the scaffold maybe. But you
can never wipe that memory out of your mind, that you had a son who died
in the gutter, that you're a childless old man who has no son to follow
you!"

"I can't wipe that out!" said Jack o' Judgment. "O, God! I can't wipe
that out!"

He raised his hand to his masked face as though to hide the picture
which Boundary conjured up.

"But I can wipe you out," he said fiercely, "and I've given my life, my
career, my reputation, all that I hold dear to get you! I've smashed
your schemes, I've ruined you, even if I've ruined myself. They're
waiting for you downstairs, Boundary. I told them to be here at this
very minute. Stafford King----"

"You'll never see me taken," said Boundary.

Two shots rang out together, and the colonel sprawled back over the
bed--dead.

Propped against the wall was Jack o' Judgment, and the hand that gripped
his breast dripped red. They heard the shots outside and Stafford King
was the first to enter the room. One glance at the colonel was
sufficient, and then he turned to the figure who had slipped to the
floor and was sitting with his back propped against the wall.

"Good God!" said Stafford. "Jack o' Judgment!"

"Poor old Jack!" said the mocking voice.

Stafford's arm was about his shoulder, and he laid the head gently back
upon his bent knee. He lifted the mask gently and the light of the oil
lamp which swung from the ceiling fell upon the white face.

"Sir Stanley Belcom! Sir Stanley!" he softly whispered.

Sir Stanley turned his head and opened his eyes. The old look of
good-humour shone.

"Poor old Jack o' Judgment!" he mimicked. "This is going to be a
first-class scandal, Stafford. For the sake of the service you ought to
hush it up."

"But nobody need know, sir," said Stafford. "You can explain to the
Home Secretary----"

Sir Stanley shook his head.

"I'm going to see a greater Home Secretary than ever lived in
Whitehall," he said slowly. "I'm finished, Stafford. Strip this mummery
from me, if you can."

With shaking hands Stafford King tore off the black cloak and flung it
under the bed.

"Now," said Sir Stanley weakly, "you can introduce me to the provincial
police as the head of our department and you can keep my secret,
Stafford--if you will."

Stafford laid his hand upon Sir Stanley's.

"I told my solicitor," Sir Stanley spoke with difficulty, "to give you a
letter in case--in case anything happened. I know I haven't played the
gam