The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1918-12-20

SlOtSu Ills
creases in his tunic were
fashion-piate. Looking at M W
a dirty, grimed, almost unr able
figure, with uniform that about
him in great tatters, blotC ID ana
stained with blood.
"You said he would not come back y
cried Eleanor. "You see he has come
back. What have you to say more?"
"You misunderstood me, Eleanor
81 understand you now for the first
time in my life. liked you, Major
Kellerman. 1 trusted you and I be-
lieved In you. When you told me that
you were working to get Captain Wal
lace his recognition I was glad, and
proud of you both, and happy. What
did you do?"
"What did he do?" cried Kellerman
furiously. "Why should you believe
evil things Of me, because he said
them"
HE never spoke one word against
you!"
''When the decision has already been
made by an impartial court, anxious to
clear a soldiers character, if that were
possible?"
Because have a woman's instinct,
Major Kellerman."
Enough Of this" interposed Mark.
"What are you doing here, sir?'
He snapped the last word out in
irony so bitter that Kellerman WINGED.
$50 you've cheated the firing party,
Private Weston!" he said, with his
habitual sneer.
80, call me Mark while you're about
it," answered Wallace. "Or please re-
member that I am no longer under
your command, nor q soldier in the
American army. Technically I am a
dead man, Major Kellerman, and dead
men"
"Tell no tales, eh?" responded Kel-
lerman savagely. "Well, here we stand
man to man, and the conditions war
rant plain speaking. 1t is not my busi-
ness to place you under arrest. But, If
do so, you are aware that your life
will be worth about five minutes pur-
chase. So go, Mr.. Weston or Wallace,
or whatever you call yourself now. Go
if Miss Eleanor here says the one
word that will set you free. Go-and
in this confusion you will have rea-
sonable chance to escape, with those
ready wits of yours"
"The one word?" Eleanor gasped.
"The one word yes" responded Kel-
lerman.
81 will never become your wife, Ma
jor Kellerman."
$50 you told me the other day, after
leading me to suppose that it was your
intention" answered Kellerman easily.
"Stop, Mr.. Weston, if you please, and
let me finish. War doesn't leave much
sentimentality in a man. We know what
life is worth, and we know that life's
a matter of bargaining. When we
were in America might have accepted
my dismissal, Eleanor. But here we
three stand under the naked heaven,
like ants on q hill. All artificial dis
tinctions have fallen away. I've loved
YOU for many months, Eleanor and l
want to marry you. That's the bald
truth of it. In order to persuade you,
I am willing to let this gentleman es-
cape-to facilitate his escape, even to
make our marriage dependent on my
success. That's fair, isn't it? And,
what have you against me? Is it my
fault that he was cOurt-martialed and
sentenced to death for striking an Of
ficer?"
The mans effrontery took Mark S
breath away.
my answer" responded ElccslOr
steadily, sis no And even if We. could
send him to his death it Wa-Ad still be
no Because he himself TOuld wish
that. But you can't hart. him. Some
thing convinces me tilat all the harm
that has come to him has come from
you. And it tells me, too, that your
power has ended. No is my answer" "
"And yours, Mr. Weston?" asked
Kellerman, looking at Mark.
Mark unable to reply, pointed toward
the opening of the recess. KeIlerman
turned and strobe toward it. Then he
turned.
"There's one thing more to say" he
said. "Your action in dismissing me,
Miss Howard, savors of the romantic
drama. Your life has been romantic
one, with a certain high-strung ideal
ism in it, due to the circumstances of
your upbringing. 1t was that, | be
Iieve, which made you think it your
duty to follow your adopted fathers
unit to the front. l think you ought to
know who you are. Your father died
on the battlefield of Santiago. He was
a fugitive from justice. He was the
| notorious Hampton"
Mark uttered a cry. He sprang to-
ward Kellerman, but Kellerman dealt
him q blow that sent him stumbling
among the bricks.
'That's a lie, Kellerman! !" said Colo
mel Howard quietly.
The old ColonePs eyes were wide
open. He laid his hands laboriously
upon the edge of the brick wall and