Gilpin observer., 1917-02-15

was ADAMS. he also was DOunu.
The newcomers crowded around
their leader, shouting and gesticulat-
ing. "The Gringos-they are upon
usi" In their haste and alright they
literally dragged the protesting Bolero
into a narrow tunnel.
The eyes of Pearl and Adams met.
Even in that tense moment he was
smiling whimsically.
She laughed in spite Of herself. He
had a sense Of humor and somehow
she was glad.
He eyed her dubiously. Miss Dare
-hev y-you still got my belt ONT"
"Your belt7" she echoed.
He nodded. "Yes'm, my belt-the
one Major Brent gave you to wear to-
night"
A worried look appeared in PEARLS
eyes. The matter Of the belt had puz-
zled her, but she had not associated
1t or her seizure In any way with Ma
jor Brent. Adams, awaiting her reply,
noted her sudden abstraction.
With increasing vehemence she swift
ly reviewed the nights occurrences.
She had explained rather blushingly
to herself that the majors visible en-
barrassment in sending her on her Sc
cret mission was accounted for in the
rivalry which had existed between
Payne and himself and that he did not
want to appear in an ambiguous light.
She recalled now his insistence that
she wear the belt SO as to be armed,
in spite Of his assurances that she
need have no fear. 1t was only natu-
raj that she should wonder about the
source Of Major Brent's apparently
sudden news in the Payne case, wheth-
er the Bonn woman was not in some
way linked in it, and just where her
fathers orderly came In, If the belt
was really his. She concluded that
the belt itself would have to answer
these questions.
Adams, who had not removed his
gaze from her face, caught something
Of the working Of her mind when she
quickly raised her head and fxedly
regarded spot on the wall.
'They hev t-taken the belt from you,
h-hev they7 Huhl They hev hid it
away, hev they? Huhp
The mans divinatiOn startled her.
"Yes" she exclaimed, motioning with
her head. Its up therel What is
there about your belt, Adams? 1 de-
mand to knoww
he appeared to be on the point Of
telling her when further conversation
was made impossible for the time be-
Ing by what appeared to be an appa-
rition emerging from the wall.
It was Bolero, however, and his
movements indicated haste. Without
glancing at either, he opened the
cache and took out the belt. A pistol
shot rang out and the belt dropped.
Completely surprised, Bolero stared
open-mOuthed into the barrel of a re-
volver in the corded hands Of Adams.
In the next second he leaped aside,
bowling. A second shot had grazed
his scalp. A third followed in quick
succession and he disappeared like a
shadow actually melting away.
"How m-much nerve hev you got?"
Adams now inquired of Pearl in
reassuring manner. Il g-got one shot
left. I kin cut your wrist cords If
you keep still as stone. I'd let you
try it on me If w-was sure I could
toss the gun to you. I'm a straight
shot. We've g-got to do something
quick"
The confidence that he meant to in
still In Pearl came without hesitation.
Her alarm Of Adams came later.
"Quickl" |" she responded. II she felt
fear Of consequences she did not re-
veal 1t.
Adams eyes shone.
"Some grill" he murmured, DELHI
erately firing.
The look upon her countenance as
with freed hands she released herself
was well worth the dangerous exhibi-
tion Of his skill.
"SoEle shotl" was all she said, now
releasing him.
She offered the belt to him, yelling
her intense interest in 1t.
He fitted it snugly around his waist,
feigning Indifference to it.
"This here t-thing amt any good any
more" he stamEered In his cool,
drawling way, regarding the empty re-
volver. But Pearl noticed that he put
1t In the holster.
Then began search for a way to
escape. A hasty inspection brought
out the fact that they were in no ordi-
nary place Of confinement. 1t was
clear ut once that Bolero must have
arrived and departed by u secret pas
sage and this they were unable to
locate.
Liberation. therefore, might be pos
sible only through the tunnel
The area Of the tunnel was narrow
and cramped. They were obliged to
stop and pick their way along an un-
even footing. There was no light
ahead, and after proceeding short
distance complete darkness envelopet
them. The atmosphere reeked Of foul