Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-06-07
II Siuy'0"A Me,zcu
First" UAMaskiAg
AMey7cu,s Secret Foes
Mpekz6d From Me Jkonon Rcfzre
Serial of Me Same Name
Released BY Pathe
osv-xs. aMs scv y So-~S

Then you now think that Captain
Payne was entirely innocent!' queried
Adams. curiously.
Il am positive, as you are!' burst
from the girl.
There is no telephone connection
from that council chamber, is thereT'
mo connection of any kind with the
outside world"
And ~ one in the chamber knew
what was To be lone with the plans
and the waters when the meeting was
called?"
Not until they assembled did any
one except the chief Of the army stan
know, not even that there We're such
plans and waters"
Adams laughed lightly. "Then there
is only n answer To this puzzle" he
exclaimed. payne must have been
guilty OF forging his own handwriting
on hat note of warning ana of telling
Toko-or the Granadian ambassador
that the priceless secret was on his
person-and where. That's all there
is 10 that. Pearil'
She looked at him qu~estioningly.
"You do not believe. that, Do you:"
He laughed again. what else. is
there 10 believer
She fell silent. signing. and he said
nothing more 81 the subject just then.
As oon as they reached the Dare
residence. and before they entered the
house. Adams very gravely requested
Pearl To go with him To Toko's quar-
tiers over the garage She eagerly 0
scented.
When they entered the chauffeur's
room il was apparent that Toxic had
been there recently. The floor was lit
tered with torn-up pieces of letters and
envelopes. on which the addresses. sig
natures and dates. as well as the post
marks. were rendered undecipherable.
There was not "A stitch of clothing or "A
single personal effect OF the chauffeur
in the place. not even n trunk or vallse.
"He cleaned everything out. didn't
he? Bag and baggage" commented
Adams. disappointment written On his
face. I'VE shall probably never know
who Toxic was"
whats thisf" questioned Pearl.
paying little heed to his remarks. Alb
sorbed in a discovery she had made.
Tackled on the back OF the door was
n plain. bulky envelope. sealed.
IT. q. ADAMS"
the address read.
That's what I've been rather OK
pecting TO find. PEARL" Adams cried.
with an enthusiasm at which She Won
dered greatly. May | have il. p~leaseT"
A curious depression came upon
Pearl as she looked from the name on
the envelope TO the wner whose face
was wreathed in smiles Of real joy.
She handed il To him without removing
her eyes from his. Then an unfinished
conversation AT the army administra-
ton building flashed into her mind
do you recall the unanswered queS-
tons | asked you. Adams. several
hours ago!' she inquired. quickly and
seriously. coming quite close 10 him.
"Yes. Pearl" he replied in low.
tense tones.
"Will you now answer them.
p~leaSe?' she continued, in a pleading
way; $50 that all may be clear be-
tween us-so that there may be no
hidden mystery 10 crop Out in the
years 10 come and-and spoil our hap
piness and content and mutual trust.
Is your name really L. O. Adams? Do
you come from Monks Corner. NchraS-
ka. or wherever that ~outlandish place
may be? Did you know that Toxic was
the Silent Menace? You were not in
any way in league with him, were
you?"
Must you have your answer 10 all
these questions now?" he inquired ia
Il strange. thick voice.
AS you wish" she rejoined, not
without a tinge Of Impotence.
Il arm not a. o. Adams of Monks
Corner. Nebraska" he finally admitted
in hollow tones.
The statement did not seem TO sur
prise her. She made no comment. look
ing down at the tip of her slipper,
waiting.
Il am not the mysterious inventor
Of the Canal Defense plans or the
chemical wafers,' he continued in the
same tones.
She looked Up AT that, her face
showing pain and surprise.
Il never said that / was" he con
tinued. quickly, interpreting her
thought. II said hat II. o. Adams was.
and he was. And he was from Monks
Corner. Nebraska"
She seemed 10 - puzzled at this cx-
PLANTATION. which was not an eXplana-
zion at all, so far as she could see.
Il did not know that Toxic was the
Silent Menace, although | suspected
Ii, and |. of course, was not in league
with him in any way. Now, are my
satisfactory
mo" she exclaimed. candidly. STEP
ping back "A pace. Her voice was cool.
who. may | ask. is the man 10 whom
| have given my love and pledged my
lifel What has become of Il. q. Adams,
whose name and character YOU have
assumed must admit, so well?"
adams is dead. Pearl" this strange
pprSpu -tpfpI IN accents "a harsh uyffh