Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-03-16
II Story o1"zMe,zcu
First" UnMasklnS
AMe,7c0'S Secret Foes
MorekS1d From ae ILoHon Picture
SyIa/ of Me Same Name
Released ~ Rathe
esrsa. hs. &c, y Sos.-s

"a ~ h
are, therefore, other than patriotic
motives why she should undertake 10
get at the bottom of the man. The
Dare's-" He stopped speaking
listened intently a second or " and
tip-:oed TO a window. They all heard
a t~hrobbing noise on the street. lie
turned with an explanatory exclama-
ton. "Here she is now in her auto
mobileI"
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 10 collect her.
self for it was apparent that she vas
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 i~narticulate 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 a slit in the
window blinds filtered "A streak OF sun
light.
God forbid IL we have erred!" muir
INJURED the secretary of war, at the
conclusion of the sixth stroke, his eyes
fixed upon the clock. The sentence
of Ralph Payne has been executed"
Pearl turned upon them furiously.
crying put: "You idiots -
Then she tainted. They carried her
To a sofa and summoned the colonel
from the barracks. To him, when she
had sufficiently recovered. she related
her wild and incomprehensible 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 a
band of gentlemen such as she de-
scribed the foreign alliance To be was
secretly plotting 10 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 hat she
could but vaguely recall the rendez-
ous and not at all designate its
whereabouts. was he inclined To the
opinion that she had fallen into the
hands Of common ru.lians Of DE Mira
or Payne, escaping In some miraculous
manne 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 a man Of dis
tinguished rank and great personality,
the president gave %sphinxlike atten-
ton.
You would recognize his figure
his voice-you think?"
Pearl hesitated. II am not sure"
She ran her hand YEARLY across her
forehead. Tin SO confused"
After a silence, the president with
n significant glance at the others. took
Pearl kindly by the hand. Perhaps
you would be willing To do me n per-
Sonal service. Miss Dare, and thus sat
isfy your own peace of mind in this
whole matterf'
Colonel Dare's daughter flushed un-
der the implied confidence Of the ma
TONS executive. She nodded eager as
sent.
Suppose you carry from me n note
10 Mr.. Payne. After reading ID, III he
is Innocent, he will tell you So. And
If he is guilty as the facts unfortunate
Nv point, | think hat he will coniide
in YOU. Is this requesting too much?"
She gazed TREMENDOUSLY into the pres
identis eyes. They We're very human.
"All l ask is hat our interview be a
private one" She replied. simply.
The president scrubbed a few words
upon "A sheet of paper and CAV ii TO
her. Pearl rose. bowed ~deferentlally
and left the room on her fathers arm
followed by a battery Of attentive and
admiring eyes.
Then began a long discussion.
That evening Pearl. accompanied
only by Toxic. took the limited" south.
At the Washington barracks a Spe-
cial stop was made and two federal
guards hustled Payne up the steps and
into a private compartment. Knowing
that the trip would consume the bet
ter part of forty-eight hours. Pearl
postponed the dreaded interview I'M
Til morning in the hope that "A night
of much needed repose would steel her
heart To the trial no matter what the
outcome; and she did not notify the
prisoner that She was on the train.
Few of the passengers were aware
OF the celebrated company they were
I'm Tim pfult. not SO nar,ha D.nr