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

"Never entirely. Certainly not
nowW
"Then you believe the defendant to
be the Silent Menace?"
II do not" replied the colonel quick
ly and emphatically.
"Who was the person discussed be-
tween Major Brent and yourselfT"
"The major without reason named
my orderly, T. o. Adams" Colonel
Dare slowly stated.
"Was there to your knowledge any
thing personal between your major and
your orderlyT'
For the third time Colonel Dare
hesitated. Il had reason to believe
that the defendant was attached to
my daughter" he answered with m
bdrrassment after a painful pause.
adams, it seems, has also been a
suitor-successfully."
'To which you have no objectlon7"
"No material one" stammered the
colonel; at which every person except
Pearl and Adams smiled. The colonel
was then excused.
InquisitiOn now fell upon Miss Dare,
the heroine Of the hour. She rose with
Queenly dignity and amid q hushed
admiration, took her seat quietly in
the witness box.
But the first question brought the
scarlet into her face. "You knew
Capt. Ralph PayneT"
Gle was my %iance," replied Pearl
in a low voice.
"Was Major Brent ever discussed
between you and Captain PayneT"
"Only as we would talk Of one whose
friendship was dear to us. They were
brother officers"
"Was Captain Payne ever discussed
between Major Brent and yourself?"
Occasionally" was PEARLS evaslve
reply.
DO you recall the nature of Major
Brent's remarks about Captain
Payne?"
"They were guarded, though not I'M
friendly. To be perfectly truthful, 1
always thought that the major was
jealous Of the captains place in my
affections"
Has Major Brent ever mentioned
to you this opinion that I. o. Adams
was the Silent MenaceT
"Often."
"You have not agreed with him2'
II intend to marry T. o. Adams"
Pearl replied with telling d%lrectness.
II would not marry a traitor to my
countryw
your answer is sufficient and adj
mirable, Miss Dare" commented the
judge acknowledgement. "Do you be-
lleve Major Brent to be the Silent
Menace?"
PEARLS hesitation was barely notice
able. 81 cannot believe that, in spite
of everything"
"You are excused, Miss Dare" And
Pearl stepped down, returning to her
seat by the colonel's side, making way
for Miss Bertha Bonn.
When she took the place vacated
by Pearl, Brent for the first time
raised his bowed head and APP
praised her closely; and for the first
time he realized that after all 1t was
Bertha Bonn whom he loved, the girl
Of his youth, sitting there now pale,
composed and determined Oma of
the world whose momentary glance in
his direction answered every silent
question and satisfied him completely,
Adams, alert and watchful, eying
the two between half-closed lids,
leaned back in his chair with an audi
BILE sigh. He also was satisfied. In
that passing second 1t came to all
three-Brent, Adams and Bertha-that
fate was playing strange pranks with
their personal affairs; with Bertha
possibly holding the reins.
"You are a member Of Colonel
Dare's householder
81 am Miss Dare's honored guest
"You knew Capt. Ralph Paynef"
81 did not"
"Yet, you we're the messenger sent
by the Silent Menace to the Granadian
frontier with the secret canal defense
plans after they left Captain Payne'i
hands2"
Il was"
you also acted as his messenger
when he returned the stolen natlOna
preparedness budget to Senator War
field in the committee roOmsF"
81 was-nOt."
Even Major Brent opened his eyei
wide upon hearing this statement 81
apparently contradictory with thu
facts.
The judge advOcate-general again re
peated his question. Bertha again re
piled In the negative.
"Dld you not deliver a packet to I
o. Adams in Senator Warfeld's com
mittee room in the evening the nation
al preparedness budget was stOlenT'
81 did"
"Do you know what the packet con
tainedf'
81 do"
"What did It contain II not the ma
: tional preparedness dataT'
r 1.-THE stolen secret canal defens
4 - "a II -.