thing dramatic in a few weeks' time? That's bound to appeal to
him." For a moment a fugitive smile flittered across Sage's features.
"I think," he added, "we shall surprise him."

"In the meantime we must be diplomatic," said Colonel Walton. "That's
why I'm not taking you with me this morning."

"You think I'd resign," queried Sage with an odd movement at the
corners of his mouth.

"I'm sure of it," was the response, as Colonel Walton rose. "I suppose
you know," he continued, "that Scotland Yard is absolutely congested.
You can have no idea of what Sir Roger said when I met him in Whitehall
yesterday."

"If it's anything at all like what comes through to me----" and Malcolm
Sage shrugged his shoulders.

Ten minutes later Colonel Walton was shown into Mr. Llewellyn John's
room.

"Ah! here you are," cried Mr. Llewellyn John, as he motioned Colonel
Walton to a seat. "Is there any news?"

"None, sir," was the response.

"This is getting very serious, Walton," said Mr. Llewellyn John,
"something really must be done."

"Have you tried Scotland Yard, sir?" asked Colonel Walton evenly,
looking across at Sir Roger, who made a movement as if to speak, but
evidently thought better of it.

"I didn't mean that as a rebuke, Walton," said Mr. Llewellyn John
diplomatically. "But this John Dene business is really most awkward.
Scotland Yard has apparently been entirely disorganised through your
advertisements, and Sir Roger has just been telling me that there are
eight more questions down on the paper for to-day. Every day the
Admiralty endeavours to call up Auchinlech by wireless," continued Mr.
Llewellyn John, "but they can get no response."

"The thing is, where is John Dene?" demanded Sir Roger, speaking for
the first time, and looking at Colonel Walton, as if he suspected him
of having the missing man secreted about his person.

"I think the popular conception of the detective is responsible for all
the trouble," said Colonel Walton quietly, looking from Sir Roger to
the Prime Minister.

"What do you mean?" demanded Sir Roger.

"I think Sage expressed it fairly accurately," continued Colonel
Walton, "when he said that if a man disappears, or a criminal is
wanted, the detective is always expected to produce him as a conjurer
does a guinea-pig out of a top hat."

"It isn't that," said Mr. Llewellyn John irritably. "It's the reward
that's causing all the trouble."

"What is the detective for if it's not t