The Monticellonian., 1917-04-26

The major broke 1t open. 1t con-
| tanned soiled linen, shaving set and
Il card identifying T. o. Adams as a
member of the BARRIERS union.
by Jovem exclaimed Major Steele.
"He told the truth to Miss Dare.
He is barberi"
"He get away, l think" reminded
Toxic.
Never, with my men on the job !"
| Toxic bowed in awe of the noted
army sleuth and glad to be relieved
! departed.
Major Steele sauntered up to the
bar coyertly surveying the room. 1t
was evident that his glance took in
nothing of unusual interest. A little
later one of his stool pigeons came and
casually whispered something In his
ear. The major blanched.
Hes gomez
Hes not on the premises"
You looked in the cellar, back yard,
everywhere"
He has gotten away, major"
The major brought his glass down
left together at once.
They had hardly reached the street
before Adams crawled from under an
empty whisky barrel in darkened re-
cess in the stock room. Brushing the
cobwebs from his clothes, he APP
| preached the cashier coolly paid his
check and walked out. He rambled
down the avenue smiling broadly to
| himself.
Yet by his actions Adams showed
that matter of serious import was
in his thoughts. He drifted along TAX
ing the route that led to the senate
| building. On his arrival his mind was
quite made up. 1t wanted but a few
minutes to the regulation closing hour
and in the rush he got by the guards
unnotieed.
There was no indirection in his
movements. He seemed to know where
he was going and how TO get there.
He went straight to the rooms of the
National Preparedness committee.
rs Senator Warfield busyY' he
asked the clerk In the reception room,
stammering n little.
1t was his businesslike manner that
removed suspicion from his appear
ance.
THE committee is in session." the
/ clerk told him; though about to adj
| journ. Shall / announce you, or will
you waltz"
l.. Adams indicated that he would wait
aDd planted himself on a bench.
| The wait was long one; 1t was
nearly dusk when the committeeman
filed into the reception room. The clerk
was not there at that particular mo-
ment. Adams seized the chance and
| slipped unobserved into the inner of
fee. Several seconds passed before
| Senator Warfield, seated at his desk
reviewing a file of preparedness data
containing q summarized report of the
committee, was aware of his presence
| and turning discovered him.
The senator half started from his
chair. Adams smiled and raised q re-
assuring hand.
Il w-want to tip you Off to some
thing, senator" he began, pointing to
| the file; "about that. You c-can be-
lieve me or n-not, but / got a notion
that there's g-goin' to be hold-up on
those papers,"
"What do you mean2 Who are
your" demanded the senator, rising.
"My names Adams, T. o. Adams of
M-Monks Corner, Nebraska, but that
DIDN'T mean nothing to you. My
| tips s-straight. Pm a barber and
hear things. There's a g-gang of for
eigners that's going to git that there
budget as sure as you're b-born I'M
less you hide it away"
Senator Warfield stared at Adams
with incredulity. He reached for his
telephone and took the receiver from
the hook. No one responded. He
| jerked the hook up and down several
times impatiently without removing
his keen eyes from those of his Wis
itor. Still there was no response.
| Adams broke into dry laugh. "By
golly, senator!" he exclaimed, his face
lighting up; they fixed your tele-
phone, dern'd If they amt"
sit can't be possible" cried the
alarmed statesman, rushing into the
outer room in search of an attendant.
| Adams followed him.
"What deviltry is this? Numbered
Senator Warfeld, finding the room va
cant and turning fiercely upon Adams.
AS he spoke the lights flashed out.
mo deviltry, senator" purred dis
tinctly foreign voice from out the en-
veloping darkness; "only a little
game of international politics"
Then followed terrific struggle.
| The room seemed to fill with shapes.
Adams clutched someone. His hands
| came in contact with the senator's file
He grabbed 1t and started blindly to
| find an exit. He heard the senator's
| stifed cry and the thud of his falling
! ride In q closed car and avoid the
- e. -