The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1919-01-18
CHAPTER TX.

captain Wnllncei Get up' Can
you stand? Come with me r.
Mark opened his eyes and groaned.
II wns pitch dark, and he could see
nothing. but he lelew the voice for
Hartley's.
"Where am II" he muttered, trying
TO rise and sinking back again.
I'm the Kenson house. BE quick I
Therel Listcni"
Outside there was tho confused mur-
mur Of voices, above which came the
! sound of n crisp command. Then
some implement fell heavily against
the door Of the house. splnterIng II.
Ag0in the cries broke out.
"fry agnlnl" muttered Hartley In
desperation. There's n door into the
empty house next door, through the
cellar. The police don't know Of II.
You must got away. You must get
awnyr
Mark tried again, and this time man.
aged TO rise.
Hartley caught Mark by the arm and
guided his unsteady footsteps to the
door. They gained the passage,
and Hartley guided Mark toward the
head OF the basement steps. which they
reached just as the front door fell In
under the hatchets of the raiders.
They scuttled down the stairs as the
hall became filed with the shouting po-
llcemen.
Before the first OF the raiders set his
foot upon the stone stairs Hartley had
found door In the darkness, opened
II, and pushed Mark through. following
Immediately. He shut the door softly
behind him. They were In the base.
ment OF the adjoining house
"We're safe now said Hartley in
whisper. you'd better rest, Captain
Wallace"
you're Hartley" muttered Mark.
sitting down and trying In vain to dis
cern something of the others face
through the gloom. "What happened.
and how did you come on the scene?'
Good God forgive mel" moaned !
Hartley. suddenly breaking into hys-
terical sobblng, AZ the former night |
"Iye ruined you, Captain Wallace !
What else could I dot"
$50 you were In that plot, eh?" asked |
Mark. wondering that he felt so little |
anger ''W'6ll, II was clear enough but I
II doesn't matter now"
"a 1T mntters everything" answered ,
Hnrilcy IN vehement whisper. "I'hey .
trlckcd me into II, didn't know what I
their schcine was when | agreed 10 get /
you out Of the room. But found out
later. And hnd suspected. God, Cap
tain Wallace, 10 think l found that
doOri'
"Never mind" said Mark soothInply,
listening TO the stamping Of the raiders
In the next house overhead. "What
more do you knowf"
II knew that they wouldn't be salts
fed with that. sir. They"
zone moment. Who is they Hart
leyf"
They" repeated Hartley vim
"Those devils that make
pnwns of men. They meant TO clfnch
their dirty work one way or another.
They meant 10 buy you. after running
you, and fashion you to their dirty
work. II they couldn't do that they
were going to-"
Murder me?"
"No, sir. Dlscredit you so that moth
Ing you could say would be listened TO.
THAT'S what they meant TO do. II
was ! who was told TO give the tip to
the police that there was gambling
hercs They thought the place was
II was. But they wanted
The police 10 find you here. and arrest
you, so that the story might get lnte
the newspapers, ana finish you-finlsh
you with the war department. and with 4
Miss Howard"
"And what did you expect to get out
N II, Hartleyf' asked Mark.
He heard the man catch at his
breath.
"She wasn't your wife. Hartley?"
"No Captain Wallace, nop
"I}ut she has hold on you strong
enough to compel you 10 do such work
Is she requires. And yet you have u
rled to save me dlshonor--lf any more I
'0uld come TO me-" !
"You saved me. Captain Wallace |" ,
Mark made sound of incredulity. y
"And have been gentleman. You u
lon't know how man falls. Captain
Wallace" n
Hartley. you haven't answered my \
question. Now here's another. Why +
we're you watching Colonel Howard's !.
ouse the other nightf" =
(To be continued)