The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-01-31

Mark, unable to reply, pointed toward
the opening Of the recess. Kellerman
turned and strobe toward it. Then he
turned.
There's N thing more to say" he
said. "YOur action In diSmissing me,
Miss Howard, savors of the romantic
drama. Your life has been a romantic
one, with q certain high-strung ideal
ism in it, due to the circumstances of
your upbringing. 1t was that, I be-
Iieve. which made you think 1t your
duty to follow your adopted fathers
unit to the front. I think you ought to
know who you are. Your father died
on the battlefield Of Santiago. He was
a fugitive from justice. He was the
notorious Hampton"
Mark uttered q cry. He sprang to-
ward Kellerman, but Kellerman dealt
him q blow that sent him stumbling
among the bricks.
THAT'S a lie. Kellerman I" said Colo
mel Howard quietly.
The old Colonel's eyes we're wide
open. He laid his hands l%aboriously
upon the edge Of the brick wall and,
with a great effort, raised himself to
his feet.
THAT'S a lie," he repeated.
1T is no lie, Colonel Howard. You
told the whole story to Captain Wal
lace in the hospital tent. Never mind
how I know. I know"
you damned, dirty spy" said the
old Colonel.
"A confession" answered Kellerman
blandly. "Your words were. strong
mes, Colonel Howard. Deny them If
you can. You said. "A thousand years
Of hell wouldn't atone for that crime
You said 1t was calculated, cold
blooded deliberation.' You said, The
al against Hampton was absolutely
proven. He was to have been hanged
as oon as we captured Santiago. He
was born rotten. He sold his country
to pay his gambling debts And you
called him by the worst name one man
can call another. That was why you
tried to persuade Mark Wallace not to
adopt HamptoE's child. Like father.
like daughter"
He swung round upon Eleanor. and
for the first time seemed to lose his
self-control.
That's who you are!" he cried. 1.-THE
child of a wretched traitor. who worked
in the val department with Colonel
Howard and me, q man without honor,
entangled with q wretched woman SOY,
who sold secrets. And that man
your adopted father, whom you love
and revere, epied on him In turn,
watched him, read his letters, went
through his pockets. SHARED him.
trapped him, brought him to his de.
serts-and adopted you"
Eleanor staggered toward the Colo
mel, her arms raised imploringly. and
cried In . choking voice:
"Say It's untrue! Only say that It's
untrue! I"
ITS q damned lie," said the Colonel :
but there was not the least conviction
In his voice.
Tell me the truth I"
Its true, then-it's more or less
true" said Howard YEARLY.
ITS not true" shouted Mark. Ere
member. Colonel, the mans face had
been practically blown away. How do
we know that It was Hampton who
was with the child7 II might have
been another. We don't know for sure.
and we can't know. I've never believed
It / wouldn't ever dare to let myself
believe It"
"You found his papers," said Keller.
man.
Nobody answered him. Eleanor went
up to Mark and raised her white face
to his. "Tell me what you think, Cap
tain Mark" she pleaded.
And once more Mark wal mute. She
read his face M II by inches. She
turned toward Kellefmap. "Now will
! ron GOT" abe asked.
Kellerman saluted her with mock
Formally. aTIl 90" he said. "but he's
spent his chance. = spy's daughter
and Q spy's-"
The ambulance bearers appeared al
the entrance to the ces They bore
- DSaUtG0CIs WIN w ~ - DW0IAAO0
n = bloody cl0ut q bandaees. WA
Hartley.
1There he isl" no cried. pointing hil
hand IN triumph. II knew he'd come
this way. He's here, sir !" he cried e
some one outside the orince.
The stretcher bearers set down their
burden on . ledge Of the wall. Into
the little place strobe the General.
His appearance there exercised 4
paralyEing effect upon them III. KEEL.
herman was the nrst to ecover his self.
possession. He saluted stif1y.
This man. he said. pointing d
MARI. Us the prisoner who wa to have
been executed this morning"
The General, without I word, strobe
toward Mark and elasped him By TIL
hand.
Kelleeman guIped ana moved toward
the entrnnce for the last timel Th1
Geuetal turned.
sETAlt, arls - commanded. sColone'
1n.{l1 ~ 8