h an interest which could hardly fail to
gratify its narrator. When it was finished he expressed his feelings
by giving vent to a long and complicated oath. Then he asked how they
thought he could help. Merriman explained. The mineowner rather gasped
at first, then he laughed and slapped his thigh.

"By the Lord Harry!" he cried, "I'll do it! As a matter of fact I want
the props, but I'd do it anyway to see you through. If there's anything
at all in what you suspect it'll make the sensation of the year."

He thought for a moment, then went on:

"I shall go down to that depot at Ferriby tomorrow, have a look at the
props, and broach the idea of taking a cargo. It'll be INTERESTING to
have a chat with that manager fellow, and you may bet I'll keep my eyes
open. You two had better lie low here, and in the evening we'll have
another talk and settle what's to be done."

The next day the friends "lay low," and evening saw them once more on
the terrace with their host. It seemed that he had motored to Ferriby
about midday. The manager had been polite and even friendly, had seemed
pleased at the visit of so influential a customer, and had shown
him over the entire concern without the slightest hesitation. He had
appeared delighted at the prospect of disposing of a whole cargo
of props, and had raised no objection to the Girondin unloading at
Leatham's wharf. The price was moderate, but not exceptionally so.

"I must admit," Leatham concluded, "that everything appeared very sound
and businesslike. I had a look everywhere in that shed and enclosure,
and I saw nothing even remotely suspicious. The manager's manner, too,
was normal and it seems to me that either he's a jolly good actor or you
two chaps are on a wild goose chase."

"We may be about the hollow props," Merriman returned, "and we may
be about the brandy smuggling. But there's no mistake at all about
something being wrong. That's certain from what Hilliard overheard."

Leatham nodded.

"I know all that," he said, "and when we've carried out this present
scheme we shall know something more. Now let's see. When does that
blessed boat next leave France?"

"Thursday morning, we reckon," Hilliard told him.

"Then on Friday afternoon I shall call up those people and pitch my yarn
about my consignment of props having gone astray, and ask if they can
send their boat direct here. How's that?"

"Nothing could be better."

"Then I think for the present you two had be