The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1919-01-04

IL came In the form or a letter from
Colonel Howard, the first In two years.
Howard had. IN tho past. repeatedly
tried 10 induce Mark to take advantage
Of opportunities that he had put before
him. but Mark had refused stubbornly,
until the Major hAd given him up In
disgust. Howard did not know. and
! Mark did not himself understand, the
underlying idea In his own mind. the
sense of subdued rancor against the
man who had robbed him OF Eleanor,
coupled with the sense OF sacrifice,
that he might withdraw all his claims
on the child.
Now, however, Howard made one
more attempt.
81 want you TO think this PROPOSE.
tlon over as quickly as possible, he
wrote, mot for my sake or yours, but
because your duty Is to take the Job.
With war with Germany In plain view
10 the Initiated, there are great things
Ndoing IN Washington, and I've been
offered my old post ut the mobilization
department, which has been enlarged
IVY NNltN WI huNNlNhEts AVui nbth th
the West is better known than you
think. Wallace, and we want you here,
Wire IL you can. and come by the first
train. This IL Official, so don't walt
for divisional notification. which may
tuke days"
The letter reached Mark In one Of
his periods Of helpless despondency.
Tn, A. oh
regretted as coon as the message had
been dispatched. but packed HIS suit.
case. turned over the command to the
senior lieutenant. and took the train
for Washington.
As he went Fast the years seemed
10 fail from him like dream. II was
frozen labyrinth In which he seemed
10 hare been wandering; he seemed to
come to himself with consciousness
OF years wasted. but Of years of action
aheud.
Colonel Howard gnzed curiously at
him as he rose from his desk In the
war Office and grasped his hands.
II should never have known you,
Wallace" he said.
What he was thinking was "Good,
Lord. how The years have eaten Into
him !"
Don't think that your work has
been unrecognized." he said. after
few minutes of desultory chatting. ut
has been. and know that recognition
IN coming 10 you In the fullest meas.
ure. You are to work under me here
it's big scheme that we are prepar-
ing, my boy. and only Kellerman and !.
and yourself. viii be acquainted with
all the details, outside Of the depart.
mental head. You remember Keller
mani"
Mark nodded. trying to piece to-
geiher the pictures OF the past.
I'VE are working out the mobilIza-
tlon plans for the first contingent, af-
ter IL reaches France" Howard CON
tinueh. "It's bigger scheme than
anything we knew In the past. You'll
act aa my subordinate and have mn In.
timnte knowledge Of the dctnils--a sort
of understudy. In fact. but with good
deal OF initiative as well. And II war
comes, as 1t is sure to come. wen be
sent over on the first transport. to pre-
pare things for The troops. All. KeI-
lermaD. here's Wallace, newly arrived
10 take over his duties"
Mark saw not the slightest change In
Kcliernan since the days OF the Cuban
war. kellermnn was just as fiorid as
ever. just Ms burly. with the same rath.
er sinister way OF glancIng; his black
hair was unthinned and untouched
with gray. He had borne the years
much better than Mark.
If Kellcrinan recIprocnted Marks
feelings. he showed no sign of II In hlg
cordial hnndgrIp.
1--WE were glad TO get you. Wallace"