The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1918-11-20

harm than good. had my motives
selfish ones, despicable, perhaps; but /
was never traitor. Good God, Mark,
haven't you seen how your faith in me
has begun to make man Of mel"
Mark took Hartley's hand and
gripped it. 1t was the best and the
only possible answer. In their tacit
understanding they went on. toward
the inn together.
Outside the inn they saw an auto,
with soldier chauffeur In charge.
Hartley gripped Marks arm.
"Do you know whose that is?' he
whispered. "Kellerman'sr
The landlady came to the door.
"Bonsoir, messieurs," she said smil-
ing. "This way tonight, if you please"
She led them round by the side, into
the kitchen, where they found half a
dozen privates drinking light wine and
teasing the landlady's daughter as she
served them.
There was nothing In this to the
men; they were often turned out of
the dining rOOm-parlor when officers
put In an appearance. But-this was
Kellerman! Mark looked at Hartley
and saw intense excitement on his face,
which he was trying most evidently to
restrain.
He ordered beer of Annette, and fol-
lowed her toward the clubhouse in
which the liquor was stored. The girl
was friend of his, perhaps because,
more serious than the rest, he treated
her with less badinage than was GUS
tomary among the soldiers. As she
moved out Of the lighted room into the
shadows outside the merriment fell
like mask from her face.
"What is it, Annette?" asked Mark.
"Ah, monsieur, 1t is tragicl" said the
girl, pausing at the clubhouse door.
"She is one of my countrywomen. The
accent is of the south, or some out
landish part, but she is French-and
she has come a long way to meet him,
and he will not have anything to do
with her. How did she get through
the lines?"
''Who, Annette"
''The lady with the American officer.
Listen, monsieur! Listen, then!"
They were standing in front Of the
clubhouse, which was set near an angle
Of the old-fashioned building between
the parlor and the kitchen. They
could hear the imploring voice of the
woman, and the subaued answers of
Kellerman.
Then, elusive against the dark angle
of the building, Mark perceived Hart
ley. He was standing under the high
sill of the window, in such way that
Mark thought he could see through the
chink between the sill and the lower
edge Of the blind. Eavesdropping as
he evidently was, Mark felt that some.
thing justified his presence there.
Annette perceived him at the same
moment. She started, and then
shrugged her shoulders.
"Eh bien, monsieur, it is their af.
fairr' she said lightly, and went into
the clubhouse. She was too wise to in
terfere with her customers. Mark
hardly noticed her departure. He was
watching hdTtiey.
Suddenly the door opened and the
woman came down the steps that LED
into the little vineyard behind the inn
She raised her heavy veil to dab q
handkerchief at her eyes, and at that
moment Mark recognized Mrs. Henson
He remained rooted to the ground
in establishment. But it was more
than that; he felt suddenly trapped
as if the woman's presence there was
vitality connected with his own prob
lens, as If he were the victim of some
far-reaching scheme with which hs
could not grapple.
A minute later Kellerman appeared
and stood upon the step above her
looking into her upturned face witt
his habitual sneer.
'It is all over then?" asked Mrs
Henson.
"Since you compel me to be frank
yes" answered Kellerman. 'It has
been over for years, Ada. To think
taat you should have put US all In this
udnSCI 1Ou udt6u IOlC HOW yOu
got here, or how you sent me that
message"
"How / got here? Does that mat
ter? Well, came up in a peasant
woman's dress, as one of the repa-
triated. sent you the message through
boy, who knows nothing-his wits
were thrashed out of him by the Ger
mans. He left the note-he won't
trouble you. And 1 suppose now I'm
to go back"
Suddenly she broke into shrill in
vective. I'm to go back, after the
thousands of miles that 7 came, be-
cause you are the only man in the
world who has ever meant anything to
me! i gave my life to you. How many
years have you played with me? An
swer me! And now you fling me from
you as If were nothing, because Of
oh, do you suppose haven't heard of
you and Miss Howard? I'll call her
thati But take care! / can be dam
gerous when ! am aroused, and see
now-I see clearly now, If never be-
forei"
Marks blood seemed to freeze as he
listened. He had uncOnSciOuSly drawn