The Monticellonian., 1917-05-03
A Story of Hmey7cu Fifst" Unmaskfng AMe,7cu's Secyef Foes Noveifzea From Me 1zohoa Rietays Serial of fbe Same Mame
 Reifased ky Rafhe
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"l cannot answer that question. l, too, thought it strange"
 Pearl was at a loss as to what to do with her visitor. Just then her fa- ther, Colonel Dare, hastened down the corridor, an expression Of relief ap- bearing on his anxious countenance upon sight of her. She introduced Bertha, who repeated her story. Upon the Colonels suggestion the three re- turned to the waiting group in Senator Warfeld's office.
 By curious irony Bertha Bonn was requested to occupy chair next to Major Brent.
 Again she told her story under the sharp cross-questioning of Major Steele of the army intelligence bureau, conducting the inquiry. Senator War field listened with mouth agape; Toko with natural interest in anything per tIning to Miss Dare; Adams with bland and speculating attention.
 Pearl gave the packet and note to Major Steele, which he in turn handed to Adams.
 
 Major Brent interposed an objec- tion, leaping to his feet and taking the center of the room.
 "This is an extremely singular and irregular affair, colonel !" he exclaimed, saluting and addressing his superior. "Who knows what those envelopes contain? This man who is under sus- picion should not be permitted to open them!"
 All eyes were turned upon the major and in that absorbing second or two Adams, stepping back pace, ex- changed the packet in his hand with one from his inner coat pocket. The action was unobserved.
 "Open them yourself, then" growled Major Steele, turning to Adams, who passed the things in his hand to Major Brent
 As everyone save Adams drew near to him, Major Brent continued to show hesitation and doubt as to the wisdom of this procedure. But at a nod from Colonel Dare he did as he had been asked.
 The note was opened first.
 Keep out of our affairs hereafter" ]" it read. It was signed under the sil- houette of a masked man:
 THE SILENT MENACE"
 Next came the packet. To the aston ishment of all it contained Senator Warfeld's summarized military pre- f1oroHnnSc iIa xrritb ha baf nf h ;oI, they had charged Adams. A nasty examination showed it to be damp, as from Il copying press.
 '1 warned you, senator,o drawled Adams; '1 w-warned you
 By love, you did !" acknowledged the senator warmly. He stepped up to Adams and grasped his hand. II owe you an apology. Will you accept it?"
 "Ssure," beamed Adams; and to his evident embarrassment and surprise, the others followed the senator's ex- ample, even Major Steele.
 T guess you're not the man we're after, after all," declared the latter, appraising him.
 T g-guess you're right there," stam- mered Adams. What's more, you'd b-better git me in on this thing-thats what I told this little g-girl here," in- dicating Miss Dare, who, with her father and Senator Warfield, closely followed the conversation, Brent, Der tha and Toko having left the room.
 What do you mean by that?" inter posed Colonel Dare, smiling at the fla miliarity Adams assumed in his ref erence to his daughter.
 In the awe of the simple for brass buttons, Adams replied: Il got n-no- tion, colonel, that I kin help your daughter to s-solve the riddle about her dead beau. T-that's what I told her. She w-wouldn't hear to it. She g-got an idea that I was some chap she called The Silent Menace that pears tito be behind all these here doin's, like this f'rinstance. The hull t-truth is I pick up a lot of dope, waitin' around in hotel cafes, barber ing and telegraph operating and sech like. People think I'm a doggone fool because I stutter and pay no attention to me. Now, w-what I'd like to do" he reflected moment-"I'd like to jine the army, and b-be attached to you sort of like"
 "Your orderly, father" whispered Pearl, to whom the suggestion ap- pealed.
 The colonel nodded. So did Major Steele. So did Senator Warfield.
 "That's it," concluded Adams. "Then I could watch a-after this girl here"
 Pearl giggled.
 T like her." declared Adams in a postscript.
 And so it happened that within the next few days T. O. Adams of Monks Corner, Neb, became orderly to Colonel Richard Dare of the Seventy first Engineers, U. s. A. The government now began to take some heed to Pearl Dare's assertions of a foreign alliance scheming to in- volve and at the same time cripple the country in war. The canal defense plans had been stolen, the na- tional preparedness budget had been stolen, copied and returned-what government secret next would be re- vealeG to hostile eyes? Every branch of the secret service department was called into play to ferret the intriguers out of their apparently impregnable