The Yale expositor., 1917-06-14
THIRD EPISODE
The Silent Menace.

Toward sunrise on the following day
a corporal of the guard entered Cap
tain Payne's room at the Washington
barracks. He found the celebrated
prisoner fully dressed and awaiting
the punishment about to be his, where
by he would become one of the lost
citizens of the republic which, accord
Ing to the findings of the court, he
was guilty Of conspiring against with
a southern neighbor.
Payne gazed with polite questioning
at the hesitating figure on the
threshold.
Captain" whispered the latter who
had served with him in the Philippines
and also in the Boxer rebellion; 1--WE
got to prepare you for something
nasty" Forgetting himself for a mo-
ment, his eyes flashed and he swore.
'They haven't done it since the '70s!
You'd think it was war times! The
good of the serviceI"
A cold light glittered in the cap
tain's eyes. "You don't mean that
they're going to drum me out, Smithy?"
Payne unconsciously fell at that I'M
guarded moment into barracks mess
yernacular.
The corporal nodded slowly.
''Thanks" grunted the officer after
a tense pause. you've helped me
lot by that tip"
"Pd do more than that for you, cap
tain" quickly insinuated Corporal
Smithy.
"Get rid of yourself, sir" sharply
retorted his superior.
Somebody will wake up about you
when it's too late" muttered Smithy.
You're no more guilty than 1 be-"
Then he went out.
AT that moment the Payne case was
being discussed by a group secretly
assembled in the library at the resi-
dence of the secretary of war In the
city of Washington. Here after an all
night conference at the department
came the chief of the army staff to
report TO the president and several
members of his cabinet.
The thoughtful countenance of the
country's chief magistrate reflected
the serious import of this meeting.
THE man you say was supposed to
be dying?"
death was only question of
hours" replied the war secretary to
whom the question was addressed.
"And there is no clue?"
"He has seemingly disappeared Off
the face of the earth leaving no trace"
your conclusion Is that he has
been stolen by an enemy who In some
way gained knowledge of his discov-
cry Of our weakness In defense of the
canal and his strategy to overcome
itT
1--WE believe that after Payne dis
posed Of this mysterious authors In
yention to the Granadian ambassador"
interposed the chief of the army staff
"or before he did so, either his or De
Mira's lieutenants made away with
him fearing that he might recover
consciousness and tell everything,
which under the circumstances, doubt
less he would have done.
Payne admitted at the court-mar-
tial that he was in the neighborhood
when the stranger disappeared. Nor
did he deny that he talked alone with
the ambassador shortly before the lat
ter's dead body was found. 1t was
then, we believe, that Payne gave him !
the canal plans and the locket con-
tanning the waters necessary to their |
Interpretation. De Mira, after pos
sessing our secret, must have lost his |
nerve and poisoned himself. He doubt |
less thought that Payne would at the |
last minute break down and confess |
his guilt"
A shade Of regret stole into the |
harried features Of the president.
Perhaps we FASTENED Payne's trial." |
he pondered. Reflection might have |
brought repentance. We cannot ex-
pect him now, sullen and stubborn, to |
aid us in unearthing the one man, IL |
he be still alive. who holds the key |
to the safety and security Of our canal |
possession. Have we blundered, gen.
tlemenT
mol" exclaimed some one. "Payne's
swift and summary punishment was
imperative to satiate public desire to
criticize everything pertaining to the |
army and the administration. Fur
thermore, l beg to differ with the presi-
dent on one point. There is a way. /
think, to make him talk"
The president raised his eyebrows,
inclining his head toward the speaker.
"He worshlps Pearl Dare. He will
talk to her II she urges him"
II know her WELL" warmly respond
ed We chief Of STAFF to that. "She
loves OF loved him- understood from