Gilpin observer., 1917-02-08

The major broke it open. 1t con
tanned soiled linen, shaving set ant
a card Identifying T. o. Adams as 6
member of the Barbers' union.
"By Jove!" exclaimed Major Steele
HE told the truth to Miss Dare
He is a barber"
HE get away, Think, reminded
Toxic.
"Never, with my men on the job r
Toxic bowed in awe of the noted
army sleuth and glad to be relieved
departed.
| Major Steele sauntered up to the
bar covertly surveying the room. II
was evident that his glance took In
nothing Of unusual interest. A little
later one of his stool pigeons came and
casually whispered something in his
ear. The major blanched.
Hes gomez"
i" Hes not on the premises"
"You looked in the cellar, back yard,
everywhere"
He has gotten away, major"
The major brought his glass down
| on the bar with a sharp ring. They
left together at once.
They had hardly reached the street
before Adams crawled from under an
empty whisky barrel in a darkened re-
cess in the stock room. Brushing the
cobwebs from his clothes, he ap-
preached the cashier, coolly paid his
check and walked out. He rambled
down the avenue smiling broadly to
himself.
Yet by his actions Adams showed
that matter Of serious import was
in his thoughts. He drifted along TAX
ing the route that led to the senate
building. On his arrival his mind was
quite made up. 1t wanted but few
minutes to the regulation closing hour
and in the rush he got by the guards
unnoticed.
There was 10 indirection in his
movements. He seemed to know where
he was going and how to get there.
He went straight to the rooms of the
National Preparedness committee.
"Is Senator Warfield busy?" he
asked the clerk in the reception room,
stammering little.
1t was his businesslike manner that
removed suspicion from his appear
ance.
''The committee Is in session." the
clerk told him; though about to ad-
jOurn. Shall announce you, or will
you waltz"
Adams indicated that he would wait
and planted himself on a bench.
The wait was a long one; 1t was
| nearly dusk when the committeeman
filed into the reception room. The clerk
was not there at that particular mo-
ment. Adams seized the chance and
| slipped unobserved into the inner Of
fee. Several seconds passed before
Senator Warfeld, seated at his desk
reviewing a file Of preparedness data
contaiping a summarized report of the
| committee, was aware of his presence
and turning discovered him.
The senator half started from his
chair. Adams smiled and raised re-
assuring hand.
II w-want to tip you Off to some
thing. senator" he began, pointing to
the file; "about that. You c-can be-
lieve me or n-nOt, but I got notion
that there's g-goin' to be hold-up on
those papers,"
"What do you mean? Who are
your? demanded the senator, rising.
my names Adams, Il. o. Adams of
M-Monks Corner, Nebraska, but that
d-don't mean nothing to you. My
tips s-stralght. I'm barber and
hear things. There's a g-gang of for.
eigners that's going to git that there
budget as sure us you're b-born un.
less you hide 1t away"
Senator Warfeld stared ut Adams
with incredulity. He reached for his
telephone and took the receiver from
the hook. No one responded. He
jerked the hook up and down several
times impatiently without removing
his keen eyes from those Of his Wis
itor. Still there was no response.
Adams broke into dry laugh. "By
golly, senatorw he exclaimed, his face
lighting up; "they fxed your tele
phone, dern'd II they amt"
"It can't be possiblev' cried tn,
alarmed statesman, rushing into tn,
outer room In search of an attendant
Adams followed him.
"What deviltry Is this?" thundere,
Senator Warheld finding the room va
cant and turning fercely upon Adams
AS he spoke the lights flashed out.
"No deviltry, SENATOR" purred dis
tinctly foreign voice from out the en-
veloping darkness; "only littl,
game Of international politics."
Then followed terrific struggle
The room seemed to fill with shapes
Adams clutched someone. His hand
came in contact with the senator's file
He grabbed 1t and started blindly t
find IN exit. He heard the senator
stifled cry and the thud Of his fallin