Gilpin observer., 1917-02-22

Granadian rifle more steady than the
rest struck the aviator, wounding him
mortally. The machine glided to the
ground and its occupant lunged out of
the seat in a dying condition.
Pearl came running up from behind
some boulders. She did not hesitate.
Adams knew that she was an accom-
plished f1ier and when he saw her
quickly don the dead mans goggles
and ear-muff1ers and invest herself in
his coat her intentions needed no ex-
plantations to him.
Showing himself to her for the first
time, he grasped the unexpected
chance and gave the machine push.
Involuntarily Pearl opened the levers
and started the engine. In another mo-
ment she was soaring toward the
American border.
Alone for the moment in a region
infested with the lurking and rapa-
cious border foe, Adams now did sew
eral queer things. From among the
apparel Of dead Granadians strewn
about he collected wardrobe and dis
appeared behind some bushes to change
his clothes.
There was something startling in
the change when he reappeared.
Armed from the holster of one of the
dead raiders and drawing the priced
belt a little tighter around his waist,
without looking to right or to left, he
skunk out of view with the air of a
person who knew what he was about,
where he was going and at ease in the
garments he wore.
An hour later after a dogged tramp
through changing landscape, he came
upon a hut at an abandoned silver
mine. He entered without hesitation.
He swept the spare and dirty interior
with cold glance. In corner crouch
ed hag of frightened woman.
"Get up!" he ordered, bluntly. "Tm
half starved!"
The aged Granadian tottered to her
feet, cringing before master.
Then came another surprise. His
Granadian was faultless; nor now was
there stammering in his speech.
After breakfast of bacon and cof-
fee, Adams had long talk with the
woman and sent her into another room
commanding her to remain there until
he called for her. He removed his
belt when he was sure that he was
alone and unobserved, and opening a
secret compartment behind the buckle
took out the Canal defense plans. He
fell to studying and wondering over
the blank sheet Of paper for which
chemicals to render it legible were
lacking.
Midday arrived before his solitary
meditations were concluded. During
luncheon he had another long talk
with the woman, the subject of which
pertained to Bolero, his movements
and the attitude of the people of that
section toward his ambitions to over
throw the ruling party of Granada and
seat himself in the presidential chair.
The woman was well informed. Her
shack was in an isolated and seQuest-
ed location. 1t was safe place for
personages in any faction besetting
that turbulent country to meet and
hatch political schemes.
She was a Castillian. She had been
very beautiful in the gentle days. The
noble Diaz of Mexico had often said
SO to her.
She told Adams of remote and pic
turesque things, of laces and ruf1les,
of loves, Of valor; and his volatile i'm
agination dwelt pleasantly in the
courts and gardens of n ghostly royal
ty, when out Of these stirring shadows
of long ago there loomed upon the
threshold flesh and blood figure of
today.
Major Brent stood there, his eyes
dilating.
Glands up, Orderly Adams!" cried
Brent, covering him. drop that gun
You have exposed yourself at last and
are under arrest u
Adams held his nerve. II may be
under arrest and w-won't resist you,"
he said, lowering his weapon; "but
I'm n-not going along with you. l
g-guess you're going tito give me ten
minutes alone, Major Brent" And he
indicated to the officer to step inside,
motioning the woman to retire.
ooLiCthhhS III thC AoSS Va
made Brent consent to that ten min
utes' interview. He came in and closed
the door with bang.
Adams opened the conversation.
"What's t-that locket Of Bertha Bonn's
containing your photy w-worth to
your
"What locket-what photograph"
demanded Brent with sudden fear.
"Try that s-stuff out on Miss Dare!"
exclaimed Adams, laughing In his face.
"You can't put it o-over on me. g-got
your number, Major Brent. What will
you pay mime for it?"
At the expiration of the ten minute
interview Major Brent left the shack
alone. He carried with him the sup
posed belt of the late Captain Payne
and the priced Canal defense plans
with which Adams had successfully