Macon beacon., 1917-02-09
SIXTH EPISODE
~ Major Brent'S Perfidy.

AudHS neSltdteu moment. 1ueu
he removed the belt from his waist
and fastened 1t on Pearl.
Its yours by r-rights, anyhow
Promise me t-that you'll do nuthin' un-
til you see NINE again, if ever show
up. And if l d-don't ever see you
again, waal, jest keep 1t. DIDO you
promise that, g-girl?"
II promise"
He gave the horses bride a twist
crying: "Go!"
In a second she was out of sight and
he leaped into clump of bushes. A
bullet tipped close to his ears. He took
deliberate aim at the moving shadows
among the trees and discharged his
carbine three times. An uncertain sus-
pense ensued. Then he attempted to
cross the open space to steal after
Pearl.
9 ran little forward, firing re-
peat> dly and successfully with each
shot at horsemen gaaoping up and re-
treated to the edge of the declivity
with downward glance at the appar-
emily sheer drop.
One loaded shell remained In the
carbine. He bided his moment, fred
and tossing the now useless weapon
at his pursuers leaped into the air.
He fell upon slightly protruding
rocky shelf and drew his body into q
natural groove, where he was COM
pletely hidden from sight.
II heard no fall! !" presently exclaim-
ed a Granadian voice at the top of
the precipice.
you fool! Who could hear? The
depth Is at least one thousand feet.
Come! l have no desire to see an
other dead gringo tonight"
1t was Bolero who spoke.
Adams waited a long time in the ST.
lence after their departure. Then with
difficulty he began the ascent. He
was out of breath when he regained
the summit and began to pick up the
InreaQS OF Pearl trall.
Several hours later he came upon
the horse tethered in thicket in the
secluded bottom of the ravine and
found Pearl not far away seated under
a jutting ledge of sandstone. She was
wrapped in the troopers blanket.
She gave little cry of joy, holding
out both hands impulsively. Il knew
you would come"
He returned her hand clasp and in
spected her. I'm going ito build you
fire and het you up. You'll be get
ting pneumony, if 1 amt careful of
you"
She laughed artlessly. "Why. I'm
almost dry and" feeling his clothing,
so are you"
"It's t-the climate" was his simple
comment; and he started to build the
fire.
She watched every movement of
this mysterious man. He seemed to
be able to accomplish anything he at
tempted to do. In twinkling warm
fire, It's blaze prudently concealed, was
burning in creyice.
"Het yourself up, g-girl. while rig
your tent" he urged In his homely
way; and Pearl obediently sat down
lcose to the fire for which she was
truly thankful.
He set up the tent and, indicating
that she might retire at any time, as
sumed a squatting position before the
fire.
''Who really are your she asked af.
ter long silence.
I'm not m-much of nuthin, girl"
he ruminated. 'Im as ignorant as q
c-cow."
"You are and you aren't" she quail
fed, shrewdly. you're a genuine puz-
zle. For example-this belt" She
stopped, watching him covertly.
"Yes'm?"
Explain what you meant by saying
that this belt properly belongs to me-"
That b-belt, man," he replied, soft
", after long pause, "was the p-prop-
erty Of the-of Captain Payne"
She was greatly impressed. $50
that's the secretw she murmured,
touching the belt reverently with her
fingers. "And that explains why Ma
Tor Brent wanted me to have it. Oh!
I'm so glad for this explanation. That
sets Thornton right"
She rose shortly and with a con-