The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1918-12-25

or as nearly a. possible 80, by
a roof Of heavy beams. sandbags
and corrugated steel, bore the Red
Cross upon the door. Inside num-
Der of stretcher bearers were lounging.
The sergeant halted his men and
stepped into smaller dugout beside
1t. In a minute he came out and beck
oned to Mark to follow him. Mark
entered, to find himself in the pres
ence Of the captain commanding the
stretcher bearers company. and-Kel-
herman. He saluted and stood to at
tention, watching Kellerman's eyes
wander over him nppraisingly.
"Orderly, where's the man who came
with you7" inquired the Captain
brislkly.
"He disappeared on the way up, sir"
answered Mark.
"What do you mean by Disappeared
Did you see him 60 back7 Or was he
with you one minute and gone the
nextr'
II thought he was behind me, sir.
didn't see him so, or know anything
about It,"
The Captain, who had been holding
the receiver Of his telephone, and evi.
IDENTIFY waiting for his connection, got
1t. Mark heard him sending out gen.
eral notice Of the absent man. He
gave his number, and the name "Har-
ley"
No doubt he had mistaken 1t as he
received it by telephone from the hos
| pital that morning.
you'll parade before me tomorrow
morning." said Captain Keyes to the
sergeant. IT'LL then you are under
open arrest"
The sergeant saluted. "Right turn!"
he said to Mark.
"Wait minute" interposed Keller
man. I'D like to have a few words
with this man, Captain Keyes."
by all means, sir" replied the Cap
tain, rising.
He strolled. hur1ming, to the door
of the dugout, leaving Kellerman and
Mark together.
$50 you've enlisted under the name
Weston" inquired Kellerman.
"That is my name, SIR" ass
ut was shock to me yesterday,
Wallace. never expected 1t. Your
disappearance stirred Washington a
good deal. The war Office would have
exonerated you"
! In spite Of his loathing Of the man.
Mark felt his heart begia to hammer
with hope. He looked at Kellerman
with pathOs In his eyes; he could not
hide his feelings; he was cropping amid
the ruins of his world and trying to
reconstruct them.
"Tve' no doubt yeu misunderstood
me" said Kellerman. "My association
with the Henson woman was part Of
my official duties-the most distasteful
part, but one that had to be carried
out. You and were the victims Of an
acute piece Of trickery. That fan was
wired"
-"From your room, sir" said Mark.
"From my ROOM" answered Keller
man. "And, no doubt, by the Henson
woman's agent. that spy who called to
see you at the war Office the same
morning. Colonel Howard knows all
about 1t. He means to stand by you.
He heard you had enlisted, but he did
not know you were in the medical
corps, nor under an alias. He is at
the base now. Wallace. When he comes
up next week shall make it my busi-
ness to see him about you"
! mo. sir" gasped Mark. 1T doesn't
matter now"
1T matters to me, If not to yourself,
Wallace. I cannot rid myself of the
sense of partial, responsibility. And
as for what happened last night, YOU
took me of my guard. I'll be frank
with you. It was my duty to interest
the Henson woman. succeeded too
we'll. She followed me here. I couldn't
bring myself to denOunce her. For
that I have placed my own position
In Jeopardy. When you appeared I
did not know what to do or say"
"You found course Of action" an
swered Mark, torn between the desire
to return blow for blow and to do jus-
tice to Kellerman, whose story left
him doubtful and wondering.
"Will you accept my frank apol.
ogy" asked Kellerman. extending his
hand.
Mark took It II will, Major Keller
man." he answered.
\ And he made his way to the door Of
the dugout. with a feeling Of warmth
In his heart such as he had not known
for many month. He believed Kel.
lerman-and yet but he fought
down his instinct and still believed
him.
CHAPTER XIII.