ions were too foolish to be genuine."

Inspector Willis sat up sharply. This was a blow to his dignity, and
he felt not a little scandalized. But he had no time to consider his
feelings. Archer was speaking again.

"I think we had better be on the safe side. If you have the slightest
suspicion don't wait to report to me. Wire at once to Henri at the
clearing this message--take it down so that there'll be no mistake--'Six
hundred four-foot props wanted. If possible send next cargo.' Got that?
He will understand. It is our code for 'Suspect danger. Send blank
cargoes until further notice.' Then if a search is made nothing will be
found, because there won't be anything there to find."

"Very good. It's a pity to lose the money, but I expect you're right."

"We can't take avoidable risks. Now about yourself. I see you brought no
stuff up last night?"

"Couldn't. I had a rotten bilious attack. I started, but had to go back
to bed again. Couldn't stand."

"Better?"

"Yes, all right now, thanks."

"Then you'll bring the usual up tonight?"

"Certainly."

"Very well. Now, what about ten forty-five for tomorrow?"

"Right."

The switch snapped, and in a few seconds the watcher saw Archer return
to his office, bend for a moment over the lock of the door, then reseat
himself at his desk.

"I've got them now," he thought triumphantly. "I've got them at last.
Tonight I'll take them red-handed in whatever they're doing." He smiled
in anticipation. "By Jove," he went on, "it was lucky they sent nothing
up last night, or they would have taken me red-handed, and that might
have been the end of me!"

He was greatly impressed by the excellence of the telephone scheme.
There was nothing anywhere about it to excite suspicion, and it kept
Archer in touch with the illicit undertaking, while enabling him to
hold himself absolutely aloof from all its members. If the rest of
the organization was as good, it was not surprising that Hilliard, and
Merriman had been baffled.

But the puzzle was now solved, the mystery at an end. That night, so
Willis assured himself, the truth would be known.

He remained in his hiding place all day, until, indeed, he had watched
the workers at the distillery leave and the gray shadows of evening
had begun to descend. Then he hid the telephone and wire in a cupboard,
stealthily left the house, and after a rapid glance round hurried along
the lane towards Ferriby.

He caught the 6.57 train to Hul