Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-01-17
CHAPTER xVII-continued.


-12--
BE silent, sirl Gentlemen" he con-
dnued, addressing Mark and the Colo
mel, "you are interested In knowing
what happened to this man Hampton.
He could not rid himself Of the belief
that Justice, though slow, is pretty
sure. He had faith I'm God. Unfortu-
nately he had less faith in himself. Am
I wronging you, Hampton?" he con-
tinued, addressing Hartley.
'No. SIR" muttered the man on the
stretcher. feebly.
"He wishes me to tell the whole
story. He went to Cuba and flung in
his lot with the rebels. He became
dlsgusted with their means and meth
ods, obtained pardon from General
Weyler, and took up his residence in
Santiago The outbreak of the war
surprised him there. He knew that
Santiago would fall, and he had been
warned that he would receive short
shrift at the hands of our people.
"He longed for death, but he had two
things that kept alive the desire for
life. One was his child. the other the
desire for vlndication, which had be-
come mon0manla. He tried to escape
into the jungle. He saw that 1t was
hopeless.
"He was hiding I'm n little hut when
he heard footsteps. An American sol
dier. who had strayed from his com
pany. was coming into che 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 II on
he 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 he had chance to
get rid Of his uniform in the cabin of
eom6 Cuban, who would be only toe
we'll riensed 70 give him some rags In
exchange for K. 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 chlld-but Hampton
knew that he could take her no fur.
ther. 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 hel
residence, ever craving her, ever re
strained by the realization that, till hi:
name wns cleared, be had no right tC
her. HIS idea of yindicntion had be
come. us said, monomania.
''Now, gentlemen, have little time
20 spare. but i must carry this story
TO the end. l said that he had les:
faith In himself than he had in God
Once, for three years, Hampton los
his child. She had gone to San Fran
cisco In bis despair he went to Wash
lngtcli. he sought 0ut Hilda Morsheiin
who was still plying her trade, ant
begged. us he had never begged any
one, that she would vindlcate hi
nnme.n
There WAS stiffness as of ute
death inside the little cave.
"She saw in him one of those usefu
spies such rs hcS organization used
broken men with inside knowledge o
conditions. She used him. held ou
promises. broke them; in his despai
he made himself slave TO her and
and her confedefute forgetting hi
manhood and what he had been. Tim
ana again they t,roke faith with hin
lie had just realized that he had moth
ing to hope TOR from them when Car
tain Wallace appeared on the scene. "
Yes. he was rotten dog, sir" sai
kcllerman. with the ghost of smil,
els is on such evidence that you pre-
sume-?"
"No. sir. 1t II not" Numbered tn
Gei1srsl ut IS on the evidence of tn
wugnnr Hilda siorsheim. alias Kensol
secured by Hampton under circuu
stnnces which,"
Kellerman uttered low cry he wa
trembling now. and all his bravad
seemed 70 have oozed away.
"This woman, strangely enougl
loved her confederate" went on ii
General remorselessly, fixing his eye
full on Kellarmans now. while Kelle
man blinked like bat In daylight, on