The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-02-13
CHAPTER vii.

Mark rushed to the street ana round
himself face to face with Eleanor.
She was coming out of a store. and
going. evidently, toward the cab which
was waiting against the street curb.
They almost ran into each other.
Mark lifted his hat mechanically. and
thought she was about to pass. but
suddenly she took him by the arm.
and looked at him earnestly, extreme
concern upon her face.
"What's the matter. Uncle Martfs
she asked. "You're ill-you're looking
frightfully ILL.,"
"well, it's a pretty hot day." said
Mark.
Eyes, but you can stand heat. Uncle
Mark. You don't look At to be around.
How long have you been Ill. and have
you been working all the time, and
why didn't you send for met"
"rm not Ill, Eleanor" said Mark.
trying to smile.
"Then why haven't you been to see
usf Have you forgotten our talk that
nightf What's the reason1 Tell me n
"Your father keeps our noses to the
grindstone. Eleanor"
THAT isn't true, and please don't
play with me as II were q child. Cap.
tain Wallace. Conc, get into this cab
at oncei am go!ng to take you home
and have Mrs. Howard look after yov
at once. oh. you are laushiugl"
II was rather q grim Jest to Mark
but II occurred to him that Il wOul(
help to ALLEVIATE Eleanor. She drew
away from him and looked at him with
those keen. scrutinixing eyes that ha(
In some measure discounted him q
the Misses Harpers' school.
"Uncle Mark" she pleaded, "do tel
me why you are acting 20 horribl,
when am only thinking Of you. III
just the way you acted that othe
night until we got to understand eacl
other. And tell me why you haven
come to u.s."
"well, Eleanor. the truth is." sal
Mark, "the work at the Office has jus
about taken It all out OF me. And ther
in my position Of course there are VII
its that I must pay"
"Of course" said Eleanor iror
ically. "Ga on, Uncle Mark. I sha
see through you presently"
"But I have been meaning to vis
you sooR Only. you know. arm NJ
in any sense year guardian now. an
SO. Eleanor, II you want me to B
frank. 1t Is a little unreasonable {
you to put forward my duties Ia tbs
respect when have no compensl
tions."
She started. "You mean that "a
didn't want to conner" she asked.
Fl did want to. But have SO man
duties-s
THANK you. That's quite encug
Captain Wallace. My conduct Ia Il
truding on such busy man has bet
!. quite inexcusable. Good day. Captal
n Wallacei"
q She made a mocking little bow as
I went toward her cab. She stopped ar
A looked hack. The brief srger WI
v ended. Put Mark was already fr'
from that intolerable Interview al
! stumbling homeward.
He let himself In, wrote 0as his re
= ignation, and mailed II.
As he paced his room. ponderiI
a over the situation. It seemed to hi
that the key to the mystery lay wi
Hartley. Even yet he had not allow,
- himself to believe Kellerman traitt
. But 1t was essential that he shOu
!, Ead Hartley. and insist upon confs
= sion. both Of his modves In watchiI
the Colonel's house, and Of those tn
: had brought him to the war depaI
y ment.
Suddenly the telephone interrupt
his meditations. A woman's voice
the other end was asking for him.
q "Are you quite sure you are CAPITA
'e Mark Wallacef" It inquired. when
" had stated his identity.
II am as sure as I have ever been
= answered Mark.