The Adair County news., 1918-11-27
CHAPTER XIV.

The three officers who had brought
In their verdict, and the fourth, OF
high rank, who had passed the SEN
tence, stood rather stiffly at the door
Of the little headquarters village house,
watching Mark as, with hands chained,
he was marched away by two armed
guards toward the Jail.
When he was out of sight they I'm.
bent.
Oh It'll" said one.
"My sentiments" answered another,
"What do you think, McKinnonT'
81 don't want to think about it."
eff it had been some tough who had
got roped into the army-a gunman Oh
that sort-but-"
swell, if the fellows a gentleman
why did he do it? He must have
known"
sand, after all, he might have been
respited for the blow, but the gross
cowardice-"
81 don't see that. The blow was
worse than the cowardice. A new
hand, between the lines at night, his
sent him"
81 don't follow you there. Kellerman
had known the man in the q. S. and
wanted to give him a chance to redeem
himself"
At nightfall Mark was sitting in his
cell. He had eaten, he had composed
himself to meet his end according to
the traditions of his caste and race
but he could not meet it calmly. He
had deliberately flung everything
away; he had let Kellerman goad
him to madness; he was going to
die without even the soldiers salts
faction of duty honorably done. And
he could not compose himself.
Suddenly he heard the outer gate OF
the prison click; then came the sound
of voices, footsteps, woman's swish
ing skirts; Eleanor and Colonel How
ard stood at the barred entrance with
the guard.
Mark rose from his bed and stood
staring at them; he could hardly be
lieve them real. The guard unlocked
the door of the cell. Eleanor shrank
back against the corner of the ma.
sonry, her kerchief to her lip, her face
chalky white. Suddenly she started
forward. The Colonel whispered q
word, she brushed him aside as If she
had not heard him. Her arms sought
Marks neck and found it. She pressed
her lips to his.
Captain Mark! Dear Captain
Mark !" she sobbed.
And, holding her closely to him, ard
forgetting Towards presence and ev-
erything else. Mark found his peace.
Colonel Howard was trying to calm
her, to 'assuage her frantic grief. At
last he persuaded her to sit down. He
took Mark by the arm as if he were
child, and placed him beside her.
'eMark, my dear boy-Mark, heard
of it only five minutes ago." he said.
II had to spend the night here, and
Eleanor had got leave to meet me. I've
just learned the outlines Of it. I'm
trying to get the General. Yes, yes,
know he refused this morning, but he
didn't know. I'm only going to ask for
a respite till 1 can see him personally
1t will come out all right. Now tell
me, Mark, what happened? How did
Kellerman meet you? Why did you
strike him? i don't ask about the
charge Of cowardice, because that
isn't worth speaking about. I'll settle
that with the General-L haven't for
gotten Santiago. But about that blow,
Mark-hOw did it all happen? Tell
me exactly, so that I"
1t was unlike the old Colonel to
gable so fast. Perhaps he was afraid
Of breaking down.
"Can tell the General. Now begin,
Mark. Tell me from the beginning"
But Mark did not open his lips. And
before Colonel Howard could resume
Eleanor had sprung up and faced
Mark eagerly.
'Now, Captain Mark, ,listenI If
you've never listened to me before,
listen noww she cried. 81 know you
aren't going to sell the Colonel. It's