The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1917-08-09


you and Bertha Bonn, and you're
afeard of NINE and play into my
hands because you DIDN'T want me to
squeal on you to Miss Dare. Amt
t-that it?"
There's another reason, to be can
did. You have the insufferable impu-
dence to be in love with Miss Dare
dicrous situation! The Silent Menace
posing as orderly to Colonel Dare, in
love with his daughter, or posing
there, too, possibly, and using all of us
as tools in his plot | give it to you,
Adams" He laughed farcically.
"Why DIDN'T you shoot me, major?
There's g-gun under your pillow,
amt there?"
The major reached under his pillow
and pulled out a revolver. I've got
mind to do that" reflected Brent, ex-
amining the loaded chambers, with a
quick flash of the eye at his caller.
But he put the revolver away.
Adams chuckled. ut amt Il m-mat-
ter of nerve, is it, major? You're no-nOt
quite sure about me, after all, are
your
I'm sure, but have no proof. When
| get that intend to kill you, Adams"
Brent candidly stated.
For several seconds Adams silently
appraised Brent. All of sudden he
became melancholy. There may
n-never be any proof of anything, Ma
jor Brent" he rejoined in IA slow, muir
muring way. I've b-been thinking
whole lot of this fix you got yourself
in. i got a notion to help you out O-of
it,"
you have eh?"
Don't be s-sarcastic. 1 mean the
fright kind of help. Don't forget that
| c-cOuld send you to that there same
penitentiary you were ascending Payne
to-" insinuatingly.
Brent laughed outright. what
would the charge be? How could you
make it without showing your hand
without unmasking yourself as the
Silent Menace? Even though you have
me under your control, you really
can't make a move against me pub
licly."
Then Adams gave Brent a great
start. II c-could make a grease spot
out of you without showing the hand
of the Silent Menace!' muttered
Adams, cOldly.
Brent's hands stole in the direction
of the revolver under his pillow, al
though he continued to smile. Adams
had him covered in a second. Don't
git f-fidgety, Major. I'm downright
serious. 1 amt g-going to make any
g-grease spot out of you because" his
voice trailed an instant-"because
you're going to DIDO the decent thing"
(Which isl" with a slight catch.
you're going to marry Miss Bier
tina Bonn. You're going to m-marry
her now. You're going to get up and
go al-along with me and marry her"
He took from his inner coat pocket a
long white envelope, not taking his eye
off Brent a moment, and referring to
it, continued: 1--WE got your license
fright here. I've had it several d'days.
It's regular and you'll be unmarried by
regular preacher. It'll be a regular
w-wedding, and I'm going to give you
regular wedding p-present. There's
100000 coming to you o-out of this,
Major Brent" He returned the en-
velope to his pocket and calmly wait
ed for Brent to say something.
Brent, who did not move a muscle
while Adams spoke, at first thought
that he was INDUCING in the peculiar
kind of humor expected of him at any
time and under any circumstances.
Gradually it dawned on him that the
man was not joking.
$50 that's your scheme I" he blurted,
composure fast slipping away. you're
trying to force me to give up Miss
Dare by bribery because you want her
yourself!"
"P-part of it, major" admitted
Adams, exhibiting a deeply stirred
emotional nature in voice and eyes. Il
am in l-love with Miss Dare. I'm
going to g-get her If she'll let me. But
that amt exactly w-why I'm going to
marry you and Bertha Bonn together
and make you a little wedding gift.
You're going to be square to Bertha
Bonn a-and I'm going to help you
along. That's all there is ito that
and the things got to be done. major,
before 1 go to--to Panama. Or" a
new idea striking him-"now that you
know 'w-what you're going to do and
what I'm going to DIDO, mebbe we bet.
ter put it o-off till ! get back from
Panama"
See here, Adams :" cried Brent, now
leaping out Of bed and confronting
his visitor. "That'll be about enough
Of that from you. If you don't get out
of here in hurry I'll throw you i'm the
guardhouse. I'm sick to death of this
beastly affair. Another word and III
tell all to Colonel Dare and take the
consequences
A pleased smile illuminated the
countenance of the perfectly composed