The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1918-12-13

The woman answered him in toneA
of quick anger, and made a gesture OF
dismissal. The man held his ground
doggedly, the voices became angrier.
mol! No, l tell YOU" the woman
cried. Il don't know who you are
Will you goy'
Suddenly a man came along the
passage behind her. carrying Il walk
ing-cane with Il heavy handle. He
raised it and brought it crashing down
on the others head.
The man fell to the ground, evident
~ half stunned by the blow. The man
with the cane raised it and brought 1t
down again and again upon the others
head and face, in a succession of sick
ening crashes.
Mark ran to the garden gate. The
man with the stick paused. raised his
heed. and looked ut him. Mark recog-
nixed kellerman. AS kellerman, in
spread owe his face.
my dear Wallace, what the dickens
are you doing here?" he demanded.
Are you trying to kill this man?'
asked Mark.
kellerman seemed nonplussed for
the moment.
II hope I've given him his lesson
he answered. He came here and de-
manded money. and nearly frightened
Mrs. Henson out of her senses. Let
me present YOU"
Mark looked into the keen, apprais-
ing eyes Of Mrs. HENSON with dislike
and disgust.
You'd better let him go. Major Kel.
lerman." he said. As he spoke he saw
Mrs. Reason bite her lip vindictively.
"Oh, I'll leave him to you." respond.
ed kellerman airily. you'll excuse me,
auto will be here in a few moments"
Mark, hot with Indignation, answer
ed nothing, but raised the man from
the ground and got him outside the
gate. As he did so he heard the door
Of the house close softly.
The tramp was half unconscious.
and muttering vaguely.
-Four years since I've seen her." ne
mumbled. Il didn't want money. Only
the word. God knows l wouldn't have
taken money from her as he said, the
cur"
WAS she your wifeY' asked Mark,
thinking that he saw light.
God forbid!" calculated the man
with convincing spontaneity. "Who
are you. anyway" he demanded, look.
ing at him directly for the first time.
What were you doing in that placer
He grasped Mark by the arm. Are
you another friend of hers" he asked.
"Or didn't you know that it's the swell.
est gambling house in Washington:
Mark took him by the shoulders.
"What's your name and where do you
live?" he asked. II haven't time tC
waste on you, but I'm ready to helr
you If l can"
my name? Hartley. Good enough
name. isn't 1t? Live? l haven't lived
for more years than l remember. I'm
a cOrpse-see? l wanted to live.
That's why l came here when l heard
she was in Washington. Walked from
New York. Why should she be here
now. unless there's another poor young
fool like me for her? Where the car
S Is. there are the eagles-or is II
vultures?"
Mark drew the mans arm through
his and led him away. Presently a
cab came crawling up. He hailed II
and gave his address.
He took him home and played the
Good Samaritan, washed his wounds,
plastered them, and gave the man q
bed In his living room. Hartley had
subsidized into a state Of frightened 81.
lence. He looked obviously at Mark
all the while he was receiving his min.
istratiOns, and would say nothing.
snow, please understand" said
Mark, 1--WE brought you here because
you seem to me to be up against it
The doors unlocked. And I'm trusting
you with my things. Those cups are
silver. Hartley-I o them 1t West
Point. That little picture Is by Griffin
and worth about seven hundred. That's
about all, I think-but I want you to
understand you're free, and I'll help
You II I can"
Hartley flushed rather oddly, Mark
thought, but said not a word. It was
q foolish act. he thought repeatedly
before he fell asleep; but he must win
the mans confidence II he was to learn
the mystery. And he was satisfied
that his interest In Eleanor's move
ment BODIED no harm to her.
In the morning, Hartley vas gone,
as he expected. But he had taken mel
Their the cups nor the picture.