steep. How different the last
time O'Reilly had swung up 1t The
climb had never before tired him as II
did now. and he reasoned that hunger
must have weakened him even more
than he realized. Jacket felt the exer-
ton too: he was short of breath and
he rested frequently. OReilly saw that
-. I.
bony since he had last noticed them
and he felt a sudden pang at having
brought the little fellow into such q
plight as this.
well, hombre." he said when they
paused TO rest, I'm afraid we came
TOO late. I'm ..fraid we're licked"
Jacket nodded listlessly; his opti
mism. too, was gone. .They must al
be dead or we would have found then
before this" said he. When O'Reilly
made no answer he continued. ut Is
time we thought of getting away from
here, eh?"
Johnnie was sitting with his face II
his hands. Without lifting his head he
inquired: "How are we going TO get
away? 1t is easy enough to get into
Matanzas, but" He shrugged hope
lessly.
Jacket frightened at the thought Of
escape. "Hol I'll bet we can find 6
hole somewhere" said he. Were mo-
like these others. They haven't the
spirit to try" There was a moment OF
silence, and then: "Carambai YoI
remember those jutias we ate? They
were strong, but 1 would enjoy the
smell Of one now. Eth? Another weel
of this and we shall be living on garb
age like the rest of these poor peo
ple."
Leaving Jacket to take his time
Johnnie completed the climb alone
medinting upon the boys words. 1.-THE
spirit to tryW Where had his spirit
gone, he wondered. Perhaps it had
been crushed beneath the weight OF
misery he had beheld; surely he had
seen enough. Hourly contact with sick
ness and misfortune on such a gigantic
scale was enough to chill anyone's
hopes, and although his sensibilitie:
had been dulled. his apprehension
had been quickened hour by hour
NOW tnat ne looked the matter square
ly In the face, 1t seemed absurd to be
lieve that tender girl like Rosa Va
roma could long have withstood the
hardships Of this hideous place; strong
er people than she had succumbed. by
the hundreds. Even now the HOSPITALS
were full, the sick lay INTENDED IL
their novels. No one, so far as OReIlly
knew, had undertaken to estimate how
fast they were dying or the number OF
dead which had already ridden out O,
Matanzas In those rumbling wagons
but there were many. What chance
was there that Rosa had not beer
among the latter?
AS he breasted the summit of La
Cumbre, O'Reilly beheld at some dis
lance bent figure Of want. 1t was a
negro woman, grubbing In the earth
with sharpened stick. After a sus.