Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1917-01-19
THIRD EPISODE
The Silent Menace.


Toward sunrise on the following day
a corporal of the guard entered Cap
tain Payne's Don 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 consplring 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 '70's
You'd think it was war times! The
good of the service!"
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
vernacular.
The corporal nodded slowly.
THANKS! !" grunted the officer, after
a tense pause. you've helped me a
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 I 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 a question of
hours" replied the var secretary to
whom the question was addressed.
"And there Is no clueT
"He has seemingly disappeared off
the face of the earth leaving no trace"
"Your conclusion is that he has
been stolen by IN enemy who in some
way gained knowledge Of his discov-
cry of our weakness in defense of the
canal and his strategy to overcome
itY'
"We believe that after Payne dis
posed Of this mysterious authors in
vention to the G%ranadian 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 ne%ighborhood
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 n man, IL
he be still alive, who holds the key
to the safety and security Of our canal
possession. Have we ~blundered, gen.
tlemen?"
mol" exclaimed some one. "Payne's
swift and summary punishment was
imperative to satiate a public desire to
criticize everything pertaining to the
army and the administration. Fur
itNermore, 1 beg to differ with the presi-
dent on one point. There is a way, !
th.nk, to make him talk"
The president raised his eyebrows,
iuclining his head toward the speaker.
He worships Pearl Dare. BE will
It2lk to her If she urges him"
81 know her WELL" warmly respond
ed the chief Of staff to that. "she
,oves or loved him. l understood from