The Monticellonian., 1917-05-31


 cred.
 Is the American girl known as Pearl of the Army You will unmask, messieurs :" But his own hands did not move
 Pearl made a false step. You. sir first of all" she ordered sharply and forgetful of the door advanced toward him. He retreated. She continued to advance. Before she realized her mis- take the Foreign Alliance who had come forward and were edging toward the door crowded against 1t in q sud den and daring dash.
 Pearl raised her hand with every intention of dashing the bomb violent ly on the floor. f'rigid with fright they waited for her to make good her threat. when the leader of the Foreign Alliance quietly removed his mask and revealed the sober features of T. O. Adams.
 Pearl was speeehless. The Ameri- can intuition manufacturers whispered wonderiHgly among themselves. The crowd at the door stood aghast and bolted before the girl recovered her wits.
 Don't fire the bomb g-girl - yelled Adams ns Pearl fled after them and he followed quickly OH her heels. Tt ain't necessary. You'll spoil it a-all if you do
 She did not hear him. A rain of bullets, from which direction no one ever knew, whizzed around Adams and the girl Pearl, losing her head, threw the bomb into the gangway.
 The explosion that followed sound cd like the boom of a thousand cun- mons. The vessel shot out of the wa ter, torn into splinters which flew in every direction. Pearl went down struggling in the arms of someone not Adams. ..
 When she opened her eyes she was i lying in her fathers arms amid the ruins of the steamboat landing where a great crowd. including soldiers from i the barracks, had assembled.
 How did you get here SO soonT' she asked in weak whisper.
 Adams tipped me off, dear. Thank heavens you are unhurt !" He carried her toward the automobile where Toko uttered an exclamation of great re- lief and joy when he SAW her.
 "Adams" echoed Pearl when they were seated in the ear. "Nhy, he Is the silent Menace fatheru u'
 The colonel merely smiled.
 "But how did yuu get in the box?' he asked, hardly able to credit the story she now related.
 Pearl eould not tell him and many weeks passed before the truth became known Tho ride home was finished in silence.
 Toko helped the colonel to carry Pearl into the house and up the stairs 10 her bedroom. Naior Brent who had arrived. was pacing the study floor.
 He WAS pale from the effects of the drug of the night before. His eyes were restless, rowing from one object i to another in the room. Finally. he tiptocd 10 the door and listened The only sounds he heard came from the region above. The lower portion of the house was for the time being de- serted. He hurried to the safe, fell on his knees and knowing the eombina- ton opened it. lie rummaeed through the contents and coming across the Canal defense plans, opened and be- gun to study the apparently blank surface of the paper in which the in- visible writing was hidden.
 Something caused him to raise his head quickly. Smiling down at him was r. Q. Adams.
 q knew I'd g-glt you some day" casually remarked the colonel's order ly. Give me them plans." He showed q revolver into Brents face.
 Without a word. though his eyes glittered volumes, Brent slowly hand ed the plans to Adams.
 Halt" cried voice behind them.
 Grim-yisaged Toko stood in the door, way. leveled gun in hand
 (END or NINTH EPISODE.)