The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1918-10-11
CHAPTER VIII.

0Ac was coming out OF store ana
gong, evidently, toward the cab whiob
was waiting against the street cnrh
They almost ran into each other.
Mark lifted his hat mechanically ana
Cnougnt she was about to pass tu+
suddenly she took him by the arm,
and looked at him earnestly, extrana
concern upon her face.
whats the matter, Uncle MAIL, 81,
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 arounI
How long have you been ILL., and hava
you been working all the time, and
why didn't you send for me?"
I'm not ill, Eleanor" said Mark
trying to smile.
Then why haven't YOU been ia ca.
us? Have you forgotten our talk that
night? What's the reason? Tell me :"
your father keeps our noses to the
grindstone, Eleanor"
"That isn't true, and please don't
play with me as if 1 were a child. Can
tain Wallace. Come get into this cab
at once! [ am going to take you home
and have Mrs. Howard look after Won
at once. Oh, you are laughing."
1t was rather grim jest to Mark
but 1T 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 AZ
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 u.s."
well, Eleanor, the truth is, said
Mark, the work at the office has lust
about taken it all out of me. And then
IN my position, of course there are Wis
its that must pay"
"Of course" said Eleanor iron
1cally. Go on, Uncle Mark. I shall
see through you presently"
But L 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 a little unreasonable of
you to put forward my duties in that
respect when I have no compensa-
tions.''
She started. "You mean that YOU
didn't want to Gomez" she asked.
Il did want to. But I have so many
duties"
"Thank you. That's quite enough.
captain Wallace. My conduct in in
trudlng on such busy man has been
quite inexcusable. Good Gay, 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
from that intolerable interview and
stumbling homeward.
He let himself in, wrote out his res
tgnation, and mailed it.
AS he paced his room, bordering
over the situation, it seemed to him
tnat the key to the mystery lay with
Hartley. Even yet he had not allowed
himself to believe Kellerman traitor.
md Hartley, and insist upon confess
sion, both Of his motives in watching
the Coloners house, and of those that
mad brought him to the war depart
ment.
Suddenly the telephone interrupted
his medftations. A woman's voice at
the other end was asking for him.
Are you quite sure you are Captain
Mark Wallace?" it inquired, when he
had stated his identity.
Il am as sure as I have ever BEEN"
answered Mark.
"Ah, now I recognize you" said the
strange voice in a merry ripple Of
laughter. "And you don't know who
ann"
If you will state your name" be-
gan Mark patiently.
someone who knows that you are
IN trouble and wants to help YOU I'm
AFRAID you won't let me. You seemed
to be prejuGiced against me when we
met before. Well, 1 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-"
1t had been in Marks mind to look
Tor Hartley in that neighborhood.
what do you say, Captain WAL
ace3 L can help you very much in
Iced, and perhaps put things right for
you. am in position to know a
:ood deal of what is happening behind
he scenes
Mark felt his brain grow as cool as
&c. I'll come, Mrs. Kenson," he an
'wered crisply, and hung up the re-
.eiver.