Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-10-05

window and looked down on the
street. II had been q long time since
Bertha's mind ~speculated upon things
Of serious import. She was half In
cllned to envy Pearl Dare II only for
the impulse to good and noble deeds
life in that household encouraged. She
shrugged her shoulders and sighed
hopelessly. She had indeed made a
mess Of her life.
Pearl, who was studying Bertha
quietly, wondered at her sudden alb
straction. "What do you see on the
sidewalk that makes you sigh so dis
mally7"
Nothing but a lampllghter on his
nightly rounds" quickly evaded
Bertha, changing her mood. "That's
queer - she added and motlOned to
Pearl, whispering: "Come here!'
Pearl hastened to the window, gave
one glance in the direction indicated
by Bertha md ran to her desk. She
opened a drawer and hurried back to
the window with a pair Of sea-glasses
Of the kind used on ships at night.
Through these binoculars Pearl
gazed at the lamplighter. He stood
on top Of his ladder %ostensibly testing
the strength Of one Of the powerful
bulbs in the cluster Of electric lights
on the post. In reality he had found
and was reading q message evidently
left there for him.
"Can you make It Out2 Is 1t
thing Unusually" whispered Bertha,
softly and curlOusly.
Pearls hands shook as she pressed
the glasses against her eyes.
The Silent Army Is to assemble at
the Owls hour at the Chemical build
ing. The Silent Flyer will be there.
BY command Of the Silent Menace.
The lampllghter replaced the note
and leaping to the ground disappeared
with his ladder under his arm.
"The waters ~ calculated Pearl, re-
peating the words to Bertha while the
two dashed down the steps.
"The Silent ArmyI" repeated Ber-
tina under her breath, as they rushed
into the study, thinking of the words
to which the colonel on that subject
had just given u~tterance.
Pearl rapidly related her discovery
and all hurried to the door. They met
Adams on the threshold. He blocked
their exit.
"See here w-what 1 just found on
that there lamp posti" he suffered,
addressing the colonel, handing him a
little piece Of paper.
1t was the message read and left
by the lamplighter.
The apparently genuine alarm of
the orderly removed from their
thoughts any mOmentary suspicion Of
him In connection with this new mys-
terry even though it struck them as odd
that the convlving of the Silent Men
ace with his accOmplices was taking
place almost within their door-Ber-
tina and Brent both excepted. The
latter recalled his experience with the
lamplIghter that morning.
Adams, so ordered by the colonel,
went to the garage to get n Of the
automobiles for a dash to town. Some
little delay ensued for Toxic was
sound asleep in his room in the upper
story. While they waited the colonel
telephoned to the barracks and or
dered his entire regiment to proceed
to the Chemical building. Brent or
another line notified the war Office.
"This isn't a hoax, that's sure =
muttered the colonel as he replaced
the telephone receiver. He had beer
unable to connect with the Chemica.
building. Exchange told him tina
something was wrong with the wires
there.
They were seated in the car; TOkC
was shifting the gears.
"Stopp ~ cried Pearl with a dramatl,
upward gesture.
High In the skies, quite distinct, We
unaccompanied by sound, two fer.
red, dragon-like eyes flashed ferOci
r ously, dazzling and binding humal
i sight. They moved as swiftly Is tn
e wind although no breezes stirred.
Involuntarily they shrunk in awe o
the weird spectacle.
a TITS 1.-THE Silent FlyerV fell fror
a the lips Of Adams.
Toxic opened the throttle and tn
car almost lifting itself from the as
n phalt bounded forward.
G They reached the Chemical built
r ing at neck-breaking speed, ~regardles
n of city laws and frightened pedei
h trians. Near the gates a soap box orr
> tor held s~pellbound an audience Of
thousand or more peaceful enoug
looking citizens intent upon ever
word Of IN eloquent speech on tn
topical theme Of 1.-THE High Cost {
h Living"
No scene could be less offending
The orator handled his subject wit
great tact and pronounced concerl
IS 1t was really a philosophical dlscours
ID Of u proper and educational nature.
1t But when In a moment the infantr
Is arrived from the barracks and ordere
s. the crowd to disburse the cloak
ID peaceful interest disappeared and