The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1919-03-01

! ton was ftlll cuTfylnS on lilS tiuu', N'h'
selling government secrets. You see
why, Colonel?" he continued, turning
TO Howard. "Becnuse they themselves
were continuing their vile work, and
the new leakages had to be accounted
for"
Kellerman, CHASTITY white, leaned
against the brick wall; he was FUN
bling nervousiy In his tunlc pocket.
1T suppose, sir, that you are accus-
ing" he began.
abe silent, siri Gentlemen" he con-
tlnued, addressing Mark and the Colo
nell "you are interested In knowing
what happened to this man Hampton.
He could not rid himself of the belief
that justice, though slow, is pretty
sure. He had faith In God. Unfortu-
nately he had less faith In himself. Am
I wronglng you. Hanptonp ho con.
tlnued. addressing Hartley.
"No, slr,' muttcred the man on the
stretcher, feebly
"He wishes mo to tell the whole
story. He went to Cuba and rung In
his lot with the rebels. He became
ssgus,cd with their means and meth
DDS obtained n pardon from General
Wcyler, and took up his residence In
Santiago. The outbreak of the war
surprised him there. He knew that
Santiago would fall, and he had been
warned that he would receive short
shrlft at the hands of our people.
"He ionged for death, but he had two
things that kept alive the desire for
life. One was his child, TIE other the
desire for vindlcation. which had be-
come monomania. He tried TO escape
into the jungle. He saw that IL was
hopeless.
ale was hiding in little hut when
he heard footsteps. An American sol
dier. who had strayed from his COM
pany, was coming into the clearing. At
that moment stray BULLET caught him
In the head, killing him instantly.
Hampton saw his chance. He took Off
the dead mans clothing and put It on /;
he dressed the body In his own. He
knew that by this means he could pass
through the lines In the guise of a
wounded man. until ne had a chance to
get rid OF his uniform In the cabin of
some Cuban. who would be only too
well pleased to give him some rags In
exchange for II. And, leaving his
money and papers on the dead man, he
knew that he left his identity behind,
for the bullet had destroyed the fea-
lures.
There was the chIld-but Hampton
knew that he could take her no fur
ther. With the Americans she would |
receive food-which he had not-and |
shelter and protection. ~Afterward he |
would regain her. He lurked In the |
bushes until he saw Captain Wallace |
appear, watched him. trusted him, and |
went away.
HE learned Of the chllds adoption, I
and for years he haunted her home, /
her school, all places that were her
ever craving her, ever re-
by the realization that, till his
name was cleared, he had no right to
her. His idea of vindlcation had be-
come, as l said, a monomanin.
"Now, gentlemen, have little time
10 spare, but must carry this story
10 the end. I said that he had less
faith In himself than he had In God.
ONCE, for three years, Hampton lost
MS child. She had gone to San Fran
,isco. In his despair he went to Wash
ngton. he sought out Hllda Morshelm.
Who was still plying her trade, and
begged, as he had never begged any
me, that she would vlndicate his !
lame."
There was a stiffness as Of utter
ieath inside the little cave.
"She saw in him one Of those useful
pies such as her organization used,
roken men with inside knowledge OF
conditions. She used him. held out
Promises, broke them; in his despair
e made himself a slave to her and 1
md her confederate, forgetting his
and what he had been. Time
nd again they broke faith with him.
lie had just realized that he had moth
ng to hope for from them when Cap
ain Wallace appeared on the scene"
"Yes, he was u rotten dog, SIR" said !
,ellerman, with the ghost OF a smile.
Is Is on such evidence that you pre- p
mo sir, Il is mott" thundered the q
.enoral. "It Is on the evidence of the
oman Hilda Morshein, alias Kcnson,
ocured by Hampton under clrcum-
.ances which"
Kellerman uttered low cry he was
now, and all his bravado y
eemed TO have oozed away.
"This woman, strangely enough.
wed her confederate" went on the
enernl rem0rselessly. fixing his eyes =
I'll on Kellermnns now, while Keller
IAN bllnked like bat In daylight, and
irned his head weakly from side TO !.
dc, as If under the intolerable .lnreS -
searchlight. "Her ella. rs on Linn
ere strong enough. God knowsl She :,
anted hin t. marry her, to take her y :,
way from the old scenes that they :,
light have chance to redeem their
retched lives together. He had prom y
ed her that so many times-and the :,
0rst of women is as wax in the hands
the man she loves. :, e