The Monticellonian., 1917-05-17
A Sfoty ofHme,zca First UNmasktng -AMe,7cus Secypf Eoes NoveiiSed From fife Mohon Retarf Serial of he Same Name
 ReIea5ed 6y Pathe
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udI WHY no trust AldlllS, LlcDDe. He paused to see the effect of his words on Miss Dare. She was too confused to speak.
 T hunt all day." continued Toko. "See Adams tonight and follow to rail- road station. Demand note. He say not got it and call me fool. I not know 1t Adams till I pull black muf- fer off his face. We fall in river in another fight. He get away once more. Seer"
 "Another muller? A note to me? So you were the man fighting with Adams! Why, Toko. I was the per son who fired that shot!" Pearl fina1- ly blurted out when she could find her voice.
 Light now dawned on Pearll "Ohl That note-the note of warning against Adams ID she cried rapidly. "An army scout found and brought the note to my father"
 Army scout?' quizzed Toko, who appeared to be nonplussed.
 Pearl explained, then, how a scout in the army's employ went in search of trace of her, Adams, himself and Miss Bonn; how he found the note somewhere not distant from the scene of Toko'S scrap with Adams; how it was at first misunderstood by both her father and herself, for it's word ing seemed to apply to Major Brent and not to Adams; how she diseov- cred Adams to possess the canal de- fense plans seereted in Captain Payne's military belt all the time how Major Brent captured the document from Adams and delivered it to her father, after she escaped by airplane and told them where she thought Ad- ans might be found.
 To all of which Toko lent listen- ing and dumfounded ear, for he knew that it was of Major Brent the warn ing had been sent, and that the mes sage was justified, for it told the truth.
 He did not tell Miss Dare this. how ever.
 ''I can't understand why the major had his face covered with this muf- fer" ruminated Pearl. Toko muttered something unintelli- gible. q say no more about Major Brent till know more" he said aloud. 'Toko make sure next time." And both fell silent.
 Meanwhile Pearl glanced around to get their bearings. They were miles distant from the American line, to- ward which the car was headed. The hour was well advanced into the night.
 Pearl sighed in pathetic way. All though she felt secure with Toko as her guide and guard, never before was she so utterly depressed.
 But presently Miss Dare's unhappy thoughts fled before dangers new and imminent; for out of the night there loomed across the trail the figure of a man on horseback. It was Bolero.
 "Jump!" cried Toko, smothering an oath and clamping on the brakes.
 In another moment they were dodg- ing around bush and dune.
 "Sacre" cried the bandit chief. 'The eolonels daughter-she has the ulilldTy uOCulueHI
 "Shoot him, Toko!' Pearl urged in their dash toward neighboring hills.
 1T no got gum" he groaned.
 They ran faster, hearing Bolero's mocking laugh. Then came the wild yells of followers lurking in the shad- ows.
 Bolero was not altogether sure that Pearl and her chauffeur were un- i armed, and he kept a cautious dis 1 tance while from various directions horsemen galloped up. One more im- | petuous than the rest plunged straight at Pearl, caught her by the waist and pitched her across the pommel of his saddle and veered with bold challenge to his rapacious comrades. Now ensued quarrel for the prize. Shielding Pearl as best he could, her captor fired his revolver twice, and two opponents toppled on the sand.
 Bolero, who had looked on in amuse- ment, put an end to the fight. "The girl is yours!' he gustoed Justify. "Tll take the Jap, who'll not get away soon again! !"
 Toko was thrown on pony, Bolero assumed the lead and the whole party cantered away.
 Miss Dare exposed her pale features to the ruffian behind her, observing at the same time that his clothes were damp as from a recent wetting. Their eyes met. Her fears doubled. Her captor was T. O. Adams.
 Don't budge and k-keep quiet, g-girl," he whispered commandingly, yet his smile was pleasant. Not a hair on your heads goin' to be harmed"
 She sat erect, alert, scornful.
 T can't git you-all back tito safe ty, jes' yit," he continued, in a kindly way. That canal document ain't safe on you. Let me have it till I can de liver you and it b-both to the colonel'
 'sT. o. Adams, or whoever you are, the document belongs neither to you nor to me. Its owner is the United States of America. You know that do not have it. l know that you stole it from me. Why are you putting up this pretense? If you will pose, why not be natural?"
 He regarded the back of her head steadily.
 ~~-~-~~o~~~~~-~~~-~~~o ~~~~~~~~-o----o->oooo- 1 precious bit of meat reached the camI