The state herald., 1919-01-10

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train. Few people were travelling these
days, and they were, for the most part,
SpaniAh oficers to whom the sight Of
starving country people was no nov
city. Now and then. however, there did
arrive visitors from whom the spec
tacle Of SO much wretchedness wrung
a contribution, hence there was al
ways an expectant throng at the depot
On this occasion O'Reilly vas sur
prised to hear the piteous wliines for
charity in the name of God turn sud.
denly into subdued but vicious NUT
ter Of rage. Kisses were intermlngled
with vituperations, then the crowd fell
strangely silent, parting to allow the
passage Of great. thick.set man in the
uniform Of colonel of volunteers. The
fellow was unusually swarthy and he
wore black sc0wl upon his face. while
long puckering scar the full length of
one cheek lifted his mouth into a
crooked sneer and left exposed q
glimpse Of wolfish teeth.
O'Reilly was at loss to fathom this
sudden alteration Of attitude. the whis-
tie Of indrawn breaths and the whis-
pered curses. until he heard some one
mutter the name. "Cobo." Then indeed
he started and stlffened In his tracks.
He fixed . fascinated stare upon the
fellow.
Colonel Cobo seemed no little
pleased by the reception he created.
With his chest arched and his black
eyes cleaning malevolently he swag-
gered through the press. clicking his
heels noisily upon the stone flags. When
he had gone Jacket voiced a vicious
oath.
$50 that is the butcher Of babies r"
exclaimed the boy. "well, now, I
should enjoy cutting his heart out"
O'Reilly's emotions were not entire
ly unlike those Of his small companion.
His lips became dry and white as he
tried to speak.
"What brutei That face- Ugh r.
He found himself shaking weakly.
and discovered that new and wholly
unaccountnble feeling Of discourage
ment had settled upon him. He tried
manfully to shake 1t of. but somehow
failed. for the sight of Rosa's arch.
enemy and the mans overbearing per-
sonality hnd 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
ned him. The next day he resumed his
hut-to-hut search. but with O listless-
ness that came from a firm conviction
that once agnin 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 Severino. the execution
place; above was the site Of the old
Varona home. More than once on his
way about the city oRelliy had lifted
his eyes in the direction Of the latter,
feeling n great hunger to revisit the
scene Of his last farewell to Rosa. but
through fear Of the melancholy effect
1t would have upon him he had thus
fnr resisted the impulse. Today, how
ever. he could no longer fight tho NOR
bid desire md SO. In spite Of Jackets
protest ut the useless expenditure OF
effort, he set out to climb the hill. OF
course the boy would not let him 20
alone.
Little was said during the ascent.
The La Cumbre road seemed very long
and very steep. How different the last
time oIieilly had swung up I'll The
climb had never before tired him a. II
did now. and he reasoned that hunger
must have weakened him even more
thnn he realized. Jacket felt the exer-
tion, too: he was short Of breath and
he rested frequently. ORcilly saw that
the boys bare. brown legs had grown
bony since he had last noticed them.
and he felt sudden pnng at having
brought the little fellow into such u
plight as this.
swell. hombrc," he said when they
paused to rest. "Im afraid we came
too late. Tn lfrnid we're licked"
Jacket nodded listlcssiy; his opti-
shieahs WV Wun kouc. hwy Huht uii
DO dead or We would have found them
before this" said he. When oRciily
mndc no answer hc continued, at In
tlmc we thought Of getting nwny from
here. chr
Johnnie wns sitting with his fnce In
his hands. Without lifting his head he
inquired: allow arc We going TO get
awnyf Il is cnsy enough TO get into
Mntnnxas. but" He shrugged hope
lcssly.
Jnckct frightened nt tho thought Of
escape. "IIoi I'll bet We cnn ind n
hole somewhere" said he. "wc're not
like these others. They haven't tho
spirit 10 try" There wns moment Of
silence. and then: "Cnrnmbni You
remember those jutins We ntcf They
were strong. but I would enjoy tho
smell Of ono now. Ehf Another week
Of this md we shnll bc living on gnrb-
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