The Riddle of the Frozen Flame

He faced the man opposite, and fairly ground his teeth upon his lower lip. "Dash it, Cleek " he said for the thirty-third time, "I don't know what to make of it, I don't, indeed The thing's at a deadlock. Hammond reports to me this morning that another bank in Hendon-a little one-horse affair-has been broken into. That makes the third this week, and as usual every piece of gold is gone. Not a bank note touched, not a bond even fingered. And the thief-or thieves-made as clean a get-away as you ever laid your eyes on I tell you, man, it's enough to send an average person daft The whole of Scotland Yard's been on the thing, and we haven't traced 'em yet What do you make of it, old chap?" "As pretty a kettle of fish as I ever came across," responded Cleek, with an enigmatic smile. "And I can't help having a sneaking admiration for the person who's engineering the whole thing. How he must laugh at the state of the old Yard, with never a clue to settle down upon, never a thread to pick up and unravel All of which is unbusinesslike of me, I've no doubt. But, cheer up, man, I've a piece of news which ought to help matters on a bit. Just came from the War Office, you know." Mr. Narkom mopped his forehead eagerly. The action was one which Cleek knew showed that every nerve was tense.