Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-11-02

ing IN onbeliof from Bertha as she left
the witness box, bowling Emillngly up
ct the judge, to Adams whose name
being called was In the act Of rising
deliberately to answer the SUMMONS.
'Did the packet you received from
Miss Bonn contain the stolen secret
canal defense plans1' Cueried the
judge acknowledgement coming to the
point as soon as Adams took the stand.
1T did" responded Adams almost
l%usolently, boldly facing the battery Of
accusing eyes.
Miss Pearl Dare and her father were
rendered speechless.
"Did you know the packet contained
tho stolen secret canal defense plhns2"
II did"
The silence in the inquiry room be
came more profound and accusing.
"Where and how then did you obtain
possession Of the national prepared
ness budget which you returned to
Senator Warheld2"
II g-got It away from that there
Silent Menace d-down In the basement
Of the senate building just as he fin
ished making a press c-copy and
knocked me fat"
knocked you fiat?"
'Bihed NINE on the head, knocking
me out long enough to escape"
'Then you kept the stolen secret
canal defense plans which Miss Bonn
brought to your What did you do
with themT'
"Put them in Captain Payne's army
b-belt, after I went into service" CON
fessed the d~umbfoundiug orderly.
ION a former occasion you swOre on
your oath that you found these plans
in Captain Payne's army belt. You
now acknowledge that you lied7"
~ didn't exactly lie. C-cOuldn't /
find them after / put them t-there7"
"Excusedl" vociferated the judge
acknowledgement. miss Bertha Bonn
again, please"
As Adams reseated himself, two
guards at a sign from the presiding Of
fcer stepped forward and stood behind
his chair.
WIN DNlNnA uEuAh Oh NnG bAulu AAAN
judge acknowledgement took a new
tack, causing another and equally con
fusing diversion.
"Who gave you the packet to be
delivered to T. o. Adams2' was his
first question.
''The Silent Menace sent Il to me.
1t was brought to nee at my hotel by
n uniformed man resembling a senate
building guard"
"You, of course, refer to Major
Brent as the Silence Menace2"
81 do not. Major Brent is not the
Silent Menace"
Here the presiding officer introduced
his new sensation. "How long have
you known Major Brent2"
"SlDce girlhood," was the soft re-
Spouse.
"Slnce girlhoodl" calculated the pre-
siding officer, himself taken by sur
prise, with an involuntary glance in
Brent's direction. "How is that2"
1--WE were sweethearts, once upon a
time" the girl answered in tremulous
accents. She ventured a timid glance
at the major and instantly all inward
fears fed for he was smiling In man.
ly co%rrObOration to the surprise of
everyone, Adams most Of all.
Are you s~weethearts no longerf'
Again the words fell softly from
her lips. 81 have recently consented
to marry the major. Our wedding IL
cense has been issued"
Everybody turned toward T. o.
Adams who was squirming in his chair
and articulating in an incoherent way.
"Watch that mani He may have
poisoned himselfI" cried the presiding
officer.
This had a composing effect on
Adams who Immediately Strengthened
up and begged the judges pardon.
Order being restored the judge adj
vocate-general asked Bertha this ques'
ton: "There is a personal reason
therefore, why you shield Major
Brent?"
Bertha nodded brightly. "Not shield
defend"
"Has Miss Pearl Dare to whom Ma.
jor Brent paid court known of your
prior acquaintance with hlm?'
At that Brent WINGED, but Berthe
promptly answered: "He desired tC
inform her on many occasions. 1 would
not have it so until after the unmask
ing of the Silent Menace"
zone more question, Miss Bonn
Since you know Major Brent Sc in
timately, can you inform the couri
whether it is true that the Silent Men
ace or his thugs drugged Major Brent
and stole from him the chemical waferi
I02WwTWR9T