The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-01-25

Of understudy, in fact, but with good
deal of initiative as well. And II war
comes, as it is sure to come, We'll be
sent over on the first transport, to pre-
pare things for the troops. All, kel-
herman, here's Wallace, newly arrived
to take over his duties"
Mark saw not the slightest change In
Kellerman since the days of the Cuban
war. Kellerman was just as ford as
ever, just as burly, with the same rath-
er sinister way of glancing; his black
hair was unthinned and untouched
with gray. He had borne the years
much better than Mark.
If 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 twirled his
fingers and looked out Of the window
into the busy hive Of the capital, and
tried to make himself believe that 1t
was all true.
When Kellerman had gone the Colo
mel invited Mark to sit down. and
launched into business.
Il must tell you that it's pretty
stiff Job that we're tackling, Mark"
he said. ITO begin with, we're sort
| Of nucleus Of the whole organization.
We're in touch with every division.
We have to have the whole thing at
our fingers ends-and it's mainly
matter Of ships, animals, and trans
port. And, to cap the climax, you can
imagine what nest of intrigue and
espionage Washington has become in
these days. And, as neutrals-osten-
sibly neutrals-we can do nothing to
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
pers there, Mark, would give valu-
able clue" he said. EVERY night, when
work is finished, your task will be to
open the safe, take out the inner case
| SAAoSS
on which you have been working, In
Guiding every waste sheet and every
scrap of the days blotting paper, and
have the day porter convey them,
under your personal supervision, to
the strong room, where you and either
the General, myself, or Kellerman,
will place them in the safety vault. In
the morning the same procedure is re
yersed. And that is why I insisted
on our getting you, Mark. knew you
and don't know the hundred Of other
officers Of impeccable character whom
we could have secured. 'sWe can't run
risks-we simply can't.o That's why
it has to be just you and Kellerman
and l. We had our lesson in the old
days, you know"
He frowned at the remembrance
and then answered Marks unspoker
question with another.
% "Where are you staying, WallaceT
Eat the Congressional"
swell, 1 want you to come and stay
with us as soon as we're settled. We've
rented house in Massachusetts circle
and move in on the first of the month
Eleanor and Mrs. Howard are still ir
New York, but they're coming here In
about ten days time-just as soon. as
I can get the houseaready for them
Eleanor is dying to see you, and Mrs
Howard has the pleasantest remem
brances, of course. And now I'm goinG
to take you to the Brigadier."
The short interview with the heaG
of the department confirmed Marks
impressions as 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 Colonel
not to become his guest-at least no
unless he found that he could take w
his life again where he had dropped 1t
years before. And then-but wha
was the use of specializing? He wen
home to his hotel.
; He was surprised to find how easil!
: he seemed to fit into his environment
when he donned his long-neglactet
, evening clothes and went down to tn
: dining room of the Congressional. Al
: most the first face he saw was that O
man Of his class; within few min
) utes Mark Wallace was seated at tn
dinner table with a merry party of oil
; friends and new acquaintance. Ant
; the years had slipped away from him
: On the next morning, when he tool
4 up his duties, it was with the sens
| that he was no longer stranger
+ Washington was ready to extend he
t welcome to him. At the Army ciut