"Corn at L30 a bushel?" said McNorton. "Was he delirious?" "Not at all," said the other. "He was a very well-known man in Cracow, one Zibowski, who during the late war was principal buying agent for the German Government. The Chief of the Police at Cracow apparently asked him if he wasn't suffering from illusions, and the man then made a statement that the German Government had an option on all the grain in Galicia, Hungary and the Ukraine at a lower price. Zibowski held out for better terms. It is believed that he was working with a member of the German Government who made a fortune in the war out of army contracts. In fact, he as good as let this out just before he died, when he spoke in his delirium of a wonderful invention which was being worked on behalf of the German Government, an invention called the Green Rust." McNorton whistled. "Is that all?" he said. "That's all," said the P.V. man. "I seem to remember that Beale had made one or two mysterious references to the Rust. Where is he now?" "He left town last night," replied McNorton. "Can you get in touch with him?" The other shook his head. "I suppose you are sending on a copy of this communication to the Cabinet," he said--"it may be rather serious. Whatever the scheme is, it is being worked in London, and van Heerden is the chief operator." He took down his hat and went out in search of Kitson, whom he found in the lobby of the hotel. James Kitson came toward him eagerly. "Have you news of Beale?" "He was at Kingston this morning," said McNorton, "with Parson Homo, but he had left. I was on the 'phone to the inspector at Kingston, who did not know very much and could give me no very definite news as to whether Beale had made his discovery. He interviewed the tramp early this morning, but apparently extracted very little that was helpful. As a matter of fact, I came to you to ask if he had got in touch with you." Kitson shook his head. "I want to see him about his Green Rust scare--Beale has gone single-handed into this matter," said the superintendent, shaking his head, "and he has played the lone game a little too long." "Is it very serious?"