Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-12-12
CHAPTER VII.


On the way to the war department
the following morning he was puzzling
over the affair, Kellerman's presence
in Mrs. Kenson's house, and Keller
mans possible connection with Hart
hey. who watched Eleanor.
He could not arrive at any but the
most fantastic solutions.
Kellerman welcomed him with his
usual suavity. They carried up the
papers from the safe; then Kellerman
called Mark into his own Office.
about last night, Wallace" he
began. "Of course you acted all right,
'as you understood the situation, but
there was good deal that you did not
understand. That man you took home
ito your rooms is a sort of international
lstool pigeon, if can coin the phrase.
Quite despicable-the one-time gentle
man who has lost his honor; and dam
gerous, because he knows things that
nobody would credit him with know
ing. I suppose you wonder what I was
doing in Mrs. Kenson's placer"
mot at all. Major Kellerman."
my dear Wallace" said Kellerman,
laying a hand on Marks shoulder, 81
want to give you a piece of advice.
This is quite apart from our work
here. don't think your qualities are
adapted to headquarters work. Go
back to your battalion-or, rather, take
advantage of your friends in Wash
ifngton to secure a good post'-he en-
phasized the adjective-'in regimental
work"
And as Mark looked at him in stu
pefaction. Keuerman added coolly:
81 am not speaking officially, my
dear Wallace. Take the suggestion as
10 friendly one. If I can make it a
little clearer to you, your presence in
Washington is inconvenient to me for
personal reasons. 1 think you will ap-
Ipreciate the reasonable reason,
rather"
The mans inSolence was madden
ling. Marks impulse was to dash his
fists into his face. But discipline
told.
Mark saluted stiff1y and went away
He sat down at his desk, Tuning. Oh
course Kellerman had referred to Ell
leanor: and it suddenly occurred tc
Mark that Kellerman might have
made a good deal of Roadway during
his absence.
Mark and Colonel Howard occupied
; dor: the clerks room was without; be
tween the two. accessible from each
was Kellerman's office, which commu
nicated, in turn. with the Brigadier's
Colonel Howard came in after {
while, and they went over their plan:
together. They were engaged on {
complicated piece of work, involving
homage and computations of cubic
heet of space for cargoes. There hat
been an error somewhere. and MARI
WAS trying hard to discover it wher
the Brigadier came In In his usual iras
chile manner.
"How long will that job take, How
hrd?" he asked.
wallace Will have it finished b,
noon, sir" answered the Colonel.
The Brigadierl waved Mark to hi.
seat impatiently. Bring it right IL
Ito me as soon as you have the figures
please" he said. I'm walt for it. SUR
you can be through by noon7"
sPm sure, SIR. answered Mark, wht
was hot on the trail of the error.
The Brigadier withdrew, taking thu
Colonel with him for a conference
Mark worked steadily. The omission
WAS found, the computations wers
balancing. A clerk knocked at ths
door,
-what is it?" asked Mark impa
tiently.
"a man to see you. sir. He says hi.
names Hartley. Shall show him in 2
Good Lord. no! I'll see him in thu
waiting ROOM" answered Mark.
He locked the ONCE door. wen