The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1908-10-22


diately. Do you understand your or
dersT'
Markart understood them very well.
There was no need of Stafnitz's mock
ing little smile to point the meaning.
Markart was to be Lepage's jailer;
Sterkoff was to be his. Under the
most civil and considcrate form he was
made as close a prisoner as the man
he guarded. Evidently Stenovics had
come to the conclusion that he could
not ask Markart to put too great a strain
on his conscience The general, how
ever, seemed very kindly disposed to-
ward him and was, indeed, almost
apologetic:
ave every hope that this responsible
and fear, very irksome duty may last
only the few hours | mentioned. You
put me under a personal obligation by
undertaking 1t, my dear Markart."
In the absence of any choice Markart
saluted and answered, II understand
my orders, general"
Stafnitz interposed, captain Sterkof
is also aware Of their purport"
| Stenovics looked vexed. Yes, yes,
but I'm sure Markart himself is quite
enough" IL seems odd that I'm the
midst of such a transaction as that in
which he was engaged Stenovics should
have found leisure or heart to care
about Markart's feeling Yet so Il was
"a curiously human touch creeping I'm.
He shut Markart up only under the
strongest sense Of necessity and with
great reluctance. Probably Stafntz
had insisted in the private conversa-
tion which they had held together.
Markart had shown such evident signs
Of jibbing over the job proposed for
Captain Hercules!
Lepage's heart was wrung. but bis
spirit was not broken. Stafnitz's ironic-
al smile called an answering one to his
lips.
at would console my feelings If
also were put I'm charge of somebody,
general" he said. "Shall l, In my turn,
keep an eye on Dr. Natcheff or report
II the captain here is remiss in the duty
Of keeping himself a prisonerr
81 don't think younced trouble your
self NJ. Lepagc. Captuil Sterkof will
relieve you of responsibility" To Le-
page too, Stenovics was gentle, urbane,
almost apologize.
"And how long am I to live, gem
eral?"
You're in the enviable position, NJ. Le-
page, Of being able, subject 70 our COM
mon mortality, to settle that for your;
1 self. Come. come wen discuss mat
ters again tomorrow night or the fol-
lowing morning There are many men
who prefer net to do things, but will
accept a thing when It's done. They're
not necessarily unwise. I've done no
worse to you than give you the oppor-
tunity Of being one Of them. l think
you'll be prudent to take it. Anyhow,
don't he angry. You must remember
that you've given us a good deal of
| trouble"
Between us we have killed the
king"
Stenovics waved his hands in COM
miserating way. practical men
mustn't spend time I'm lamenting the
past" be said.
"Nor in mere conversation, however
pleasant" Stafnitz broke in, with
laugh. captain Markart, march your
prisoner TO his quarters"
His smile made the order n mockery.
Markart felt It, and a hatred of the
man ro"e in him. But he could do
nothing He did not lead Lepage TO
his quarters, but followed sheepishly
in his prisoners wake. They went to-
| ~ Inf a Il %
page slept
"Close quarters. too captain" said
the valet. "There Is but one chair. Let
me put It at your service" He himself
sat down on the bed, took out his to-
bacco and began to roll himself a ciga-
rette.
| Markart shut the door and then threw
himself on the solitary chair in heavy
dependency Of spirit and confused
conflict Of feelings. He was glad to
be out Of the work, yet he resented the
manner In which he was put inside.
There were things going on in which II
was well to have no hand. Yet was
there not a thing going on in which ev-
cry man ought TO have a hand on one
side or the other? Not TO do 1t, but to
be ready to accept II when done He
was enough of a soldier TO feel that
there lay the worst. the meanest thing
Of all. Not to dare to do 1t, but to
profit by the doingl Stenovics had
used the words to Lepage, his prisoner.
BY making him in effect a prisoner,
too, the general showed that he ap-
piled them to the captain also. Any
thing seemed better than that-aye, 1t
would be better TO ride to Praslok be-
hind Captain Herculesl In that ad-
venture man might, at least, risk his
life!
"An odd worldw said the valet, puff
ing out his cigarette smoke Honest
men for prisoners and murderers for
jailers! Are you prisoner or jailer,
Captain Markart2"
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