Gilpin observer., 1917-04-26

&4S4 3 I IL S$I
"Pearl, My Lowell"
convey them to the commandant at the
canal knew that a secret meeting OF
that day. I did not know, nor did Mise
Dare that Colonel Dare, Major Brent
and Captain Payne had been called to
that meeting. nor did either Of us know
| that they were in Washington. There
fore. when I saw tho captain come from
the war office my suspicious were imnie-
diately aroused. They were deepened
when my eye noted. while he stood by
the automobile chatting with Miss Dare,
that the left shoulder strap did not cor
respond with the right shoulder strap
1t stood higher on tho shoulder and
seemed to bulge q trifie. Closer observa-
ton proved that 1t had recently been re-
moved and replaced by someone not .
tailor.
Then saw tho locket dangling on his
watch chain. 1t was brand new. Know
ing that Captain Payne would wear no
| locket that had not been presented to
him by Miss Dare and seeing her eyes
| suspiciously cast upon 1t, inferred that
here was the hiding place of the waters.
But did not know these things to be
facts when hastened to the Hotel Will
ton and through valet in my employ
gained entrance to the captains rooms,
oponoA HE AuB8h80s toOh Jul iis PENAtS
| stationery and, initiating his handwriting,
left the note of warning as a bait.
The bait took, Monsieur Adams. I.
myself. hidden in an adjoining room,
heard Captain Payne telephone to the
war secretary that someone had leaked,
proving to me that my calculations and
intuitions were correct.
The rest was very simple. had
handled the captains clothes too often
not to be aware OF the size of his coat.
To %
ter-and also a duplicate locket. The
valet sewed the newspaper under the left
shoulder strap in the substitute coat and
cleverly left this coat on the tree. taking
Captain Payne's in exchange. under his
very eyes, when he returned the captains
evening clothes from the pressing room.
The substitute locket was in the substi-
tute coat when the valet hung 1t on the
clothes tree. Payne had thrown his watch
and chain in tho bureau. having detached
and concealed the locket containing the
waters in q side pocket OF his coat In ac-
cordance with directions which I had
heard discussed privately between Colonel
Dare and Major Brent.
It will be recalled that on leaving his
room in the Wilton, Payne examined the
coat on the tree. pinching the paper con-
cealed under tho left shoulder strap SO
that secret service men stationed across
the street might see this action. He also
| took the locket out of the pocket and held
Had Captain Payne opened and exam
mend the locket the success OF my ruse
might not have been SO simply accom-
plished For It was. Of course, empty.
He did not do this, however.
Thus were the Canal Defense plans and
the waters necessary to interpret them
| stolen Monsieur Adams.
Now, as to Miss Bertha Bonn, I had
never heard Of her before that night, but
a message from her to Major Brent re-
ceived during the dinner at the Dares
slipped out of the majors pocket during
the ride to the Granadian embassy ball
| and fell unwittingly into my hands.
| saw Miss Bonn at tho ball several min
utes before I murdered the Granadian
| ambassador when he was about to weak
en- In our plot and expose 1t. I observed
| that she wore a locket similar to the
one containing the chemical waters. On
one occasion she opened 1t and I caught
| sight of Major Brent's miniature and the
| Inscription thereupon proclaiming her to
| be his wife. This gave mo an inspiration
Desiring to draw another high army Of
| hcer In my power ana needing an ennis
| sary to convey the defense plans and the
| chemical waters to the Granadian bor-
der to Bolero. the revolutionist in our
| employ, I effected the transfer of tho
lockets in Miss Bonn's hotel apartment
and left the packet containing the plans
| in her suitcase with the assistance OF the
valet, while she was absent from the
| room In quest of a newspaper containing
the first accounts OF the ambassadors
supposed suicide.
The Granadian ambassador died from
the effects Of powder which dissolved
In glass Of water. wrote the note found
undor his dead hand addressed to Captain
Payne.
impersonated myself on tho night the
army mobilization data was stolen from
the secretary Of war. think you knew
that.
And now, Monsieur Adams. take leave
OF you. never to return. For having
iaiied. my life is worthless to the cause
to which II has been dedicated. Why
should tell you who I am or even in
innate sphere of existence other than
the lonely chauffeur occupied7
With you It 10 different You can NOW
crop the name of Adams, monsieur. and
assume your own. Captain Ralph Payne!
As Lawyer Bainbridge finished. a
shadow darkened the doorway. Eyery-
one rose. Pearl advanced with ewes
bright and arms outstretched.
Stffening in the doorway at atten-
ton, his heels clicked sharply together.
and facing Colonel Dare, the figure
| spoke.
Il have the honor to report for duty.
sir" said the colonel's orderly.
Then he turned hesitatingly to-
Penrl. Both were pale and trembling.
Captain Payne" she murmured.
amid the stiffness, flying into his arms.
Pearl" he whispered, gathering her
In tight embrace. "Pearl Of the
Army and my life foreverw
tTHE END.s