Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1917-01-26

AAS ANN0AS
When Bertha left the station 1t was
for the second time that day. She
had come In early in the morning
among the wreck victims and proceed
ing to the Hotel Wilton, registered
and secured the locket in question.
Impulse had taken her back to the VI
cinity of the wreck, her firm intention
being to face the major and Pearl to-
gether and tell what she knew about
the two lockets, in the jealous hope
that she might coerce Brent.
She found him Unexpectedly alone
on the hillside where PEARLS adven-
lures had befallen her.
At his first words she wished that
she had taken a different tact.
"Fine!" he exclaimed when they
met, his eyes fastened upon the orna-
ment at her throat. He held out his
hand with an impatient gesture. $50
you have brought it to me at last!'
Brought you what?' she faltered.
He laughed. my miniature in that
locket." He advanced a step or two.
She recoiled, but not quickly
enough. Mistaking her action and
knowing that he had her at a physical
disadvantage, he grasped her wrists.
Bertha experienced a paroxysm of
pain in her arms and at the same time
a streak of fire seemed to encircle
her neck. They fell, struggling. Sud-
denly, as If stricken by an unseen
force, Brent tumbled over. Bertha
started to rise when with a cry she
realized that her locket had been
snatched from the chain. She looked
about her. No one was in sight. She
examined the ground and rummaged
through Brent's clothing In vain. At
that moment he recovered conscious
ness, leaped savagely to his feet and
again sank to the ground, senseless.
Bertha gave one terrified look at him
and rushed wildly away as If from a
nameless terror.
In the waiting room in the Washing
ton depot, she encountered Brent.
From his expression and manner she
OWNED that he believed her to still
be the possessor Of the locket.
perhaps in my next attempt l shall
be less unfortunate" he said, icily, as
they passed.
Bertha took a taxi to her hotel, ig'
noring the threat. She, too, desired
solitude and reflection before involv'
ing herself further.
Miss Dare and her chauffeur passed
out of the station together. Ahead
loOmed the melancholy figure of Il. o
Adams. His hat was as usual slOucheG
Over his forehead. In broad daylight
he looked more like a tramp than ever
In one hand he carried a dilapidatet
valise.
Pearl saw him first.
"Tokow she calculated. "There Il
that man Adams--the man who eludeC
us-'The Silent Menace! He mus
have the Canal defense secret some
where on his person. Follow, SCI
where he goes, telephone me! DON
let him get out of your sight"
Toxic gave one long glance in thu
direction of the mysterious stranger
Of all of these six persons Toxic wa'
the most perplexed. The entrance O.
this newcomer into the already en-
tangled affairs of his mistress ka(
aroused his passionate dislike. He re
garded him as an intruder and a trOu
BILE maker.
It was firmly established in Toxic
mind that there was something un
ann about Adams. The fellow hat
fooled both his mistress and himsel
in the three-cornered fight the nigh
before. Now was his opportunity t.
study lin If only for the purpose O
giving to Miss Dare the mans owl
account of what became of the Cana
document which disappeared so mys
teriously during the struggle for 1T
possession.
"I get you that man." he said will
grim determination to Miss Dare; ant
he stole after him in the crowd.
Adams, If conscious of pursuit, wa
Indifferent to it. He loitered abou
the depot until an undertaker's Wagon
came up and drove away with the re
mains of the dead soldier, WATCHING
the incident with a speculative eye
He bought a newspaper containing
full account of the wreck and seeme'
satisfied when he found his own nam
among the list Of survivors. Afte
a while he hoped on a Pennsylvania
avenue street car, ~alighting In from
of Shomacher's saloon, which he en-
J tered with every evidence of familiar
ity with the place.
1t was that hour when men fror
all walks of Washington life are ap
TO assemble in this celebrated resort t
| watch the sport scores and discuss tn
/, affairs of the nation generally. Her
> came senator's and congressman fror
the committee rooms of a belated ses
: sion; bureau heads and departments
chiefs; professional politicians frol
; various parts of the county, who mad
: Washington their mecca; men G
finance and business, legation a
taches, and idle and curious chap
about town. The chance visito
{ dropped in for a brief respite, q brace
, Of something and a nibble of chees