Gilpin observer., 1917-02-01
II No,y of Hme,7ca
FU,jt" Unm0sksng
Ame,zlu,S Secret Foes
MoveHz<d From Me AzoHos Pesu,s
SS1a/ of tile Sane Name
RelSased BY Pazhe
csSss. MA tc~ p Ncs...s

ment when this thing happened. There
are, therefore, other, than patriotic
motives why she should undertake to
get at the bottom of the man. The
Dare's-" He stopped speaking
listened intently second or two and
tip-toed to window. They all heard
throbbing noise on the street. He
turned with an explanatory exclama-
ton. "Here she is now in her auto
mobileP
A curious hush fell upon the group
and the war secretary hastened from
the room. When he returned, after
an interval, Pearl Dare, dazed and
dishevelled, leaned wearily upon his
arm.
Her eyes at once caught the figure
of the president. She tottered toward
him dropping on her knees. He raised
her gently, motioning the others aside
to give her chance to collect her.
self for it was apparent that she was
deeply agitated.
Captain Payne" presently burst
from her lips. She gestured dumbly
toward the telephone. "a great mis-
take has been made! Stop it-he's
innocentw
Then she became inarticulate and
grew very pale. A clock on the mantel
was striking the hour of six.
Pearl slowly bowed her head, chok-
ing back tears. Through a slit in the
light.
God forbid If we have erred !" muir
INJURED the secretary of war, at the
conclusion Of the sixth stroke, his eyes
fixed upon the clock. 1.-THE sentence
of Ralph Payne has been executed"
Pearl turned upon them furiously,
crying out: you idiots!"
Then she tainted. They carried her
to a sofa and summoned the colonel
from the barracks. To him, when she
had sufficiently recovered, she related
her wild and incomprehensible adven-
ture.
The colonel listened doubtfully to
her tale. He called in the chauffeur,
Toxic, inquiring whether any of the
Dare servants had mentioned burglars
in the house during the night.
Toxic nodded. "Mimi-she smell of
chloroform. Say someone knock her
out!"
The colonel dismissed him, more
perplexed than ever, for this much of
Pearls story was corroborated. But
he could not wholly believe that a
band Of gentlemen such as she de-
scribed the foreign alliance to be was
secretly plotting to overthrow the
government by casting the guilt upon
De Mira and the former officer Ralph
Payne. Rather from her appearance
and condition, and the fact that she
could but vaguely recall the rendez-
vous and not at all designate it's
whereabouts, was he inclined to the
opinion that she had fallen into the
hands of common ruffians of De Mira
or Payne, escaping in some miraculous
manner after being drugged.
Pearl stuck to her testimony, how
ever, repeating it clearly and concise
ly to the president and his counsellors.
To her emphatic reiteration that the
leader of this mysterious group of
political criminals was a man of dis
",
the president gave sphinxlike atten-
ton.
You would recognize his figure
his voice-you think?"
Pearl hesitated. 81 am not sure"
She ran her hand wearily across her
forehead. I'm so confused"
After silence, the president with
| "a g uln Of
Pearl kindly by the hand. perhaps
you would be willing to do me per-
sonal service, Miss Dare, and thus sat
isfy your own peace of mind in this
whole matter?"
Colonel Dare's daughter flushed I'M
der the implied confidence of the na-
tons executive. She nodded eager as
sent.
Suppose you carry from me note
| to Mr.. Payne. After reading 1t, If he
Is innocent, he will tell you so. And
| IL he is guilty as the facts unfortunate
ly point, l think that he will coniide
in you. Is this requesting too much ~
She gazed tremulously into the pres
idents eyes. They were very human.
|
private one" she replied, simply.
The president scribbled few words
upon sheet of paper and gave It to
her. Pearl rose, bowed deferentially
and left the room on her fathers arm
followed by battery of attentive and
admiring eyes.
| Then began n long discussion.
| That evening Pearl, accompanied
only by Toxic, took the "llmited" south.
At the Washington barracks spe-
cial stop was made and two federal
guards hustled Payne up the steps and
Into private compartment. Knowing
that the trip would copsume the bet
ter part of forty-eight hours, Pearl
postponed the dreaded interview TN.
I'll morning In the hope that n night
OF much needed repose would steel her