The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1918-10-01

Stared at the Other in Amusement
there were some paperS-nOt the ones
we wanted, but enough to identify
hin 1t was Hampton all right"
lie went to the tent door and looked
out. Here, Johnson - he called.
Inc negro servant appeared almost
1nstantaneously within the opening
and stood to attention.
could you use three gold pieces.
Johnson?'' inquired Major Howard.
well, sub, I don't know as I'd OBJ
Ject,' replied the negro, grinning.
Its part of sum that was paid
10 an American soldier for betraying
his country"
"Oh, Lord, no, Maori" answered
johnson.
"Then do what you think best with
these.''
The negro looked at the gold coins
IN MS hand, stepped outside the tent
and swung. his arm. The pieces fell
IN the jungle grass far beyond the en-
campment. Major Howard SHE'D the
purse after them and went back to
where Wallace still sat upright on the
bed. He noticed, with certain grim
ness of spirit, that one of the lieuten-
ants hands rested on the child's fair
hair.
''Well, Wallace?" he asked.
''It's damnable."
I'VE can't exactly make his child
the regimental pet, can WEI"
Wallace was silent, and the Major
sat down on the edge of the bed be-
side him.
Il had orders to watch for him." he
said. HE was to have been hanged
as soon as we captured Santiago.
mats Why he vas making for the
Jungle. i12 was detected and allowed
to escape with his life, but he had
been working as !, Spanish agent since
he was drummed out of America. His
career ended at the luckiest moment
for him. He seems to have had the
one redeeming quality Of affection for
the child, though if he had had a par.
ticle of unselfishness in him he would
have left her behind him. I suppose
she was the only thing he had in his
Wretched life.''
"Of course there's no palliation,"
suggested Wallace. 'But the man
may have been born good and-gone
dOwnhin.'
He was born rotten" answered the
Major. "He sold his country to pay
his gambling debts. Cuba was about
the only place that would hold him,
imagine. And to think that swine was
once in our regiment Sorry I had to
tell you, Wallace!"
He hesitated a while: Wallace had
not moved; but the child at his side
stirred and breathed heavily. The
majors fists clenched.
I'm trying to be just to the dead"
he said. But I feel that a thousand
years of hell wouldn't atone for that
crime, Wallace"
Mark Wallace looked up. I'm not
sure that 1 know all the facts about
the case, Major" he said.
''The facts are that it was no sudden
act of fear or temptation, but calculat-
ed, cold-blooded elaboration. We
knew at the war Office that there was
a leakage. It had been traced to the
division, where Kellerman
and l were working. Even we were
under suspicion for a time. Then it
down to Hampton and an
other,
wallace, those months were the
worst time I've ever spent. Hampton
was my best friend, and Kellerman's,
too. We spied on him-had to.
"Well, you know what happened,
more or less. There was a woman go
between, as there generally is-a fine
looking young woman, little more than
q girl, named Hilda Morsheim. One
Of those French-German Alsatians, |
Wallace. Kellerman got some hold on
her, and she confessed. The case
against Hampton was absolutely
proven.
'"There wasn't any trial. The fellow
could have been shut up for a good
many years; he had cost his country
millions; he ought to have been
hanged. But he was quietly cashiered
and allowed to disappear. Maybe it
vas foolish move, but we felt the
shame :ietty badly and wanted to for
get it. Hampton was let go, on the
understanding that he leave the coun.