Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-11-28

of understudy, in fact, but with a good
deal of initiative as well. And If war
comes. as 1t is sure to come, wen be
sent over on the first transport, to pre-
pare things for the troops. All, KEEL
herman, here's Wallace, newly arrived
to take over his duties"
Mark saw not the slightest change in
Kellerman since the days of the Cuban
war. Kellerman was just as ford as
ever, just as burly, with the same rath-
er sinister way Of glancing; his black
hair was unthinned and untouched
with gray. He had borne the years
much better than Mark.
If Kellerman reciprocated Marks
feelings. he showed no sign Of it in his
cordial handgrip.
1--WE were glad to get you, Wallace"
he said. you'll excuse me for a mo-
ment, I'm sure"
He drew Colonel Howard aside in
conversation, while Mark twirled his
fingers and looked out of the window
into the busy hive of the capital, and
tried to make himself believe that it
was all true.
When Kellerman had gone the Colo
mel invited Mark to sit down, and
launched into business.
81 must tell you that it's q pretty
stiff job that we're tackling, Mark"
he said. ITO begin with, we're a sort
Of nucleus of the whole organization.
We're in touch with every division
We have to have the whole thing at
our fingers ends-and it's mainly q
matter of ships, animals, and trans
port. And, to cap the climax, you can
imagine what a nest Of intrigue and
espionage Washington has become in
these days. And, as neutrals-Osten-
sfbly neutralS-we can do nothing to
put an end to it"
He stretched out his finger and
pointed toward the big safe between
the windows.
ANY one of some two hundred pa
pers there. Marx, would give q valu-
able clue" he said Every night, when
work Is finished, your task VIII be to
open the safe. take out the inner case
containing these documents, add those
on which you have been working, In
GLIDING every waste sheet and every
scrap Of the days Noting paper, and
have the day porter convey them,
under your personal supervision, to
the strong room, where you and either
the General, MYSELF, or Kelle5ma1is
will plnce them in the safety vault In
the moEning the same procedure Is re-
versed- And that is Why I insisted
on our getting you, Mark knew yous
and dent know the hundred of other
officers Of fnpeccable character whom
we could have secured We can't run
riskS-we simply CAN'T That's why
1t has to- be just you and Kellerman
and 1. We had our lesson in the old
days, you kuOw."
He frozxned at the remembrance,
and then answered A1uk's unspoKBn
question with another.
where are you staying, WallacsF'
"At the Congressional
''Well. want you to- come and stay
with us as; soon as we're settled. We've
rented house in Massachusetts cinsie.
and move in on the first of the momiA-
Eleanor and Mrs. Howard are still m
New York.. but they're coming here il
about ten days tme-inst as SOON rs
can get the house ready for thEm-
Eleanor is dying to see you, and MRS.
Howard hos the pleasantest remkR-
brances, OF course. And now I'm going
to take you to the Brie1dier."
The shoxt interview with the head
of the department esnfrmed Marks
ture of the plans OF the war o1ice.
Mark went home. he was resolved, al
though he had not told the Colonel,
not to become his gHest-at least not
unless he found that he could tzke up
his life again where he had dropped 1t,
years before. And fhen-but what
was the use of speeulatng7 He went
home to his hotel.
He was surprised to find how easily
he seemed to fit into his environment
when he donned his lonsnegiected
evening clothes and went down to the
dining room OF the Congressional Al
most the first face he saw was that II
a man of his class; within a few MIN
utes Mark Wallace was seated at the
dinner table with a merry party Of old
| friends and new Acquaintance And
| the years had slipped away from him.
On the next morning. when he took
| up his duties, 1t was with the sense
that he was no longer stranger.
| Washington was ready to extend hcE
| welcome to him At tho Army club.