The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1919-01-24
CHAPTER XVI.

eyes, ne saw q tall inquire III unl1 Ofm
emerge from the recesses of the ORR
flee; and again he stood face to face
with Kellerman.
Eleanor released him and stood, still
clinging to him, at his side, her hand
drawn through his arm. The contrast
between the two men was eXtraor-
binary. Kelerman looked as if he had
just stepped into his uniform; his
| glOved hands, his adjusted belt, the
creases in his tunic We're those of the
fashion-plate. Looking ut Mark, he saw
| a dirty, grimed, almost unacceptable
figure, with uniform that hung about
him in great tatters, blotched and
stained with blood.
you said he would not come back -
cried Eleanor. You see he has come
back. What have you to Say mOreY
You misunderstood me, Eleanor"
Il understand you now for the first
time in my life. l liked you, Major
Kellerman. l trusted you and l be-
lieved in you. When you told me that
you were working to get Captain Wal
lace his recognition l was glad, and
proud of you both, and happy. What
did you do?"
what did he do?" cried Kellerman
furiously. "Why 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 n soldiers character, if that were
possible?"
Because / have a woman's instinct,
Major Kellerman."
Enough of this" interposed Mark.
-"What are you doing here. sir?"
He snapped the last word out in
irony so bitter that Kellerman WINGED.
so you've cheated the firing party,
Private Weston!" he said, with his
habitual sheer.
80, call me Mark while you're about
it," answered Wallace. COR please re-
member that / am no longer under
your command, nor a soldier in the
American army. Technically l am
dead man, Major Kellerman, and dead
men"
Tell no tales, eh?" responded Kel-
herman savagely. ''Well, 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, if
/ 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. Go
If Miss Eleanor here says the one
word that will set you free. Go-and
in this confusion you Will have Il rea-
sOnable chance to escape, with those
ready wits of yours"
1.-The one word?" Eleanor gasped.
The one word yes" responded Kel-
herman.
4 will never become your wife, Ma
ior Kelerman."
$50 you told me the other day, after
leading me to suppose that it was your
intention" answered Kellerman easily.
stop. Mr.. Weston. if you please, and
let me finish. War doesn't leave much
sentimentality in a man. We know what
life is worth. and we know that life's
Il matter of bargaining. When we
were in America l might have accepted
my dismissal, Eleanor. But here we
three stand under the naked heaven,
like ants on a hill. All artificial dis
tinctiOns have fallen away. I've loved
you for many months, Eleanor, and |
want to marry you. That's the bald
truth of ii. In order to persuade you,
l am willing to let this gentleman es-
cape-to facilitate his escape, even to
make our marriage dependent on my
success. That's fair, isn't it? And,
what have you against me? Is ii my
fault that he was court-martialed and
sentenced to death for striking an of
ficer?"
The mans effrontery took Marks
breath away.
My answer" responded Eleanor
steadily. sis no And even if you could
send him 10 his death it would still be
no Because he himself would wish
that But you can't harm him. Some |
thing convinceS me that all the harm |
that has come to, him has come from
you. And it tells me, too that your
power has ended. NO is my answer"
And yours, Mr.. Weston?" asked |
looking at Mark.
Mark. unable TO reply, pointed toward |
the opening of the recess. Kellerman |
turned and strobe toward il. Then he |
turned.
There's one thing more to say" he /
said. your action in djsmissing me, |
Miss Howard. Savors of the romantic |
drama. Your life has been a romantic |
one. with a certain high-strung ideal |
ism in il. due TO the circumstances of /
your upbringine. 1t was that. l be-
lieve, which made you think ii your
duty to follow your adopted fathers
unit to the front. l think you ought to
know who you are. Your father died
ON the battlefield of Santiago. He was
a fugitive from justice. He was the
Hampton"
Mark uttered cry He sprang to-
ward KellermaR. but Kellerman dealt
him a blow that sent him stumbling
among the bricks.
THAT'S lie. Kellerman - said Colo
lel Howard quietly.
The old ColoneIs eyes were wide
open. He laid his hands laborinus
lpon the edge of the brick wan and.