Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-11-29

cided by the time he reached Massa-
chusetts circle, and. as he stopped In
doubt, he saw a man across the road, |
staring up at the house.
OF q sudden Eleanor's story recurred |
to his mind with vivid force. The man !
was obviously watching the house, and
he meant to stay there.
But, as Mark started toward him,
the man seemed to take fear, and
shambled away. Something in his gait
brought back to Marks mind the recol-
lection of the man whom he had seen
outside the Misses Harpers' school.
And he began to follow him. 1t was
role that he had never played before,
but justified, in his mind, by the neces-
sity of discovering the fellows identi-
ty. Without any very clear intention
in his mind how he was to accomplish
this, Mark made his way after the soli-
tary figure, keeping well behind it.
1t soon became clear that the man,
although he looked like tramp, had a
definite objective. Mark pursued him
toward Pennsylvania avenue, until he
| discovered that he was nearing the
least desirable part of Washington,
whose location, so near the residence
of the chief executive, has always been
the wonder and scandal of visitors.
He was in one of those streets that
start bravely in the city and debouch
! into the low-lying land in that interme-
dlate and hardly reclaimed region bor-
dering the Potomac. The houses here
were old, many appearing vacant and
tumble-down, and for the most part
standing each In a little garden.
Mark was beginning to think of
tackling the fugitive, who, unconscious
of pursuit, was about fifty PAGES in
front of him, when suddenly the man
turned in at the tiny garden of an ap-
parently deserted house and knocked
at the door, which was opened almost
Immediately.
Mark heard u subdued scream, and
then the mans voice in angry alterca-
ton.
He was talking to the woman who
had opened the door, She looked
about five and thirty years of age, and
|
light in the hall, was well-bred, if not
attractive. She seemed one of those
cosmopolitans who frequent the capi-
tai Mark was still uncertain whether
her house was one of those residences
that are still occupied in this district
by the original owners, or whether she
was the mistress of one of those gam
20 tCI, hot 90
necessity along the avenues of the
earlier alphabet.
The man seemed to be pleading with
her, his gestures were growing fran
tic. He looked about five and forty
years of age; his face struck Mark
with q certain odd familiarity, though
he had never seen him closely before,
and bore traces of breeding, blurred
either by dissolute habits or by mis-
fortune.
The woman answered him in tones
of quick anger, and made a gesture of
dismissal. The man held his ground
doggedly, the voices became angrier.
"No! No, l tell you'll" the woman
: cried. 81 don't know who you are
Will you go?"
Suddenly man came along the
passage behind Der, carrying q walk
ing-cane with heavy handle. He
raised it and brought it crashing down
on the others hend.
The man fell to the ground, evident
ly half stunned by the blow. The man
with the cane raised it and brought ii
down again and again upon the others
head and face, IN a succession of sick.
ening crashes.
Mark ran to the garden gate. The
man with the stick paused, raised his
head, and looked at him. Mark recog.
nized Kellerman. AS Kellerman, in
turn, recognized him, an angry sneer
spread over his face.
my dear Wallace, what the dickens
are you doing here? he demanded.
"Are you trying to kill this man? p
asked Mark.
Kellerman seemed nonplussed fol
the moment.
II hope I've given him his lesson
he answered. HE came here and de
manded money, and nearly frightened
Mrs. Kenson out of her senses. Let
me present you"
Mark looked into the keen, apprais
ing eyes of Mrs. Kenson with dislike
and disgust.
You'd better let him go, Major Kel
lerman," he said. AS he spoke he saw
Mrs. Kenson bite her lip vindictively
"Oh, I'll leave him to you," respond
ed Kellerman airily. you'll excuse me
Wallace, I'm sure. but Mrs. Kensont
auto will be here in few moments.
Mark, hot with indignation, answer
ed nothing, but raised the man from
: the ground and got him outside tn,
gate. AS he did SO he heard the doc
: Of the house close softly.