The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-03-08

stances" went on Mrs. Henson, :
suppose you know that the world ho
changed good deal during your f.
teen years Of exile? Well, this wa
for example. It's a shocking revel
sion to barbarism, the nations f1yin
: at each others Threats, when their di1
fculties could have been adjusted b
little frank diplomacy. It was a grea
blow to the financial interests that ar
working to reconcile the nations an
to develop the worlds resources. The
would do all possible to end it. ar
working for them here. 1 am not tell
ing you any secret, Captain Wallace
because everybody In Washington
knows it. I represent the interna
tional peace committee, and I hav,
quite good deal of influence anon.
the senators and representatives.
principally the Western ones, Cap
tain"
The frankness and audacity Of thu
disclosure astounded Mark. So this
was one center Of ''they," as Colone
Howard had called the nucleus Of Teu
tonic spies and agents in America.
1--WE are trying our hardest to pre-.
vent America from being dragged into
this maelstrom." continued Mrs. Ken
son. "You, Captain Wallace, were I'm.
fortunate enough to be working on the
other side. And-T'm sorry, but little
trap was laid for you and Kellerman.
You walked right into 1t. Major Kel-
herman, who Is very good friend of
mine, acted In complete good faith.
Don't blame him. Don't blame your
self. Don't blame that wretched fel-
low who came here the other night
to blackmail me. It was inevitable.
You see, when you adopted Hampton's
daughter you unconsciously put a sort
of moose about your neck. There was
the possibility Of your coming into con-
tact with Hampton's friends. The sys-
tenn is widespread, you know, and quite
twenty years old. So-you had to 60
west.
''Now, Captain Wallace, I'm q frank
woman, and I'll put my proposition to
you. You don't want to see Major
Kellerman walk of with that pretty
ward Of yours, do you? And you can't
marry her without a little money.
Well, you could be very useful to us
In many ways. Would you, without
sacrificing your patriotism or revealing
any secrets, become q salaried worker
Of our organization?"
Mark stood up. trembling. "I-don't
quite understand" he said huskily
and the picture Of Eleanor in Keller
mans arms at the dance swan before
his eyes. "What is it you want me to
do?"
use your influence and army knowl- |
edge in our behalf. That little affair |
IF today will soon be forgotten. And |
ven help you to put Kellerman out |
If business"
'You ask me to become a German
'py7"
Don't be absurd, my dear captain.
Who ever suggested such a thingT
'That's what it amounts to-"
"a little influence on behalf Of hu-
nanity."
"No" shouted Mark, quite beside
himself. you're infamous. You ought
o be put out Of the country"
He strobe Indignantly toward the
DOR.
The electric light In the passage had
one out. The room grew dark behind
i'm. He CROPPED his way toward the
DOR.
Suddenly vivid light flashed before
Is eyes. He heard, though he felt no
ain, the impact Of q hard weapon ,
pom the back Of his head. He flung ,
ut his hands and grappled with a
la1. In the uplifted hand he felt a II
envy stick with a knobbed handle. ,
Ee believed his assatlant to be KEEL J.,
,rman, and, half unconscious as he
as. he fought madly. But the man,
.ellerman or not, was more than ,
latch for him. For a few moments 8
ley wrestled furiously; then the other /
ot his arm free and brought down the I
lex upon Marks head again. And 6
IFS time the light faded into black '
eSs.