crazy here," he said, as he led the way to the elevator, "I've just been
speaking to the Under-Minister for Agriculture--all Europe is scared.
Now what is the story?" he asked, when they were in his room.

He listened attentively and did not interrupt until Stanford Beale had
finished.

"That's big enough," he said. "I owe you an apology--much as I was
interested in Miss Cresswell, I realize that her fate was as nothing
beside the greater issue."

"What does it mean?" asked McNorton.

"The Wheat Panic? God knows. It may mean bread at a guinea a pound--it
is too early to judge."

The door was opened unceremoniously and a man strode in. McNorton was
the first to recognize the intruder and rose to his feet.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you," said Lord Sevington--it was the Foreign
Secretary of Great Britain himself. "Well, Beale, the fantastic story
you told me seems in a fair way to being realized."

"This is Mr. Kitson," introduced Stanford, and the grey-haired statesman
bowed.

"I sent for you, but decided I couldn't wait--so I came myself. Ah,
McNorton, what are the chances of catching van Heerden?"

"No man has ever escaped from this country once his identity was
established," said the police chief hopefully.

"If we had taken Beale's advice we should have the gentleman under lock
and key," said the Foreign Minister, shaking his head. "You probably
know that Mr. Beale has been in communication with the Foreign Office
for some time?" he said, addressing Kitson.

"I did not know," admitted the lawyer.

"We thought it was one of those brilliant stories which the American
newspaper reporter loves," smiled the minister.

"I don't quite get the commercial end of it," said Kitson. "How does van
Heerden benefit by destroying the crops of the world?"

"He doesn't benefit, because the crops won't be destroyed," said the
minister. "The South Russian crops are all right, the German crops are
intact--but are practically all mortgaged to the German Government."

"The Government?"

"This morning the German Government have made two announcements. The
first is the commandeering of all the standing crops, and at the same
time the taking over of all options on the sale of wheat. Great
granaries are being established all over Germany. The old Zeppelin
sheds----"

"Great heavens!" cried Kitson, and stared at Stanford Beale. "That was
the reason they took over the sheds?"

"A pretty good reason, too," said Beale, "storag