The Elbert County tribune., 1919-01-03
CHAPTER vii.

Mark rushed to the street and found
himself face to face with Eleanor.
She was coming out of a store, and
going. evidently, toward the cab which
was waiting against the street curb
They almost ran into each other.
Mark lifted his hat mechanically. and
thought she was about to pass, but
suddenly she took him by the arm,
and looked at him earnestly, extreme
concern upon her face.
whats the matter, Uncle Mark ?"
she asked. you're ill--you're looking
frightfully ILL.,"
"Well, it's pretty hot day." said
Marx.
"Yes, but you can stand heat, Uncle
Mark. You don't look fit to be around
How long have you been i'll. and have
you been working all the time, and
why didn't you send for me?"
"fm not Ill. Eleanor" said Mark,
trying to smile.
'Then why haven't you been to see
us? Have you forgotten our talk that
night? What's the reason7 Tell me ="
"Your father keeps our noses to the
grindstone, Eleanor"
'That isn't true, and please don't
play with me as If were child, Cap
tain Wallace. Come, get into this cab
at once! am going to take you home
and have Mrs. Howard look after you
at once. oh. you are laughingl'
1t was rather n grim jest to Mark,
but II occurred to him that 1t would
hnI,. 90
away from him and looked at him with
those keen, scrutinizing eyes that had
in some measure discOmfited him at
the Misses Harpers' school.
Uncle Mark" she pleaded, "do tell
me why you are acting so horribly
when am only thinking of you. It's
just the way you acted that other
night until we got to understand each
other. And tell me why you haven't
come to u.s."
sWelf, Eleanor, the truth is" said
Mark, "the work at the office has just
about taken 1t all out of me. And then,
In my position, of course there are WIS.,
its that 1 must pay"
"Of course" said Eleanor iron
ically. "Go on, Uncle Mark. shall
see through you presently"
But have been meaning to visit
you soon. Only, you know. / am not
in any sense your guardian now, and
so, Eleanor, If you want me to be
frank, tbs little unreasonable of
you to put forward my duties in that
respect when / have no compensa-
tions."
She started. "You mean that you
didn't want to Gomez" she asked.
81 did want to. But / have so many
duties"
"Thank you. That's quite enough,
Captain Wallace. My conduct In in
truding on such busy man has been
quite inexcusable. Good days Captain
Wallace !"
She made a mocking little bow and
went toward her cab. She stopped and
looked back. The brief anger was
ended. But Mark was already free
from that intolerable interview and
stumbling homeward.
He let himself in, wrote out his res
ignation, and mailed it.
AS he paced his room, pondering
over the situation, 1t seemed to him
that the key to the mystery lay with
Hartley. Even yet he had not allowed
himself to believe KeIlerman n traitor
But 1t was essential that he should
find Hartley. and insist upon a eonfes-
sion, both of his motives in watching
the Colonel's house. and of those that
had brought him to the war depart
ment.
Suddenly the telephone interrupted
his meditations. A. woman's voice at
the other end was asking for him.
"Are you quite sure you are Captain
Mark WalIace@ 1t inquired. when he
had stated his identity.
II am as sure as have ever been"
answered Mark.