Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-12-20

been watching her for six or seven
yearsT"
Hartley began to walk along the
road at Marks side. He made Curl
Ous gulping sound before he answered.
HAS 1t occurred to you, Mark, that
the Henson woman has been operating
In Washington for a good time now?"
he asked. i
81 suppose so," Mark answered.
''You know everything was prepared
for years before the war began. The |
system had ramifications in every de- |
partment of the government. You know |
Colonel Howard was in touch with 1t |
as far back as the Cuban WARP"
"Good Lord, yes, but"
"And q man is only pawn in such
a game. Good God, don't question me,
Mark I've been q tool of hers, but
I'll swear that 1 never worked against
the government. / learned little by
little of the whole accursed nest of
spies. 1 obeyed their orders because
well. 1 can't tell you now-but l worked
against them too. I've done them more
harm than good. 1 had my motives
selfish ones, despicable, perhaps; but l
was never a traitor. Good God, Mark
haven't you seen how your faith Z: me
has begun to make a man CT me?"
Mark took Hartley's hand and
gripped it. 1t was the best and the
only possible answer. In their tacit
understanding they went on toward
the inn together.
Outside the inn they saw an auto,
with a soldier chauffeur in charge.
Hartley gripped Marks arm.
do you know whose that is?" he
whispered. "Kellermans"
The landlady came to the door.
'Bonsoir, messieurs," she said snil-
ing. This way tonight, if you please"
She led them round by the side, into
the kitchen, where they found half u
dozen privates drinking light wine and
teasing the landlady's daughter as she
served them.
There was nothing in this to the
men; they were often turned out of
the dining room-parlor when officers
put in an appearance. But-this was
Kellerman! Mark looked at Hartley
and saw intense excitement on his face,
which he was trying most evidently to
restrain.
He ordered beer Of Annette, and fol-
lowed her toward the outhouse in
which the liquor was stored. The girl
was a friend of his, perhaps because
more serious than the rest, he treated
her with less badinage than was Gus
tOmary among the soldiers. AS she
moved out OF the lighted room into the
shadows outside the merriment fel
like a mask from her face.
"What is it, Annette?" asked Mark
"Ah, monsieur, it is tragic'' said thu
girl, pausing at the outhouse door
"She is one of my countrywomen. Tht
accent is of the south, or some out
landish part, but she is French-anC
she has come long, way to meet hin
and he will not have anything to d,
with her. How. did she get through
the lines"
"Who, AnnetteT
"The lady with the American officer
Listen, monsieur Listen, them"
They were standing in front of tn
clubhouse, which was set near an angl
of the old-fashioned building betwee
' the parlor and the kitchen. The
could hear the imploring voice of tn
woman, and the subdued answers G
] Kellerman.
Then, elusive against the dark angl
. of the building, Mark perceived Har
i ley. He was standing under the hig
j sill Of the window, in such a way ths
: Mark thought he could sec through tn
il chink between the sill and the lowe
/. edge of the blind. Eavesdropping 6
Y he evidently was, Mark felt that som
o thing justified his presence there.
:, Annette perceived him at the san
> moment. She started, and the
n shrugged her shoulders.
y "Eh bien, monsieur, it is their a
:, fair" she said lightly, and went in
L the clubhouse. She was too wise to /
n terfere with her customers. MAJ
. hardly noticed her departure. He W;
IL watching Hartley.
y Suddenly the door opened and Il
woman came down the steps that Il
q into the little vineyard behind the in
She raised her heavy veil to dab
e. handkerchief at her eyes, and at tn
moment Mark recognized Mrs. Kenso
J. He remained rooted to the groul
1 in astonishment. But it was mo
I'd than that; he felt suddenly trappe
q. as If the woman's pressSso there w
e. vitality connected with his own pro
J" lens, as if he were the victim of sor
ii far-reaching scheme with which
could not grapple.
n A minute later Kellerman appear
ls and stood upon the step above h,
ye looking into her upturned face wi
W his habitual sneer.