Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-09-21

mes B-BOL the nerve III right, ne
concluded with a quick upward glance
at the chauffeur who was %lounging in
one Of the automobiles. do you think
t-that he can get away with itT'
"With whatq" Toxic asked bluntly,
rolling a cigarette.
That's a fact" echoed Adams,
perplexed. "With what" He strolled
away in deep thought.
Toxic eyed his ~retreating figure in
passive silence. Colonel Dare had
privately instructed him to watch
Adams closely all day and hat night
and to report at once II he appeared
to act suspiciously-a p~recaution pro-
posed by Major Brent.
Once during the day Adams was I'M
a~ccountably absent from duty. Toxic
asked him where no had been when
he showed up.
Remember your little friend and
f-fellow captive at Bolero's-Miss Ber-
tina Bonn2" asked Adams, a trihe con-
fused.
Toxic admitted that he did.
"Waal, I've been having a c-chat
with her" Adams replied in a noncom-
initial way.
Toxic ceased to question him fur
Their. When the first opportunity ar
rived he reported the matter to Major
Brent.
Brent raised his eyebrows and re-
Elected. "That is of no consequence,
Toxic" he presently commented. "You
need not mention it to either the colo
mel or Miss Dare
But Toxic did report the incident to
his mistress, and she sent for the or
derby.
81 didn't know that you were con-
tinuing in Washington your frontier
acquaintance with Miss Bertha Bonn"
she said to Adams, more piqued than
she let on.
Adams laughed lightly. "TOko told
you that, did he? Is there any r-rea-
son why 1 should not know Miss
Bonn?"
ION the contrary, I think that you
are favored. She is a very beautiful
girl If my memory serves me right.
When you see her again, remember
me to her"
"That will be tonight" responded
Adams, drily. He scented something
in the air.
Pearl pouted at Adams. 81 should
like to see her myself. At what hour
is your appointment"
"At ten sharp in f-front of the
chemical building" was the orderly's
startling reply.
That evening after dinner the Dares
were not greatly surprised when
Adams asked for leave of absence for
the night. 1t was granted without
question. But when he left the house
two unseen persons followed him. One
was Toxic. The other was Pearl.
It was along about dark when
Adams stopped at the Hotel Wilton,
entered the elevator and went to Miss
Bonn's apartment.
He admitted himself without knock
ing. Bertha in street attire, greeted
him in a manner to indicate that he
had been expected.
"Have you g-got 'emT" he asked,
eagerly and anxiously.
Without replying she gave him a
little round cardboard box.
"By gOshl Bertha Bonn deserves a
gold m-medall !" cried he more excited
than she had ever seen him.
He opened the box and dumped the
contents into the palm of one hand.
There were two parafinelike waters,
each about the size of a %fifty-cent
piece. "By gum! It's them. It's the
chemicals to make the link In the Ca
nal defense plans visible !"
He replaced the waters and put the
box in his vest pocket. 'Don't forget
he said, putting on his hat to go; ~
g-got a date with you at the Chemical
building about ten. If 1 f-fail to show
up, you know what to do" And he
FASTENED away.
Adams leaped into a "sea-going'
hack, for which Washington is famous
among tourists, and drove from the
Wilton as If on a pleasure jaunt. Toxic
followed in one taxicab; Pearl Dare
In another.
After a circultous route through
puIhn anu Slue blIttlSt he opp De'
fore an empty tenement house in the
cheaper section Of the city, paid his
fare, dismissed the cab and hurriedly
entered. Toxic stopped his taxi halt
a block away and stole after him. Pear.
ordered her driver to draw up on the
other side of the street, where she
waited in readiness for the unexpected
Three automobiles containing sol
dlers now raced by. She caught O
feeting glimpse Of her father and Ma.
jor Brent in the first car and raced
after them.
"TOko is sleuthlng Adams in a sus
piclous-loOking house in the mex
street" she whispered excltedly to hel
father when abreast Of his car. Don
you think you better search the
placer"
Colonel Dare quickly gave the or
H. - IL 49,. A. - IL H..-N