Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-01-10

fee; and again he stood face to face
with Kellerman.
Eleanor released him and stood, still
clinging to him, at his side, her hand
drawn through his arm. The contrast
between the two men was extraor-
dinary. Kellerman looked as if he had
just stepped into his uniform; his
creases in his tunic were those of the
fashion-plate. Looking at Mark, he saw
a dirty, grimed, almost unrecognizable
figure, with. uniform that hung about
him in great tatters, blotched and
stained with blood.
''You said he would not come back !"
cried Eleanor. "You see he has come
back. What have you to say mOre?"
'YOu misunderstood me, Eleanor"
81 understand you now for the first
time in my life. liked you. Major
Kellerman. l trusted you and / be-
lleved in you. When you told me that
you were working to get Captain Wal
lace his recognition l was glad, and
proud of you both, and happy. What
did you do?"
"What did he do?" cried Kellerman
furiously. "Why should you believe
evil things of me, because he said
them"
"He never spoke one word against
you"
when the decision has already been
made by an impartial court, anxious to
clear u soldiers character. if that were
posslble7"
Because 1 have woman's instinct,
Major Kellerman."
Enough of this" interposed Mark.
"What are you doing here, sir?"
He snapped the last word out in
irony so bitter that Kellerman WINGED.
$50 you've cheated the firing party,
Private Weston!" he said, with his
habitual sneer.
90, call me Mark while you're about
it." answered Wallace. "Or please re-
member that l am no longer under
your command, nor a soldier in the
American army. Technically l. am q
dead man, Major Kellerman, and dead
men" a
"Tell no tales, ehg' responded Kel.
ler1nan savageiy. "Well, here we stand
man to man, and the conditions war
rant plain speaking. 1t is not my bust
less to place you under arrest. But. il
I do so. you are aware that your life
VIII be worth about five minutes pur
chase. So go, Mr.. Weston, or Wallace
or whatever you call yourself now. &c
If Miss Eleanor here says the one
word that will set you free. Go-ant
in this confusion you will have n rea
sonable chance to escape, with thos'
rendy wits of yours"
"The one word?" Eleanor gnsped.
"The one word 'yes'," responded Kel
lerman
II will never become your wife, Ma
jor Kellerman."
$50 you told me the other day, afte
leading me to suppose that it was you
intention" answered Kellerman easily
"Stop, Mr.. Weston, if you please, ant
let me finish. War doesn't leave mucl
sentimentality in man. We know wha
life is worth. and we know that life
matter of bargaining. When W
were in America might have accepte'
my dismissal. Eleanor. But here W
three stand under the naked HEAVIER
like ants on hill. All artificial dis
tinctiOns have fallen away. I've love
you for many months, Eleanor. and
: want to marry you. That's the bal
truth of it, In order to persuade yoI
am willing to let this gentleman e:
/. cupe-to facilitate his escape, even
l make our marriage dependent on m
2 success. That's fair, isn't it? Ant
what have you against me? Is it m
. fault that he was court-martialed an
y sentenced to death for striking an ot
$ ficer?"
: The mans effrontery took Mark
breath away. .
My answer" responded EleanC
+ steadily. sis no. And even if you cOul
d send him to his death it would still h
o no. Because he himself would wis
!. that But you can't harm him. Som
!. thing convinces me that all the harl
/ that has come to him has come fro
e you. And It tells me, too, that you
j. power has ended. No. is my answer
= "And yours, Mr.. Westonr aske
Kellerman, looking at Mark.
Mark, unable to reply, pointed towal
the opening of the recess. Kellerma
turned and strobe toward It. Then |
+, turned.
j There's one thing more to say" !
y said. "Your action in dismlsslng N
n Miss Howard, savors of the romant
. drama. Your life has been a romant
q one, with a certain high-strung ides
= ism in II, due to the circumstances
Al your upbringing. 1t was that, i b
lieve, which made you think it yor
duty to follow your adopted father
a unit to the front. think you ought
4 know who you are. Your father di
4 on the battlefield of Santiago, He W
y a fugitive from justice. He was 4
y notorious Hampton"
- Mark uttered a cry. He sprang [
ward Kellerman, but Kellerman des
him blow that sent him stumbli
: among the bricks.
"That's lie, Kellermani" |" said Co
mel Howard quietly
= The old Coloners eyes were wi
"A open. He laid his hands laborfcus
!. upon the edge Of the brick wall al
with a great effort, raised himself
= his feet.
That's lie," he repeated
ut is no lie, ColoEel Howard. Y
~ told the whole story to Captain w
{ lace in the hospital tent Never mi
how l know. know"
you damned. dirty spy" said I
=. old Colonel.
"a confession" answered Kellerm
blandly. "Your words were stro
er- ones, Colonel Howard. Deny them
he you can. You said, "A thousand yes
he of hell wouldn't atone for that erin
to You said 1t was calculated co
ad blooded deliberation.' You said, Il
rk case against Hampton was absolut
nd proven. He was to have been hang
ne cOon a xva T41,rod CaptioOo