m.," he said, obviously relieved at the
suggestion.

"But our holidays!" cried Dorothy in mock consternation.

"You can have as long a vacation as you like when I'm through," was the
answer, and Dorothy drew a sigh of relief. She was longing to get back
to work.

That night she and Mrs. West sat up until dawn was fingering the east,
talking of the miraculous reappearance of John Dene of Toronto, as they
leisurely packed ready for the morrow.

II

For nearly an hour John Dene had sat in his chair listening. From time
to time he gave to the unlit half-cigar in his mouth a rapid twirl with
his tongue; but beyond that he had manifested no sign of emotion.

Quietly and as succinctly as possible Malcolm Sage had gone over the
happenings of the last few months, telling of the discovery of Mr.
Montagu Naylor's secret code, how it had enabled Department Z. to
enlarge the scope of its operations, how Finlay had hampered Mr. Naylor
in his murderous intentions with regard to his prisoner by suggesting
the displeasure that would be created in high quarters, if anything
happened to John Dene before the plans of the _Destroyer_ had been
secured.

"I didn't figure on Jim getting corralled," said John Dene at length.

"That was where your reasoning was at fault," was Malcolm Sage's quiet
retort.

"I warned him," began John Dene; then a moment later he added, "I'd
hate to have anything happen to Jim. He seems all used up."

"He'll be all right in a month or so," said Colonel Walton reassuringly.

"He's always sort of been around when I've wanted things done, has
Jim," continued John Dene with a note of real feeling in his voice.
"He's a white man, clean to the bone."

Malcolm Sage had already learned all he wanted to know with regard to
James Dene. Quiet, taciturn, seldom uttering more than a word or two
at a time, and then only when absolutely necessary, he was entirely
devoid of the brilliant qualities of his brother, for whom, however, he
possessed an almost dog-like affection. All their lives it had been
John who had planned things, and James who had stood admiringly by.

"I was tickled to death about those advertisements," said John Dene
presently.

"You probably thought we were barking up the wrong tree," suggested
Colonel Walton.

"Sure, until you put me wise."

"We were trying to play into your hands and save your brother," said
Malcolm Sage, as he knocked the ashes from his pipe against the heel of
h