Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-09-28
II SI0ry Of %Amey7cu
First" UnmaSking
AMe17ca'S Secret Foes
MoVchsod From tie Morton Rcfzrg
Serial of hs SANE Name
RCkaJcd 81 Pahke
e~tA ~ soV 500

interior OF the box.
Here was a mystery altogether con-
fuslng and alarming. II Adams was
the Silent Menace, why did he send
Bertha Bonn to tell him who PEARLS
captors were2
Colonel Dare gave the box Of waters
to Major Brent. "Guard these until
l can take them in person to the war
department" Then he drew the major
aside and whispered: "Get at the bot
tom Of this Bertha Bonn and Adams
matter. Wen give her free rein"
In the seclusion Of the basement
stairs the desired opportunity for
Brent to question Bertha came.
"What is there between you and
AdamsT' he whispered, ~sullenly.
"A great deal, major" she respond
ed, systematically. "YOu surely know
that-you who are completely In his
powerl"
Brent shivered. He had felt for a
long time that he would eventually be
dominated by Adams whether he
wllled 1t or not.
you have revealed u secretl" no
continued, %furiously. "You have ruined
met"
"Oh, no, major, 1 haven't ruined
you. You are running yourself. Adams
did not learn of our relations from me
and there is one way to silence him."
She paused and looked cautiously
about. They were alone, She whis-
norad at OF mo have thoeo u.ofore
1 will return them to Adams. You
cannot afford to defy him nor can /,
just yet" There was an uneasy note
In her voice.
Il can't do that, Bertha" groaned
Brent In a despairlng way. ut would
be traitOrous. l would be suspected
the moment / tried to account for the
loss"
''They must be returned to him.
Bertha insisted in menacing tones. II
could not do otherwise than deliver
them to Colonel Dare, IL only to throw
suspicion Off Adams. But it was not
intended that they should remain in
his hands"
Brent guided her deeper into the
shadows of the stairs. II don't I'M
derstand," he whispered, n~ervously.
There vas a spark of resentment in
his attitude, too. ~ ought to denOunce
you as an agent of the Foreign ALI
ance and the Silent Menace's tool"
you won'tl"
e. or at least be rewarded by
you"
in what way? Your miniature in
my locket, for %example?"
YES" DULY.
adams has it, Thornton" was the
startling information he received.
"If / refuse to give the waters up?'
Without replying Bertha reached in
his coat pocket, took the box of waters
and hid them in her mesh bag.
THAT settles that" she exclaimed
with a sigh Of relief.
In another moment she was in her
taxi, riding rapidly away.
Without looking to right or left,
Brent went back to Colonel Dare.
1t was now nearly midnight. The
colOnel's men had searched the chemi-
cal building from top to bottom and
found nothing disturbed. Colonel Dare
went to the war Office to report and
Major Brent escorted the soldiers back
to the barracks to hold himself in
readiness for further orders.
How about the wafers2" Brent ha-
zarded at their parting.
Keep them, but be on your guard r.
We're the %colonel's instructions. "The
Silent Menace no doubt thinks that
l have them. Let US see If he shows
his hand to either of US. Bring them
to the war office when you are called"
Brent was hardly able to repress
his relieved feelings at that.
The president called a secret cabl,
net meeting at the White House as
o o as Colonel Dare's report was de-
livered to him. Here the colonel mar
rated every detail Of what had hap
pened.
"where did Miss Dare get the
wafersl From Adams, do you sup
poser"
This was the question asked by the
harrled president over and over.
III from Adams, where did he get
them?" was Colonel Dare's counter
question. "Thnt is, If he is not the
Silent Menace"
Are you sure they are the wafersT"
suddenly queried the president.
"We only suppose that they are the
waters We need" replied the colonel.
thOughtfully. "Shall l send for Brent
who Is guarding themT"
1t was so arranged and the presi-
dents secretary was dispatched to do
the telephOnlng.
During the interim, a hush fell up
on the group.
IF every daughter In our American
homes was like Miss Dare" remarked
the president putting a kindly hand
on the cOlOnel's shoulder for he saw
how depressed and worn the officer
was and OWNED his thoughts; "what a
mutton OF men we would bel II the
man Adams Is all l really think him
somehow In spite Of appearances to
be, Miss Dare will be returned to us