The Yale expositor., 1917-06-21

1
by Jovew 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 =
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 goneT
"He's not on the premises"
you looked in the cellar, back yard
everywherep
"He has gotten away, major"
The major brought his glass down
on the bar with 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 APP
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 a 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 a few
minutes TO the regulation closing hour
and in the rush he got by the guards
unnoticed.
There was no 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.
as Senator Warfeld busyT he
asked the clerk In the reception room,
stammering a 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 adj
journ. Shall announce you, or will
you waltz
Adams indicated he would wait
and planted himself on a bench.
The wait was long one; it 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
containing 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 a 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 got notion
that there's g-goin' to be a hold-up on
those papers"
'What do you mean? Who are
your" demanded the senator, rising.
my names Adams, It. o. Adams of
M-Monks Corner, Nebraska, but that
DIDN'T mean nothing to you. My
tips s-straight. I'm a barber and 1
hear things. There's a g-gang of for
eigners that's going to git that there
budget as sure as you're b-born I'M
less you hide 1t away"
Senator Warfeld stared at 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, senator !" he exclaimed, his face
lighting up; "they fixed your tele-
phone, dern'd If they amt"
"It can't be possiblei cried the
alarmed statesman, rushing into the
outer room In search or an attendant.
Adams followed him.
"What deviltry is this7" Numbered
Senator Warfield, finding the room va
cant and turning flercely upon Adams.
AS he spoke the lights flashed out.
mo deviltry, SENATOR" purred dis
tinctly foreign voice from out the en-
veloping darkness; "only a little
game of international politics"
Then followed a terrific struggle.
The room seemed to I'LL with shapes.
Adams clutcbed someone. His hands
came in contact with the senator's file.
He grabbed 1t and started blindly to
find an exit. He heard the senator's
stified cry and the thud of his falling