The Yale expositor., 1917-06-14
II Story Of Hme,zca
First" UnmaSkfng
AMeyzcus Secret Foes
NovcIiScd From rte Motion Picture
Serial of Me Same Name
RELEASED BY Pa1he
es0NtA+ AaN. Be- " Se..-z

| the point OF announcing their engage
ment when this thing happened. There
are, therefore, other than patriotic
motives why she should undertake to
get at the bottom of the man. The
Dare's-" He stopped speaking
7 listened intently. a second or two and
tip-toed to a window. They all heard
throbbing noise on the street. He
turned with an explanatory exclama-
ton. Here she is now In her auto
mobile I"
A curious hush fell upon the group
and the war secretary fastened from
the room. When he returned, after
an interval, Pearl Dare, dazed and
dishevelled, leaned YEARLY upon his
arm.
Her eyes at once caught the figure
of the president. She tottered toward
him dropping on her knees. He raised
her gently, motioning the others aside
to give her a chance to collect her.
self for 1t was apparent that she was
deeply agitated.
Captain Payne!" presently burst
from her lips. She gestured dumbly
toward the telephone. "a great mis-
take has been made! Stop it-he's
innocent
Then she became inarticulate and
grew very pale. A clock on the mantel
was striking the hour of six.
Pearl slowly bowed her head, chok-
ing back tears. Through slit In the
window blinds filtered a streak of sun
light.
God forbid If we have erredw MUIR
INJURED the secretary of war, at the
conclusion Of the sixth stroke, his eyes
fixed upon the clock. 1.-THE sentence
Of Ralph Payne has been executed"
Pearl turned upon them furiously,
crying out: you idiots -
Then she tainted. They carried her
to sofa and summoned the colonel
from the barracks. To him, when she
had sufficiently recovered, she related
her wild and incQmprehensible adven-
ture.
The colonel listened doubtfully to
her tale. He called in the chauffeur,
Toxic, inquiring whether any of the
Dare servants had mentioned burglars
in the house during the night.
Toxic nodded. "Mimi-she smell of
chloroform. Say someone knock her
out"
The colonel dismissed him, more
perplexed than ever, for this much of
Pearls story was corroborated. But
he could not wholly believe that
band of gentlemen such as she de-
scribed the foreign alliance to be was
secretly. plotting to overthrow the
government by casting the guilt upon
De Mira and the former officer Ralph
Payne. Rather from her appearance
and condition, and the fact that she
could but vaguely recall the rendez-
vous and not at all designate its
was he inclined to the
opinion that she had fallen into the
hands of common ruffians of De Mira
or Payne, escaping in some miraculous |
manner after being drugged.
Pearl stuck to her testimony, how |
ever, repeating 1t clearly and concise |
ly to the president and his counsellors.
To her emphatic reiteration that the |
leader Of this mysterious group of |
political criminals was q man of dis
tinguished rank and great personality,
the president gave sphinxlike atten-
lion.
you would recognize his figure
his voice-you Think"
Pearl hesitated. 81 am not sure"
She ran her hand YEARLY across her
forehead. "rm so confused"
After a silence, the president with
significant glance at the others, took
Pearl kindly by the hand. perhaps
Iou would be willing to do me a per-
'onal service, Miss Dare, and thus sat
sly your own peace of mind In this
Whole matterT
Colonel Dare's daughter flushed I'M
Ter the implied confidence of the ma
ions executive. She nodded eager as
tent.
Suppose you carry from me a note
% Mr.. Payne. After reading it, If he
s innocent, he will tell you so. And
T he is guilty as the facts unfortunate
point, think that he will confide
n you. Is this requesting too much?"
She gazed TREMENDOUSLY into the pres
dents eyes. They were very human.
All ask Is that our interview be a
private one" she replied, simply.
The president scrubbed few words
ipon a sheet of paper and gave it to
Ter. Pearl rose, bowed deferentially
md left the room on her fathers arm
ollowed by a battery Of attentive and
eyes.
Then began a long discussion.
That evening Pearl, accompanied
My by Toxic. took the 'llmited" south.
1t the Washington barracks a spe-
.ial stop was made and two federal
yards hustled Payne up the steps and
nto private compartment. Knowing
hat the trip would consume the bet
er part Of forty-eight hours, Pearl
the dreaded interview I'm
IL morning In the hope that a night
4 much needed repose would steel her