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

An Episode in Major Brent's Past.
dence of her presence. for the intruder
s%killfully hiding his face turned i'm
medIately aid leaped through an open
window, making off in the shadows
She was after him I'm n second. but
when she reached the ground he had
disappeared. Then the throbbing OF
u motor attracted her 10 the street,
just in time to discover q taxicab rae
ing away.
Her eyes now fell upon the car still
waiting In front Of the house opposite.
The driver was fooling with the mag
ncto. She ran to him. %gcSturing dra-
maticaIly in the direction Of the fast
fading red lights.
"QuIck. please. follow that car. Ill
pay YOU any price. I'm Miss Darcl"
The driver shifted into gcar before
she was fairly inside. She swung her
swnying body into the toancau clos
Ing the door with n hang. only ~ find
herself ninioncd by n pair Of stccl-cold
hands. Her outcry was unhcnrd save
4 IN lHt iIl ~itllNu% IMAM iutb Niif-t
arms she had Unexpectedly fed.
Then again Pearl smellcd chloro-
form. and she experienced the tcrrify-
ing sensation Of falling. .
She never knew what exactly trans
pircd during the next thirty minutes
or So.
When her bewildered senses re-
turned she was lying among weeds in
m open lot somewhere In the sparsely
settled city outskirts.
The first object to strike PEARLS
dazed eyes was the handkerchief
which had been used by the stranger
% reduce her 10 q helpless condition.
Then she saw heavy footprints In the
mud.
Under ordinary circumstances. Pearl
might have gone Immediately 10 head
quarters and told her story. But the
events OF that night had made her I'M
usually wary. arousing a keen personal
responsibility IN following any clue
which might bring disclosures.
Accordingly she set out ut once to
trace the movements If tie fleeing as
sailant which was not difficult In the
soft earth, aided by a brilliant. rising
moor.
Now followed n long interval Of
wandering through n district which be-
anne more and more deSolnte. But
presently her perseverance was re-
wurdcd. A little of I'm the distance.
on an elevation stood n dilapidated
frame shack belonging 10 an aban-
doned stone quarry toward which two
men in guarded haste crawlcd NJ the
hillside. From behind an old tree
stump Pearl. craning her neck. saw
them enter and quickly close the door.
S%mo;hering an exclamation she dart
Ell In the direction Of the shack.
Ten minutes afterward she, herself.
was inside this now notorious haunt.
cropping against rough board walls.
The darkness seemed 70 be augment
"a by the very stiffness Of the place
hUt gradually She diSccrncd q ricScty
wooden stairway ending through an
Omen trap door III Il loft.
She was starting 20 ascend when
through Il crack IN n rude partition
there cleaned Il faint ray Of light.
Stepping hastily down. Pearl pccped.
The interior was not entirely within
hnr range hut the cen she bcheld
half startled her out of her wits.
Seated about n bare table were n
number of men of distinguished for
ci@n appearance. In he fitful illumi-
nation of an oil lamp. their faces were
not recognizable although she was
sure that the object Of her search was
among them. She could not see his
face. however. Whoever he was, he
was obviously their leader and spokcs-
man and 4 very superior person 10
whom they paid a deep respect.
This man was cxhorting his cohorts
very earnestly.
Guarding her emotions lest they be-
tray her Pearl pressed closely against
Tie wall. straiEing her cars NJ the
crack in the board. She grew tense.
Her %countcnance registered blank
amnzcment.
Ills voice was musical, yet blunt
and virilc. "McsSiCurs. now is the
time 10 strike when her golden vaults
arc full: for America. treasurer ~ the
world. Is tottcring To her downfall"
Pearl palcd, every nerve In her body
tia-l;ng. I
A murmur ran through the assembly.
Tho speaker continued impreSsivcly:
'O.- combined armies outnumber hers
lnl our fleets outrange her heaviest