Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-08-17
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 conspirlng against with
a southern ~nelghbOr.
Payne gazed with polite questioning
at the hesitatlng figures on the
threshold.
Captain" whispered the latter who
mad served with him in the Philippines
and also in the Boxer rebellion; i've
got to prepare you for something
uasty." Forgetting himself for a mo-
u.ent. his eyes flashed and he swore.
they haven't done 1t since the '70'sl
You'd think It was war timesl The
good of the service -
A cold light glittered In the cap
taln's eyes. "YOu don't mea that
they're going to drum me out, Smithy?'
Payne uncOnsciously fell at that un-
guarded moment into barracks mess
Yernacular.
The corporal nodded slowly.
Thanks Z" grunted the officer, after
q tense pause. you've helped me a
lot by that tip
"Pd do more than that for you, cap
tain" quickly inslnuated Corporal
Smlthy.
Get rid Of yourself, sir" sharply
%retOrted his superior.
Somebody will wake up about you
when Us too late" muttered Smlthy.
"You'le 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 c%Onfere fee 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 dyingT"
Death was only a question OF
hours" replied the war secretary to
whom the question was addressed.
And there Is no clue?"
HE has seemingly disappeared of
the face of the earth leaving no trace
"YOur conclusion is that he has
beer stolen by an enemy who in sOmC
way gained knowledge of his dlscOY
cry of our weakness in defense of the
canal and his strategy to overcome
ltY'
I'VE believe that after Payne dis
posed of this mysterious authors in
Vention TO the G%rAnudian ambassador
l~nterpOsed the chief Of the army stan
cor before he did so, either his or d.
Mira's lieutenants made away will
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
tlpl that he was In the ~neighbOrhoo'
when the stranger disappeared. No.
lid he deny that he talked alone will
The ambassador shortly before the lat
ter's dead body was found. 1t wa
then, we believe. that Payne gave hin
the canal plans and the lOcket con
Uiining the waters necessary TO thei
Interpretation. De Mira, after pos
scssing our secret, must have lost hi
aerve and poisoned himself. He doubt
less thought that Payne would at tn
last minute break down and cOnfes
his guilt"
A shade OF regret stole into tn
harrled features OF the president.
Perhaps we hastened Payne's trial,
he pondered. Reflection might hav
hcought repentance. We cannot e1
pect him now. sullen and stubborn, {
aid US In u%nearthlng the n man,
~ be stlll alive. ThO hOlds the Ike
20 the safety and security OF u cana
possession. Have we ~blundered, ger
tlemenT'
mol" exclaimed some one. Payne
swift and summary punishment wa
Imperative TO satlate a public desire {
criticize everything pertaining to IN
army and the administration. Ful
thermore. I beg to differ with the pres
Dent on one point. There Is a way,
think, TO make him talk"
The president raised his eyebrow
lnclinlng his head toward the speake
"He worships Pearl Dare. He wi
talk 10 her II she urges him."
II know her WELL" warmly respon'
~ the chief Of stan 20 that. Ssh
v, - ~ hcr~ F.R. l understood trOl