The Ordway new era., 1919-03-07
doctors from an Arizona town, whom
he had dined at the mess.

ne mad dined at the mess.
II think you are mistaken, sir" he
answered quietly.
The surgeon searched his face, and,
like decent man, admitted his error.
another poor devil gone down." he
thought, as he turned to his work.
There were three more operations
following, and Mark sighed with relief
as the last man was carried away. He
took scrubblng brush and bar of
soap and kneeled down to clean the
floor. while his fellow attendant
secured the splashed table and carried
away the towels.
Mark was conscious that the nurse
still fingered, and he went on with
his scrubbIng. Somehow he did not
want to meet her eyes.
She came toward him and stood near
him. by the table. Something splashed
down to the foor-then something else.
Mark raised his head. They were
tears, and others followed them down
the nursing sisters face. The girl was
Eleanor.
She put out her hands blindly. "Oh,
Captain Markw she whispered.
Mark felt himself beginning to
shake; fate seemed to hive played a
wretched trick on him Just then.
"Why, Captain Markl Why-why
did you do this?" asked Eleanor.
"Hey. .WestonT called his fellow or
derly from the door of the sterilizing
room; and then, seeing him with the
sister, withdrew.
you heard my namef" asked Mark.
II heard 1t, Captain Mark. Won't
you tell me what 1t means. what 1t all
meansT
"What 1t all means7" he repeated
vaguely, wondering at the concern on
her face.
"Why you disappeared as you did
from Washington. knew that you
had applied for leave of absence. be-
cause you had overworked in the hot
weather. But you - never came
back" Her voice broke into sob.
1.-THE Colonel didn't think it strange.
He wouldn't admit that there was any
reason. except that you must have
gone back to your regiment. Did you
and he quarrel, Captain Mark? It's
unthinkable. could learn nothing
about you. but Major Kellerman had
said you were tired of the work and
might have got some appointment out
of the service. Their tales were con-
ficting. And you weren't on the army
list any more. Won't you tell me, just
because-you know-because-"
Mark could hardly restrain his feel
ing.
'I'll tell you" said Mark, raising his
eyes. II was accused of treachery, of
betraying secrets to enemies of my
country"
Eleanor laughed In a little. mirth-
less voice. you're still the same,
Uncle Mark" she whispered. "Dld you
think / would believe that?"
''It was not true" cried Mark. net
tied and desperate. "But it was found
that I frequented gambling houses
"You are so fond Of money, Uncle
Mark!"
81 wanted money. You were rich,
and wanted your esteem. wanted
to move in your circles. to win your
favor. as others could"
She gasped and grew red; he saw
tHht MS arroW nhu gone nomes anu
| went on pitilessly.
"When was at your reception you
had smiles for everyone"
That's enough. Captain Wallace"
she said, with an indrawn breath. "You
insulted me the last time we met. you
know. or probably have forgotten. l.
I see that all my thoughts of you
were wrong. was always a burden.
And when you didn't write SO many
years, and when you didn't come to
see me. thought-oh. I'll tell you now,
since you have humilIated me MS deep
ly as 1t is possible to humiliate a
woman. j thought you stayed away
and kept away because you liked me,
and because you were afraid that ]
might come to care for you. and ruin