The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1918-11-15
CHAPTER VII.

On the way to the war department
the following morning he was puzzling
over the affair, Kellerman's presence
in Mrs. Kensons house, and Keller
mans possible connection with Hart
ley, 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
to your rooms Is sort of international
stool pigeon, if I 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 was
doing in Mrs. Kenson's placer
MY dear Wallace" said Kellerman,
laying a hand on Marks shoulder, 81
want to give you piece of advice.
This is quite apart from our work
here. 1 don't think yonr qualities are
adapted to headquarters work. Go
back to your battalion-or, rather, take
advantage of your friends in Wash
ington to secure a good post"-he en-
phasiZed the adjective-"in regimental
work"
And as Mark looked at him in stu
pefaction. Kellerman added caolly:
81 am not speaking officially, my
dear Wallace. Take the suggestion as
a friendly one. If 1 can make it a
little clearer to you, your presence in
Washington is inconvenient to me for
personal reasons. I think you will ap-
preciate the reasons-the reason,
rather"
The mans insolence was madden
ing. 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, fuming. OF
course Kellerman had referred to FL
eanor; and it suddenly occurred to
Mark that Kellerman might have
made a good deal of headway during
his absence.
Mark and Colonel Howard occupied
a small room at the end of the cOrri-
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 a
while, and they went over their plans
together. They were engaged on a
complicated piece of work, involving
tonnage and computations of cubic
feet Of space for cargoes. There had
been an error somewhere, and Mark
was trying hard to discover it when
the Brigadier came in in his usual iras-
chile manner.
'How long will that job take, How
ard?" he asked.
wallace will have it finished by
noon, SIR" answered the Colonel.
The Brigadier waved Mark to his
seat impatiently. Bring it right in
to me as soon as you have the figures,
please he said. "Tll wait for it. Sure
you can be through by noon?"
I'm sure, SIR" answered Mark, who
was hot on the trail of the error.
The Brigadier withdrew, taking the
Colonel with him for Il conference.
Mark worked steadily. The omission
was found, the computations were
balancing. A clerk knocked at the
door
what is it," asked Mark impa-
tiently.
a man to see you, sir. He says his
names Hartley Shall l show him in q
Good Lord, no! I'll see him in the
waiting room," answered Mark.
He locked the Office door, went
through the clerks room and into the
anteroom. Hartley was standing be-
side the window. He looked up sheep
ishIy as Mark entered.
"Wen?" asked Mark crisply.
Hartley grinned. Il didn't take the
cups or the picture, Captain Wallace, ~
he said.
'Well, what about it? What can l
do for you?'
sWhy, Il wanted to tell you as
much, Captain Wallace. I've sunk low,
but not to theft. Only didn't feel
could stay"
''Good Lord, man, is that all you
have come to tell me?"