The Monticellonian., 1917-05-24

plain clothes. The wide open and in- viting gates were guarded from the inside by soldiers.
 It was exactly 10 p. m. when Adams appeared suddenly on the empty street, rushed across it through the gates and into the building. He showed the heavy iron doors shut in the faces of the startled guards, and flew down a stairway leading into the basement before they could get them open. Simultaneously the whole build- ing was thrown into darkness.
 Adams ran to bolted iron door in the rear of the basement and knocked Dare rushed up from behind. He knew 1t was she from the switch of her skirts. Toko was on her heels. All three were dragged inside the door, which opened and closed in a twinkling. Then a lock snapped.
 It was pitch black; terrifying and silent struggle began. Someone caught hold of Pearl and forced little round cardboard box into her hand. A voice remarkably like that of Adams whis- pered into her ear: "The chemical wafers, girl-hide them!"
 Then came a quick short flash from an electric torch. In the fleeting light Pearl glimpsed masked faces and shrouded forms.
 "The foreign alliance !" the voice of Adams whispered.
 "Toko!" Pearl cried in great fright, all her fears of Adams returning.
 A grating, choking sound came from Toko's throat. That was all. Pearl heard the bolt rattle, the door opened, rush of many feet and shifting. moving, and the collision of many per sons groping in the dark. Oaths and cries filled the place. Suddenly the lights flashed back.
 The basement was damned with sol diers and no one else The foreign al- lance seemed to have melted into air.
 Pearl saw her father and Major Brent She saw Toko and Adams. Bewilderment prevailed upon the faces of all.
 Where is the Silent MenaceY Pearl cried, unable to restrain the question longer.
 The lights flashed out again.
 "He is here, Mees Dare!" from somewhere a soft European voice was heard to say.
 In the grim silence stealthy foot steps mounted the basement stairs. All rushed after them in a panic, dash ing Into the street like pack of hounds seeking lost trail.
 Orderly Adams?" cried Colonel Dare glaring at the dense crowd sur rounding the building.
 "Here," Adams stepped forth from among the sea of people.
 Arrested, sirl" beloved the colo nel, and he called corporal and seven privates to take charge of Adams.
 Pearl Dare jumped into the same automobile with Adams and the squad of soldiers, determined to follow him to the guardhouse and prevent any possibility of his escape. Later on, when the excitement abated she could deliver the box of waters to her fa- ther.
 This was so like Pearl that Colonel Dare raised no objection. With Major Brent and Toko, he hastened back to the basement of the Chemical build ing.
 The place was now alight. A care full search began ending with a sur prising discovery In one of the coal bins. There they found number of thick black muffiers and as many son. bre looking shrouds, to one of which was fastened a hote addressed to Colonel Dare. It read:
 I kept my appointment and have obtained the chemicals to decipher the Canal defense plans. Tell Adams not to try that trick again. S. Nj.
 "What trick? Has this place been robbed? Does anyone know what this means?" thundered the colonel. "Colonel Dare!" responded a junior officer rushing to the scene. "A horri- ble mistake has been made. The cor poral to whom you delivered Adams was not a real corporal nor were his men real soldiers. Both your daugh- ter and your orderly have been car ried away by persons masquerading in our uniforms All trace of them has been lost"
 (END OF EIGHTH EPISODE.)