Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-03-30
II Story @Hme,zcu
First" Unmasking
Ame,zcu,s Secret Foes
,MrSEzsd From tie Morton Rcfzye
SraI Of Me Same Name
Released BY Rafhe
c~v>s ysA &C.

tuer, 0Oiouei Dare, naSteneL down tno
corridor, an expression of relief ap-
pearing on his anxious co~untenance
upon sight of her. She introduced
Bertha, who repeated her story. Upon
the Colonefs suggestion the three re-
turned to the waiting group in Senator
Warfield's Office.
by a curious irony Bertha Bonn was
requested to occupy a chair next to
Major Brent.
Again she told her story under the
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 speculating 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 an extremely singular and
irregular affair, colonel !" he exclaimed,
saluting and addressing his superior.
"Who knows what those envelopes
contain? This Ina 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
one from his inner coat pocket. The
action was unobseryed.
'Open them yourself. then" growled
Major Steele. turning to Adams, 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 ms to the wisdom
Of this procedure. But at a nod from
Colonel Dare he did as he had been
asked.
The note vas opened first.
Keep out of our affairs hereafter"
1t read. II was signed under the sill
houette of a masked man:
THE SILENT MENACE"
Next came the packet. To the aston
ishment Of oil IL contained Senator
Warfield's summarized military pre-
paredness file with the theft Of which
they had charged Adams. A hasty
examination showed 1t to be damp, as
from a copying press.
Il warned you. senator" drawled
Adams; Il w-warned you"
by Jove. You did !" acknowledged
the senator warmly. He stepped up to
Adams and grasped his hand. Il owe
you an apology. VIII you accept lit"
"S-sure." beamed Adams; and to his
evident embarrassment md surprise.
the others followed the senator's ex-
ample, ever Major Steele.
Il guess you're not the man we're
after. after ALL" declared the latter,
appraising him.
Il g-guess you're right there" STAN
mered Adams. whats more, you'd
b-Letter git me In on this thing-that's
what / told this little g-girl here" in
dicating Miss Dare. who. with her
father and Senator Warfield. closely
followed the conversation, Brent, Ber-
tina and Toxic having left the room.
"What do you mean by thatY' inter-
posed Colonel Dare. smiling at the ia
miliarity Adams assumed In his ref
erence to his daughter.
In the awe of the simple for brass
buttons. Adams replied: Il got a n-no-
ton. colonel, that ! kin help your
daughter to s-s0lve the riddle about
her dead beau. That's what I told
her. She w-wouldn't hear to IL. She
g-g0t an idea that I was some chap
she called The Silent Menace that
pears ito be behind all these here
doin's. like this f'rinstance. The huh
t-truth Is / pick up a lot OF dope,
waltin' around In hotel cafes, barber
ing and telegraph operating and sech
like. People think In a doggone fool
because i stutter and pay no attention
to me. Now. w-what I'd like to do"
he reflected n m~oment-"T'd like to line
the army. and b-be attached to you sort
Of like"
"Your orderly, father" whispered
Pearl. to whom the suggestion APP
pealed.
The colonel nodded. So did Major
Steele. So did Senator warfield.
That's it, concluded Adams. Then
I could watch a-after this girl here"
Pearl giggled.
II like her." declared Adams In n
postscript.
And so II happened that within the
next few days II. o. Adams Of Monks
Corner. Neb., became orderly to
Colonel Richard Dare of the Seventy
first Engineers, u. s. A.
The government now began to take
some heed to Pearl Dare's assertions
Of q foreign alliance schemIng to in
volve and at the same time cripple
the country In war. The canal
defense plans had been stolen, the ma
tionai preparedness budget had been
stolen. copied and returned-what
government secret next would be re-
vealed to hostile eyes? Every branch
OF the secret service department was
called into play to ferret the i~ntriguers
out Of their apparently i~mpregnabls