Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-11-01
CHAPTER Viii.

She was coming out of store, and
going, evidently, toward the cab which
was waiting against the street curb.
They almost ran into each other.
Mark lifted his hat mechanically, and
thought she was about to pass, but
suddenly she took him by the arm,
and looked at him earnestly, extreme
concern upon her face.
whats the matter, Uncle Mark ?"
she asked. you're ill--you're looking
frightfully ILL.,"
"Well, it's pretty hot day." said
Mark.
Eyes, but you can stand heat, Uncle
Mark. You don't look fit to be around.
How long have you been ILL, and have
you been working all the time, and
why didn't you send for me?'
Sim not ill, Eleanor" said Mark,
trying to smile.
"Then why haven't you been to see
us? Have you forgotten our talk that
night? What's the reason? Tell mel"
'.Your father keeps our noses to the
grindstone, Eleanor"
''That isn't true, and please don't
play with me as if were child, Cap
tain Wallace Come, get into this cab
at once! am going to take you home
and have Mrs. Howard look after you
Mt once. Oh, you are laughing!"
/ Tt was rather grim jest to Mark,
| but it occurred to him that it would
help to ALLEVIATE Eleanor. She drew
away from him and looked at him with
those Keen, scrutinizing eyes that had
IN some measure discounted him at
the Misses Harpers' school.
Uncle Mark" she pleaded, "do tell
me why you are acting so horribly
when l am only thinking of you. It's
just the way you acted that other
night until we got to understand each
other. And tell me why you haven't
come to us"
'Well, Eleanor. the truth is said
Mark, "the work at the office has just
about taken it ali out of me. And then,
in my position, of course there are WIS.,
its that l must pay
"Of course said Eleanor IRON
ically. go on, Uncle Mark. shall
see through you presently"
.'But / have been meaning to visit
you soon. Only, you know. I am not
in any sense your guardian now, and
so, Eleanor, if you want me to be
frank, it is little unreasonable of
you to put forward my duties in that
respect when have no compensa-
tiOns."
She started. "You mean that you
didn't want to Gomez" she asked.
81 did want to. But have so many
duties"
"Thank you. That's quite enough,
Captain Wallace. My conduct in in
truding on such a busy man has been
quite inexcusable. Good day, Captain
! Wallace!"
She made hooking little bow and
went toward her cab. She stopped and
looked back. The brief anger was
ended. But Mark was already free
stumbling homeward.
He let himself in, wrote out his res
ignation, and mailed it.
AS he paced his room, bordering
over the situation, it seemed to him
that the key to the mystery lay with
Hartley. Even yet he had not allowed
himself to believe Kellerman traitor.
But it was essential that he should
| find Hartley, and insist upon confess
sion, both of his motives in watching
| the Colonel's house, and of those that
had brought him to the war depart
ment.
Suddenly the telephone interrupted
| his meditations. A wOman's voice at
the other end was asking for him.
care you quite sure you are Captain
Mark Wallace?" it inquired, when he
had stated his identity.
81 am as sure as l have ever been,"
answered Mark.
"Ah, now I recognize you." said the
strange voice in merry ripple of
laughter. "And you don't know who
I ann"
eff you will state your name" be-
gan Mark patiently.
Someone who knows that you are
Ill LIOuDlc uuO WuAtS W ACIp yOu. IL
afraid you won't let me. You seemed
to be prejudiced against me when we
met before. Well, am Ada Henson"
Mark uttered an angry exclamation,
which he instantly checked. This
: might prove the key that he was seek
Ing.
"Come to my house at nine o'clock
tonight, unless you are afraid. You
will meet nobody but me-
It had been in Marks mind to look
for Hartley in that neighborhood.
| "What do you say, Captain Wal
lace? I can help you very much In
deed, and perhaps put things right for
you. I am in a position to know a
lgood deal of what is happening behind
the scenes"
Mark felt his brain grow as cool as
ice. "Ill come, Mrs. Kenson," he an
swered crisply, and hung up the re-
ceiver.
He consoled himself with the refec-
ton that he had, at least, nothing to
lose He waited calmly for the APP