The Elbert County tribune., 1919-02-14
A Romance of the American Army
Fighting on the Battlefields of France

General. 1T is on the evidence OIL tne
woman Hilda Morsheim. alias Kenson.
secured by Hampton under circum-
stances which"
Kellerman uttered n low cry he was
trembling now. and all his bravado
seemed to have oozed away.
This woman. strangely enough.
loved her confederate" went on the
General remorselessly, fixing his eyes
full on kellerman's now, while Keller
man blinked like bat In daylight. and
turned his head weakly from side to
side. as If under the intolerable glare
of searchlight. Her claims on him
were strong enough. God knowsi She
wanted him to marry her, to take her
away from the old scenes that they
might have chance to redeem their
wretched lives together. He had prom
ised her that so many times-and the
worst of women is as wax In the hands
of the man she loves.
"But he had become infatuated with
another, with girl as much above him
as"
With a cry that seemed hardly hui
man Colonel Howard sprang toward
Kellerman. his fingers twitching as IL
he sought to fasten them about his
throat. Mark caught him and held him,
while the old man swayed to and fro.
his outstretched arm extended toward
Kellerman as IL in imprecation.
Eleanor, at Hartley's side, did not
even look toward them.
"This woman. Observation-Disclosures
whatever you call her, came to France.
upon receipt of a message which had
cut her to the heart, shown her the
hopelessness of her dreams, and taught
her that the one man In whom she had
believed was worthless clay. To do
her justice, let us suppose that, even
in her worst acts, she had been sus.
tained by sense of duty to her ,coun-
try.
"She met her confederate in an inn
Mt a village not far distant. Frantic
at her appearance, he induced her to
let him drive her back through the
lines. and on the way renewed his lying
promises. This time she doubted him.
"Two men had overheard their con-
versatlon. One was Captain Wallace,
whom the pair had broken as they
broke poor Hampton. Him the traitor
had seen, and he devised a scheme to
send him to the trenches and contrive
to have him sent on false and fatal
errand. With that point 1 shall not
now deal. The other man was Hamp-
ton, who had enlisted under an alias,
in the belief that he would obtain a
clue that would unmask the traitor. He
contrived to go back through the lines.
found the woman, and somehow-per
haps by Gods wonderful mercy-ob-
tained her signed confession-which 1
have here. in fulli"
He wheeled upon Kellerman. MA
jor Kellermnn." he said in deep voice
that vibrated almost with pity, so
charged with Significance that It's
meaning could not escape either How
ard or Mark, you are under arrest.
You will go toward your quarters. first
removing your belt and arms"
Kellerman saiuted weakly and STUN
bled out of the cave. The General
looked at Mark
1.-The soldier Weston receives a free
and full pardon for his valor in the
field this day." he said. He is also
discharged honorably from the service
of the United States government"
- Mnrk looked at the general In as
tonishment; this was the Inst thing
that he desired.
The General approached and clapped
him on the shoulder. Captain Wal
lace" he said. "your written resigna-
ton from the United States army can
not be accepted, owing to the state of
war. After the war 1t will receive CON
sideration. In the meantime you Will
resume your duties on the headquar-
ters staff"
Tears rushed to Marks eyes. He
tried to speak, he was conscious that
the General and Howard were shaking
him by the hand; and then a quick
glance from Eleanor drew him to where
she kneeled by Hartley.
A single look showed him that the
man was dying.
Mark kneeled on one side of him.
with Eleanor facing him over the
stretcher. The bearers. who had fallen
back, stood still as images behind. And
behipd them Mark had the dim con-
sclousness In the background of his
mind of Kellerman. broken rs he had
broken so many, and fumbling, always
fumbling, now with his tunic. now
with the belt that he was trying to
detach with shaking fingers.
"Hartley" whispered Mark, hold
ing the dying mans hand In his. '"Thnt
was you today missed you. but 1
believed In you. You saved me-"
There was a fluttering pressure of
Marks hand In turn. Hampton was
speaking; he was asking for the Colo
mel.
II am here, Hampton" said Colonel
Howard In a cboked voice. as he
leaned over him.