Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1917-02-02
Story Of Mme,zca
First" UAmasking
Ame1zcaS Secret Foes
Mo0ehSed From tie Mohos RctErt
&n1 of THE Same Name
Released By RstAI
eS~% m hevE Hes-s

NAhSA - ~
Their, Colonel Dare, fastened down tn
corridor, an expression of relief an
pearing on his anxious countenanc,
upon sight of her. She introduce,
Bertha, who repeated her story. Upoy
the Colonel's suggestion the three re
turned to the waiting group in Senate,
Warield's Office.
BY a curious irony Bertha Bonn wa!
requested to occupy a chair next t
Major Brent.
Again she told her story under tn,
sharp cross-questioning of Major
Steele of the army intelligence bureau
conducting the inquiry. Senator War
field listened with mouth agape Toxic
with natural interest in anything per
tanning to Miss Dare; Adams with
bland and specializing attention.
Pearl gave the packet and note to
Major Steele, which he in turn handed
to Adams.
open them!" he ordered.
Major Brent interposed an objec.
ton, leaping to his feet and taking the
center of the room.
This is AZ extremely singular and
irregular affair, colonel |" he exclaimed,
saluting and addressing his superior.
who knows what those envelopes
contain? This man who Is under sus-
picion should not be permitted to
open them !"
All eyes were turned upon the major
and in that absorbing second or two
Adams, stepping back a pace, ex-
changed the packet in his hand with
n from his inner coat pocket. The
action was unobserved.
open them yourself, then" groWled
Major Steele, turning to ALams, who
passed the things in his hand to Major
Brent.
AS everyone save Adams drew near
to him, Major Brent continued to show
hesitation and doubt as to the wisdom
of this procedure. But at a nod from
Colonel Dare he did as he had been
asked.
The note was opened first.
Keep out of our affairs hereafter"
1t read. 1t was signed under the sill
of a masked nan:
THE SILENT MENACE"
Next came the packet. To the aston
lshment of all it contained Senator
summarized military pre-
paredness file with the theft of which
they had charged Adams. A hasty
showed it to be damp, as
from a copying press.
II warned you, SENATOR" drawled
&" w-warned you"
by Jove, you did" acknowledged
Inc senator warmly. He stepped up to
Adams and grasped his hand. II owe
you an apology. VIII you accept it?"
"S-sure," beamed Adams; and to his
embarrassment and surprise.
he Others followed the senator's ex-
ample, even Major Steele.
Il guess you're not the man we're |
liter, after ALL" declared the latter.
'ppraising him.
Il g-guess you're right there" STAN
nered Adams. whats more, you'd
'-better git me in on this thing-that's
What told this little g-girl here" in
licating Miss Dare, who, with her
ather and Senator Warfeld, closely
ollowed the conversation, Brent, Ber-
and Toxic having left the room.
What do you mean by that?" inter-
osed Colonel Dare, smiling at the ia
1iliarity Adams assumed In his ref
renee to his daughter.
In the awe of the simple for brass
uttons, Adams replied: II got a n-no-
lon, colonel, that l kin help your
aughter to s-solve the riddle about
er dead beau. T-that's what l told
er. She w-wouldn't hear to it. She
got an idea that l was some chap
ne called The Silent Menace that
ito be behind all these here
Oin's, like this f'rinstance. The hull
truth Is l pick up a lot of dope,
attn around in hotel cafes, barber
g and telegraph operating and sech
People think I'm a doggone fool
ecause | stutter and pay no attention
me. Now, w-what I'd like to do"
2 reflected a moment-"Td like to line
army, and b-be attached to you sort
like" {
Your orderly, father" whispered
to whom the suggestion ap- {
,aled. I
The colonel nodded. SO did Major s
So did Senator Warfeld. '
That's it," concluded Adams. "Then
could watch a-after this girl here" {
Pearl giggled.
II like her." declared Adams In a 1
'stscript. c
And so it happened that within the I
'xt few days 7. o. Adams of Monks q
'rner, Neb., became orderly to 6
Richard Dare of the Seventy (
st Engineers, U. S. A.
The government now began to take I
me heed to Pearl Dare's assertions 0
a foreign alliance schemlng to in v
I've and at the same time cripple
e country In war. The canal a
Tense plans had been stolen, the ma. r
nal preparedness budget had been Il
'len, copied and returned-what n
secret next would be re- a
aled to hostile eyes? Every branch
the secret service department was