Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-08-24

turning TO the colonel VINO was unused
and not offended. "NVhat Is t-this Ma
tlonal Preparedness committee. and
where Is It a-at7"
There was something about Adams
which commanded their interest.
I'm just an o-ordinary tOm-foOl guy
thinking about Joining the army and
you got me a-all excited about this
preparedness business" stammered he,
looking from one to the other.
A pleasant light shown in the col
onel's eyes and ne acknowledged
Adams with a courtly inclination Of
his head. "Quite propah, son, quite
propah. It affords me great pleasure
to respond to youah request. The Ma
tlonal Preparedness committee is
made up of distinguished men from
the halls of national legislation re-
fer to our senate and our house Of
representatives. This committee is
preparing, or supposed to be prepar-
ing, a budget containing an inventory,
IL you know what that means, sub, Of
our national resources. It will be a
very valuable document we hope, sub,
indeed, If 1t is evan completed. Sena-
tor Warfield is In charge"
Adams listened intently to every
word. There was a momentary hush.
THANK you" he said presently.
With an awkward bow he went back
to his seat at the little green table.
The bystanders followed him with
quizzlcal expressions. Then someone
bought a drink, the colonel resumed
his discourse, and he was forgotten.
Adams continued to ignore the pres
ence OF Toxic. He placed an elbow
on the table and resting his chin In
the palm of one hand began to make
lead pencil marks on n sheet of paper.
lie appeared to Toxic to be working
out some intricate mental problem.
Ten minutes passed when Adams rose
and disappeared in the rear of the
room leaving his upaid drink check
and the vallse behind him.
Toxic fastened his eyes upon the
valise and the paper. He picked up
the latter and curiously inspected the
pencil scrawls which were meaning
less to him. He glanced about expect
ing Adams to return at once. Then
the entrance of a number of gentle
men attracted his momentary gaze.
They were looking for a vacant table.
Toxic, in his capacity in the Dare
household, had served many of the
celebrities of the world during his
long time employment. In each of
these men he saw resemblances to per-
sons of no little importance. OF one
there could be hardly any doubt that
he and a certain deposed president of
Il South American Republic were
the same. Still another might easily
have passed in stature and manner
ism as the double of the Spanish pre-
tender. The speech and bearing of
a third coupled him in Toko's quick
mind with an exiled war treasurer of
Il powerful foreign country. The re-
naming members of the party were
Enthusiastically prominent Europeans, If
not noblemen, one E%nglishman and an
Oriental of his own race.
They clearly showed that they de-
sired the table Mt which he sat and
after a moments hesitation he took
up Adams valise and made off in the
direction of the telephone booth to
communicate with Miss Dare.
The party Immediately grouped
around the vacated table. One of
them observed the lead pencil handi-
work of Adams. As with Toxic, the
marks meant nothing to him. But
when he turned his attention to the
other side of the paper, which Toxic
had not inspected, he smiled family
and nodded to each of his companions.
These words had been written in the
Granadian language:
National Preparedness Budget
Senate Building-tOnight."
Under it was the silhouette Of a
masked man and this signature:
THE SILENT MENACE"
The paper was torn into little
pieces.
"Shall it be Paul Roget, messieurs,"
quietly inquired the Frenchman.
No one demurred. Then began a
pleasant hat concerning the American
national game Of baseball.
Major Steele of the Army Intelli-
gence bureau in citizen clothes now
entered the saloon. Toxic was emerg-
ing from the telephone booth. He
recognized and called the major aside.
Miss Dare. she tell me you come
and l GO" He pointed toward the
rear. adams, he go that way. Miss
Dare, she say you know about him."
The major nodded CURLY.
Let me have that valise. It's his,
isn't it,"
"Sure, l take It," grinned Toxic
handing 1t to the major.