The Adair County news., 1918-12-25

that was not enough. They broke his
wife's heart; she died. They made his
1 name one of execration. Still they
were not satisfied. With devilish in
genuity they sought to cover their
tracks by making it appear that Hamp-
ton was still carrying on his trade, still
selling government secrets. You see
why, Colonel?" he continued, turning
to Howard. Because they. themselves
were continuing their vile work, and
the new leakages had to be accounted
for"
Kellerman, CHASTITY white, leaned
against the brick wall; he was fun
bling nervously in his tunic pocket.
81 suppose, sir, that you are accus.
ing" he began.
"Be silent, sir! Gentlemen" he con.
tinued, addressing Mark and the Colo.
mel, "you are interested in knowing
what happened to this man Hampton
He could not rid himself of the belief
that justice, though slow, is pretty
sure. He had faith in God. Unfortu-
nately he had less faith in himself. Am
I wronging you, Hampton?" he con-
tinued, addressing Hartley.
mo, SIR" muttered the man on the
stretcher, feebly.
"He wishes me to tell the whole
story. He went to Cuba and flung in
his lot with the rebels. He became
disguised with their means and meth
DDS, obtained a pardon from General
WeylR, and took up his residence in
Santiago. The outbreak of the wal
surprised him there. He knew that
Santiago would fall, and he had been
warned that he would receive short
shriff at the hands Of our people.
"He longed for death, but he had two
things that kept alive the desire fol-
life. One was his child, the other the
desire for vindication, which had be.
his child. She had gone to San Fran
cisco. In his despair he went to Wash
ington, he sought out Hilda Morsheim,
who was still plying her trade, and
begged, as he had never begged any
one, that she would vindicate his
name"
There was a stiffness as of utter
death inside the little cave.
"Sha saw in him one of those useful
spies such as her organization used,
broken men with inside knowledge of
conditions. She used him, held out
promises, broke them; in his despair
he made himself slave to her and
and her confederate, forgetting his
manhood and what he had been. Time
and again they broke faith with him.
He had just realized that he had moth.
ing to hope for from them when Cap.
tain Wallace appeared on the scene"
"Yes, he was a rotten dog, SIR" said
Kellerman, with the ghost of smile
DIS IS on such evidence that you pre-.
sume-?"
"No, sir, it is not!" Numbered the
General. at is on the evidence of the
woman Hilda Morsheim, alias Henson
secured by Hampton under circum'
stances which" s7.e.>4.=-. -
Kelferrnaf uttered low cry; he was
trembling now, and all his bravado
seemed to have coed away.
"This woman, strangely enough
loved her confederate" went on the
General remorselessly, fixing his eyes
| full on Kellerman's now, while Keller
man blinked like bat in daylight, and
turned his head weakly from side tt
side, as if under the intolerable STARE
of searchlight. "Her claims on hin
were strong enough, God knows! Shit
wanted him to marry her, to take hel
away from the old scenes that they
might have a chance to redeem theil
wretched lives together. He had prom
Used her that so many times-and thu
worst of women is as wax in the hands
Of the man she loves.
"But he had become infatuated witt
another, with girl as much above hin
as"
With a cry that seemed hardly hu
man Colonel Howard sprang towart
Kellerman, his fingers twitching as 1
he sought to fasten them about hi
throat. Mark caught him and held him
while the old man swayed to and fro
his outstretched arm extended tOwar'
Kellerman as if in imprecation.
Eleanor, at Hartley's side, did no
even look toward them.
'This woman, Observation-Disclosures
whatever you call her, came to France
upon receipt Of a message which hat