Gilpin observer., 1919-03-13
CHAPTER TX.

Mark opened his eyes and grOaned.
1t was pitch dark, and he could see
nothing, but he knew the voice for
Hartley's.
"Where am II" he muttered, trying
to rise and sinking back again.
"In the Kenson house. Be quick
There! Listen"
Outside there was the confused muir
mur of voices, above which came the
sound of a crisp command. Then
some implement fell heavily against
the door of the house. splintering it.
Again the cries broke out.
"Try againl" muttered Hartley in
desperation. "There's door into the
empty house next door, through the
cellar. The police don't know Of it.
You must get away. You must get
awayW
Mark tried again, and this time man.
aged to rise.
Hartley caught Mark by the arm and
guided his unsteady footsteps to the
door. They gained the passage,
and Hartley guided Mark toward the
head Of the basement steps, which they
reached just as the front door fell in
under the hatchets of the raiders.
They scuttled down the stairs as the
hall became filed with the shouting po-
licemen.
Before the first of the raiders set his
foot upon the stone stairs Hartley had
found a door in the darkness, opened
1t, and pushed Mark through. following
Immediately. He shut the door softly
behind him. They were in the base
ment Of the adjoining house.
"We're safe now" said Hartley in a
whisper. you'd better rest. Captain
Wallace"
you're Hartley" muttered Mark,
sitting down and trying in vain to dis
Germ something Of the others face
through the gloom. "What happened.
and how did you come on the scene"
"Good God forgive mew moaned
Hartley, suddenly breaking into hys-
terical sobbing, as on the former night
'Tve ruined you, Captain Wallace.
What else could dor"
$50 you were in that plot. eh7" asked
Mark, wondering that he felt SO little
anger. "Well. 1t was clear enough, but
1t doesn't matter now"
"It matters everything" answered
Hartley, in vehement whisper. '"They
tricked me into 1t. didn't know what
their scheme was when agreed to get
you out of the room. But found out
later. And had suspected. God. Cap
tain Wallace, to think found that
doorw
"Never mind" said Mark soothingly,
listening to the stamping Of the raiders
in the next house overhead. "What
more do you known
IT knew that they wouldn't be salts
fed with that, sir. They"
zone moment Who Is they Hart.
ley?"
"'They.'" repeated Hartley vim
dictively. "Those devils that make
pawns Of men. They meant to clinch
their dirty work one way or another.
They meant to buy you, after running
you, and fashion you to their dirty
work. If they couldn't do that they
were going to"
Murder me?"
mo, sir. Discredit you so that moth
ing you could say would be listened to.
"That's what they meant to do. It
was who was told to give the tip to
the police that there was gambling
here. They thought the place was
closed-and it was. But they wanted
the police to find you here, and arrest
you, so that the story might get intc
the newspapers, and finish you-nnish
you with the war department, and with
Miss Howard"
"And what did you expect to get out
of 1t, Hartley?" asked Mark.
He heard the man catch at his
breath.
"She wasn't your wife, Hartleyf"
"No, Captain Wallace, nor
'But she has hold on you strong
enough to compel you to do such work
as she requires. And yet you have
tried to save me dishonor-if any more
could come to me-"
"You saved me, Captain Wallacew
Mark made sound of incredulity.
"And have been gentleman. You
don't know how n man falls, Captain
Wallace"
Hartley, you haven't answered my
question. Now here's another. Why
were you watching Colonel Howard'i
house tho other night?"
"You know thatf"
II followed you here. Tell me the
whole truth about this business, and
I'll stand by you to the end"
"I1l trust you-to the limit-but
won't tell You, Captain Wallace. Some
day. perhaps, but not now. I'll stand
by you. and I'll fight at your side, sir
But won't tell you. And that's the
only condition on which can agree tt
what you propose"
"And II we succeed"
mot IT, but when" cried Hartley
with sudden outburst of conviction
| ssI,ll toll Won thpn-vps C0nfain Wal