Macon beacon., 1917-02-09

/ grounds, he hastily reviewed. thanked
and dismissed them. They rode Gag
erly tn the stables surrounded at mea
by comrades gSkius v0lley Of ques-
tions which they knowing u0thiu.,
could not answer. Major Brent turn
| ing his horse over to stahlenan
walked across the intervening space
/ to the commandant's quarters. There
he announced himself in the custo-
mary way. \ moment later he pre-
Sented himself To Colonel Dare who
was closeted with Pearl and the Nor
mon army scout.
He saw at once that something was
wrong and fear chilled his heart. The
scout slouched away upon word from
/ the colonel who sat at the command
ants desk ignoring Brent, not even
acknowledging his presence. His at
tention was fixed upon a lady's visiting
card. Ii was Berthas.
Brent shot a swift glance at Pearl.
Her back was turned toward him.
He advanced irresolutely, exhibiting
TO them the evidence OF the success Of
his undertaking.
Presently the colonel lifted his eyes
and soberly regarded Brent. Major"
said he, finally; II wish you would
read this card before we proceed to
hear your report"
Rrppt Stappa1 f,r,-ar,l o,J ,,,l. .h~
card from the colonel. His frigid re-
cepton had schooled him for the un-
expected and his composure was per-
feet. He read the words penciled
thereupon. The colonel and Pearl
had their eyes fixed on him.
These words are true, whoever the
woman that wrote them may be-" said
Brent, steadily, raising his eyes to
theirs, "For Miss Dare's sake | am
very sorry indeed, and also for your
own colonel You both trusted the
fellow implicitly"
Both the colonel and his daughter
turned and gazed at him curiously.
Then Pearl, a tinge of sarcasm in her
voice, exclaimed
"To whom do you refer2 trust you
more than any man on earth except
| father"
Il shall hold you to that" he re-
sponded, gravely. For one foolish
moment | was absurd enough to think
that you, like the card, referred to the
insuferable Adams"
To his superior officer in a formal
way he concluded:
Adams sir, beg to report Is
Granadian spy and is still at large.
There, however, are the Canal defense
plans" He deposited the document
and also the belt on the desk and stood
at attention.
Chagrin and apology were written
upon their faces. He smiled good hui
moredly,
That night Major Brent and Miss
Dare were dispatched to Washington
with the recovered military paper. The
president himself had telegraphed
Pearl to accompany the major so that
he might hear her story from her own
lips.
She started away with counte-
nance hiding full and sorrowful
heart. Could she longer refuse to ac-
cept the seemingly irrefutable evil
dence of the guilt of Captain Payne
with the discovery within his own
army belt? She wondered whether,
after all, the existence Of foreign
alliance making OF Payne their dupe
was a myth, mental fantasy Of her
own. Furthermore, her disappoint-
ment In the character OF Adams was
more personal than she cared to let
herself believe. The man had got
strange hold upon her.
And now again entered into the
lives and careers of these two people
that invisible evidence Of dominat-
ing and controlling destiny so often
before In crucial moments revealed. Ere
the train had proceeded many miles 1t
was attacked and held-up while cross
ing the Rio Granada. The major was