The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1918-12-19
CHAPTER Viii.

Mark rushed to the street and found
himself face to face with Eleanor.
She was coming out of a 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 q 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 i'll, and have
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 to see
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 l were a child, Cap
tain Wallace. Come, get into this cab
at once am going to take you home
and have Mrs. Howard look after you
at once. Oh, you are laughing -
1t was rather a grim jest to Mark,
but it occurred to him that 1t 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 | 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 all out of me- And then,
in my position, of course there are Wis.,
its that l must pay"
"Of course" said Eleanor iron
icaly, "Go on, Uncle Mark. l shall
see through you presently
"But / have been meaning to visit
you soon. Only, you know, | am not
in any sense your guardian now, and
50. Eleanor, if you want me to be
frank, it is a little unreasonable Of
YOU to put forward my duties in that
respect when L have no compensa-
tons"
She started you mean that you
didn't want to Gomez" she asked.
Il did want to. But have 50 many
duties"
Thank you. That's quite enough,
Captain Wallace. My conduct in in
trudlng on such a busy man has been
quite inexcusable. Good day, Captain
Wallace"
She made a 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
lie 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 a 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.
Are you quite sure you are Captain
Mark Wallaee?' ii inquired, when he
had stated his identity.
Il am rs sure as | have ever been
answered Mark.