The Adair County news., 1918-12-11

evil things or me, because ne su1u
them"
.He never spoke one word against
your
when the decision has already been
made by an impartial court, anxious to
clear soldiers character, If that were
possibleT
Because I have woman's instinct,
Major Kellerman."
Enough Of this" interposed Mark.
"What are you doing here, sir?"
He snapped the last word out in
irony so bitter that Kellerman WINGED.
$50 you've cheated the firing party,
Private Westonw he said, with his
habitual sneer.
80, call me Mark while you're about
it," answered Wallace. "Or please re-
member that I am no longer under
your command, nor a soldier in the
American army. Technically I am a
dead man, Major Kellerman, and dead
men
"Tell no tales, eh?'' responded Kel.
herman savagely. "Well, here we stand
man to man, and the conditions war
rant plain speaking. 1t is not my bust
ness to plac you under arrest. But, If
do so, you are aware that your life
will be worth about five minutes pur'
chase. So go, Mr.. Weston, or Wallace.
or whatever you call yourself now. Go
If Miss Eleanor here says the one
word that will set you free. Go-and
in this confusion you will have rea.
sonable chance to escape, with those
ready wits of yours"
"The one word?" Eleanor gasped.
"The one word yes" responded Kel.
herman.
II will never become your wife, Ma
jor Kellerman."
$50 you told me the other day, after
leading me to suppose that it was your
intention" answered Kellerman easily.
stop, Mr.. Weston, if you please. and
let me finisl War doesn't leave much
sentimentalitv In man. We know what
life is worth, and we know that life's
a matter of bargaining. When we
were in America l might have accepted
my dismissal, Eleanor. But here we
three stand under the naked heaven.
like ants on hill. All artificial dis.
tinctions have fallen away. I've loved
you for many months. Eleanor, and
want to marry you. That's the bald
truth Of it. In order to persuade you,
am willing to let this gentleman es.
cape-to facilitate his escape, even to
make our marriage dependent on my
success. That's fair, isn't it? And
what have you against me? Is it my
fault that he was court.martialed and
sentenced to death for striking an of.
ficer?"
The mans effrontery took Marks
breath away.
my answer" responded Eleanor
steadily, sis no. And even if you could
send him to his death it would still be
no. Because he himself would wish
that. But you can't harm him. Some.
thing convinces me that all the harm
that has come to him has come from
you. And it tells me, too, that your
power has ended. No. is my answer"
sand yours, Mr.. Weston" asked
Kellerman, looking at Mark.
Mark, unable to reply, pointed toward
the opening Of the recess. Kellerman
turned and strobe toward it. Then he
turned.
There's one thing more to say" he
said. "Your action in dismissing me-
Miss Howard, savors of the romantic
drama. Your life has been a romantic
one, with a certain high-strung ideal
ism in it, due to the circumstances of
your upbringing. 1t was that, I be-
lieve, which made you think it your
duty to follow your adopted fathers
unit to the front. I think you ought to
know who you are. Your father died
on the battlefield of Santiago. He was
a fugitive from justice. He was the
notorious Hampton"
Mark uttered cry. He sprang to-
ward Kellerman, but Kellerman dealt
him blow that sent him stumbling
among the bricks.
'That's lie, Kellerman!" said Colo
mel Howard quietly.
The old Colonel's eyes were wide
open. He laid his hands laboriously
upon the edge of the brick wall and,
with great effort, raised himself to
his feet.
'That's a lie" he repeated
at is no lie, Colonel Howard. You
told the whole story to Captain Wal
lace in the hospital tent. Never mind
how know. / know"
"You damned. dirty spyr said the
old Colonel.
"a confession" answered Kellerman
blandly. 'Your words were strong
ones, Colonel Howard. Deny them If
you can. You said, "A thousand years
of hell wouldn't atone for that crime.
You said it was calculated, cold
blooded deliberation.' You said, The
case against Hampton was absolutely
proven. He was to have been hanged
as soon as we captured Santiago. He
was born rotten. He sold his country
to pay his gambling debts And you