Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1919-01-16
CHAPTER XVI.

CHAPTER XVI.
Even as he kissed her in return he
saw the startled glance that she cast
behind her. and, following it with his
eyes, he saw tall figure in uniform
emerge from the receSSes of the ORR
fee; and again he stood face to face
with KelIerman.
Eleanor released him and stood, still
c1inging to him, at his side, her hand
drawn through his arm. The contrast
between the two men was extraor-
binary. Ke1lerman looked as if he had
just stepped into his uniform; his
gloved hands, his adjusted belt, the
creaSeS in his tunic were those of the
fashion-p1ate. 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.
tsYou said he would not come back ~
cried Eleanor "'You see he has come
back. What have you to say more?'
ttYou misunderstood me, Eleanor
ST understand you now for the first
time in my life. I liked you, Major
Ke1lerman. I trusted you and be-
lieved in you. When you told me that
you were working to get Captain Wal
| lace his recognition I was glad, and
proud of you both, and happy. What
did you dor
t'What did he dor, cried KelIerman
furiously. etWhy should you believe
evil things of me, because he said
| them,
HE never spoke one word against
your
when the decision has already been
made by an impartial court, anxious to
clear a soldiers character. if that were
| possible?''
Because have a woman's instinct
| Major Kel1erman."
t.What are you doing here, STRIP
| He snapped the last word out in
| irony so bitter that Kel1erman WINGED
| $50 you've cheated the firing party,
Private Weston!' he said, with his
| habitua1 sheer.
80, call ne Mark while you're about
it," answered Wallace. "Or please re-
member that I am no longer under
| your command, nor a soldier in the
American army. Technically I am q
dead man, Major KelIerman, and dead
men
s'TelI no tales, eh ?'' responded KeI-
1erman savagely. 3sWe1l, here we stand
man to man, and the conditions war
rant plain speaking 1t is not my bust
ness to place you under arrest But, il
| do so, you are aware that your life
will be worth about five minutes pur
chase So go, Mr. Weston, or Wallace
or whatever you call yourself now. &c
| word that will set you free Go-an6
in this confusion you will have a rea
sonable chance to escape, with those
| ready wits of yours
'sThe one word 2'' Eleanor gasped-
1.-THE one word yes responded Kel
1erman-
Il will never become your wife, Ma
jor Kellerman-'
| $50 you told me the other day, after
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 much
sentimentality in a man. We know wha
life is worth, and we know that ife's
a matter of bargaining When wt
| were in America might have accepted
my dismissal. Eleanor. But here We
three stand under the naked heaven
like ants a hill All artificial dis
tinctions have fallen away. I've lovet
you for many months, Eleanor, and
want to marry you That's the bale
truth of it. In order to persuade you
am willing to let this gentleman eS
cape-to facilitate his escape, even tt
make our marriage dependent on M,
success That's fair, isn't it7 And
what have you against me? Is it mn
fault that he was court-martia1ed anS
sentenced to death for striking an OF
ficer2"
breath away.
steadily, sis no. And even If you couls
send him TO his death it would still b.
no. because he himself would wish
that But you can't harm him. Some
ith2nS convinces me that an the harm