Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1917-08-17
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II
Toko's warning"
Then you now think that Captain
Payne was entirely innocent?" queried
Adams, cur1ously.
81 am positive, as you are" burst
from the girl.
I There Is no telephone connection
from that council chamber. Is thereT"
mo connection Of any kind with the
outside world"
"And no one In the chamber knew
what was to be done with the plans
and the waters when the meeting was
called?"
"Not until they assembled did any
one except the chief Of the army stan
know, not even that there were such
plans and waters"
| Adams laughed lightly. "Then there
Is only one answer to this puzzle!" he
exclaimed. payne must have been
| guilty Of forging his own handwriting
on that note OF warning and Of telling
| Toko-or the Granadian ambassador
that the priceless secret was on his
person-and where. That's all there
is to that, Pearll"
She looked at him questioningly.
you do not believe that! Do your
He laughed again. what else Is
there to believed"
She fell silent, signing, and he said
nothing more on the subject just then.
As soon as they reached the Dare
residence, and before they entered the
house, Adams very gravely requested
Pearl to 20 with him to Toko's quar-
tiers over the garage. She eagerly con-
scented.
When they entered the chauffeur's
room 1t was apparent that Toxic had
been there recently. The floor was lit
tered with tOrn-up pieces Of letters and
envelopes, on which the addresses, sig
natures and dates, as well as the post
marks, were rendered undecipherable.
There was not stitch Of clothing or a
single persOnsl effect of the chauffeur
HE cleaned everything out, didn't
he? Bag and baggage" commented
Adams, disappointment written on his
face. 1--WE shall probably never know
who Toxic was"
whats thisT questioned Pearl,
paying little heed to his remarks, abb
sorbed In discovery she had made.
Tackled on the back Of the door was
a plain, bulky envelope, sealed.
'T. o. ADAMS"
the address read.
That's what I've been rather ex-
peeting to find, Pearl!' Adams cried.
with an enthusiasm at which she won
dered greatly. May have 1t, pleaseT
A curious depression came upon
Pearl as she looked from the name on
the envelope to the owner, whose face
was wreathed In smiles Of real JOY.
She handed It to him without removing
her eyes from his. Then an unfinished
conversation at the army administra-
ton building flashed into her mind.
"Do you recall the unanswered Ques-
lions i asked you, Adams, several
hours agoT' she inquired, quickly and
seriously, coming quite close to him.
"Yes. Pearl" he replied In low,
tense tones.
"Win you now answer them,
pleasef" she continued, In q pleading
way; $50 that all may be clear be-
tween us--so that there may be no
hidden mystery to crop out In the
years to come and-and spoil our hap
piness and content and mutual trust.
II your name really T. O. Adamsf Do
you come from Monks Corner, Nebras-
ka, or wherever that outlandish place
may be7 Did you know that Toxic was
the Silent Menacef You were not In
any way in league with him, were
your
Must you have your answer TO al
these questions nowr he inquired In
q strange. thick voice.
"As you WISH" she re5oined, not
without . tinge Of Impotence.
II am not T. o. Adams Of Monks
Corner, Nebraska," he finally admitted
In hollow tones.
The statement did not seem to sur
prise her. She made no comment, look
ing down at the tip Of her slipper,
waiting.
u am not tho mysterious inventor
Of the Canal Defense plans or the
chemical wafers." he continued In the
same tones.
She looked up at that. her face
showing pain and surprise.
IT never sud that vast he con-
tinued, quickly. interpreting her
thought. II said that T. o. Adams was.
and he was. And he was from Monks
Corner. Nebraska"
She seemed to be puzzled at this ex-
PLANTATION. which was not an explana-
ton at all, 80 far as she could see.
II did not know that Toxic was the
Silent Menace, although I suspected
1t, and l, Of course. was not in league
with him In any way. Now, are my
answers satisfactory
"No" she exclaimed, candidly, step
ping back pace. Her voice was cool.
"Who, may I ask, is the man to whom
l have given my love and pledged my
life? What has become Of T. o. Adams,
whose name and character you have
assumed must admit. so well7"
adams Is dead, Pearl" this strange