mean to say that Dane is the murderer," said Steel triumphantly.
"That is the reason Denham and this other person (whoever he may be)
have a hold over him. If he ruins Denham, he does so at the cost of
being hanged."

CHAPTER XXIV

A RAT IN A CORNER

The next day Giles returned to Rickwell with Steel. The detective could
not leave town before, as he had to procure a warrant for the arrest of
Alfred Denham, alias Wilson, alias George Franklin, and half a dozen
other names. The man was to be arrested for various robberies connected
with the gang of thieves, of which he was the head. Search was being
made by the police for _The Red Cross_ yacht, but evidently the gang had
taken alarm, for she had disappeared. It was Steel's opinion that she
was down Plymouth way, sailing round the Devonshire coast, and the
police in that county were on the lookout.

"Once I can get that ship," explained Steel to Giles when in the train,
"and their claws will be cut. They have escaped for a long time, so
ingenious have their methods been. But I have accumulated a mass of
evidence, and have several names known to the police. Yes, and several
names of people not known. There are about twenty thieves, professional
and amateur, connected with this matter. It is a big affair. But I'll
get the yacht, and then Denham. That will be the means of laying bare
the whole swindle."

"Which? Denham or the yacht?"

"Each! both! If the police can seize the boat unexpectedly, some
incriminating papers are sure to be found on board. And if I can arrest
Denham, I'll soon get the truth out of him."

"I don't believe he can tell the truth, even if forced to," said Ware
grimly. "You have no idea how that man has cheated me, Steel," and then
Giles related the eavesdropping of himself and Morley.

"I don't know how Denham got to know," he continued, "but the tale he
told about the invented brother was his own history, and quite deceived
me and Morley. Also that soliloquy after Mrs. Benker departed was a
masterly conception. It would have cheated any one, let alone me. The
man was acting for the benefit of myself and Morley, and knew we were
listening. What a clever scoundrel!"

"He's been a little too clever this time," replied Steel; then he began
to laugh, but refused to explain why he did so, save in a general way.

"This is the queerest case I was ever in," he said, with a chuckle; "you
don't know how queer."

"Well, you explain. I think