Charlevoix county herald., 1917-05-11

as, with the wife Of the chief Of stsAt.
he entered the ballroom. From Colo
mel Dare. believer"
Hardly had these words been spoken
when Major Steele Of the army intelli-
sencs bureau stepped mp to Payne
Colonel Dare, In the ambassadors L.
brary, desires to see you-alone," he
said, with quiet composure, looking at
Payne, avoiding Pearls inquiring eyes.
Payne. concealing the irritation he
felt, turned to Pearl to excuse himself;
but she insisted upon accompanying
him.
Here Major Steele interposed an OBJ
lection, which she would not hear. She
had her own way. In spite Of Major
Steele's cold and forbidding attitude
she followed him into the library on
the arm Of her now uneasy lover.
At FIRST neither comprehended the
tragic scene upon which their attention
fell. Major Steele closed and locked
the door, standing rigidly, his hand on
the knob. BY massive writing stand,
alone, was the tall and melancholy
figure Of the colonel. The Granadian
ambassador sat in a chair, his head
bowed in one arm as though he were
sleeping. In his other hand, resting on
the stand, he held pen, the ink on
which was still fresh. Under II Lay an
unfinished letter.
Payne, as II in horrible nightmare.
saw that this letter was addressed to
none other than himself. A groan Of
abject horror escaped his lips.
Dear Payne" the terrifying Ian
guage began;
Late. rS e1 !. mo- n Alternate Tor D M. S SSs
to die. Farewell. my"
why" he glared wildly ABOUT tho
room. In that moment his heart
seemed to have stopped beating. His
eyes fell upon the ambassador. He
saw that he was dead
ly. Major Steele" he said, turning t.
that grim officer, 'for the time being.
at least, absolute secrecy of this
frightful affair must be kept. Place
your most trusted men In charge" He
turned to his half hysterical daughter.
Pearl" said he, with infinite sadness.
Il will ask you to 60 with u, now that
you are q witness here. to Captain
Payne's quarters at the Wilton"
Pearl often wondered Afterwards
how she summoned the courage to 90
through the remainder of this ordeal Of
her life She did not cry, neither ola
she, but for the one moment, lose her
splendid eomposura Her mind became
blank. Her blood scanned 10 havs
frozen In her veins. During the ses0.
lngly interminabls ride 10 the hotsl shs
sat on the front seat by Toxic In Q tsrs
r1bls calm. Her feelings seemed b
have left her entirely a.. whsn thGv
stepped from the elevator on the ninth
floor Of the Wilton, the party proceed
ed to Payne's rooms.
Only once did any flicker Of hope re-
vive, and that was when Major Steele
was informed by the secret service
men awaiting Payns's return that Nc
one had approached his room. turing
his absence, which was corr5L srat6
by the men posted across the stress.
On entering Payne's room and last
sning the door. Payne laughed q little.
There, on the clothes tree, hung the
coat just as he had left i'll
The colonel lifted the coat from the
tree and passed IL to Pearl. handing
her also penknife. rip open the
sleeve under the left shouldAr strap"
he requested, hardly able to conssai
his own feelings
Pearl obeyed. smiling, for undsR her
fingers she felt something secrstsd In
the cloth. Triumphantly abe sxrNstsd
q sheet Of paper and handed II 10 hsr
father, while from the coat pocket she
drew the locket.
THANK Godw cried Payne with an
excess Of relieved emotions.
But upon Colonel Dare's countenanes
there crept, AZ he examined the paper.
an expression Of establishment and IN
belief. mixed with contempt. Fer the
paper was not the army do'sunsni: It
was piece Of ordinary 2spspw.
His nervous fingers opened th{ loskst.
He stared at an empty interior. The
waters were gonel
A pin drop might have been hears
In the ensuing silencc. Colonel Dare,
drawing himself to full height, turned
lmperiously to Major Steele.
Captain Paynep exclaimed the lat
ter, frigidly, II arrest you on the
charge Of reasonable conspiracy with
Granada against the United States"
2 The look Of dumb anguish passsd
from Payne's pale features. II am not
guilty." he said solemnly. yet not
without resentment and bitterness.
END OF FIRST EPISoDl.l