Gilpin observer., 1917-03-29
BY the music and the masquerader con-
tinued his search.

by the music and the masquerader con-.
tinued his search.
Shortly thereafter Major Brent was
called into Colonel Dare's study. The
conference was ready to be adjourned.
The tentative mobilization plans had
been completed and statement for
the newspapers was ready. 1t was, Of
course, in abbreviated form and intend
ed wholly-and SO worded-to satisfy
an inquisitive public, Withholding any
discouraging facts on the unprepared-
ness question. These latter were drawn
in memoranda form in lead pencil on
sheets of paper which the secretary of
war placed In his portfolio along with
the data from which the compilation
was made.
swell, Major Brent, our evenings
task is ended" announced Colonel
Dare, rising and stretching himself
And with humorous twist of the
tongue: HAS that there Silent Men
ace, as Orderly Adams speaks Of our
silent foe, put in an appearance to-
night?"
Brent smiled and shook his head.
'Kindly send this statement to the
newspaper men, Brent" interposed the
secretary of war. He handed the long
waited-for interview" to the dapper
officer.
"Where Is Adams?" the colonel in
quired, for that was his duty, not
Brent's.
"Gone to the barracks, SIR" replied
Brent, easily. II took the liberty Of
using him on a matter for one of the
ladies'"
The colonel signified no objections
and turned with smile to his daugh-
ter and Bertha, who looked in from the
doorway. And a pleasant social chat
ensued.
Brent slipped out of the room and
sent messenger with the statement to
the newspaper men. In the hall he ran
into the man presumed to be Toxic and
was about to stop him when the fellow
disclosed Bertha Bonn's locket and
placed 1t in the palm Of 'Brent's hand.
At that moment Colonel Dare, seeing
the chauffeur's back, called out: "The
car, Toxic! We will all take ride and
get breath Of air."
The masquerader, grinning at Brent,
hastened to the garage and in due time
the whole party was driving downward
The chief of staff, Colonel Dare and
the major sat behind with the ladies'.
The secretary of war occupied the seat
beside the chauffeur. His portfolio
rested on the cushion between them
In another automobile in front and one
behind were guardsmen.
They dropped the chief of staff off
at his home and later the secretary of
war with the portfolio. The newspa-
per men had driven off in another car.
The soldiers proceeded to the barracks
and the Dare party to the roof garden
of the Wilton for light SUPPER At
the hotel entrance they told the chauf-
feur not to leave the car as they ex-
pected to be gone but little while.
But hardly had they entered than
the chauffeur left the car, strolled
across the street and entered Sho-
machers saloon. At one of the green
tables in the rear a party of foreign
ers were seated. The chauffeur passed
quite close to the table. In fact he
brushed against one of the men, apollo
gized and STOPPING, picked portfolio
from the floor and handed it to him
with bow.
''You dropped this-I beg pardon!"
The foreigner accepted the portfolio
and the chauffeur disappeared.
"This PORTFOLIO" murmured the gen.
tleman in question to his companions,
speaking in Russian, contains the sec
retary Of wars data on the question of
the countrys preparedness to meet the
presidents call for million volun-
teers-thanks to the Silent Menace"
He raised his glass to his lips. "a
toast" he suggested merrlly. The 9TH
ers followed suit. America Preparey'
When the Dare party returned to the
automobile Toxic was missing and after
waiting and specializing among. them
selves awhile, Pearl took the wheel,
for they were anxious to get home. She
drove straight into the garage on their
arrival.
Here they heard groans and present
axle Of the limousine. He was in bad
way from the effects of his bonds and
also the liquor he had consumed and
they could get nothing out of him.
"Toko!" called Pearl up the stairs.
"Tokow
More groans were now heard from
within the limousine tonneau. Brent
leaped to the limousine door and threw
it wide open, starting back with smoth-
cred ordinations. On the floor. hud-
died together, their scalps bleeding,
were the unconscious forms Of Toxic
and Adams.
"Colonel Dare !" cried voice In the
doorway OF the garage. They turned
and saw the secretary Of war in his
own runabout with two other automo-
hilas containing coldiarc In tho d,t,,o