The Monticellonian., 1917-04-26

turning to the colonel who was amused
and not offended. "What is this Ma.
tional Preparedness committee. and
where is 1t a-at?"
There was something about Adams
which commanded their interest.
"Tm just an o-ordinary tom-fool guy
| thinking about joining the army and
you got me a-all excited about this
preparedness business" stammered he
| looking from one to the other.
A pleasant light shown in the col
| onefs eyes and he acknowledged
Adams with courtly inclination of
his head. quite propah, son, quite
propah. 1t affords me great pleasure
TO respond to youah request. The Ma
| tional Preparedness committee is
made up of distinguished men from
the halls of national legislation re-
fer to our senate and our house of
representatives. This committee is
| preparing, or supposed to be prepar-
ing. a budget containing an inventory,
| if you know what that means, sub, of
our national resources. 1t will be a
very valuable document we hope, sub,
indeed, if it is evan completed. Sena-
| tor Warfield is in charge"
Adams listened intently to every
word. There was a momentary hush
"Thank YOU" he said presently
With an awkward bow he went back
to his seat at the little green table
! The bystanders followed him with
| quiZZical expressions. Then someone
! bought a drink, the colonel resumed
his discourse, and he was forgotten.
Adams continued to ignore the pres
! ence of Toxic. He placed an elbow
on the table and resting his chin in
| the palm of one hand began to make
| lead pencil marks on a sheet of paper
| He appeared TO Toxic to be working
out some intricate mental problem
Ten minutes passed when Adams rose
and disappeared in the rear of the
room leaving his upaid drink check
and the valise behind him.
Toxic fastened his eyes upon the
valise and the paper. He picked UP
the latter and curiously inspected the
pencil serawls which were meaning
less to him. He glanced about expect
ing Adams to return at once. Then
the entrance of a number of gentle
men attracted his momentary gaze
They We're looking for vacant table
Toxic, in his capacity in the Dare
| household, had served many of the
celebrities of the world during his
| long time employment. In each of
| these men he saw reSemblances to per-
sons of no little Importance. OF one
there could be hardly any doubt that
he and certain deposed president of
South American Republic were
the same. Still another might easily
have passed in stature and manners
ism as the double of the Spanish pre-
tender. The speech and bearing of
a third coupled him in Toko's quick
| mind with an exiled war treasurer of
powerful foreign country. The re-
| manning members of the party were
| Enthusiastically prominent Europeans, If
not noblemen. one Englishman and an
Oriental of his own race.
They clearly showed that they de-
sired the table at which he sat and
after a moments hesitation he took
| up Adams yalise and made off in the
direction of the telephone booth to
communicate with Miss Dare.
The party Immediately grouped
around the vacated table. One of
them observed the lead pencil handi-
| work of Adams. AS with Toxic, the
| marks meant nothing to him. But
| when he turned his attention to TIE
other side Of the paper, which Toxic
| had not inspected he smiled faiRtly
and nodded to each of his companions
| These words had been written in the
| Granadian language:
National Preparedness Budget
Senate Building-tonight.
Under 1t was the silhouette of q
masked man and this signature:
THE SILENT MENACE"
The paper was torn into little
pieces.
"Shall it be Paul Roget, messieurs,'
quietly inquired the Frenchman.
No one demurred. Then began q
pleasant chat concerning the American
national game of baseball.
Major Steele of the Army Intelli-
| gence bureau in citizen clothes now
| entered the saloon. Toxic was emerg-
| ing from the telephone booth. He
recognized and called the major aside
Miss Dare, she tell me you come
| and l CO." Ee pointed toward the
rear. adams, he go that way. Miss
Dare, she say you know about him.
The ma or nodded CURLY.
Let me have that valise. It's his
| isn't it?"
"Sure, l take it," grinned Toxic
| handing 1t to the major.