Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-05-18

ram fhcs rnracst:rlahi v cunir-rniS-
ii.S surprises I'll hcr IKE su uf:cn sore
wariri ly Ii.m whn ALWAYS safely *
triciil,'. hcrt THE SILENT Menace. The
Silent Menace. 1t Vas Adams IL was
not Adams.
These were Pearls momentary and
restless thoughts.
To his question she answered: IF
YOU are positive in this matter. Why
do you not take the government into
your contidence:"
He smiled whlmsicaliy. IF I should
be in error. Miss Dare. and there Is
always the possibility of error, l would
be doing our country far greater harm
by exposing my suspicious than by
keeping silent. ] must make sure first.
That is why | ask you what would be
the effect Tiff the Silent Menace
should turn out Ia be one whom you
regard highly rs IA fricnd?"
Yourself. for example:" after q
tense silence.
Isn't that q bit absurd. Miss Daref"
hssAtAh iAt 'AAths A4Al lilt IItstfA
Ing in her voice thrilled him, Can you
prove To me that you are not the 81
ient Menace? Will you?"
Il can and will"
Then do 1t. Relieve my mind and
She stopped suddenly. her features
lushing.
lie Strengthened In sudden determi-
nation. "Will you hazard one more
ldyenture?'
liz eyes sparkled and she nodded.
He stopped the ear, reversed,
changed their direction and sped
lomeward.
He left her nj the door before pro-
Feeding 10 the garage with the auto
Mobile. Meet me at the freight docks
inside an hour. l will show you the
Foreign Alliance unmasked and the
Silent Menace"
Pearl ran into the house.
In less than the appointed time. ut
me Of the frcighting wharves at the
loot of u w~eli-known street. Pearl
Dare met her fathers orderly. who
awaited her coming. On seeing her
Ms face frightened. Giving her hand
4 tiny pressure. which she did not re.
sent. he led the way 10 "A rOwboat. She
took the stern seat and picked up the
steering rope. He grasped the oars.
IN another moment they skinned up
stream ut a fair speed. Once or twice
Pear started 10 speak. but he re
strained her with u motion OF his head
aud whispered that great caution was
essential 10 the result OF the enter
prise. lie had prudently mufiled the
oarlocks and disguised the nature OF
their errand 10y placing an eel fisher.
mans outfit in "A place in the boat
where IL was easily discernible 10 any
inquisitive eye. There were n number
Of such fishermen on the river. for this
was the favorable hour.
In midStrcam they came upon "A tug
towing barges. Adams Immediately
Shunted his boat s~hOreward and pre-.
tended To fish. while Pearl simulated
an interest in what he was doing. The
tug steamed Ia an opposite direction.
In a little while both tug and barges
were tied up az the wharf for the re-
mainder Of the night. lights were
doused and silence fell upon the
scene.
DO you know w-what's In them
harscs?' Adams whispered to Pearl.
with his old familiar stutter.
1t looks like coal Is it,"
He laughed noiseIessly. The top
layer. yes. Them potato bomb m-molds
of yours are underneath. That stuff"s
d-due 10 some submarine somewhere
d-dOwn the bay. I'm sure"
Il wonder where?'
Were going tito find that out.
mcbbe.'
The time had come TO make good
his promise to Pearl. He showed their
boat back into deep water. dipped the
oars hard several times without undue
noise and began 10 drift. The tide was
in their favor and after a long sus-
pense they drew alongside the silent
tug.
IL was n tugboat Of 40 ordinary de-
sign or Dimensions and closely reScm-
blei. and might have been taken for.
"A small tramp steamer. There were
decks fore and aft and top with a
fairly comfortable rail. Adams and
Pearl slipped over the side undctcci-
III and down "A narrow cumpanionway.
Here. either by hlunder or intention
un tile part of Adams, they became
separated.
Adams whispered Pearl. filled
with sudden forebodings.
She heard his hushed voice and a
slight Scraning sound In the dark.
Then a light flashed. II door swung
open AMI 4 masked man showed and
locked her into a statcroom.
She pounded on the door hard and
cried out. She thought She heard a