Gilpin observer., 1917-04-19

ing in dnbelief from Bertha as she left
the witness box, bowling smilingly ur
OF 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 plansr queried the
judge acknowledgement coming to the
point as soon as Adams took the stand
1T did," responded Adams almost
insolently, boldly facing the battery Of
accusing eyes.
Miss Pearl Dare and her father were
rendered speechless.
did you know the packet contained
the stolen secret canal defense plans?'
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 Warf1eldT
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 fiat"
Knocked you flat?"
"Biffed 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 you? What did you do
with them?"
Put them in Captain Payne's army
b-belt, after went into SERVICE" con-
fessed the dumbfounding orderly.
ION former occasion you swore on
your oath that you found these plans
in Captain Payne's army belt. You
now acknowledge that you lied?"
II didn't exactly lie. C-couldn't
find them after put them t-there?"
Excused vociferated the Judge
advocate-general. Miss Bertha Bonn
again, please"
AS Adams reseated himself, two
guards at sign from the presiding Of
ficer stepped forward and stood behind
his chair.
With Bertha again on the stand the
judge acknowledgement took a new
tack, causing another and equally con-
fuslng diversion.
"Who gave you the packet to be
delivered to T. o. Adams?" was his
first question.
"The Silent Menace sent it to me.
1t was brought to me ut my hotel by
uniformed man resembling q senate
building guard"
''You, of course, refer to Major
Brent as the Silence Menace?"
II do not. Major Brent is not the
Silent Menace"
Here the presiding officer introduced
his new sensation. "How long have
you known Major Brent?"
"Slnce girlhood," was the soft re-
sponse.
"Since girlhoodw calculated the pre-
siding officer, himself taken by sur
prise, with an involuntary glance in
Brents direction. "How is that?"
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 fled; for he was smiling in man.
ly corroboration to the surprise of
everyone, Adams most Of all.
"Are you sweethearts no longer?"
Again the words fell softly from
her lips. II 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 man! He may have
poisoned himself!" cried the presiding
officer.
This had composing effect on
Adams who Immediately Strengthened
up and begged the judges pardon.
Order being restored the Judge ad-
vocate-general asked Bertha this Ques-
ton: "There is a personal reason,
therefore, why you shield Major
Brent?"
Bertha nodded brightly. mot shield
defend"
"Has Miss Pearl Dare to whom Ma
jor Brent paid court known of your
prior acquaintance with him?"
At that Brent WINGED, but Bertha
promptly answered.: "He desired to
inform her on many occasions. would
not have 1t so until after the unmask:
Ing Of the Silent Menace"
"One more question, Miss Bonn.
Since you know Major Brent so in
timately, can you inform the court
whether 1t is true that the Silent Men
ace or his thugs drugged Major Brent
and stole from him the chemical waters