Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-05-28
CHAPTER XIV.

he was marched away by two armed
guards toward the Jail.
When he was out OF sight they un-
bent, for il Is hard for Americans u
maintain the military air longer thah
~ essential for discipline.
"D--n IT," said one.
MY sentiments" answered another
What do you think. Mckinnon
II don't want to think about IT.
IF il had been some tough who had
got roped into the army-a gunman or
that surt--but-
We'll, il the fellows L gentleman.
why did he do 1t? He must have
known"
And. after all. he might have been
respited for the blow, but the gross
cowardicc-"
Il don't see that. The blow was
worse than the cowardice. A new
hand, between the lines ut night. his
first night-Kellerman shouldn't have
sent him"
II don't follow you there. Kellerman
had known the man in the U. ;. ana
wanted to give him chance to re-
deem himself"
Perhaps the general
There isn't chaI.ce of that" in
terposed the colonel stiftiy. "Disci-
plinc has to bc maintained. II 1t isn't
the Boches will get us. sure as fate'
when they make their promised attack
10 wipe us out Of France The gen.
eral will confirm the sentence, ana
Weston will atone for his crime at
sunrise. Pray, gentlemen, put all
false sentimentality out Of your minds
and consider the larger issue. How
ever" he continued. after pause. I'll
try to get him on the telephone
again"
He went back into the cottage. and
the waiting officers were not surprised
at his grave face when he returned;
nor was II necessary for them to ask
him what the answer had been.
At nightfali Mark was sittinI in his
cell. He had eaten, he had composed
himself to meet his end according to
the traditions of his caste and race;
but he could not meet it calmly. Ae
SId deiioerafeiy iuns everything
away; he had let Kellerman goad
him to madness; he was going 10
die without even the soldiers salts
faction of duty honorably done. And
he could not compose himself.
The narrow confines of the cell al
forded no room for exercise which
might have calmed his mind. The un-
certainty OF death was little, but the
hidcous uncertainty Of Eleanors fu-
ture was terrible. He was In the mood
of one OF those Apaches who go 10
death cursing and struggling. The
hideousness Of his position. combined
with the supreme necessity OF appear
ing calm to the watching jailer. made
every nerve quiver. And he could only
alt on his bed and think. think. curse
himself and picture Kellermans tri-
umph and. worst Of all. perhaps, his
own failure to denoupce him.
Somehow, strangely enough, his re-
sentiment began to concentrate itself
against Hartley. He had led him into
this position, with his grandiose folly
his ambitious schemes, only to desert
him ut the end. But for Hartley he
might have gone abroad, perhaps with
n commission, under another name-if
he could have brought himself to that
His mind went round and round
and the passing of the hours seemed
hideously slow.
Suddenly he heard the outer gate OF
the prison click: then came the SOUND
Of voices. footsteps, womans SWISH
ing skirts: Eleanor and Colonel How
ard stood at the barred entrance with
the guard.
Mark rose from his bed and stood
staring at them: he could hardly be-
lieve them real. The guard unlocked
the door OF the cell Eleanor shrank
back against the corner OF the ma
sonry, her kerchief to her lip, her face
chalky white. Suddenly she started
forward The colonel whispered
word. she brushed him aside as IL she
had not heard him. Her arms sought
Marks neck and found 1t. She pressed
her lips To his.
Captain Mark. Dear Captain
Mark" she sobbed.
And. holding her closely to him. and
forgetting Howard's presence and ev-
erything else. Mark found his peace.
Colonel Howard was trying to calm
her. To assuage her frantic grief. At
last nc persuaded her to sit down. He
took Mark by the arm rs II he were a
child, and placed him beside her.
Mark. my dear boy-Mark. heard
of IL only five minutes ago." he said
Il had to spead the night here. and
Eleanor had got leave TO meet me. I've
Just learned the outlines Of 1t. I'm
trying to get the general. Yes, yes.
know he refused this morning. but he
didn't know. I'm only going to ask for
a respite till I can see him personally
II will come out all right. Now tell
me. Mark. what happened? How did
Kellerman meet you? Why did you
strike him? I don't ask about the
charge OF cowardice, because that
isn't worth speaking about. I'll settle
that with the general-I haven't for
gotten Santiago. But about that blow
Mark-how did 1t all happen? Tel
me exactly, so that L"
II was unlike the old colonel tc
gabble 50 fast. Perhaps he was afrait
of breaking down.
Can tell the general. Now begin
Mark. Tell me from the beginning"
But Mark did not open his lips. Ant
before Colonel Howard could resume
Eleanor had sprung up and facet
Mark eagerly.
Now. Captain Mark. listen! 1
you've never listened to me before
listen nowr she cried. II know yo'