The Adair County news., 1918-11-13

IL, and pushed Mark through, fC J,1ng>
Immediately. He shut the dooz softly
behind him. They were In the base
ment of the adjoining house.
"We're safe now" said Hartley i,sk'
whisper. you'd better rest, Capszn
Wallace"
you're Hartley" muttered Marx
sitting down and trying in vain 20 dis
Germ something of the others faeE-
through the gloom. what happened
and how did you come on the seensf
"Good God forgive mer' moanec
Hartley, suddenly breaking into hys
terical sobbing, as On the former night
1--WE ruined you, Captain Wallace
What else could do?"
$50 you were in that plot, eh?" asked
Mark, wondering that he felt So iItl6'
anger. swell, it was clear enough, bufs
it doesn't matter now"
at matters everything" answered:
Hartley, in a vehement whisper The,
tricked me into it. didn't know what
their scheme was when I agree 70 re,
you out of the room. But found out
later. And had suspected. Col, Cap
tain Wallace, to think / founG that
door,
"Never mind" said Mark sootYdngiJT
listening to the stamping Of the raiders
in the next house overhead 'SNhal
more do you knOw?"
81 knew that they wouldn't bs salts
fed with that, sir. They"
zone moment. Who is they, Hart
ley?"
They" repeated Hartley vim
lictively. "ThOSe devils that make
pawns OF men. They meant to clincts
their dirty work one way or aGOthar--
They meant TO buy you. after raining
you. and fashion you to their CiftJ
wor.;. If they couldn't do that they
were going to"
Murder meP
"NO, sir. DiScredit you so ttlC' moth
ing you could say would be listened to-
THAT'S what they meant to 20. Il
was l who was told TO give til Up to-
the police that there was ggHblin
here. They thought the place Wa
clOSed-and it was. But they wacts.t
the police to find you here. and ZeS
you. so that the story might ge- n
the newspapers, and finish yOu-fz.S
you with the war department, anL -y5t-
Miss Howard"
Sand what did you expect to & { &c
of it, Hartley?p asked Mark.
He heard the man catch 81 his
breath.
"She wasn't your wife. Hart, =
"NO, Captain Wallace, nor
'But she has a hold on you s--T
enough to compel you to do such ~
as she requires. And yet you Ia
tried to save me diShonor-if any NV
could come to me-"
"YOu saved me, Captain Wallace 7
Mark made a sound of incredulity.
"And have been a gentleman. You
don't know how man falls, Cap-LiEs
Wallace"
Hartley, you haven't answered my
question. Now here's another. Why
were you watching Colonel HJward'S
house the other night?'
you know that?"
81 followed you here. Tel me tbs
whole truth about this business, ana
I'll stand by you to the end"
am trust you-tO the limit--but Z
won't tell you, Captain Wallace some
day. perhaps, but not now. IN stauC
by you, and I'll fight at your side, SIX
But I won't, tell you And that's thu
only condition or which can agree tCs
what you propose"
"And if we Succee6-?
''Not if but when" cried Hartley
with a sudden outburst OF conviction
an tell you theE-yes, Captain Wat
lace. And till then Wen fight toge,neE
to pun down this nest Of conspiracy
and prove your innocence to the
world
After a moment he added, II tnin4-
we'd better be making q move OUt *
here, Captain Wallace"
He pushed open the cellar deer Rntt
led Mark along the basement DassaGsS