The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-01-30

VI uuuerStuuy, III IdCts Out WIN u SOou
deal of initiative as well. And II war
comes, as 1t Ia sure to come. we'll be
sent over on the first transport, to pre-
pare things for the troops. An. Kel-
lerman. here's Wallace, newly arrived
to take over his duties." g
Mark saw not the slightest change in
Kellerman since the days Of the Cuban
war. Kellerman was just as norid as
ever. Just rs burly, with the same rath-
er sinister wny Of glancing; his black
hair was unthinned and untouched
with gray. He had borne the years
much better than Mark.
II Kellerman reciprocated Marks
feelings, he showed no sign Of It In his
cordial handgrip.
1--WE were glad to get you, Wallace"
he said. you'll excuse me for q mo-
ment, I'm sure"
He drew Colonel Howard aside. In
conversation. while Mark twlrled his
fingers and looked out Of the window
into the busy hive Of the capital, and
tried to make himself believe that It
was all true.
When Kellerman had gone the Colo
mel invited Mark to sit down. and
launched into business.
II must tell you that it's q pretty
stiff job that we're tackling, Mark
he said. ITO begin with, we're q sort
Of nucleus Of the whole organization
We're In touch with every division
We have to have the whole thing al
our fingers ends-and its mainly a
matter of ships. animals, and trans
port. And, to cap the climax, you car
imagine what nest Of intrigue and
espionage Washington has become In
these days. And. as neutrals-osten
sibly neutrals-we can do nothing t.
put an end to IT,"
He stretched out his finger and
pointed toward the big safe between
the windows.
"Any one Of some two hundred pa
pcrs there, Mark. would give valu
able clue" he said. EVERY night, wher
work IL finished. your task will be t.
open the safe. take out the inner cas'
containing, these documents, add thos,
on which you have been working. In
Guiding every waste sheet and ever!
scrap Of the days blotting paper. ant
have the day porter convey them
under your personal supervision. T.
the strong room, where you and elthe
the General, myself. or Kellerman
will place them In the safety vault. Il
the morning the same procedure Ii re
versed. And that Is why I inslstes
on our getting you. Mark. knew you
and I don't know the hundred Of othe
officers Of impeccable character whom
we could have secured. We can't rul
rlsks-we simply can't. That's VIII!
II has to be just you and KellermnI
and !. We had our lesson in the olt
days. you know"
He frowned at the remembrance
and then answered Marks unsp0keI
question with another.
"Where are you staying. Wallacef
"At the Congressional"
swell. want you to come and sta.
with us as soon as we're settled. View
rented house In Massachusetts circle
and move In on the first of the month
Eleanor and Mrs. Howard are still Il
New York. but they're coming here Il
about ten days time-just' as soon q
can get the house ready for them
Eleanor Is dying to see you. and Mrs
Howard has the pleasantest remem
brances, Of course. And now I'm goin
to take you to the Brigadier."
The short interview with the hea
of the department confirmed Mark
Impressions rs to the businesslike ma
ture Of the plans Of the war office
Mark went home. He was resolved. al
though he had not told the Colone
not to become his guest--at least no
unless he found that he could take u
his life again where he had dropped !,
years before. And then--but wha
was the use Of speculatingf He wen
home to his hotel.
i He was surprised to find how easil
he seemed to fit into his envir0nmen
when he d0nned his long-neglecte
evening clothes and went down to tn
dining room Of the Congressional. A
; most the Arst face he aaw was that Q
man Of his class: within = few mir
; utes Marx Wallace was seated at th
dinner table with . msrEy party Of oil
friends and new acquaintances. An
the years had slipped away from hin
On the pe1t morning. when be too
up his dntiss, Il wus with he ssns
tAat ~ Wan no longer : otron0eI