The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1918-12-18

uOCIOrS IrOIu du ArlZOua TOWN., WuOIu
he had 'dined at the mess.
II think you are mistaken, sir" he
answered quietly.
The surgeon searched his face, and,
like decent man, admitted his error.
another poor devil gone down." he
thought, as he turned to his work.
There were three more. operations
following, and Mark sighed with relief
as the last man was carried away. He
took a scrubbing brush and bar of
soap and kneeled down to clean the
door, while his fellow attendant
secured the splashed sable and carried
sway the towels.
| Mark was conscious that the nurse
still fingered, and he went on with
his scrubbing. Somehow he did not
want to meet her eyes.
She came toward him and stood near
him, by the table. Something splashed
down to the floor-then something else
Mark raised his head, They were
tears, and others followed them down
the nursing sisters face The girl was
Eleanor. il4
She put out her hands blindly. "Oh,
Captain Mark r. she whispered.
Mark felt himself beginning to
shake; fate seemed to have played q
wretched trick on him just then.
''Why, Captain Markl Why-why
did you do this?" asked Eleanor.
"Hey, Westonw called his fellow or.
derby from. the door Of TIE sterilizing
room; and then. seeing him with the
sister, withdrew. '~,f
"Ycu heard my namei" asked Mark
II heard 1t, Captain Mark. Won't
you tell me what 1t means, what it all
means?"
"What it all meansT' he repeated
vaguely, wondering at the concern or
her face. a& t55
"Why you disappeared as you die
from Washington. knew that yor
had applied for leave Of absence, be
cause you had Overworked in the hot
weather. But you - never came
back" Her voice broke into a sob
"The Colonel didn't think it strange
He wouldn't admit that there was any
reason. except that you must hav,
gone back to your regiment. Did 70,
and he quarrel, Captain Mark? IT.
unthinkable. could learn nothin,
about you. but Major Kellerman hat
said you were tired o. the work AMI
might have got some appointment GU
of the service. Their tales were con
flicting. And you weren't on the arm,
list any more. Won't you tell me, jus
because-you know-because-"
Mark could hardly restrain his feel
ing.
''rll tell you," said Mark, raising hi
eyes. II was accused Of treachery, o
betraying secrets to enemies of m
country"
Eleanor laughed In little, mirth
less voice. You're still the same
Uncle Mark" she whispered. ibid 20
think l would believe that?"
1T was not true," cried Mark, net
tied and desperate. ''But 1t was foun
that freQuented gambling houses
"You are so fond of money, Uncl
Marky'
II wanted money. You were ricl
and / wanted your esteem. ! wante
to move In your circles, to win you
favor, as others could"
> She gasped and grew red; he sa,
that his arrow had gone home, an
went on pitilessly.
"When / was at your reception 70
e had smiles for everyone"
"That's enough, Captain Wallace
q she said, with an indrawn breath. "Yo
o insulted me the last time we met, va
know, or probably have forgotten. /
q I see that all my thoughts of yo
q were wrong. was always burde
d And when you didn't write SO mar
x years. and when you didn't come
r see me, thought-oh. TIL tell you no,
y since you have Inundated me as dee
" as It Is possible to humiliate
d woman. thought you stayed avs
and kept away because you liked m
le and because you were afraid that
v might conas to care for you, and RI