Macon beacon., 1917-04-06

Then you believe the defendant to
be the Silent Menace?"
Il do not" replied the colonel quick.
ly and emphatically.
'Who was the person discussed be.
tween Major Brent and yourself?"
''The major without reason named
my orderly, T. o. Adams" Colonel
Dare slowly stated.
was there to your knowledge any
thing personal between your major and
your orderly?'
For the third time Colonel Dare
hesitated. Il had reason to believe
that the defendant was attached to
my daughter" he answered with en-
barrassment after a painful pause.
Adams, it seems, has also been q
| uitor-SucceSsfully."
ITO which you have no objection? p
"No material one," stammered the
colonel: at which every person except
Pearl and Adams smiled. The colonel
was then excused.
Inquisition now fell upon Miss Dare,
the heroine of the hour. She rose with
queenly dignity and amid a hushed
admiration, took her seat quietly In
the witness box.
But the first question brought the
scarlet into her face. you knew
Capt. Ralph Payne?"
HE was my fiance,' replied Pearl
in low voice.
"Was Major Brent ever discussed
between you and Captain Payne?'
only as we would talk of one whose
friendship was dear to us. They were
brother officers"
"Was Captain Payne ever discussed
between Major Brent and yourself?
occasionally" was PEARLS evasive
reply.
DO you recall the nature of Major
Brent's remarks about Captain
Paynew
"They were guarded, though not un-
friendly. To be perfectly truthful, l
always thought that the major was
jealous of the captains place in my
affections"
"Has Major Brent ever mentioned
TO you this opinion that T. O. Adams
was the Silent Menace"
'"Often." e1. '.@aal-. aao~5
"You have not agreed with him?"
Il intend to marry T. o. Adams"
Pearl replied with telling directness.
II would not marry a traitor to my
country!"
Your answer is sufficient and ad-
mirable, Miss Dare" commented the
judge advocate-general. "Do you be-
lieve Major Brent to be the Silent
Menace?"
Pearls hesitation was barely notice
able. 81 cannot believe that, in spite
of everything"
"YOu are excused, Miss Dare" And
Pearl stepped down, returning to her
seat by the colonel's side, making way
for Miss Bertha Bonn.
When she took the place vacated
by Pearl, Brent for the first time
raised his bowed head and ap-
praised her closely; and for the first
time he realized that after all it was
Bertha Bonn whom he loved, the girl
of his youth, sitting there now pale,
composed and determined woman of
the world whose momentary glance in
his direction answered every silent
question and satisfied him completely.
Adams, alert and watchful, eying
the two between half-closed lids,
leaned back In his chair with an audi
BILE sigh. He also was satisfied. In
that passing second it came to all
Adams and Bertha-that
fate was playing strange pranks with
their personal affairs; with Bertha
possibly holding the reins.
"You are member of Colonel
Dare's householder
II am Miss Dare's honored guest"
you knew Capt. Ralph Payne?"
II did not"
"Yet, you were the messenger sent |
by the Silent Menace to the Granadian |
frontier with the secret canal defense |
plans after they left Captain Payne's |
hands?"
II was"
"You also acted as his messenger
when he returned the stolen national
budget to Senator War
field in the committee roomsT"
" was-not."
Even Major Brent opened his eyes
vide upon hearing this statement so
contradictory with the
facts.
The judge advocate-general again re-
oeated his question. Bertha again re-
Piled in the negative.
did you not deliver a packet to T.
D. Adams in Senator Warfeld's COM
nittee room in the evening the nation
Il preparedness budget was stolen?"
II did"
do you know what the packet con-
II do"
"What did 1t contain If not the ma
ional preparedness data~
"The stolen secret canal defense
olans," replied Bertha in a calm and
Instinct voice, not losing her eomposure