The Adair County news., 1918-11-06

the man seemed to take fear, and
shambled away. Something in his gait
brought back to Marks mind the recol-
lection of the man whom he had seen
outside the Misses Harpers' school.
And he began to follow him. 1t was
a role that he had never played before,
but justified, in his mind, by the neces-
sity of discovering the fellows identi-
ty. Without any very clear intention
In his mind how he was to accomplish
this, Mark made his way after the soli-
tary figure, keeping well behind it.
It soon became clear that the man,
although he looked like a tramp, had
definite objective. Mark pursued him
toward Pennsylvania avenue, until he
discovered that he was nearing the
least desirable part of Washington,
whose location, so near the residence
of the chief executive, has always been
the wonder and scandal Of visitors.
He was in one of those streets that
start bravely In the city and debouch
into the low-lying land in that interme-
date and hardly reclaimed region bor
dering the Potomac. The houses here
were old, many appearing vacant and
tumble-down, and for the most part
standing each in a little garden.
Mark was beginning to think of
tackling the fugitive, who, unconscious
OF pursuit, was about fifty PAGES in
front of him, when SUI .lly the man
turned in at the tiny ga of an ap-
parently deserted house ami knocked
at the door, which was opened almost
Immediately.
Mark heard a subdued scream, and
then the mans voice in angry alterca-
ton.
had opened the door. She looked
about five and thirty years of age, and
her face, distinctly visible against the
light in the hall, was well-bred, if not
attractive. She seemed one of those
cosmopolitans who frequent the CAPT.
tai; Mark was still uncertain whether
her house was one of those residences
that are still occupied in this district
by the original owners, or whether she
was the mistress of one of those gam
bling establishments that flourish of
necessity along the avenues of the
earlier alphabet.
The man seemed to be pleading with
her, his gestures were growing fran
tic. He looked about five and forty
years of age; his face struck Mark
with a certain odd familiarity, though
he had never seen him closely before,
and bore traces of breeding, blurred
either by dissolute habits or by mis-
fortune.
The woman answered him in tones
of quick anger, and made gesture OF
| dismissal. The man held his ground
doggedly, the voices became angrier.
mol No, tell you'll" the woman
cried. 81 don't know who you are
VIII you go?"
Suddenly a man came along the
passage behind her, carrying walk
ing-cane with a heavy handle. He
raised it and brought it crashing down
on the others head.
| The man fell to the ground, evident
ly half stunned by the blow. The man
with the cane raised it and brought it
down again and again upon the others
ening crashes.
Mark ran to the garden gate. Ihc
man with the stick paused, raised his
head, and looked at him. Mark recoer-
nized Kellerman. AS Kellerman, d.
turn, recognized him, an angry snee.
spread over his face.
"My dear Wallace, what the dicl,' 1.s
are you doing here?" he demanC, i.
"Are you trying to kill this iG..4
asked Mark.
Kellerman seemed nonplussea -.
| the moment.
Il hope I've given him his Lessor
he answered. HE came here aliJ -
manded money, and nearly fri%hs,- g"
Mrs. Henson out of her senses. L.:
me present you"
| Mark looked into the keen, appEuis-
| ing eyes of Mrs. Henson with dislike
and disgust.
You'd better let him go, Major Kei-
lerman," he said. AS he spoke he saw
Mrs. Henson bite her lip vindiCtively.
"Oh, I'll leave him to you," respond
ed Kellerman airily. you'll excuse me,
Wallace, I'm sure, but Mrs. Kenson's
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 nail unconscious.
and muttering vaguely.
-Four years since I've seen her." he
mumbied 81 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 wifeT asked Mark,
thinking that he saw light.
"God forbidI' 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