Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-01-03
CHAPTER VII.

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On the way to the war department
the following morning he was puzzling
over the affair, Kellerman's presence
in Mrs. Kenson's house, and Keller
mans possible connection with Hart
ley, who watched Eleanor.
He could not arrive at any but the
most fantastic solutions.
Kellerman welcomed him with his
usual suavity. They carried up the
papers from the safe; then Kellerman
called Mark into his own Office.
About last Right, Wallace" he
began. "Of course you acted all right,
as you understood the situation, but
there was good deal that you did not
understand. That man you took home
70 your rooms is a sort of international
stool pigeon. if can coin the phrase.
Quite despicable-the one-time gentle
man who has lost his honor and dam
gerous, because he knows things that
nobody would credit him with know
ing. suppose you wonder what was
doing in Mrs. Kenson's placer"
mot at all, Major Kellerman."
my dear Wallace" said Kelferman,
laying hand on Marks shoulder, 81
want to give you a piece of advice.
This is quite apart from our work
here. l don't think your qualities are
adapted to headquarters work. Go
back to your battalion--or, rather, take
advantage of your friends In Wash
ington to secure a good post"-he en-
phasized the adjectiye-"in regimental
work.
And as Mark looked at him in stu
pefaction. Kellerman added coolly:
II am not speaking officially, my
dear Wallace. Take the suggestion as
friendly one. If can make 1t
little clearer to you, your presence in
Washington is inconvenient to me for
personal reasons. / think you viii APP
preciate the reasons-the reason,
rather"
The mans insolence was madden
ing. Marks impulse was to dash his
fists into his face. But discipline
told.
Mark saluted stiflly and went away.
He sat down at his desk, tuning. OF
course Kellerman had referred to Ell
eanor; and it suddenly occurred to
Mark that Kellerman might have
made a good deal of Roadway during
his absence.
Mark and Colonel Howard occupied
small room at the end of the CORR
dor; the clerks room was without; be-
tween the two, accessible from each,
was Kellerman's Office, which commu-
nicated, In turn, with the Brigadier's.
Colonel Howard came in after a
while, and they went over their plans
together. They were engaged on a
complicated piece of work, involving
tonnage and computations of cubic
ieet of space for cargoes. There had
Teen an error somewhere, and Mark
was trying hard to discover 1t when
the Brigadies came In in his usual iras-
chile manner.
How long win that Job take, How
efdY' he asked
Wallace will have 1t finished by
1ooh, SIR, answered the Colonel.
The Brigadier waved Mark to his
seat inpatiently. Bring it right In
70 me as soon as you have the figures.
Please" he said. ''I'll wait for it. Sure
you can be through by noon?"
I'm sure. sir" answered Mark, who
was hot on the trail of the error.
The Brigadier Withdrew, taking the
Colonel with him for a conference.
mark worked steadily. The omission
was found. the computations were
balancing. A clerk knocked at the
door.
What is it," asked Mark impa-
denuy.
A man to see you, sir. He says his
-alne's Hartley. Shall show him in?'
Good Lord, mol TIL see him in the
'alung ROOM" answered Mark.
de locked the Office door, went