Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1917-03-02
Story |Hmer7ca
First" UHmasking
Ameuca'S Secret Foes
MoCehiEcS From ME Motion ReGRrt
&raI of tie Sane Name
Released BY Rahhr.
eNvv& NIX hev p Bo--a
GEz15

an IVA
onel, after a hasty examination of the
interior Of the box.
Here was a mystery altogether con-
fusing and alarming. II Adams was
the Silent Menace, why did he send
Bertha Bonn to tell him who Pearls
captors were?
Colonel Dare gave the box of waters
to Major Brent. Guard these until
1 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
Adams?" he whispered, sullenly.
"A great deal, major" she respond
ed, enigmatically. "You surely know
that-you who are completely in his
power!"
Brent shivered. He had felt for a
long time that he would eventually be
dominated by Adams whether he
willed it or not.
"You have revealed our secret! ~ he
continued, furiously. "You have ruined
mel"
"Oh, no, major, I 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-
pered: Let me have those waters.
l will return them to Adams. You
cannot afford to defy him; nor can l.,
just yet" There was an uneasy note
in her voice.
II can't do that, Bertha" groaned
Brent in a .d~espairing way. ut would
be traitorous. l would be suspected
the moment 1 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, If 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, %nervously.
There wal a spark Of resentment in
his attitude, too. II ought to denounce
you as an agent Of the Foreign ALI
ance and the Silent Menace's tool"
"You won't!"
g or at least be rewarded by
YOU"
in what way? Your miniature In
my locket, for e%xampleT
"Yes," DULY.
adams has it, Thornton" was the
startling information he received.
IF l 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 wafers?" Brent ha-
zarded at their parting.
keep them, but be on your guard!'
were the %colonel's instructions. "The
Silent Menace no doubt thinks that
I 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 q secret cabi-
net meeting at the White House as
soon 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
waters? From Adams, do you sup
poser"
This was the question asked by the
harried president ove and over.
IF from Adams, where did he get
them?" was Colonel Dare's counter
question. THAT is, If he Is not the
Silent Menace"
"Are you sure they are the wafers?'
suddenly Queried the president.
"We only suppose that they r the
waters we need" replied the colonel,
thoughtfully. "Shall I send for Brent
who Is guarding themT
1t was so arranged and the presi-
dents secretary vas dispatched to do
the t~elephoning.
During the interim, q 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 q
nation of men we would be! If the
man Adams Is all 1 really think him
somehow in spite Of appearances to