Macon beacon., 1917-03-23

1ou anu Derua Bonn, anu you n
afeard Of NINE and play into m,
hands because you d-dont want me t,
squeal on you to Miss Dare. Ain
t-that it?"
There's another reason. to be can
did. You have the insufferable impu
dence to be in love with Miss Oar,
yourself. Was there ever a more lu
dicrous situation! The Silent Mensc,
posing as orderly to Colonel Dare, ir
love with his daughter, or posins
there, too, possibly, and using all of u:
as tools In his plot. l give it to you
Adams" He laughed farclcally.
"Why d-don't you shoot me, majori
There's a g-gun under your pillow
amt there?"
The major reached under his pillow
and pulled out a revolver. ''Tve got a
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. 1T amt a m-mat.
ter Of nerve, is 1t, major? You're no-not
quite sure about me, after all, are
you?"
I'm sure, but have no proof. When
l get that intend to kill you, Adams"
Brent candidly stated
For several seconds Adams silently
appraised Brent. All of a sudden he
became melancholy. There may
n-never be any proof of anything, Ma
jor Brent" he rejoined in a slow, mur-
muring way. "Ive b-been thinking a
whole lot of this fix you got yourself
in. l got a notion to help you out o-of
it."
"You have, eh?"
Don't be S-sarcastic. l mean the
Fright kind Of help. Don't forget that
l c-could send you to that there same
penitentlary you were s-sending Payne
to-" insinuatingly.
Brent laughed outright. 'What
would the charge be? How could you
make 1t 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 aim covered in a second. Don't
git f-fdgety, Major. I'm downright
serious. 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
thn Bonn. You're going to m-marry
her now. You're going to get up and
30 al-along with me and marry her."
He took from his inner coat pocket a
ong white envelope, not taking his eye
III Brent moment, and referring to
t, continued: "Tve got your license
right here. I've had 1t several d'days.
It's regular and you'll be Unmarried by
regular preacher. It'll be a regular
v-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-
'elope to his pocket and calmly wait
ID for Brent to say something.
Brent, who did not move a muscle |
While Adams spoke, at first thought |
hat he was indulging In the peculiar
ind Of humor expected of him at any
ime and under any circumstances.
gradually 1t dawned on him that the
nan was not joking.
$50 that's your scheme !" he blurted,
omposure fast slipping away. you're
rying to force me to give up Miss
Dare by bribery because you want her
ourself!"
"P-part Of 1t, major" admitted
ldams, exhibiting a deeply stirred
motional nature in voice and eyes. 81
m in l-love with Miss Dare. I'm
DING to g-get her if she'll let me. But
hat amt exactly w-why I'm going to
harry you and Bertha Bonn together
nd make you little wedding gift
'ou're going to be square to Bertha
'onn a-and I'm going to help you
long. That's all there is ito that:
nd the things got to be done, major,
efore / go toto Panama. Or"
ew Idea striking him-"now that you
now w-what you're going to do and
hat I'm going to DIDO, mebbe we bet
er put 1t o-of till / get back from
anama."
See here, Adams !" cried Brent, now
gaping out of bed and confronting
Is visitor. "Thatll be about enough
that from you. If you don't get out
here in hurry I'll throw you In the
I'm sick to death of this
easily affair. Another word and I'll
I'll all to Colonel Dare and take the
A pleased smile Illuminated the
OF the perfectly composed