Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-03-08
SECOND EPISODE
Found Guilty.

The ball ut the Granadian embassy
continued without interruption until q
late hour. Orders from no less Inn
portant parsonage than the president
forbade making known to the public,
for the time being at least. the sudden
and mysterious death Of Ambassador
De llira-attributed to suicide-untti
after the preiiminaries Of an inves-
tigntion could be arranged; and so
closely was the secret guarded that
only q few of the attaches were cogni-
xant Of the ambassadors fate. The
absence Of Colonel Dare. his daughter
and his unfortunate young colleague,
Capt. Ralph Payne, IL noted mt oil. oc-
casioued no comment among the as
sembly now wholly absorbed in the
pleasure Of the moment.
Major Thornton Brent. ii Is true,
having seen his party's hasty exit. may
took them of without telling him about
II. He was, however, in n measure
relieved and glad TO be alone. Two
things had occurred TO disturb his
cQuanimity. lie had lost the insinuat-
Ing note from Bertha Bonn sent to him
at the Dare residence earlier In the
evening. This was enough TO throw
him into q panic of apprehension. And
the girl had, after all. appeared at
the baH. lie had seen and been forced
covcrtiy to talk with her.
! Free to pursue an appointment with
her ut his apartment, Brent slipped
away from the embassy unobserved
aud strobe to the Wilton. cast In a
gloom Of reflections upon his early
army life after leaving West Point.
"A mere chit then. was this simple.
mcck-eyed daughter Of the old frontier
post sergeQnt, who came twice a week
with his linens and darning. and to
whose childish alteration. In the great
Isolation Of his life. his heart of youth
hungry to love. succumbed.
For years he had wondered wheth-
er she was alive or dead. Then. one
day shortly after his commission rs ma
for and transfer to Colonel Dare's rcgi-
ment, he was somewhere with Pearl ut
IN afternoon tea dance or something.
Already had his subilety In the art OF
love gained for him 4 place In the
heart Of the colonel's daughter. Her
glowing yes aud the rich color a
ting her cheeks told him that on this
occasion he was fascinating her and
that, for the moment. his rival was not
IN her thoughts. He IVES on the point
~ proposing. knowing that the idea
Was not entirely Fepellcnt.
Then came tho shock that put Z
stop to his matrimonial calculations
for the present. For Eertha Bonn. nc
cempanied by an amiable bon vivant.
had entered the room and. taking an
adjoining table. observed and adroitly
Haunted recognition Into his startled
eyes.
Similar encounters followed. Then
came letters continuing requests for
money. Brent. always e~,trayagant. be-
Gan to And himself head owe heels In
debt. His position made refusal Of her
demands impossible.
He reached the "F'' street side Of
the Wilton In a fever. Unnoticed by
him at the curb stood the Dare au-
;omobile. Toxic sat at tie wheel quiet
- smoking q cigarette.
At that hour the ho.d lobby was
practically deserted. When Brent
passed through the partly darkened
lounge he stepped back as IL to con-
ceol his person. In Tire ~descendin;
cage were Colonel Dare and Pearl.
with Payne and Majr Steele of the
Intelligence burcal close behind.
Distress was stamped upon their fea-
lures and he was eriinly aware tina.
the bulge In Major Sicc.e's right coat
pocket was caused by n revolver tight
" clenchcd In his concealed fist. Colo
mel Dare. noticing Brent. quickly drew
Him aside.
lie spoke bluntly. 'I'?yne is-under
arrest. The Panama defense plans
aud the chemical waters necessary to
their Interpretation have" he looked
ut Brent meanlngl.-- disappeared.
Wait here for Instructions"
: A curious calm rnyt 'opcd Brent and
q faint smile played r.'cn his thin lips
as he approached his apartment.
Bertha Bonn WAS tbs 70. waiting.
'Howdy :" she exclaimed, familiar
II. lie merely touched inr outstrctched
fingers. "wcli You .iiow why l am
here. Must / go to c: n:a!n Payne for
the funds need. or : z you prepared
to be m~agnanimous IN your own in
terest9"
lie met her challc: 70 frankly. II
told you the truth. | nm broke and
facing ruin. A little ! ter. perhaps
Out Of the tail Of his eye ne saw her
cynical smile and charged his tactics,
Il urn heartily sorry for the shadows
which Ireast upon your early life
Bertha. Eut why hay. Won reoacned
/ that painful chapter Ct his late date