opened the door leading to the pantry, closed it again, locked
it, and without as much as a glance at me returned to face
his visitor.

"Well, general, what is it?"

"This is strictly secret."

"I'll bet it isn't," said Grim. "If it's about missing
explosives I know more than you do."

"My God! It's out? Two tons of TNT intended for the air force
gone without a trace? The story's out?"

"I know it. Catesby sent me word by messenger last night from
Ludd, after you put him under arrest."

"Damn the man! Well, that's what's happened. Catesby's fault.
They'll blame me. The truck containing the stuff was run into a
siding three days ago. Through young Catesby's negligence it was
left there without a guard. Catesby will be broke for that as
sure as my name is Jenkins. But, by the knell of hell's bells,
Grim, more than Catesby will lose their jobs unless we find the
stuff! Two tons. Half enough to blow up Palestine!"

"Too bad about Catesby," said Grim.

"Never mind, Catesby. Damn him! Consider my predicament! How
can I go to the Administrator with a lame-duck story about
missing TNT and nothing done about it?"

"Nothing done? You've passed the buck, haven't you? Catesby is
under arrest, you say."

"What do you mean?"

"I know Catesby," Grim retorted quietly. "He made that fine
stand at Beersheba--when the Arabs rushed the camp, and you
weren't looking. He took the blame for your carelessness, and
never squealed. You took the credit for his presence of mind,
and have treated him like a dog ever since. You expect me to try
to save your bacon and forget Catesby's?"

"Nonsense, Grim! You're talking without your book. Here's what
happened: the stuff arrived at Ludd in a truck attached to the
end of a mixed train. The R.T.O.* sent me a memorandum and
stalled the truck on a siding. I gave the memorandum to
Catesby." [*Railway Traffic Officer.]

"He tells me in the note I received last night that you did
nothing of the kind."

"Then he's a liar. He forgot all about it and did nothing. When
the Air Force sent to get the stuff the truck was empty."

"And you want me to find it, I suppose?"

"Yes. The quicker the better!"

"And be a party to breaking Catesby? I like my job, but not
that much!"

"You refuse then to hunt for the TNT?"

"I take my orders straight from the Administrator. He expects me
in half an hour. You want me to smooth the way for you with Sir
Louis. I'm m