concerning transport sailings and
routes--a matter involving the lives of thousands of our boys, millions
of dollars in supplies, and I went to Brest, under cover. It had to be
handled with extreme care--some danger about it, too. A very
interesting case, I assure you. I lived in a house with some of the
people under surveillance. One of them was a woman, extremely
attractive--thoroughly unscrupulous. My avenue of approach was through
her. Nelson, of course, knew what I was doing; he was about the only
one who did.

"I worked a long while and I was upon the verge of success--it would
have been a real accomplishment, too--when, without apparent cause, the
gang took warning, scattered, the whole thing blew up. Months of work
for nothing! I had made worse than a failure this time."

"You mean to accuse Henry of--of treachery of that sort?" Swope
inquired.

"I do. And that's not all. Out of a clear sky charges were preferred
against me. Outrageous charges in which that woman figured." Up to this
point Gray had spoken smoothly, rapidly, but now his tone changed, his
words became hesitant, jerky. "I was amazed! Joke, I called it at
first. Sort of a blanket indictment, it was, charging me with
inefficiency, negligence, exceeding my authority, dishonesty--and
things even worse. Those were some of the least serious, the
least--nasty. It was all too absurd! Being peculiarly vain and
sensitive, my impulse was to shoot Henry Nelson. But I couldn't believe
the charges would be taken seriously.

"Well, there was an investigation. I was court-martialed. I disproved a
good deal; I think I'd have exonerated myself on every count only for
the woman--that one I spoke about. She turned the trick. I was found
guilty, disgraced, sent back. Even though you are not military men, you
can appreciate the extent of my dishonor.

"There, gentlemen, you have in a few words an unconvincing summary of a
long and complicated story--one that I detest telling. However, I could
not permit you to sit with me at the directors' table of this bank
without knowing who I am, what I am, and why I have run that rat into
his hole. Colonel Nelson spoke the truth when he said this was purely a
personal matter between us. It is so purely personal that I was willing
to spare humiliation to his father--leave Old Bell in control of his
bank and end our fight--if he'd right that old wrong. But you heard him
refuse. So they must both fall. He said I've been persecu