The spectator., 1919-01-21

or as nearly as possible so, by roof of heavy beams, sandbags and corrugated steel. bore the Red Cross upon the door. Inside a num- Der of stretcher bearers were lounging.
 The sergeant halted his men and stepped into smaller dugout beside it. In minute he came out and beck oned to Mark to follow him. Mark entered, to find himself in the pres ence of the captain commanding the stretcher bearers company, and-Kel- lerman. He saluted and stood to at tention, watching Kellermnn's eyes wander over him appraisingly. Orderly. where's the man who came with you?" inquired the Captain briskly.
 He disappeared on the way up, sir," answered Mark.
 What do you mean by disappeared? |? Did you see him go back? Or was he with you one minute and gone the nextT
 T thought he was behind me, sir. didn't see him go, or know anything about it."
 The Captain, who had been holding the receiver of his telephone, and evi- dently waiting for his connection, got it. Mark heard him sending out gen. eral notice of the absent man. He gave his number, and the name liar ley"
 No doubt he had mistaken it as he received it by telephone from the hos pital that morning.
 "Youll parade before me tomorrow morning." said Captain Reyes to the sergeant. Till then you are under open arrest"
 The sergeant saluted. "Right turn !" he said to Mark.
 Wait q minute" interposed Keller man. "Fd like to have n few words with this man, Captain Reyes"
 By all means, sir" replied the Cap tain, rising.
 He strolled, humming, to the door Mark together.
 'So you've enlisted under the name Weston?' inquired Kellerman.
 That is my name, sir"
 Ut was shock to me yesterday, Wallace. I never expected it. Your disappearance stirred Washington a good deal. The war office would have eXonerated you."
 In spite of his loathing of the man, Mark felt his heart begin to hammer with hope. He looked at Kellerman with pathos in his eyes; he could not hide his feelings; he was groping amid the ruins of his world and trying to reconstruct them.
 I've no doubt you misunderstood me-" said Kellerman. "NIy association with the Kenson woman was a part of my official duties-thc most distasteful part, but one that had to be carried out. You and were the victims of an acute piece of trickery. That fan was wired"
 From your room, sir" said Mark.
 From my room," answered Keller man. And, no doubt, by the Henson womnn's agent, that spy who called to see you at the war office the same
 
 about it. He means to stand by you. He heard you had enlisted, but he did not know you were in the medical corps, nor under an alias. He is at the base now, Wallace. When he comes up next week l shall make it my busi- ness to see him about you"
 No. sir" gasped Mark. Tt doesn't matter now"
 "It matters to mo, if not to yourself, Wallace. l cannot rid myself of the sense of partial responsibility. And as for what happened last night, you took me off my guard. I'll be frank with you. IL was my duty to interest the Henson woman. l succeeded too well. She followed me here. I couldn't bring myself to denounce her. For that l have placed my own position in jeopardy. When you appeared I did not know what to do or say"
 You found course of action" an- swered Mark, torn between the desire to return blow for blow and to do jus tice to Kellerman, whose story left him doubtful and wondering.
 "Will you accept my frank apol- ogy?" asked Kellerman, extending his hand.
 Mark took it. 'I will, Major Keller man." he answered.
 And he made his way to the door of the dugout. with feeling of warmth in his heart such as he had not known for many a month. He believed Kel- lerman-and yet but he fought down his instinct and still believed him.
 CHAPTER XII.