The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1917-06-21

hate me because | k-know all abou
you and Bertha Bonn, and your
afeard of NINE and play into m.
hands because you DIDN'T want me t
squeal on you to Miss Dare. Ain
t-that it?"
There's another reason, to be can
did. You have the insufferable impu
dence to be in love with Miss Dare
yourself. Was there ever a more lu
dicrous situation! The Silent Menace
posing as orderly to Colonel Dare, il
love with his daughter, or posing
there, too, possibly, and using all of us
as tools in his plot. 1 give it to you
Adams" He laughed farcically.
'Why DIDN'T you shoot me, major
There's ggun under your pillow
| amt there?"
The major reached under his pillow
and pulled out a revolver. 1--WE got a
mind to do that" reflected Brent, ex-
amining the loaded chambers, with a
quick flash of the eye at his caller.
But he put the revolver away.
Adams chuckled. ut amt m-mat-
ter of nerve, is it, major? You're no-not
quite sure about me, after all, are
your"
I'm sure, but / have no proof. When
l get that intend to kill you, Adams, .
Brent eandidly stated.
For several seconds Adams silently
appraised Brent. All of a sudden he
became melancholy. There may
n-never be any proof of anything, Ma
jor Brent" he rejoined in slow, muir
muring way. 1--WE b-been thinking a
whole lot of this fix you got yourself
in. got notion to help you out o-of
it."
you have, eh?"
Don't be s-sareastic. / mean the
Fright kind of help. Don't forget that
c-could send you to that there same
penitentiary you were ascending Payne
to-" insinuatingly.
Brent laughed outright. what
would the charge be? How could you
make it without showing your hand
without unmasking yourself as the
Silent Menace? Even though you have
me under your control, you really
can't make move against me pub
licly."
Then Adams gave Brent a great
start. Il c-could make a grease spot
out of you without showing the hand
of the Silent Menace!n muttered
Adams, eoldly.
Pran4ic OF 81 In, hA Isrnatfnn
of the revolver under his pillow, al
though he continued to smile. Adams
had him covered in a second. Don't
git f-fidgety. Major. I'm downright
serious. l amt g-going to make any
g-grease spot out of you because" his
voice trailed an instant-"because
you're going to DIDO the decent thing"
(Which is?' with slight catch.
you're going to marry Miss Bier
tina Bonn. You're going to m-marry
her now. You're going to get up and
90 al-along with me and marry her."
He took from his inner coat pocket a
long white envelope. not taking his eye
off Brent moment, and referring to
1t, continued. I've got your license
fright here. I've had it several d'days.
It's regular and you'll be unmarried by
a regular preacher. It'll be a regular
wwedding, and I'm going to give you
q regular wedding p-present. There's
100000 coming to you o=out of this,
Major Brent" He returned the en-
velope to his pocket and calmly wait
I'd for Brent to say something.
Brent. who did not move muscle
while Adams spoke, at first thought
that he was indulging in the peculiar
kind of humor expected of him at any
time and under any circumstances.
it dawned on him that the
man was not joking.
so that's your schemeln he blurted,
fast slipping away. You're
trying to force me to give up Miss
Dare by bribery because you want her
yourself -
"P-part of it. major, admitted
exhibiting a deeply stirred
emotional nature in voice and eyes. Il
am in Hove with Miss Dare. I'm
SUNS ~ = II I'LL II Siit II i9I lit out
that amt exactly v.why I'm going to
marry you and Bertha Bonn together
and make You little wedding gift.
You're going to be square to Bertha
Bonn a-and I'm going to help You
along. That's all there is ito that;
and the things got to be done, major,
before l so to--to Panama. Or"
new idea striking him-4new that yeu
know w-what you're going to do and
what I'm going to d-do. mebbe we bet
ter put it e-o9 tin l get back from
Panama"
See here, Adams - cried Brent, now
leaping out of bed and confronting
his visitor. ''Thatil be about enough
of that from YOU. If YOU don't get OUT
Of here in a hurry III threw you in the
beast1y affair Another word and I'll
tell all TO Colonel Bare and take the
consequences
a pleased smile Illuminated the
countenance of the perfectly composed
man sitting ut the foot of the bed. He
put away his pipe and rose. "Either
way is q-quite satisfactory, major.
said he, quietly. only you'n d-do Il
my way. Think It cover" And with
that he returned the miniature lockei
and departed. leaving a very much dis
turbed man behind.
planes. Under the influence of the
tt, ,.,.,