id the Chief of
Department Z., as the car ran into the High Road.

"Trust them," was the answer. "Finlay wouldn't let Naylor escape him.
I should like to know what they're saying at the Tower," he added a
moment later.

From half-past twelve until nearly two that day, the officials at the
Tower were kept busily occupied in receiving guests. The appetite for
lunch of the officer of the guard was entirely spoiled.

"Where the deuce are we going to put them all," he asked of one of his
N.C.O.'s.

The man shook his head helplessly.

"It might be a Rowton's lodging-house," grumbled the officer, as he
made the twenty-third entry in what he facetiously called the "Goods
Received Book." "Damn the war!"

III

"Well, Thompson," remarked Colonel Walton with a smile, "you have
earned----"

"A wound stripe," interrupted Sage.

Thompson grinned, as he looked down at his right arm resting in a sling.

"It was meant for Mr. Dene, sir," he said. "I just got there in time.
It was that ferret-eyed little blighter," he added without the
slightest suggestion of animosity. Thompson was a sportsman, taking
and giving hard knocks with philosophic good-humour.

"Plucky little devil," murmured Malcolm Sage. "He bit and scratched
with the utmost impartiality."

Malcolm Sage and Thompson were seated in Colonel Walton's room
discussing the events of the morning.

"We were only just in time," said Sage. "Finlay was right."

Colonel Walton nodded.

"It was dope, sir." Thompson looked from Colonel Walton to Malcolm
Sage. "Sir Bryllith said he'll be months in a home."

"Yes," said Sage. "He won't be fit to answer questions for a long
time. Been doped all the time, nearly three months."

"If there's nothing more----" began Thompson.

"No, Thompson, go and get a sleep," said Colonel Walton. "Look after
that arm, and take things easy for a few days."

"Thank you, sir," said Thompson; "but I'm afraid I've forgotten the
way," and with a grin he went out.

"You've wirelessed?" asked Colonel Walton.

"The whole story. They're bound to pick it up at Auchinlech."

"And the Skipper?"

"Oh! just what we actually know, I should say," responded Sage, and
Colonel Walton nodded his agreement.

"They're puzzled over those announcements withdrawing the reward," said
Sage a few minutes later. "We ought to be hearing from the Skipper
soon."

"He's already been through while you were changing. I'm going round at
five. Y