The Men Who Wrought

reigned in the libr

shed from the antique sconces upon the walls, as also by the silver candelabra upon the long refectory table which ran down the ce

the other. The eyes of all three were focussed intently upon the object lying

no attempt at speech. He merely leant forward with an elbow on the polished oak, and his fingers softly stroking his square chin and tightly compressed lips. He was hum

ved, he, too, leant forward, and, with an arm stretched out, terminating in a long, lean, tenacious-looking hand, he pressed a button on the side of the model. Instantly th

n smoking, while he closely watched for any sign of im

d, and a benevolent smile in his large eyes. After a while Ruxton sat back in his

sed a spring by the movement of a switch. Instantly the model split in half, and, openin

p to ship construction rose to their feet, and pored over the wo

ir Andrew verbally

explain, M

or removed

ine mechanism

drew n

here is a new

hich was used towards the end of the war.

ciple," said Ruxton. "We have been constru

oo

" at the end of the wor

features were almost as lean as his body. But the conformation of a magnificent forehead and the gently luminous eyes, beneath eyebrows almost as bushy as a well-grown moustache, made one forget the fact. Then, too, the carefully groomed, closely cut snow-w

tailor did not trade in Bond Street then he certainly must have served his apprenticeship in those select purlie

ou will observe the holds for merchandise. You will see the engine-rooms," he went on, rising and pointing out each detail as he enumerated it. "There are the stateroom decks, with the accompaniment of saloon and kitchens, and baths, and-and all the necessities of passenger traffic. Everything is there on a lesser scale such as you will find on a surface liner.

xton's enquiry c

st

sitatingly, and Ruxton's obv

ite undisturbed, "solves the last probl

h the thought had filled him with a profound hope of the fulfillment of some ardent desire. It suggested to the mo

course, of-wa

stranger widened wit

national murder!"

of the reply. Ruxton would have pursued the s

le of childlike simplicity. "Memories are painful. I have much

gland," said Ruxton gently. "But-this is a

wn shops," returned

ng the model, "has been test

e at fifteen. I have carried mixed cargoes, and I have carried certain passengers. All these things I have done for experiment, so that the prin

us ejaculation escaped Sir An

rning quickly. "A vessel of ten thousand

of silence upon his audience. It was overwhelming even to these men who

Ruxton brok

endured during the war from submarine attack. This I understand is the-means. Will you poi

ion told him all he wanted to know in that direction. It was the man he wanted to study. It was the man he was not certain of. He was c

s surface vessel, carrying life to the island people at home, is a target for the long-distance submarine. If an enemy possesses a great fleet of submarines he does not need to declare a war area about these shores. Every high sea is a war area where he can ply his wanton trade. With the submarine as perfect as it is to-day, Britain, great as she is in naval armaments, can never face another war successfully. That thought is in the mind of all men already." The man paused deliberately. Then with a curious foreign gesture of the hands he went on. "But there is already established an axiom. Submarine cannot fight submarine-under the surface." He shrugged. "It is so simple.

against his submersible did any note of passion and triumph find its way into the man's manner. At that point, however, a definite uplifting made itself appar

ight be, wherever he came from, one thing was beyond all question in his mind. Here was no mere huckster seeking to trade his wares for the sole purpose of gain. Gain might be his object, but somehow h

on of accepting his own reading without proof f

of the matter-between us?" he enq

way from the deep reverie into w

he echoed a li

on smiled.

nd smiled back. But his re

iedly. "I was thinking.

smile to the shrewd face of S

eyes. "It-it is difficult," he stumbled. Then quite suddenly a world of relief seemed to come to him. "Would it not be better to leave terms unti

fully naive that even the keen Yorkshire features

f 'em want large sums in options on the bare model and registered patents. If your inve

e effect upon the inventor. Trouble crept again into his eye

sk of it," he said at last. "Its value to me then could never be reckoned in mill

ty. For all his understanding Mr. Smith's attitude dema

was nearer than he had supposed. It came in the man's

things," he said with strong conviction. "But,"

her

of Sir Andrew was

es

hesitated in a painful, embarrassed way. Then, with a perfectly helpless

ught this model, know of my coming. No one knows my whereabouts at all, but you, and those two men whom I can trust-even with my life. Fears. My God, if you only knew. I tell you there are people in the

g hard, but the light in his eyes was not of the fear of which he spoke. They wer

ew far more than his son. Startlingly as the revelation had come, to Ruxton it was

your invention. The last thought in your mind is the commercial aspect of this affair. Your real object in coming is your secret for the present. I might even hazard a guess at it. But it is your secret, and one we have no desire to probe. You desire a pledge from us. Tha

is relief was obvious and intense. It was almost

for secrecy which has troubled me. I did not think you would accept it. And-I feared the sh

ked, with extended ha

utely,

grip of the Yorkshire ha

ed no

eded to close

cating with you?

ith lo

Veevee, London. It

nk y

o had conveyed it to Dorby Towers. For those two hours Sir Andrew and his son had thrashed threadbare the situation created by the stranger's coming. And,

spect. If this new principle of ocean traffic were to-- But it was "if." If the man were hones

eded. His had been a strenuous day, and he knew he must

for me," he said, i

m his final cigar, which

to me," he added, his mind still dwelling on the subject of their long discussion. "Did

n lau

serious. "No, he isn't an Englishman. He isn't even Dutch

cult matter with

his nationality I am certa

tha

ngs to-G