The Elbert County tribune., 1919-01-24

or as nearly as possible so. by
roof of heavy beams, sandbags
and corrugated steel, bore the Red
Cross upon the dcor. Inside a num-
Der of stretcher bearers were lounging.
The sergeant halted his men and
stepped into smaller dugout beside
1t. In Il minute he came out and beck
oned to Mark to follow him. Mark
entered. to fir1 himself In the pres
ence of the captain commanding the
stretcher bearers company. and-Kc-
herman. He saluted and stood to at
tention. watching Kellerman's eyes
wander over him appraisingly.
Orderly, where's the man who came
with your" inquired the Captain
briskly.
"He disappeared on the way up, sir"
answered Mark.
what do you mean by disappeared?
Did you sec him go back? Or was he
with you one minute and gone the
next7"
81 thought he was behind me- sir. l
didn't see him go OF know anything
about it."
The Captain, who had been holding
the receiver of his telephone, and evil
IDENTIFY waiting for his connection, got
IT. Mark heard him sending out n gen
eral notice of the absent man. He
gave his number, and the name "Har-
ley"
No doubt he had mistaken 1t as he
received IT by telephone from the hos
pital that morning.
10
morning" said Captain Keyes to the
sergeant. IT'LL then you are under
open arrest"
The sergeaht ssluted. Fright turn !"
he said to Mark.
Wait II minute" interposed Keller
man. "Td like TO have n few words
with this mar, Captain Reyes"
by all means, sir" replied the Cap
tain, rising.
He strolled. hummIng, TO the door
Of the dugout, leaving skelerman and
Mark together.
$50 you've enlisted under the name
Weston?' inquired Kellerman.
"That is my name, sir"
at was a shock to me yesterday,
Wallace. l never expected it. Your
Disappearance stirred Washington a
good deal. The war Office would have
exenerated you"
In spite of his loathing of the man,
Mark felt his heart begin to hammer
with hope. He looked at Kellerman
with pathos in his eyes; he could not
hide his feelings; he was cropping amid
the ruins of his world and trying to
reconstruct them.
1--WE no doubt you misunderstood
me-" said Kellerman. my association
with the Kenson woman was part OF
my official dutles-the most dlstasteful
part, but one that had to be carried
out. You and were the victims of an
acute piece of trickery. That fan was
wired"
From your room, sir" said Mark.
From my ROOM" answered Keller
man. And, no doubt, by the Kenson
woman's agent. that spy who called to
see you at the war office the same
morning. Colonel Howard knows all
about 1t. He means to stand by you.
He heard you had enlisted, but he did
not know you We're in the medical
corps, nor under an alias He is at
the base now. Wallace When he comes
up next week I shall make 1t my busl-
ness to see him about YOU
mo, SIR" gasped Mark. st doesn't
matter now"
at matters to me, Il not to yourself,
Wallace. l cannot rid myself of the
sense of partial responsibility. And
as for what happened last night, you
took me OF my guard. I'll be frank
with you. 1t was my duty to interest
the Kenson woman. ] succeeded too
well. She followed me here. l couldn't
bring myself to denounce her. For
that L have placed my own position
in jeopardy. When you appeared ]
did not know what to do or say"
"You found course of action" an
swered Mark, torn between the desire
to return blow for blow and to do JUS
tice to Kellerman. whose story left
him doubtful and wondering.
"Will you accept my frank apol-
ogy?" asked Kellerman, extending his
hand.
Mark took 1t. 81 will, Major Keller
man." he answered.
And he made his way to the door of
the dugout. with IA feeling of warmth
in his heart such as ne had not known
for many a month, He believed Kel-
lerman-and yet but he fought
down his instinct and still believed
him.
CHAPTER XIII.