Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1917-07-27
II Story of"Ame,7ca First" I'm
mask7ng Ame,7cu'S Secret Foes
NovefSed From Me 1zohon Picture SERIAL of tie Same
Name Released BY Fafhe
1ev1H

you and Bertha Bonn, and you're
afeard of mine and play into my
hands because you DIDN'T want me to
squeal on you to Miss Dare. Amt
! t-that itP'
There's another reason, to be can
did. You have the insufferable impu'
| dence to be in love with Miss Dare
! yourself. Was there ever a more lu-
dicrous situation The Silent Menace
posing as orderly to Colonel Dare, In
love with his daughter, or posing
there, too, possibly, and using all of us
as tools in his plot. 1 give it to you
Adams" He laughed farcically.
"Why DIDN'T you shoot me, majori
There's a g-gun under your pillow,
amt thereT
The major reached under his pillow
and pulled out revolver. I've got a
mind to do that" reflected Brent, ex-
aiming the loaded chambers, with a
quick flash of the eye at his caller.
But he put the revolver away.
Adams chuckled 1T amt a m-mat-
ter of nerve, is it, major? You're no-not
quite sure about me, after all, are
your"
I'm sure, but have no proof. When
get that l intend to kill you, Adams,
Brent candidly stated.
For several seconds Adams silently
appraised Brent. All of sudden he
became melancholy. There may
'n-never be any proof of anything, Ma
jor Brent" he rejoined in slow, MUIR
muring way. I've b-been thinking a
whole lot of this fix you got yourself
in. l got notion to help you out O-of
it,"
You have, eh?"
Don't be s-sarcastic. l mean the
Fright kind Of help. Don't forget that
l c-could send you to that there same
penitentiary you were ascending Payne
to-" insinuatingly.
Brent laughed outright. "What
would the charge be? How could you
make it without showing your hand
without unmasking yourself as the
Silent Menace? Even though you have
me under your control, you really
can't make a move against me pub
licly."
Then Adams gave Brent a great
start. 81 c-could make a grease spot
out of you without showing the hand
of the Silent Menacew muttered
Adams, coldly.
Brent's hands stole in the direction
of the revolver under his pillow, al
- ha do
had him covered in second. Don't
git f-fidgety, Major. I'm downright
serious. | amt g-going to make any
g-grease spot out of you because" his
voice trailed an instant-"because
you're going to DIDO the decent thing"
(Which is?" with slight catch.
you're going to marry Miss Bier
tina Bonn. You're going to m-marry
her now. You're going to get up and
go al-along with me and marry her."
He took from his inner coat pocket a
long white envelope, not taking his eye
off Brent moment, and referring to
it, continued: 1--WE got your license
fright here. I've had ii several d'days.
It's regular and you'll be unmarried by
a regular preacher. It'll be a regular
w-wedding, and I'm going to give you
regular wedding p-present. There's
Major Brent" He returned the en-
velope to his pocket and calmly wait
ed for Brent to say something.
Brent, who did not move muscle
while Adams spoke, at first thought
that he was INDUCING in the peculiar
kind of humor expected of him at any
time and under any circumstances.
Gradually 1t dawned on him that the
man was not joking.
$50 that's your scheme !" he blurted,
composure fast slipping away. you're
trying to force me to give up Miss
Dare by bribery because you want her
yourself !"
"P-part of Ii, major" admitted
Adams, exhibiting a deeply stirred
emotional nature in voice and eyes. Il
am I'm Hove with Miss Dare. I'm
going to g-get her If she'll let me. But
that amt exactly w-why I'm going to
marry you and Bertha Bonn together
and make you a little wedding gift.
You're going to be square to Bertha
Bonn a-and I'm going to help you
along. That's all there is tito that /;
and the things got to be done, major,
before l go TOTO Panama. Or" a
new idea striking him-"now that you
Know w-what you're going to do and
what I'm going to DIDO, mebbe we bet
ter put 1t o-off till | get back from
Panama"
"See here, Adams !" cried Brent, now
leaping out Of bed and confronting
his visitor. "That'll be about enough
Of that from you. If you don't get out
of here In hurry I'll throw you In the
guardhouse. I'm sick to death Of this
beastly affair. Another word and I'll
tell all to Colonel Dare and take the
consequences ~
A pleased smile illuminated the
, countenance of the perfectly composed
man sitting at the foot of the bed. He
put away his pipe and rose. Either
fo a.