disguised as a tramp."

"Why a tramp, sir?" asked Stafford with an heroic attempt to preserve an
open mind on a subject where he had reached a definite decision.

"Fifteen years ago," replied Sir Stanley, "when the colonel did most of
his own dirty work, it was his favourite disguise. Search the casual
wards, the common lodging-houses and the prisons. It is just likely that
the colonel will commit a small offence, with the object of getting
himself three months in gaol--there's no hiding-place like gaol, you
know, Stafford. The real danger is that he may not actually tramp or
assume the guise of the real low-down loafer. He may have the sense to
become a poor but honest workman, travelling third-class from town to
town in search of work. Then he will present the greatest difficulty."
He saw the look of doubt on the young man's face and laughed.

"You think he's dead, don't you?" he said.

"I'm perfectly sure he is, sir," replied Stafford frankly.

"An optimist to the last," smiled Sir Stanley and dismissed him with a
nod.

Later he was to come to Stafford's little bureau and tell him things
which he did not know before. Then for the first time Stafford King
discovered how closely his lackadaisical chief had followed the
developments of the past few months. He learnt for the first time of the
big part which Jack o' Judgment had played in the detection of the gang.

"He had an office under the colonel's flat," said Sir Stanley.
"Apparently it was bought with no other object than to provide our
friend with an opportunity of spying on the colonel. He discoloured the
wall, brought in his own workmen and in the colonel's absence--he was
driven from the occupation of the room by the smell--he installed
microphones. With the aid of these he was able to listen to all the
conversation downstairs and sometimes to chime in. It was Jack o'
Judgment who--well, perhaps I'd better not tell you that, because
officially, I am not supposed to know it. At any rate, Stafford," he
said more seriously, "we have seen the smashing of one of the most
iniquitous, villainous gangs that ever existed. God knows how many
broken hearts there are in England to-day, how many poor souls who have
been brought to a suicide's grave through the machinations of Colonel
Boundary and his tools. I do not think there has been a more immoral
force in existence in our time, and I hope we shall never see its like
again. You sent out the message?" he asked at