The spectator., 1919-02-07

! the opening or the recess. helierinan turned and strode toward 1t. Then he turned.
 "There's one thing more to say" he said. "Your action in dlsmissIng me. Miss Howard. savers of the romantic drama. Your life has been romantic one, with certain high-strung ideal ism in it, due to the circumstances of your upbringine. It was that, 1 be- leve. which made you think If your duty to follow your adopted fathers unit to the front. think you ought to know who you are. Your father died on the battlefield of Santiago. He was fugitive from justice. He was the notorious Hampton"
 Mark uttered cry. He sprang to- ward kellerman. but Kellerman dealt him Il blow that sent him stumbling among the bricks.
 That's lie. Kellermanl' said Colo nel 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 lie" he repeated
 Tt is no lie, Colonel Howard. You told the whole story to Captain Wal lace in the hospital tent. Never mind how know. I know
 You damned dirty sty!' said the old Colonel.
 "A confession" answered Kellerman blandy. 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 1t was calculated, coId- 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 called him by the worst name one man can call another. That was why you tried to persuade Mark Wallace not to adopt Hampton's child. Like father, like daughter"
 He swung round upon Eleanor. and for the first time seemed to lose his self-control.
 That's who you are! '" he cried. "The child of a wretched traitor. who worked in the war department with Colonel Howard and me, a man without honor. entangled with wretched woman spy. who sold our secrets. And that man your adopted father, whom you love and revere, spied on him in turn, watched him. read his letters. went through his pockets. shared him. trapped him, brought him to his de- serts-and adopted you"
 Eleanor staggered toward the Colo nel, her arms raised imploringly. and cried in choking voice:
 "Say it's untrue, Only say that it's untrue!"
 It's a damned lie," said the Colonel {; but there was not the least conviction in his voice.
 Tell me the truth !'
 Its true, then-it's more or less true,' said Howard wearily.
 It's not true!" shouted Mark. "Re member, Colonel, the mans face had been practically blown away. How do we know that 1t was Hampton who was with the child? It might have been another. We don't know for sure. and we can't know. I've never believed it. I wouldn't ever dare to let myself believe it."
 'You found his papers," said Keller man.
 Nobody answered him. Eleanor went up to Mark and raised her white face to his. Tell me what you think, Cap tain Mark" she pleaded.
 And once more Mark was mute. She read his face as if by inches. She turned toward Kellerman. "Now will you go?" she asked. Kellerman saluted her with mock formality. 'Ill go," he said, but he's spent his chance. A spy's daughter and a spy's-"
 The ambulance bearers appeared at the entrance to the recess. They bore q stretcher. Propped up in 1t. swathed in bloody elout of bandages, was Hartley.
 ''There he is !" he cried. pointing his hand in triumph. q knew he'd come this way. He's here, sirI" he cried to some one outside the orlfice.
 The stretcher bearers set down their burden on ledge of the wall. Into the little place strode the General.
 His appearance there exercised n paralyzing effect upon them all. Kel- lerman was the first to recover his self possession. He saluted stiffiy.
 'This man," he said, pointing to Mark, lis the prisoner who was to have been executed this morning."
 The General, without a word, strode toward Mark and clasped him by the hand.
 Kellerman gulped and moved toward the entrance for the last time. The General turned.
 Halt, sirl" he commanded. Colonel Howard, will you have the goodness to 20 tO the man on the-why I beg yOur