Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-05-11

t,g.uetl his search.
Shortly thereafter Major Errnt was
called into Colonel Dare's study. The
conference was ready to be adjourned.
The tentative mobilization plans had
been completed and n statement for
the newspapers was ready. 1t was. Of
course. In abbreviated form and intend
cd wholly-and so worded-to satisfy
N inouisitiye public. Withholding any
dIscouraging facts On the u~nprcpared-
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.
"WeIl, Major Brent. our evenings
task is ended" announced Colonel
Dare, rising and stretching himself.
And with a 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.
hlIIiy Stiiu tnlS ttdtttitHt W ttiC
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. Il took the liberty OF
using him on q matter for one OF the
ladies'"
The colonel signiied no objections
and turned with a smile to his daugh-
ter and Bertha, who looked in from the
doorway. And q pleasant social chat
ensued.
Brent slipped ont of the room and
sent n messenger with the statement TO
the newspaper men. In the hall he ran
INTO the nan presumed 10 be Toxic and
was about TO stop him when the fellow
disclosed Bertha Boan's locket and
placed it in the palm of Brent's hand
At that moment Colonel Dare. seeing
the chaufreur's back, called out: The
ear, Tokol We will all take a ride and
ret n breath of air.
The masquerader. %grinning ut Brent.
FASTENED TO the garage and In due time
he whole party was driving downward.
The chief OF staff. Colonel Dare and
he 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
behind were guardsmen.
They dropped the chief OF staff or
1t his home and later the secretary Of
war with the portfolio. The newspa-
per men had driven of in another car.
The soldiers proceeded to the barracks
and the Dare party TO the roof garden
of the Wilton for q light supper. AT
the hotel entrance they told the chauf-
fcur not to leave the car rs they ex-
pccted { o be gone but a little while.
But hardly had they entered than
the chauffeur left the car. strollcd
across the street and entered Sho-
machcr's saloon. At one OF the green
tables In the rear q 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 a portfolio
from the floor and handed X 10 him
with n bow.
You dropped this-I beg %pardon!'
The foreigner accepted the portfolio
and the chauffeur disappeared.
"This portfolio" murmured the gen.
tleman in question 10 his companions.
speaking in Russian, contains the sec
cctary Of wars data on the question OF
the country's preparedness 10 meet the
presidents call for n million volun-
teers-thanks 10 the Silent Menace"
He raised his glass TO his lips. a
toast" he suggested merrily. The 9TH
ers followed suit. America Prepare
When the Dare party returned 20 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
ly found the sentry tied to the rear
axle of the limousine. lie was in a 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.
"TOhoi"
More groans were now heard from
within the limousine tonneau Brent
lcapcd 10 the Limousine doOr and threw
X wide open. starting back with smoth-
cred EXPLANATIONS. TN the floor. hud-
died together. their scalps bleeding.
were the unconscious forms of Toxic
and Adams.
Colonel Daren' cried n voice In the
doorway Of the garage. They turned
and saw the secretary of war In his
wi runabout with two other autOmo-
biles containing soldiers in the drive
behind him. "lour chauffeur-Toko-
the mobilization data-my portfolio
it's gOnci He left this behind" And
he held up a portfolio of like size and
leather.
That night a knock fell on Brent's
bedroom door and Adams admitted