The Adair County news., 1918-12-25

| hopeless.
HE was hiding in little hut when
he heard footsteps. An American sol
der, who had strayed from his COM
pany, was coming into the clearing. AT
that moment stray bullet caught him
In the head, killing him instantly.
Hampton saw his chance. He took off
the dead mans clothing and put it on
ne dressed the body in his own. He
knew that by this means he could pass
through the lines in the guise of a
wounded man.. until ne had a chance to
get rid of his uniform in the cabin of
some Cuban, who would be only too
well pleased to give him some rags in
exchange for It. And, leaving his
money and papers on the dead man, he
knew that he left his identity behind,
for the bullet had destroyed the fea-
| lures.
There was the child-but Hampton
knew that he could take her no fur
Their. With the Americans she would
receive food-which he had not-and
shelter and protection. Afterward he
would regain her. He lurked in the
bushes until he saw Captain Wallace
| appear, watched him, trusted him, and
went away.
"He learned Of the child's adoption,
and for years he haunted her home,
her school, all places that were her
residence, ever craving her, ever re-
strained by the realization that, till his
name was cleared, he had no right to
her: His idea Of Yindlcatiop had be-
come, as I said, a monomania.
snow, gentlemen, have little time
to. spare, but I must carry this story
to the end. said that he had less
faith in himself than he had in God.
Once, for three years, Hampton lost
tanned by a sense of duty to her coun-
try.
"She met her confederate in an inn
| at a village not far distant. Frantic
at her appearance, he induced her to
| let him drive her back through the
lines, and on the way renewed his lying
| promises. This time she doubted him.
"TwO men had overheard their con-
versation. One was Captain Wallace,
whom the pair had broken as they
| broke poor Hampton. Him the traitor
had seen, and he devised a scheme to
| send him to the trenches and contrive
to have him sent on a false and fatal
errand. With that point shall not
now deal. The other man was Hamp-
ton, who had enlisted under an alias,
in the belief that he would obtain a
| clue that would unmask the traitor. He
contrived to go back through the lines,
found the woman, and somehow-per-
haps by Gods wonderful mercy-ob-
tanned her signed confession-which ]
have here, in fullp ~. se,,-=---->-.---''
He wheeled upon Kellerman. ma.
jor Kellerman," he said In a deep voice
that vibrated almost with pity, so
charged with significance that its
meaning could not escape either How.
ard or Mark, "you are under arrest
You will 60 toward your quarters, first
removing your belt and arms"
Kellerman saluted weakly and STUN.
bled out of the cave. The General
looked at Mark.
"The soldier Weston receives free
and full pardon for his valor in the
field this day." he said. HE is also
discharged honorably from the service
of the United States government"
Mark looked at the general in as
constituent; this was the last thing
that he desired.
The General approached and clappet
him on the shoulder. Captain Wal
lace" he said, "your written resigna
ton from the United States army can
not be accepted, owing to the state Of
war. After the war it will receive con
sideratiOn. In the meantime you will
resume your duties, on the headquar
tiers staff"
Tears rushed to Marks eyes. 81,
tried to speak, he was conscious tina
the General and Howard were shakin,
him by the hand; and then a quicl
glance from Eleanor drew him to wher
she kneeled by Hartley.
A single look showed him that tn
man was dying.
Mark kneeled on one side Of him
with Eleanor facing him over tn
stretcher. The bearers, who had fallel
back, stood still as images behind. An
behind them Mark had the dim con
sciousness in the background Of hi
mind of Kellerman, broken as he ha
broken so many, and fumbling, Away
fumbling, now with his tunic, nov
with the belt that he was trying t
detach with shaking fingers.
Hartley" whispered Mark, hold
ing the dying mans hand in his. ''Tha
was you today missed you, but
believed in you. You saved me-"
There was a futtering pressure O
Marks hand in turn. Hampton wa
speaking; he was asking for the Cole
| mel.
81 am here, Hampton" said COlone
Howard in a choked voice, as b
leaned over him.
"You believe in me now, sir?" mu
tered the dying man, rolling his hea
uneasily in the effort to see.
MAY God forgive me, Hampton
!. May she-your wife-forgive me. TIE
her that, and tell her her words cam
true. I betrayed my best friend, an