The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1918-12-06

of understudy, In fact, but with a good
deal of initiative as well. And IL war
comes, as 1t is sure to come, Wen be
sent Ove on the first transport, to pre-
pare things for the troops. All. KEEL
herman. here's Wallace, newly arrived
to take over his duties"
Mark saw not the slightest change in
Kellerman since the days of the Cuban
war. Kellerman was just as florid as
ever, just as burly. with the same rath-
er sinister way of glancing; his black
hair was unthinned and untouched
with gray. He had borne the years
much better than Mark.
If Kellerman reciprocated Marks
feelings, he showed no sign Of it in his
cordial handgrip.
1--WE were glad to get you, Wallace"
he said. you'll excuse me for q mo-
ment, I'm sure"
He drew Colonel Howard aside in
conversation, while Mark twirled his
fingers and looked out Of the window
into the busy hive of the capital; and
tried to make himself believe that it
was all true.
When Kellerman had gone the Colo
mel invited Mark to sit down, and
launched into business.
II must tell you that it's a pretty
stiff job that we're tackling, Mark"
he said. ITO begin with, we're Il sort
of nucleus Of the whole organization.
We're in touch with every division.
We. have to have the whole thing at
matter of ships. animals, and trans
port. And. to cap the climax, you can
imagine what a nest Of intrigue and
espionage Washington has become in
these days. And, as NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
sibly neutrals-we can do nothing to
put m end to It."
He stretched out his finger and
pointed toward the big safe between
the windows.
ANY one Of some two hundred pa
pers there, Mark, would give q valu-
able clue" he said. "Every night, when
work Is finished. your task will be to
open the safe. take out the inner case
containing these documents, add those
on which you have been working. in
Guiding every waste sheet and every
scrap Of the days blOtting paper, and
have the day porter convey them,
under your personal supervision. to
the strong room, where you and either
the General, myself. or Kellerman,
will place them In the safety vault. In
the morning the same procedure Is re
versed. And that Is why I insisted
on our getting you, Mark. I knew you,
and / don't know the hundred OF other
officers Of impeccable character whom
we could have secured. We can't run
risks-we simply can't. That's why
II has to be just you and Kellerman
and I. We had our lesson In the old
days, you know"
He frowned at the remembrance,
and then answered Marks unspoken
question with another.
"Where are you staying, Wallace?'
"At the Congressional"
"Well, I want you to come and stay
with us as soon as we're settled. We've
rented a house In Massachusetts circle.
and 10 In on the 6rst Of the month.
Eleanor and Mrs. Howard are still in
New York, but they're coming here In
about ten days time-just as loon as
/ ran get the house ready for them.
Eleanor Il dying to e you, and Mrs.
Howard has the ~pleasantest remem-
brancea, Of course. And now I'm going
to take you to the Brigadier."
The short interview with the head
of the department confirmed Marks
impressions 40 to the b~usinesslike IA.
ture Of the plans Of the war once,
Mark went home. He was resolved, al.
though he had not told the Colonel.
not to become his guest-at least NOD
unless he found that he could take up
hin life again where he had dropped 1t,
years before. And then-but what
waa the uss Of speculating1 he went
home to his hotel,
He wal surprised to ind how easily
be seemed to At into his environment
when be d0nned his long-neglected
evening clothes and went down to the
dining room of the Congressional. Al
most the first face be saw was that d
! man. OF hie class; within 4 few min
ufes Mark Wallace vas seated 1t tn
dinnsf table With 1 merry party Of old
'94taeAds and now acQuaintances. And
TIE years bad clipped away from him
On The NEXT morning, when he tool
- ~ 41fte4,a = NAs With The 9ensl
~ Ionser ! stranger
ExAA&SEsxaEZ4 - 3eLI