Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-09-28

s%ession. The Silent Menace, however,
was not present. He had been there
and his return was mOmentarily ex-
pected.
"He is late" commented one mem
Der OF the group looking at his watch.
After some time had passed. a taxi
cab dashed up to the landing. -Four
men of businesslike appearance leaped
out and gazed around as II expecting
to be met. In some disappointment
they dismissed the taxi and cautious
ly approached the vessel. The decks
fore and aft we're deserted.
~ guess this is the boat" speculated
One Of the four, noticing the name on
the prov. tits the I. B. Thomas"
They hurried across the gang plank
into the wagon entrance under the
head rail. There a masked man, lin
gering In the shadows, stepped forth.
"The disguise Is excused, gentle
men2"
"Sure |" grunted one Of the men.
THAT was understood"
"YOu are ready to do business"
"FOr spot cash only"
Follow"
Several of the ships crew, negroes,
now put In ar appearance, hustled a
huge box on their shoulders and led
the way to the ship captains cabin.
They deposited their burden and with
drew.
The four visitors entered, followed
by the man In the mask who closed
and locked the door.
"Messieurs," he began, addressing
the Foreign Alliance, whose faces also
were mufied. "These are the Amer
lean munitiOn manufacturers.
The Foreign Alliance returned to
their seats, focusing their undivided
attention upon their leader and the
matter at hand.
Monsieur Karnavir !" The man thus
addressed rose. "You are the NUM-
ton expert and will outline our prop
o%sition."
ut is this" briskly began Karnavi,
advancing. 1--WE have here" point
ing to the box, - an explosive Of
hitherto unimaginable potency. We
alone know its composition, several
tons of which are secreted in this ship.
What we lack are castings. These cas-
ings must be IN various sizes and
shapes, resembling say, an imitation
bunch of grapes, an a Of corn or a
potato, and so forth. How quickly can
you manufacture the caslngs?"
GLOW soon do you want themT"
"a carload Of the potato sizes with
In two weeks from date"
Delivered where2"
ITO our submarine warehouses at
at -" turning to their silent and
listening leader, at which ware
house, monsieur Bay, Sound, Capes
or Gulf, or shall we save time by ship
ping via the West Coast?"
Now ensued a short parley In a Ian
guage which the intensely interested
and somewhat uneasy visitors did not
understand. Presently Monsieur Kar-
navi mentioned a certain celebrated
town on the middle Atlantic coast.
The munition manufacturers agreed
that freight facilities to this point
were ideal and that unloading could
be accomplished without the slightest
suspicion.
"Now let us see the color of your
money and that sample bomb" said
one Of the manufacturers, inpatient
ly. "We can make the deliveries If
the castings are simple to mold"
Another member of the Foreign AL
lance left his seat and taking from his
pocket an Oficial-like envelope handed
1t to his superior. 1t was unsealed.
It contained a draft payable at the
banking house Of Null & Son, n of
the foremost financial institutions In
America, having to do with information
al dealings running far into the mil
lions of dollars.
There was no question Of the genu-
inc character of this draft which any
one could cash.
SIS itN satisfactory, gentlemen"
~suavely inquired the leader Of the For
elgn Alliance.
The Americans were more profound
ly impressed than they cared to show.
"Qulte." All smiled broadly.
The leader of the Foreign Alliance
now u|ppTOdClleu lne DOA NOulllhlHB lue
sample bomb. It was a %curiously con-
structed affair not unlike a wardrobe
trunk In size and dimensions.
"The lid is on the SIDE" explained
the leader of the Foreign Alliance as
he stopped to release it. tits a pretty
big hiding place for such a little pack
age. But, then I" He shrugged ex-
presslvely. 'The package is so dan
gerous. If it were to strike the floor
1t would explode and blow up the
ship"
The Americans drew back in alarm
as the leader Of the Foreign Alliance
opened the lock.
An instant Of suspense followed. He
started to raise the lid when 1t few
open and he drew back startled. Miss
Pearl Dare stepped out Of the box
holding the potatO-shaped sample
bomb t~hreateningly in her hand.
"Stopr" she cried, as with wild yells
| and hIonchad faoaa avarv ona in the