Gilpin observer., 1919-03-20

uOctOrS from an Arizona town, whom
he had dined at the mess.
Il think you are mistaken, sir" he
answered quietly.
The surgeon searched his face, and
like a 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 a scrubbing 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 fioor-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 Mark ~ she whispered.
Mark felt himself beginning to
shake; fate seemed to have played q
wretched trick on him Just then.
"Why, Captain Marki Why-why
did you do this?" asked Eleanor.
"Hey, Weston ~ called his fellow or
derly from the door Of the sterilizing
room; and then, seeing him with the
sister, withdrew.
"YOu heard my name?" asked Mark
II heard 1t, Captain Mark. Won't
you tell me what 1t means, what It all
means?"
"What 1t all means7" he repeated
vaguely, wondering at the concern on
her face.
"Why you disappeared as you did
from Washington. I 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
'SThe 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,
unthinkable. I could learn nothing
about you, but Major Kellerman hat
said you were tired of the work ant
might have got some appointment ou
of the service. g Their tales were con
flicting. And you weren't on the arm!
list any more. Won't you tell me, jus
because-you know-because-"
Mark could hardly restrain his feel
ing.
"Pll tell you," said Mark, raising hi
| eyes. II was accused of treachery, o
betraying secrets to enemies of m,
country"
Eleanor laughed in a little, mirth
less voice. you're still the same
Uncle Mark" she whispered. ibid yOl
think I would believe that?"
ut was not true" cried Mark, net
tied and desperate. "But 1t was foun,
that ! frequented gambling houses
| "You are SO fond Of money. Uncl
Mark"
II wanted money. You were ricf
and l wanted your esteem. wante
to move in your circles, to win you
favor. as others could"
She gasped and grew red; he sa,
that his arrow had gone home. an
went on pitilessly.
"When was at your reception 20
had smiles for everyone"
that's enough. Captain Wallace.
she said, with an indrawn breath. "Yo
insulted me the last time we met. 10
know. or probably have forgotten. L
see that all my thoughts Of 20
were wrong. I was always a burdei
And when you didn't write SO man
years, and when you didn't come I
see me. I thought-oh, TIL tell you nov
since you have humiliated me as deeI
ly AZ 1t II possible to humiliate
woman. thought you stayed ava
and kept away because you liked M
and because you were afraid that
might come to care for you, and lrui