you how to stop the German U-boats. If I do not succeed, you can give
the enclosed L50,000 to the Red Cross.

"Yours faithfully,
"JOHN DENE."

Sir Lyster Grayne was a man for whom tradition had its uses; but he
never allowed it to dictate to him. The letter that had just been
brought in was, he decided, written by a man of strong individuality,
and the amazing offer it contained, to forfeit fifty thousand pounds,
impressed him. These were strange and strenuous days, when every
suggestion or invention must be examined and deliberated upon. Sir
Lyster Grayne prided himself upon his open-mindedness; incidentally he
had a wholesome fear of questions being asked in the House.

As the door opened he rose and held out his hand. Sir Lyster always
assumed a democratic air as a matter of political expediency.

"Mr. Dene," he murmured, as he motioned his visitor to a seat.

"Pleased to meet you," said John Dene as he shook hands, and then took
the seat indicated. "Sorry to blow in on you like this," he continued,
"but my business is important, and I've come three thousand miles about
it."

"So I understand," said Sir Lyster quietly.

John Dene looked at him, and in that look summed him up as he had
previously summed up his secretary. "You wouldn't do for T'ronto," was
his unuttered verdict. John Dene "placed" a man irrevocably by
determining whether or no he would do for Toronto.

"First of all," said Sir Lyster, "I think I will return this," handing
to John Dene the envelope containing the cheque for fifty thousand
pounds.

"I thought it would tickle you some," he remarked grimly as he replaced
the cheque in his pocket-book; "but I'll cash in if I don't make good,"
he added. "You know anything about submarines?" he demanded;
directness was John Dene's outstanding characteristic.

"Er----" began the First Lord.

"You don't," announced John Dene with conviction.

"I'm afraid----" began Sir Lyster.

"Then you'd better send for someone who does," was the uncompromising
rejoinder.

Sir Lyster looked at his visitor in surprise, hesitated a moment, then
pressing a button said, as Mr. Blair appeared:

"Will you ask Admiral Heyworth to come here immediately?" Mr. Blair
retired. "Admiral Heyworth," explained Sir Lyster, "is the Admiralty
authority on submarines."

John Dene nodded. There was a pause.

"Wouldn't you like to ring up the Agent-General for Can'da and find out
who I am?" suggested John De