The Ordway new era., 1919-02-28

stances" went on Mrs. Kenson. II
changed a good deal during your fif
teen years of exile? Well. this war.
for example. It's shocking rever-
sion to barbarism. the nations flying
at each others throats, when their diff
ficulties could have been adjusted by
n little frank diplomacy. 1t was great
blow to the financial interests that are
working to reconcile the nations and
to develop the worlds resources. They
would do all possible to end 1t. am
working for them here. am not tell
ing you any secret, Captain Wallace,
because everybody in Washington
knows 1t. I represent the interna-
tional peace committee, and 1 have
quite n good deal of influence among
| the senators and representative
principally the Western ones. Cap
| tain"
The frankness and audacity of the
| disclosure astounded Mark. So this
was one center of "they," us Colonel
Howard had called the nucleus of Teu-
tonic spies and agents in America.
1--WE are trying our hardest to pre-
vent America from being dragged into
this maelstrom." continued Mrs. Ken
son. "You, Captain Wallace. were un-
fortunate enough to be working on the
other side. And-Tm sorry, but little
trap was laid for you and Kellerman.
You walked right into 1t. Major Kel-
herman, who Is very good friend Of
mine, acted In complete good faith.
Don't blame him. Don't blame your
self. Don't blame that wretched fel-
low who came here the other night
to blackmaIl me. It was inevitable.
You see, when you adopted HamptOn's
daughter you unconsciously put sort
of moose about your neck. There was
the possibility Of your coming into con-
tact with Hampton's friends. The sys-
TEN is widespread, you know. and quite
; twenty years old. So-you had to go
! west.
"Now, Captain Wallace, I'm frank
woman. and I'll put my proposition to
| you. You don't want to see Major
Kellerman walk of with that pretty
ward of yours, do you? And you can't
marry her without q little money.
Well, you could be very useful to us
in many ways. Would you, without
sacrificing your patriotism or revealing
any secrets, become a salnried worker
Of our organization?"
Mark stood up. trembling. "Idon't
quite understand" he said huskily
and the picture of Eleanor in Keller
mans arms Mt the dance swan before
his eyes. "What Is 1t you want me to
do?"
use your influence and army knowl-
| edge in our behalf. Tint little affair
of today will soon be forgotten. And
Wen help you to put Kellerman out
of business"
"You ask me to become a German
spy~
'Don't be absurd. my dear captain.
Who ever suggested such thing2"
"That's what it amounts to-"
"a little influence on behalf of hu-
manity."
"No!" shouted Mark. quite beside
himself. you're infamous. You ought
to be put out of the country!"
He strobe Indignantly toward the
door.
The electric light in the passage had
gone out. The room grew dark behind
him. He groped his way toward the
door.
Suddenly vivid light flashed before
his eyes. He heard, though he felt no
pain, the impact of hard weapon
upon the back Of his head. He flung
out his hands and grappled with n
man. In the uplifted hand he felt q
heavy stick with knobbed handle.
| He believed his assailnnt to be Kel-
lerman, and. half unconscious as he
was, he fought madly. But the man,
Kellerman or not, was more than a
match for him. For a few moments
they wrestled furiously; then the other
got his arm free and brought down the
stick upon Marks head again. And
this time the light faded into black
nesa