s own about John Dene."

Malcolm Sage nodded his head slowly several times. For some minutes he
continued to smoke with a mechanical precision that with him always
betokened anxiety.

"It's the dug-out business, I don't like," he said at length.

Colonel Walton nodded. "You think?" he queried.

Sage nodded, his face was unusually grave.

During the previous week it had been discovered that Mr. Naylor was
having constructed in his back-garden a dug-out, to which to retire in
case of air-raids, and he was himself assisting with the work of
excavation.

Finlay had confirmed Malcolm Sage's suggestion that Naylor was
suspicious. There had been a quarrel between the two, which had taken
place through intermediaries. Naylor had accused Finlay of being
responsible for the disappearance of John Dene. Finlay had responded
by a like accusation, and the threat of serious consequences to Naylor
when the facts were known in a certain quarter.

"We've got to speed up." Malcolm Sage addressed the remark apparently
to the thumbnail of his left hand.

Colonel Walton nodded.

"I don't like that dug-out business at all," continued Sage. "The
changing of the site too," he added.

"Had they got far with the first one?" enquired Colonel Walton

"About five feet down; but they haven't filled it in yet."

Colonel Walton looked up quickly. His face was grave.

"Naylor says they must get the dug-out finished first in case of a
raid. He can fill in the old hole at any time."

"A dug-out after nearly four years of raids?"

"Exactly," said Sage, "that and the unfilled hole and Naylor's own
activities----" He broke off significantly.

"About the reward? It would be awkward if---- Come in."

Colonel Walton broke off at the sound of a knock at the door.

Thompson entered with an ebony walking stick in one hand, a silver knob
and a small piece of paper in the other. He held out the paper to
Malcolm Sage, who, with a motion of his head, indicated Colonel Walton.
He was very punctilious in such matters. Colonel Walton took the slip
of paper and read aloud.

"Arrest me late to-night and have me taken to Tower. Slip the dogs
to-morrow certain, delay dangerous.

J. F."

For fully a minute the three men were silent. Colonel Walton began to
draw diagrams upon his blotting pad Malcolm Sage gazed at his
finger-nails, whilst Thompson stood stiffly erect, his face pale and
his mouth rigid. Presently Sage looked up.