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diff --git a/old/12314-8.txt b/old/12314-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index aebcf48..0000000 --- a/old/12314-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9394 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ashton-Kirk, Investigator, by John T. McIntyre - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Ashton-Kirk, Investigator - -Author: John T. McIntyre - -Release Date: May 10, 2004 [EBook #12314] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ASHTON-KIRK, INVESTIGATOR *** - - - - -Produced by Janet Kegg and PG Distributed Proofreaders - - - - - - -[Illustration: "JUST AS I THOUGHT"] - - -ASHTON-KIRK -INVESTIGATOR - - -By - -John T. McIntyre - -Author of "In the Dead of Night," &c. - - -ILLUSTRATIONS BY -RALPH L. BOYER - - -PHILADELPHIA -1910 - - - To my Friend - GRANT GIBNEY - - - - -INTRODUCTION - - -Ashton-Kirk, who has solved so many mysteries, is himself something of -a problem even to those who know him best. Although young, wealthy, -and of high social position, he is nevertheless an indefatigable -worker in his chosen field. He smiles when men call him a detective. -"No; only an investigator," he says. - -He has never courted notoriety; indeed, his life has been more or less -secluded. However, let a man do remarkable work in any line and, as -Emerson has observed, "the world will make a beaten path to his door." - -Those who have found their way to Ashton-Kirk's door have been of many -races and interests. Men of science have often been surprised to find -him in touch with the latest discoveries, scholars searching among -strange tongues and dialects, and others deep in tattered scrolls, -ancient tablets and forgotten books have been his frequent visitors. -But among them come many who seek his help in solving problems in -crime. - -"I'm more curious than some other fellows, that's all," is the way he -accounts for himself. "If a puzzle is put in front of me I can't rest -till I know the answer." At any rate his natural bent has always been -to make plain the mysterious; each well hidden step in the -perpetration of a crime has always been for him an exciting lure; and -to follow a thread, snarled by circumstances or by another -intelligence has been, he admits, his chief delight. - -There are many strange things to be written of this remarkable -man--but this, the case of the numismatist Hume, has been selected as -the first because it is one of the simplest, and yet clearly -illustrates Ashton-Kirk's peculiar talents. It will also throw some -light on the question, often asked, as to how his cases come to him. - -A second volume that shows the investigator deep in another mystery, -even more intricate and puzzling than this, is entitled "Ashton-Kirk -and the Scarlet Scapular." - - - - - CONTENTS - - CHAPTER - I. PENDLETON CALLS UPON ASHTON-KIRK - II. MISS EDYTH VALE STATES HER CASE - III. THE PORTRAITS OF GENERAL WAYNE - IV. STILLMAN'S THEORY - V. STILLMAN ASKS QUESTIONS - VI. ASHTON-KIRK LOOKS ABOUT - VII. THE SCHWARTZ-MICHAEL BAYONET - VIII. THE NEWSPAPERS BEGIN TO PLAY THEIR PART - IX. MISS VALE TELLS WHAT SHE KNOWS - X. ASHTON-KIRK ASKS QUESTIONS - XI. PENDLETON IS VASTLY ENLIGHTENED - XII. ANTONIO SPATOLA APPEARS - XIII. A NEW LIGHT ON ALLAN MORRIS - XIV. MISS VALE UNEXPECTEDLY APPEARS - XV. MISS VALE DEPARTS SUDDENLY - XVI. STEEL AGAINST STEEL - XVII. WHAT HAPPENED ON THE ROAD - XVIII. ASHTON-KIRK TELLS WHY - XIX. THE TWO REPORTS - XX. ONE OF THE OLD SORT - XXI. ASHTON-KIRK BEGINS TO PLAN - XXII. ASHTON-KIRK IS ANNOYED - XXIII. THE SECRET OF THE PORTRAIT - XXIV. THE SECOND NIGHT - XXV. APPROACHING THE FINISH - XXVI. THE FINISH - - - - ILLUSTRATIONS - - "JUST AS I THOUGHT" ... FRONTISPIECE - "YOU DO NOT MEAN TO GO THERE" - HE RAPPED SMARTLY ON THE WINDOW - WHAT SHE SAW MUST HAVE STARTLED HER - - - - -Ashton-Kirk, Investigator - - -CHAPTER I - -PENDLETON CALLS UPON ASHTON-KIRK - - -Young Pendleton's car crept carefully around the corner and wound in -and out among the push-cart men and dirty children. - -About midway in the block was a square-built house with tall, -small-paned windows and checkered with black-headed brick. It stood -slightly back from the street with ancient dignity; upon the shining -door-plate, deeply bitten in angular text, was the name "Ashton-Kirk." - -Here the car stopped; Pendleton got out, ascended the white marble -steps and tugged at the polished, old-fashioned bell-handle. - -A grave-faced German, in dark livery, opened the door. - -"Mr. Ashton-Kirk will see you, sir," said he. "I gave him your -telephone message as soon as he came down." - -"Thank you, Stumph," said Pendleton. And with the manner of one -perfectly acquainted with the house, he ascended a massively -balustraded staircase. The walls were darkly paneled; from the -shadowy recesses pictured faces of men and women looked down at him. - -Coming in from the littered street, with its high smells and crowding, -gesticulating people, the house impressed one by its quiet, its -spaciousness, and the evident means and culture of its owner. -Pendleton turned off at the first landing, proceeded along a passage -and finally knocked at a door. Without waiting for a reply, he walked -in. - -At the far end of a long, high-ceilinged apartment a young man was -lounging in an easy-chair. At his elbow was a jar of tobacco, a sheaf -of brown cigarette papers and a scattering of books. He lifted a keen -dark face, lit up by singularly brilliant eyes. - -"Hello, Pen," greeted he. "You've come just in time to smoke up some -of this Greek tobacco. Throw those books off that chair and make -yourself easy." - -One by one Pendleton lifted the books and glanced at the titles. - -"Your morning's reading, if this is such," commented he, "is -strikingly catholic. Plutarch, Snarleyow, the Opium Eater, Martin -Chuzzlewit." Then came a host of tattered pamphlets, bound in -shrieking paper covers, which the speaker handled gingerly. "'The -Crimes of Anton Probst,'" he continued to read, "'The Deeds of the -Harper Family,' 'The Murder of ----'" here he paused, tossed the -pamphlets aside with contempt, sat down and drew the tobacco jar -toward him. - -"Some of the results of your forays into the basements of old -booksellers, I suppose," he added, rolling a cigarette with delicate -ease. "But what value you see in such things is beyond me." - -Ashton-Kirk smiled good-humoredly. He took up some of the pamphlets -and fluttered their illy-printed pages. - -"They are not beautiful," he admitted; "the paper could not be worse -and the wood cuts are horrors. But they are records of actual -things--striking things, as a matter of fact--for a murder which so -lifts itself above the thousands of homicides that are yearly -occurring, as to gain a place outside the court records and -newspapers, must have been one of exceptional execution." - -"There is a public which delights in being horrified," said Pendleton -with a grimace. "The things are put out to get their nickels and -dimes." - -"No doubt," agreed the other. "And the fact that they are willing to -pay their nickels and dimes is, to my way of thinking, a proof of the -extraordinary nature of the crime chronicled." The speaker dropped the -prints upon the floor and lounged back in his big chair. "There is -Plutarch," he continued; "the account of the assassination of Caesar -is not the least interesting thing in his biography of that statesman. -Indeed, I have no doubt but that the chronicler thought Caesar's -taking off the most striking incident in his career; that the Roman -public thought so is a matter of history. - -"Countless writers have dwelt upon the taking of human life; some of -them were rather commercial gentlemen who always gave an ear to the -demands of their public, and their screeds were written for the money -that they would put in their pockets; but others, and by long odds the -greatest, were fascinated by their subjects. Both Stevenson and Henley -were powerfully drawn by deeds of blood. Did you know they planned a -great book which was to contain a complete account of the world's most -remarkable homicides? I'm sorry they never carried the thing out; for -I cannot conceive of two minds more fitted to the task. They would -have dressed every event in the grimmest and most subtle horror; why, -the soul would have shuddered at each enormity as shaped and presented -by such masters." - -Pendleton regarded his friend with candid distaste. - -"You are appalling to-day," said he. "If you think it's the Greek -tobacco, let me know. For I have to mingle with other human beings, -and I'd scarcely care to get into your state of mind." - -The strong, white teeth of Ashton-Kirk showed in a quick smile. - -"The tobacco was recommended by old Hosko," he said, "and you'll find -nothing violent in it, no matter what you find in my conversation." - -"What put you into such a frame of mind, anyway? Something happened?" - -But Ashton-Kirk shook his head. - -"I don't know," said he. "In fact, I have been strangely idle for the -last fortnight. The most exciting things that have appeared above my -personal horizon have been a queer little edition of Albertus-Magnus, -struck off in an obscure printing shop in Florence in the early part -of the sixteenth century, and a splendid, large paper Poe, to which I -fortunately happened to be a subscriber." - -A volume of the Poe and the Albertus-Magnus were lying at hand; -Pendleton ignored the dumpy, stained little Latin volume; its -strong-smelling leather binding and faded text had no attractions for -him. But he took up the Poe and began idly turning its leaves. - -"It is a mistake to suppose that some specific thing must be the cause -of an action, or a train of thought," resumed the other, from the -comfortable depths of his chair. "Sometimes thousands of things go to -the making of a single thought, countless others to the doing of a -single deed. And yet again, a thing entirely unassociated with a -result may be the beginning of the result, so to speak. For example, a -volume of Henry James which I was reading last night might be the -cause of my turning to the literature of assassination this morning; -your friendly visit may result in my coming in contact with a murder -that will make any of these," with a nod toward the scattered volumes, -"seem tame." - -Pendleton threw away his cigarette and proceeded to roll another. - -"It is my earnest desire to remain upon friendly terms with you, -Kirk," stated he, with a smile. "Therefore, I will make no comment -except to say that your last reflection was entirely uncalled for." - -Lighting the cigarette, he turned the tall leaves of the beautiful -volume upon his knee. - -"This edition is quite perfection," he remarked admiringly. "And I'm -sorry that I was not asked to subscribe. However," and Pendleton -glanced humorously at his friend, "I don't suppose its beauty is what -attracts you to-day. It is because certain pages are spread with the -records of crime. I notice that this volume holds both 'The Murders in -the Rue Morgue' and the 'Mystery of Marie Roget.'" - -"Right," smiled Ashton-Kirk. "I admit I was browsing among the details -of those two masterpieces when you came in. A great fellow, Poe. His -peculiar imagination gave him a marvelous grasp of criminal -possibilities." - -Ashton-Kirk took up the "Confessions of an English Opium-Eater" and -turned the leaves until he came to "Murder Considered as One of the -Fine Arts." - -"In some things I have detected an odd similarity in the work of De -Quincey and Poe. Mind you, I say in some things. As to what entered -into the structure of an admirably conceived murder they were as far -apart as the poles. The ideals of the 'Society of Connoisseurs in -Murder' must have excited in Poe nothing but contempt. A coarse -butchery--a wholesale slaughter was received by this association with -raptures; a pale-eyed, orange-haired blunderer, with a ship -carpenter's mallet hidden under his coat, was hailed as an artist. - -"You don't find Poe wasting time on uncouth monsters who roar like -tigers, bang doors and smear whole rooms with blood. His assassins had -a joy in planning their exploits as well as in the execution of them. -They were intelligent, secret, sure. And in every case they -accomplished their work and escaped detection." - -"You must not forget, however," complained Pendleton, "that De -Quincey's assassin, John Williams, was a real person, and his killings -actual occurrences. Poe's workmen were creatures of his imagination, -their crimes, with the possible exception of 'Marie Roget,' were -purely fanciful. The creator of the doer and the deed had a clear -field; and in that, perhaps, lies the superiority of Poe." - -Ashton-Kirk sighed humorously. - -"Perhaps," said he. "At any rate the select crimes are usually the -conceptions of men who have no idea of putting them into execution. -And that, upon consideration, is a fortunate thing for society. But, -at the same time, it is most irritating to a man of a speculative turn -of mind. Fiction teems with most splendid murders. Captain Marryat, in -Snarleyow, created an almost perfect horror in the attempted slaughter -of the boy Smallbones by the hag mother of Vanslyperken; the lad's -reversal of the situation and his plunging a bayonet into the wrinkled -throat, makes the chapter an accomplishment difficult to displace. -Remember it?" - -Pendleton arose and opened one of the windows. - -"Even the noise and smell of this street of yours are grateful after -what I have been listening to," said he. Then, after a moment spent in -examining the adjacent outdoors, he added in a tone of wonderment. "I -say, Kirk, this is really a hole of a place to live! Why don't you -move?" - -The other arose and joined him at the window. Old-fashioned streets -alter wonderfully after the generations of the elect have passed; but -when Eastern Europe takes to dumping its furtive hordes into one, the -change is marked indeed. In this one peddler's wagons replaced the -shining carriages of a former day--wagons drawn by large-jointed -horses and driven by bearded men who cried their wares in strange, -throaty voices. - -Everything exhaled a thick, semi-oriental smell. Dully painted -fire-escapes clung hideously to the fronts of the buildings; -stagnant-looking men, wearing their hats, leaned from bedroom windows. -The once decent hallways were smutted with grimy hands; the wide -marble steps were huddled with alien, unclean people. - -A splendidly spired church stood almost shoulder to shoulder with the -Ashton-Kirk house. Once it had been a place of dignified Episcopal -worship; but years of neglect had made it unwholesome and cavern-like; -and finally it was given over to a tribe of stolid Lithuanians who -stuck a cheaply gilded Greek cross over the door and thronged the -street with their wedding and christening processions. - -"Perhaps," said Ashton-Kirk, after a moment's study of the prospect, -"yes, perhaps it _is_ a hole of a place in which to live. But you see -we've had this house since shortly after the Revolution; four -generations have been born here. As I have no fashionable wife and I -live alone, I am content to stay. Then, the house suits me; everything -is arranged to my taste. The environment may not be the most -desirable; but, my visitors are seldom of the sort that object to -externals." - -"Well, you have one just now who is not what you might call partial to -such neighborhoods," said Pendleton. "And," looking at his watch, "you -will shortly have another who will be, perhaps, still less favorably -impressed." - -"Ah!" said Ashton-Kirk. - -He curled himself up upon the deep window sill while Pendleton went -back to his chair and the tobacco. - -"It's a lady," resumed Pendleton, the brown paper crackling between -his fingers, "a lady of condition, quality and beauty." - -"It sounds pleasant enough," smiled the other. "But why is she -coming?" - -"To consult you--ah--I suppose we might call it--professionally. No, I -don't know what it is about; but judging from her manner, it is -something of no little consequence." - -"She sent you to prepare the way for her, then?" - -"Yes. It is Miss Edyth Vale, daughter of James Vale, the 'Structural -Steel King,' you remember they used to call him before he died a few -years ago. She was an only child, and except for the four millions -which he left to found a technical school, she inherited everything. -And when you say everything in a case like this, it means -considerable." - -Ashton-Kirk nodded. - -"She is a distant relative of mine," resumed Pendleton; "her mother -was connected in some vague way with my mother; and because of this -indefinite link, we've always been"--here he hesitated for an -instant--"well, rather friendly. Last night we happened to meet at -Upton's, and I took her in to dinner. Edyth is a nice girl, but I've -noticed of late that she's not had a great deal to say. Sort of quiet -and big-eyed and all that, you know. Seems healthy enough, but does a -great deal of thinking and looking away at nothing. I've talked to her -for ten minutes straight, only to find that she hadn't heard a word -I'd said. - -"So, as you will understand, I did not expect a great deal of her at -dinner. But directly across from us was young Cartwright--" - -"Employed in the Treasury Department?" - -"That's the man. Well, he began to talk departmental affairs with some -one well down the table--you know how some of these serious kids -are--and as there seemed to be nothing else to do, I gave my whole -attention to the interesting performance of Mrs. Upton's cook. I must -have been falling into a dreamy rapture; but at any rate I suddenly -awoke, so to speak. To my surprise Edyth was talking--quite -animatedly--with Cartwright, and about you." - -"Ah!" said Ashton-Kirk. "That's very pleasant. It is not given to -every man that the mention of him should stir a melancholy young lady -into animation." - -"Have you done anything in your line for the Treasury Department -lately?" asked Pendleton. - -"Oh, a small matter of some duplicate plates," said Ashton-Kirk. "It -had some interest, but there was nothing extraordinary in it." - -"Well, Cartwright didn't think that. I did not come to in time to -catch the nature of your feat, but he seemed lost in admiration of -your cleverness. He was quite delighted, too, at securing Edyth's -attention. You see, it was a thing he had scarcely hoped for. So he -proceeded to relate all he had ever heard about you. That queer little -matter of the Lincoln death-mask, you know, and the case of the -Belgian Consul and the spurious Van Dyke. And he had even heard some -of the things you did in the university during your senior year. His -recital of your recovery of the silver figure of the Greek runner -which went as the Marathon prize in 1902 made a great hit, I assure -you. - -"But when he answered 'No' to Edyth's earnest question as to whether -he were acquainted with you, she lost interest; and when I promptly -furnished the information that I was, he was forgotten. During the -remainder of the dinner I had time for little else but Edyth's -questions. When she learned that you had taken up investigation as a -sort of profession, she was quite delighted, and before we parted I -was asked to arrange a consultation." - -"She will be here this morning, then?" asked Ashton-Kirk. - -Pendleton once more looked at his watch. - -"Within a very few minutes," said he. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -MISS EDYTH VALE STATES HER CASE - - -It was exactly three minutes later when the continuous tooting of a -horn told of the approach of another motor car along the crowded -street. Then the door-bell rang. - -Ashton-Kirk arose and touched one of a series of buttons in the wall. -Almost instantly a buzzer made sharp reply. He lifted a tube. - -"If it is Miss Edyth Vale," spoke he, "show her up." - -A little later a knock came upon the door. The grave faced German -opened it, ushering in an astonishingly lovely girl; tall, most -fashionably attired and with a manner of eager anxiety. Both men -arose. - -"Considering that you are under twenty-five," said Pendleton, "you are -remarkably prompt in keeping your engagements, Edyth." - -But the girl did not answer his smile. There was a troubled look in -her brown eyes; she tugged nervously at her gloves to get them off. - -"This is Mr. Ashton-Kirk?" she asked. - -"It is," answered Pendleton. "Kirk, this is my cousin, Edyth Vale." - -Ashton-Kirk gave the girl a chair; she sat down, regarding him all -the time with much interest. The gloves were removed by now; but she -continued plucking at the empty fingers and drawing them through her -hands. - -"I have heard of you quite frequently," said she to Ashton-Kirk, "but -did not dream that I would ever be forced to benefit by your talents. -Mr. Pendleton has been kind enough to arrange this interview at my -request; and I desire to consult you upon a most important matter--a -very private matter." - -Pendleton caught the hesitating glance which she threw at him and -reached for his hat. - -"Edyth," said he, "after all I have done for you, this is very -distressing. I had not expected to be bundled out in this manner." - -She smiled faintly, and nodded. - -"Thank you, Jimmie," she said. "You are a nice boy." - -After Pendleton had gone, Miss Vale sat for some moments in silence; -and all the time her eyes went from one part of the room to another, -curiously; she seemed to be trying to estimate the man whom she came -to consult by his surroundings. - -At one side, rank on rank of books ran from floor to ceiling; others -were scattered about in chairs, on stands and on the floor. At one -spot the wall was racked with glittering, and to her, strange looking -instruments. An open door gave a glimpse of a second apartment with -bare, plastered wall, fitted with tables covered with sheet lead and -cluttered with tanks, grotesquely swelling retorts, burners, jars and -other things that make up a complete laboratory. - -But these told her nothing, except that the man was a student; and -this she had heard before. - -So she gave her attention to Ashton-Kirk himself. He stood by the open -window, the morning light beating strongly upon his dark, keen face, -apparently watching the uncouth surging in the street below. - -"He's very handsome and very wealthy," her friend Connie Bayless had -informed her only that morning. "Comes of a very old family; has the -entrée into the most exclusive houses, but practically ignores -society." - -"Oh, yes, I know him," her uncle, an eminent attorney, had told her. -"A very unusual young man. I might call him acutely intellectual, and -he is an adept in many out of the way branches of knowledge. He would -make a wonderful lawyer, but has too much imagination. Thinks more of -visionary probabilities than of tangible facts." - -"As an amateur actor," Pendleton had confided to her, "Kirk is without -an equal. If he adopted the stage, he'd make a sensation. At college -he was a most tremendous athlete too--football, cross-country running, -wrestling, boxing. And I'm told that he still keeps in training. -Clever chap." - -"I never saw a more splendid natural equipment for languages," said -Professor Hutchinson. "The most sprawling dialect seemed a simple -matter to him; Greek and the oriental tongues were no more trouble in -his case than the 'first reader' is to an intelligent child." - -She had spoken with Mrs. Stokes-Corbin over the telephone. Mrs. -Stokes-Corbin was related to Ashton-Kirk, and her information was -kindly but emphatic. - -"My dear," said the lady, "I do hope you haven't fallen in love with -him. No? Well, that's fortunate. He's one of the dearest fellows in -the world, but one of the most extraordinary. I can't fancy his -marrying at all. His ways and moods and really preposterous habits -would drive a wife mad. You can't imagine the extent of them. He -spends days and nights in positively uncanny chemical experiments. -Without a word to anyone he plunges off on some mysterious errand, to -be gone for weeks. They do tell me that he is to all intents and -purposes a policeman. But I really can't quite credit that, you know. -He loves to do things that others have tried and failed. Even as a boy -he was that way. It was quite discouraging to have a child straighten -out little happenings that we had all given up in despair. Sometimes -it was quite convenient, but I'm not sure that I ever liked it. A -charming talker, my dear; he knows so much to talk about. But he's -eccentric; and an eccentric young man is a frightful burden to those -connected with him." - -All these things passed through the mind of Edyth Vale, as she sat -regarding the young man at the window. Finally he lifted his eyes and -turned them upon her--beautiful eyes--remarkable, full of perception, -compelling. As he caught her intent, inquiring look, he smiled; she -colored slightly, but met his glance bravely. - -"Last night I heard you spoken of," she said, "and it occurred to me -that you could aid me." - -"I should be glad to," said he. "It sometimes happens that I can be of -service to persons extraordinarily circumstanced. If you will let me -hear your story--for," with a smile, "all who come to see me as you -have done _have_ a story--I shall be able to definitely say whether -your case comes within my province." - -She hesitated a moment, her hands nervously engaged with the gloves. -Then she said, frankly. - -"I suppose it is only sensible to speak quite candidly with you, Mr. -Ashton-Kirk, as one does with a lawyer or a physician." - -He nodded. - -"Of course," said he. - -For another moment she seemed to be turning her thoughts over and -seeking the best means of making a beginning. - -"It is very silly of me, I know," she said; "but I feel quite like the -working girl who writes to the correspondence editor of an evening -paper for advice in smoothing out her love affairs." She bent toward -him, the laugh vanishing from her face, a troubled look taking its -place, and continued. "I am to be married--some day--and it is about -that that I wish to speak to you." - -"I realize the difficulties of the subject," spoke Ashton-Kirk -quietly. - -"What I am going to tell you, I have never mentioned to anyone before. -It has been three years ago--four years at Christmas time--since I -first met Allan Morris," she said. "Our engagement so quickly followed -that my friends said it was a very clear case of love at first sight. -Perhaps it was! - -"However that might be, we were very happy for a time. But trouble was -in store for us. I had always disbelieved in long engagements, had -always been very outspoken against them, in fact. This is perhaps what -made me so quickly notice an absence of haste on Mr. Morris' part as -to the wedding. When the subject came up, as it naturally would, he -seemed to avoid it. At first I was surprised; but finally I grew -annoyed, and spoke my mind very frankly. - -"You see, he is not at all well off, and I am--well I have a great -deal. I thought this might have something to do with his apparent -reluctance. But no, it was something else. As I just said, I spoke -frankly; and he was equally candid, after a fashion. He said it was -quite impossible for us to be married for some time. There was a -something--he did not say what--which must first be settled. Naturally -I grew curious. I desired to know what it was that so stood in the way -of our happiness. He replied that it was something that must not be -spoken of, and was so very earnest in the matter that I did not -mention it again--for a long time. - -"You may think, Mr. Ashton-Kirk, that my fiancé was no very ardent -lover. But I was assured, and I do not lack perception, that he was -passionately fond of me. And I still think so. But as time went by, -things did not alter; our wedding was a vague expectation; even more -than before Mr. Morris avoided mention of anything definite. - -"I am not naturally patient; and my rearing as the only child of an -enormously rich man has perhaps added to my impetuousness. In a burst -of temper one day, I broke the engagement, gave him back his ring and -did a number of other rather silly things. But he was so tragic in -his despair--so utterly broken hearted and white--that I immediately -relented and we patched the matter up once more. That he loved me was -plain; but that he could not marry me--for some mysterious reason--was -even plainer. - -"After this I began to notice a change in him. He was rather silent -and given to reverie; he seldom laughed. Sometimes he was haggard and -so wrought up, apparently, that he could scarcely contain himself. He -would pace the floor, evidently with little realization as to what he -was doing. Once he was really dreadfully agitated. I calmed him as -well as I could, and he sat for a long time, thinking deeply. As I -watched him, he sprang to his feet and dashing his fist upon a table, -cried out, passionately: - -"'The black-hearted rascal! He's mocking me!' - -"Then like a flash he realized the strangeness of his conduct, and -with anxious, alarmed face, asked my pardon. I felt that this was an -opportunity to put an end to a situation that was growing intolerable. -My persistent questioning gained me something, but, on the whole, not -a great deal. - -"The thing that was troubling him was a business matter. In some way -he was in the hands of some one--these are the indefinite threads that -I gathered--a mocking, jeering, smiling someone whom he hated, but -from whom he could not free himself. - -"I began to tell him that there could be nothing strong enough in -itself to prevent our happiness; but he stopped me in such a way that -I did not feel inclined to continue. In an outburst, filled with -denunciations of his enemy and protestations of devotion to myself, I -caught the name of Hume. He had dropped this inadvertently. I knew it -instantly because of the swift look that he gave me. But I allowed no -hint of what I thought to show in my face. He was more subdued during -the remainder of his stay; the mentioning of the name had startled -him, and he was doubtless afraid that his state of mind would lead him -into further indiscretions. - -"As you may suppose, the name--the first tangible thing that I had -learned--was of much interest to me. If I could but find out who this -person was, I could probably get to the bottom of the matter." - -At this point Miss Vale paused; and Ashton-Kirk noted her head lift -proudly. - -"Perhaps," she continued, "it might be thought that I had no right to -make such an effort in a matter which Mr. Morris saw fit to keep from -me. Were you thinking that? But I am not a silent sufferer. I usually -make an end of annoying things without delay. And I would have done -so in this case long before, but I was in love; and I could not bear -to see Allan suffer by my insistence. - -"However, here was an opportunity to perhaps aid him; and I set to -work. In a few hours next day I had located every person of the name -of Hume in the city. Mr. Morris is a consulting engineer. Anyone named -Hume who, from his occupation, would be likely to have dealings with -him especially attracted my attention. There were only a few, and long -before the day was over I had satisfied myself by personal visits at -their places of business that they did not even know him." - -Ashton-Kirk smiled. One of his well-kept hands patted applause upon -the arm of his chair. - -"You are strong," said he. "I recognized your type when you came -in. It is a pleasure to have one's judgment so thoroughly and -satisfactorily proven." - -Miss Vale looked pleased. - -"I am glad that you approve of what I did," she said. "I confess I had -some hesitancy, but not enough to prevent my carrying out the design. -But when the first effort proved without result, I set about making a -study of all the Humes in the directory. I had my secretary make me a -typed list of them, with their addresses and occupations, and I pored -over this for hours at a time. - -"There was one that caught my eye after a while; probably this was -because of the unusualness of his business. The directory gave him as -a numismatist; but I drove by his shop in my car, and the sign over -the window said that he was also a dealer in curiosities of art. - -"This gave me an idea. Mr. Morris is an ardent collector; his hobby is -engraved gems, and for a man of his means his possessions in this line -are quite remarkable. It was easily within the range of possibility -that he had had transactions with this particular Hume--at least that -he was acquainted with him. The more I thought of this, the more -curious I grew; and one afternoon I paid the place a visit. It is on -the second floor, the entrance is through a side door and up a narrow, -dusty stairway. Then I had to make my way along a dark windowless -passage to the office, or shop in the front. - -"This shop was well lighted, and literally stuffed with what were well -termed 'curiosities of art.' I never before saw such queer carvings, -such freakish pottery, such weird and utterly impossible bric-a-brac. -At a table sat a flabby looking man with a short sandy beard. One -glance told me that he was an habitual drunkard, for he had the -sodden look that is unmistakable. But when he arose and bid me good -evening his manner struck me like a blow in the face. Allan Morris had -spoken of a mocking person who jeered and smiled. And that described -this man exactly. There was mockery in every glance of his dull eyes; -every twitch of his mouth was a fleer; with each gesture he seemed -making game of one; sneering incredulity was stamped all over him." - -Ashton-Kirk leaned forward with keen interest. - -"My manner must have betrayed me," the girl went on, "for I saw an -inquiring crease come into his forehead. When he asked the nature of -my business his voice was sharp and insolent. - -"I had not thought as to what I should say, what excuse I should give -in this case. But almost instantly my mind was made up. About the most -conspicuous thing in the room was a squat Japanese idol--a fat, -grinning, hideous thing which sat upon a sort of pedestal near the -door. So I laid my hand in it. - -"'I was told of this,' said I, examining the idol minutely, 'and came -in to see it.' - -"'Ah, yes,' said he. But it was plain enough that he did not believe -me. - -"I inquired the price of the figure. He named a high one; and I -believe I astonished him by purchasing it without another word. The -idol was delivered late that afternoon. I had it unpacked at once and -placed where Mr. Morris could not fail to see it when he called." - -"A clever plan," commented Ashton-Kirk, admiringly. - -"He saw it when he entered the room and greeted me. He was smiling; -and the smile froze on his lips, his face went pale, and he turned a -look upon me that filled me with fear, it was so wan and startled. - -"I had intended telling him the full truth if my ruse succeeded. But -after that look I could not. I convinced him by a nonchalant manner -and story, that I had come by the idol accidentally. At least I -_think_ I convinced him, though I noticed his watching me steadily -from under very level brows more than once during the evening. But if -he had any suspicions that I was deceiving him, he did not put them -into words." - -Here Miss Vale paused for a moment. Then she resumed: - -"I tried, in various ways, to gain a knowledge of the relationship -between my fiancé and this sneering shopkeeper; but they were all -ineffectual. Mr. Ashton-Kirk, this occurred fully three months ago, -and the situation remains the same as it was upon that night." - -Then with a suddenness that startled the young man she lifted two -trembling hands to her face and began to sob gaspingly. When she took -the hands away there were no signs of tears, but her beautiful face -was drawn with pain and her voice shook as she said: - -"I don't think I can stand it much longer. I beg of you not to think -lightly of my story; for the thing that stands between Allan Morris -and myself is deadly. As I watch him I can see that his heart is -breaking; his health is failing, there is a look of fear in his eyes." -She reached forward and her hand rested upon the sleeve of -Ashton-Kirk. "He is at the mercy of this mocking monster that I have -described to you. It is killing him, and through him it is killing me. -Help me, please." - -Ashton-Kirk smiled reassuringly. - -"As far as I can see," said he, "the case is a simple one. However, it -may turn out the reverse. But in either event I can promise you a -swift and energetic attempt to set the matter right." - -"Thank you!" She stood up. "And you will begin to-day?" - -"At once!" - -"You are kind." She held out her hand; he took it. "Thank you, again." - -Stumph appeared, in answer to the bell. She turned to go. - -"There is nothing more that you can tell me?" he inquired. - -"Nothing." - -"I had supposed that. Your recital sounded pretty complete." - -When the door closed upon her, he stood for a few moments in the -middle of the floor, his head bent forward, his hands behind him. Then -he turned and touched another of the system of bells. - -Immediately a brisk, boyish looking young man presented himself. - -"Fuller," spoke Ashton-Kirk, "I want instant and complete information -upon one Hume, a local numismatist, and Allan Morris, consulting -engineer." - -"Very well, sir." And Fuller turned at once, and left the room. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -THE PORTRAITS OF GENERAL WAYNE - - -When Ashton-Kirk returned that evening from the theatre, where he had -gone to witness a much heralded new drama, he sat with a cigar, in his -library; and stretching out his length in great comfort, he smoked and -smiled and thought of what he had seen and heard. - -"The drama as a medium of expression is necessarily limited," the -young man was saying to himself, "and of course, in fitting human -action to its narrow bounds, the dramatist is sometimes tempted to -ignore certain human elements. In spots, the people of the play acted -like puppets; upon seven different occasions, by actual count, the -entire matter would have been cleared up if someone had sharply spoken -his mind. But he did not, and the thing was allowed to become -hopelessly involved because of it." - -He knocked the ashes from his cigar; and a smile came to his lips. - -"It would not have served the purpose of the dramatist, I suppose; his -play would have ended abruptly, and far short of the prescribed time. -He tried to tell a human story and chose an unhuman method." - -There was another pause; the smile now disappeared and a thoughtful -look came into his face. - -"And yet," he mused, "is the playwright really so far wrong? Is his -stage story very far removed from actuality after all? In Miss Edyth -Vale, we have a girl of most unusual character, of splendid education, -apparently. And yet in the building of her own drama she has -outstripped the inventor of stage plays in the matter of hesitancy. -Her natural inclination urged her to make a firm stand; but other -feelings proved the stronger, and she held her tongue much after the -fashion of the girl in the play." - -He was puffing at a second cigar when there came a knock on the door, -and Fuller entered. - -"Well?" said Ashton-Kirk. - -"I thought you'd perhaps like to look over this data before morning," -said the young man, as he laid a number of typed sheets and a -photograph at Ashton-Kirk's elbow. "As you required instant action I -got Burgess on the Hume end of it before noon; after luncheon I took -up Morris myself." - -"Thank you," said the other. - -"Morris," with a nod toward the photograph, "is rather uneventful, -personally. And it was no very difficult matter to get the facts -concerning him. But Burgess had a much more interesting time. Hume -seems to have lots of color as a character. Not that there was a great -deal shown--the time was too short. But the indications are -promising." - -When Fuller had gone, Ashton-Kirk took up the sheets and began to read -them carefully. They were brief, pointed and evidently the work of men -who were familiar enough with their business to eliminate all -non-essentials. The first one ran: - -"Allan Barnett Morris, Consulting Engineer. Specialty, Marine -Construction. Lives at the Crompton Apartments. Born October 15, 1879. -Graduate of Cornell; class of 1900. Special honors. Brilliant student. -Was at once engaged by the New England Ship Building Company. Soon -became their right hand man. Resigned in 1905; took offices in the -Blake Building. Is much employed by the Government. Has the reputation -of a growing man in his line and is admitted by competent persons to -be an expert. - -"He is unmarried and has no relatives. The last of these to die was -his father--a trifle more than three years ago. The father had a -reputation for great brilliancy and hard drinking. He was an inventor -of some note. See the Morris Smoke Consumer--the Morris Propeller--the -Morris Automatic Brake. But he never made much out of any of these. -The appetite for liquor forced him to surrender, for very little, -interests that made fortunes for other men. - -"Young Morris is clear of the drink habit, and is a hard and -persistent worker. He is a member of the University and the Brookdale -Field Clubs; goes into society, and is reported to be the accepted -suitor of Miss Edyth Vale, daughter of the late James Vale, -manufacturer of structural steel." - -"A clean bill of health, as far as it goes," commented Ashton-Kirk. -"However, surface inquiries tell very little, sometimes." - -He turned to the remaining pages. - -"David Purtell Hume, Numismatist, philatelist, dealer in objects of -art and curiosities. Resides at his place of business, second floor of -478 Christie Place. - -"Hume located in this city in 1899. Where he came from is not -definitely known, but there is some slight cause for supposing that he -is an American who had been living abroad. However, an examination of -the steamship passenger lists for 1898-99 fail to show his name. - -"Is well known in his line and is reputed to be wealthy. Is much -disliked by his neighbors and others in the same trade. Even those who -patronize him have an aversion to him; but as he is an authority, and -his stock always contains rarities, they do not take their custom -elsewhere. - -"Hume has been under suspicion upon several occasions. But the police -could gather no positive evidence against him, at any time. The -robbery of the Hailesbury gallery at London, when the famous Whistler -portrait of the Duchess of Winterton was cut from its frame, was -traced almost to his door. But the scent died out before they could -clinch the matter, and he escaped. It was believed that the thing -was planned by him and executed by a confederate. Several other -occurrences of like nature, but of less importance, have been laid -against him. But, if he was concerned in them, he was always cunning -enough to hide his tracks. - -"He is an habitual drinker, of violent temper, and is reputed to have -a positive genius for discovering raw spots in an acquaintance and -goading him for the sheer joy of seeing him writhe. It is this trait -that causes the general dislike for him in the Christie Place section. - -"He is a free liver, spends much money and has a passion for music." - -Ashton-Kirk laid down the sheets and threw away his cigar. - -"As Fuller remarked, Mr. Hume seems to be a colorful character. And -apparently one that would be likely to lead Mr. Allan Morris a very -lively dance if he had a hold of any sort upon him." - -He arose to his feet, a pleased light in his eye, and began walking up -and down the floor. - -"It is more than likely that it will prove some trifle that Morris' -fears have lifted to the plane of a tragedy. But, somehow, the parts -of the case seem to fall in a promising manner. I get a sort of -pleasure in anticipating a possible grapple with Mr. David Purtell -Hume." - -For a full hour, Ashton-Kirk moved up and down the library, his eyes -half closed, varying expressions appearing and disappearing upon his -face. At length there came a smile of satisfaction and he paused in -his pacing. - -"That is probably it," said he. "At any rate it is a very favorable -coincidence. However, I must have more information than the hurried -reports of Burgess and Fuller to be certain. Yes, this promises to be -interesting." - -With that he went to his room and to bed. - -The dull gray of a damp spring morning was peering in at his window -when he awoke. By the light he knew that it was hours before his usual -time. Something had aroused him; but he could not say what. He sat up -in bed, and as he did so there came the long continued and smothered -ringing of a bell. - -"The telephone," said he. - -"R-r-r-r-ring-g!" it persisted. And then again: -"R-r-r-r-ring-ing-ing! R-r-r-ring!" - -Ashton-Kirk heard a door open and close softly on the floor above; -then slippered feet came pat-patting down the stairs. The wild rattle -of the bell suddenly stopped; a muffled voice could be heard -protesting dismally against the din. But suddenly the vague complaint -gave way to a higher note. - -"Alarm," said Ashton-Kirk. "Something has happened." - -He reached up and turned on the electric bulb that hung above his -head; then he drew his feet up under him after the fashion of a Turk -and waited, calmly. - -The padded steps swiftly approached his door; a sharp knock sounded on -the panels. - -"Well?" demanded the young man. - -"There is an urgent call, sir," came the voice of Stumph--"on the -telephone. It's the lady who called yesterday--Miss Vale." - -Ashton-Kirk slipped from the bed; a step brought him to the door, -which he threw open. - -"Very well, Stumph," said he, quietly. "You may go back to bed." - -The grave-faced German went stolidly down the hall; the young man -pulled on a pair of felt slippers; in the library he put the detached -receiver to his ear and spoke evenly: - -"Well, Miss Vale?" - -There was a small, gasping exclamation from the wire, a sort of -breath-catching flutter of sound such as a person might utter who had -been running hard. Then Edyth Vale, her voice shaking and filled with -fear, said: - -"Oh! Is that you! I'm glad--glad!" - -"Get a firm grip on yourself," advised Ashton-Kirk. "If anything has -happened we can no doubt remedy it." - -There came a series of moaning sobs across the wire; the girl had -evidently broken down and was crying. Ashton-Kirk said nothing; he -waited patiently. Finally she spoke once more. - -"What has happened can _never_ be remedied." Then her voice sank so -low that he could scarcely catch the breathless words. "There has been -murder done." - -The investigator felt the blood prickle beneath his skin. However, his -voice was steady as he replied; his calmly working mind shook off the -fear which she so strongly suggested. - -"Who has been murdered?" he asked. - -"The man whom I told you about yesterday--the numismatist, Hume." - -"Ah!" Ashton-Kirk drew in a long breath and his eyes began to glow. -There was an instant's pause, then he said: "The hour is rather -unconventional; but if you will receive me, I'll have you tell me -about this matter privately and at once." - -"By all means," she answered, eagerly. "I was about to beg of you to -come." - -"In a half hour," said he, briefly. "Good-by." - -He hung up the receiver and touched one of the buttons. When Stumph -came, he said: - -"Turn the cold water into my bath. Then order the car in haste." - -"Yes, sir." - -"Afterwards you can lay out a rough suit, heavy shoes and a soft hat." - -"Instantly, sir." - -Within twenty minutes Ashton-Kirk ran down the steps and sprang into -the powerful looking car that awaited him; and well within the half -hour he rang the bell at the marble palace built by the steel magnate -during the last years of his life. A heavy-eyed man servant admitted -him with astonished resentment. Miss Vale, looking very tall and very -pale, met him in the hall. But for all her pallor she seemed quite -collected, even smiling. - -"Oh, I'm so sorry to have brought you out so early and on such a -dismal morning," she said, lightly, leading him into a room at one -side. "I'm sure it is very damp." - -She sat down and motioned him to a chair; he studied her with some -surprise; the transition from wild terror to her present calm was -most notable. - -"There has been a recovery of poise, evidently," Ashton-Kirk told -himself. "She is still frightened, but for some reason is anxious to -hide it." - -"This morning," said Miss Vale, with a laugh that rang perfectly, "I -found that I was only a woman after all. This--this dreadful thing so -startled me that for a time I did not know what to do. My first -impulse was to call you, and I acted upon it. But," with a pretty -gesture of apology, "when I had recovered myself somewhat, I saw that -I had disturbed you unnecessarily." - -"You don't mean that, after all, Hume is not--" - -She held up her hand for him to stop. A strong shudder seemed to run -through her; she bent her head so that the light would not fall too -strongly upon her face. In a moment, however, she recovered. - -"Yes, yes," she said, her voice perfectly under control. "He is -dead--shockingly murdered. What I mean is, that while the event is -very dreadful--still, it does not really concern me more than any -other crime of the same nature which we see staring at us from the -columns of the newspapers every day. This man's being in my mind so -much of late caused me to become unnerved when I heard the news." - -"When did it occur?" - -"Sometime since midnight." - -There was a silence. Miss Vale arose and began to pace the room. The -long white cloak that had draped her fell away; she wore a ball dress -and her arms and shoulders shone splendidly under the lights. - -"How did you hear of it?" asked Ashton-Kirk. - -There was a scarcely perceptible hesitancy; then she answered: - -"Through the newspapers. We were returning from Mrs. Barron's about -three o'clock. The papers had just come out, and I felt a curiosity to -see them wet from the press. When I reached home the first thing that -caught my eye was the account of Hume's death." - -"Did you call me up at once?" - -"Yes. As I have said, it was the first thing that occurred to me. And -again I beg your pardon for having disturbed you uselessly." - -Ashton-Kirk gestured this aside. - -"It may be that the affair will turn out to have some interesting -features," said he. "And with that possibility in view, I am rather -pleased than not in having an opportunity of getting so early upon the -ground." - -She paused in her pacing, and turned upon him a startled look. - -"You do not mean to go there--to Christie Place," she said. - -[Illustration: "YOU DO NOT MEAN TO GO THERE"--] - -"I may as well. I may be of use." He looked at her for a moment -steadily, then asked: "Do you know of any reason why I should not go?" - -Instantly the startled look vanished; a smile lit up the pale face, -wanly. - -"Of course not," she cried. "You are interested in dreadful -happenings--I had forgotten that. I suppose you _are_ really quite -delighted; and instead of my craving pardon I should be expecting -praise, for putting you in the way of this one." - -She laughed lightly; a smile flitted across his keen face, as he rose -and said: - -"What has happened may make a change in the affairs of Allan Morris." - -She came to him and laid a hand upon his arm. Her coolness won his -admiration. - -"I beg of you to forget all that I told you yesterday," she said. "I -had been brooding so long that I had begun to fancy all sorts of -impossible things. I see very clearly now that this man Hume could -have had nothing of any consequence to do with Mr. Morris. It was a -romance--a rather foolish fancy, and a very wild one." - -There was sweet seriousness in her manner; and the lurking smile -still hovered about her lips. It was as though a return to reason had -driven away the fears of the day before--the alarmed girl had given -place to a sensible woman. - -But behind all this, Ashton-Kirk could detect something else. The -almost swooning terror of the girl who had spoken to him over the -telephone was still there--held rigidly in check to be sure, but -unquestionably there. While her lips smiled, the eyes sometimes -betrayed her; and there was a tenseness about her that almost -screamed. Her good-by was soft and kindly spoken; she held out her -hand, frankly, and thanked him for his interest. There was nothing -hurried in her manner; it was all smoothly and leisurely done. And yet -he felt that if she had followed the impulse that filled her, she -would have taken him, by the shoulder and bundled him from the room in -order that she might be alone. - -"Alone--to think," he said, as he got into his car at the curb. "But -to think about what?" Aloud he said to the driver: "Christie Place." - -By this time the early workers were beginning to thicken in the -street; street cars were more frequent; the dull night hum of the city -was growing in volume. The spark had set the car's engine throbbing -heavily, and the driver was about to start when a second vehicle drew -up and Ashton-Kirk found himself looking into the alarmed face of -young Pendleton. - -"Heavens, Kirk!" cried the newcomer, as he leaped out, "has anything -serious happened?" - -"To whom?" asked the investigator, quietly, his eyes fixed upon the -young man's face. - -"To Edyth, of course. Has any thing been seen of her?" - -"I have just left her; she seemed a bit agitated, but perfectly well." - -A look of relief crossed Pendleton's face. - -"Oh!" said he. "All right. I was beginning to think that something was -up. You see," and here he lowered his voice, "I danced with her about -midnight at Mrs. Barron's; about two o'clock her aunt, Mrs. Page, came -to me in great distress and said she was strangely missing. She had -slipped away somewhere without a word." - -Ashton-Kirk looked at him keenly. - -"Of course it was up to me to find her," said Pendleton; "but my -efforts were without result. Her car was gone, and the man said Miss -Vale had called it about one o'clock; also that she had driven away in -it alone. - -"At this news Mrs. Page grew quite ill, and I brought her home here in -my car. Then I departed upon a vague sort of search. As the matter was -to be kept perfectly quiet and I was to ask no questions of anybody, -you can imagine how much chance I had of doing anything. But if she's -at home, it's all right. At sight of you I thought it had proved to be -something alarming and that they had sent for you." - -"I _was_ sent for," said Ashton-Kirk, dryly, "but not to hunt for Miss -Vale. Now jump in here and come along; I've got a little matter that -may be of interest." - -"I haven't had breakfast," said Pendleton; "but there's always -something piquant to your little affairs. I'll go you." - -He dismissed his own car and climbed into that of his friend. As they -whirled up the street, Ashton-Kirk suddenly directed his driver to -stop. Then he called to a man with a great bundle of newspapers who -stood calling them monotonously upon a corner. - -Again the car started with the investigator deep in the sheaf of -papers which he had purchased. Page after page failed to reveal -anything to his practised glance; at length he swept them to the floor -of the car. A smile was upon his lips--the smile of a man who had -received a nod of approval from Circumstances. - -"The first edition of the morning dailies lacks interest," he said. "A -crime of some moment can be committed between midnight and dawn, and -not a line appear in type concerning it until the later issues." - -Pendleton looked at him with mock disapproval. - -"One would suppose," said he, "that you had expected to find some -such criminal narrative in those," and he indicated the discarded -newspapers. - -"There were reasons why I should," answered Ashton-Kirk. "And very -good reasons, too. But," and he laughed a little, "for all that, I had -an indefinite sort of feeling that I should _not_ find it. This may -sound a trifle queer; but nevertheless it is true." - -"The account was to have been of a murder," accused Pendleton. "I can -see it in your face, so don't take the trouble to deny it. I had -hoped that your plunge into what you styled the 'literature of -assassination' would not last--that a good night's rest would turn -your thoughts into another groove." - -"Perhaps it would have been so," said Ashton-Kirk. "But things have -happened in the meantime." - -"And you don't appear at all put out that they have done so. That is -possibly the most distressing feature of the business. If anything, -you seem rather pleased. Of course, an odd murder or so is to be -expected in the ordinary course of events; but one hardly counts upon -one's intimates being concerned in them. It is disconcerting." - -He crossed his legs and pursed up his lips. - -"If you don't mind," added he, "now that I have expressed myself, -I'll listen to the details of whatever you have in view." - -"There is not a great deal to tell," said Ashton-Kirk. "A man has been -murdered in Christie Place. It happens that I have an interest in the -matter; otherwise I would not think of dipping into it." - -Pendleton looked at him reproachfully. - -"After all, then," exclaimed he, "you are but a dilettante! -Assassination in the abstract is well enough, but you have a -disposition to shirk practical examples. I have been deceived!" - -Christie Place was some distance west and ran off from a much -frequented street. It was notable for the wilderness of sign boards -that flared from each side. The buildings were apparently let out in -floors and each lessee endeavored to outdo his neighbor in proclaiming -his business to the passing public. The lower floors were, for the -most part, occupied by small grocers, dealers in notions, barbers, -confectioners and such like. - -"What a crowded, narrow little place," commented Pendleton, as the car -turned into the street. The air in the street seemed to him heavy. - -About midway in the block a small group stood about a doorway; from a -window above swung a sign bearing the name of Hume. The car stopped -here; Ashton-Kirk and his friend got out; the group at the doorway -parted and a big man stepped forward. - -"Why, hello," said he, cordially. "You're the last person I was looking -for. How did you hear about this?" - -"Good morning, Osborne," said Ashton-Kirk, shaking the big man's hand. -"I'm glad to find you in charge. I got it in an unusual sort of way, -and came down to have a look." - -Osborne, though in plain clothes, was emphatically a policeman. His -square face, his big frame, his dogged expression, somehow conveyed -the impression as plainly as words. - -"It must have been unusual," said he, "because even the reporters -haven't got it yet; headquarters is keeping it quiet until the chief -gets in." - -Ashton-Kirk looked vastly pleased. - -"Excellent," said he to Pendleton. "We'll have a look at the place -before it has lost the atmosphere of the crime." Then to Osborne: "May -we go up?" - -"Sure," answered the other readily. "Only don't pull things around -any. That young fellow that they've elected coroner is awful touchy -about such things. He wants to be first always." - -"Nothing of importance shall be disturbed," promised Ashton-Kirk. Then -motioning Pendleton to follow, he ascended the flight that led to the -second floor. - -It was narrow and dusty, as Miss Vale had said. The walls were -smutted, the hand rail felt greasy, the air was stale. A passage, dim -and windowless, ran the depth of the building; from the front there -came a patch of daylight through a ground glass door. Upon this latter -could be easily read the words: - - DAVID P. HUME - NUMISMATIST - PHILATELIST - ART CURIOSITIES - -A policeman stood at the head of the stairs smoking a cigar in an -informal way. - -"All right," said he, "if Osborne let you come up I've got nothing to -say. He's the boss." - -"Have you looked over the place?" - -"Just a glance. The floor has been fitted up as an apartment. Hume -occupied all the rooms. The body," pointing to the front room, "is in -there." - -"Thanks." - -Ashton-Kirk turned the knob of the door nearest, the one with the -lettering upon it. The room was without windows; the investigator -closed the door and lighted the gas. - -"Just a moment," said he. - -The door leading to the front room stood wide. He disappeared through -this for a moment; when he returned, his face wore a tightened -expression; his eyes were swift and eager. - -"This is a sort of store room, I should say," spoke Pendleton. - -Pictures hung about upon the walls and stood packed in corners; -statues of bronze, marble and plaster were on every side; brass -bas-reliefs, rugs of Eastern design and great price, antique armor, -coin cabinets, ponderous stamp albums, Japanese paintings and carvings -and a host of queer and valuable objects fairly crammed every inch of -space. - -"I had heard that Hume was wealthy," commented Ashton-Kirk. "And this -seems to prove it. This room contains value enough to satisfy a fairly -reasonable person." - -The two young men passed through into what appeared to be a kitchen. -There was an ill kept range upon one side cluttered with cooking -things. A bare oaken table of the Jacobean period held the remains of -a meal. A massive Dutch side-board, covered with beautiful carving, -stood facing them; every inch of available space upon it was crowded -with bottles, decanters and glasses. - -"The gentleman was not averse to an occasional nip, at any rate," said -Pendleton. "And his taste was rather educated, too," examining the -sideboard's contents carefully. "The best was none too good for him." - -Beyond this again was a bedroom. The bed was a huge Flemish affair, -and also elaborately carved; over it was a spreading Genoese canopy, -which through lack of care had grown dusty and tattered. Rich old rugs -were spread upon the neglected floor; a beautiful Louis Quinze table -had its top covered with discolored rings made by the bottoms of -glasses, and the lighted ends of cigars had burned spots on it. - -"The bed of a prince and the floor coverings of a duke," said -Pendleton with indignation. "And used much as a coal heaver would use -them. Now, this table is really a scandal. If its owner has been -murdered, I don't wonder at it. Some outraged lover of such things has -probably taken the law into his own hands." - -But Ashton-Kirk was paying little attention to the things that -appalled Pendleton. - -"Look," said he. - -He indicated the walls. Here and there the plaster was broken as -though some fastened object had been violently torn away. At one place -an empty picture frame, its glass smashed, hung askew from a hook. As -Pendleton caught sight of other empty frames littered about the room, -the glass of each broken, their pictures torn out, he exclaimed in -astonishment: - -"Hello! Someone has torn them down and smashed them. What an -extraordinary thing to do!" - -The pictures, mostly engravings, but with here and there a painting, -were strewn about. Ashton-Kirk carefully gathered them up and spread -them upon the table. They were by various hands, but unquestionably -represented the same person--a handsome, resolute looking man in the -uniform of an officer in the army of Washington. - -"General Anthony Wayne," said Ashton-Kirk, softly. - -There was something in the tone that made Pendleton look at him -swiftly. The splendid head was bent over the portraits; eagerness -blazed in the dark eyes; the keen face was rigid with interest. - -"Some drunken freak, do you think?" asked Pendleton, more to hear his -friend's view than anything else. - -But Ashton-Kirk shook his head. - -"On the contrary, the thing seems full of a vague meaning," said he. -"There were seventeen pictures upon the walls of this room; fourteen -have been torn down and destroyed; the other three are undisturbed." - -Pendleton gazed at the pictures that remained upon the walls. Two were -of fine looking houses of the colonial type; the third was the -portrait of a man--a man of repulsive, sneering face, heavy with evil -lines and with unusually small eyes. - -"If they had destroyed that one it would have had some meaning to me," -commented Pendleton. "But, as it is, I hardly think I follow you." - -"The meaning that I find," replied Ashton-Kirk, "lies in the fact that -the pictures violently used were those of General Wayne only. Mark -that fact. That they were deliberately selected for destruction is -beyond question." - -"How do you make that out?" - -"It is simple. If this were a mere random stripping of the room of its -pictures, all would have suffered. Look," indicating a spot in the -wall, "here is a place where the plaster is broken. A hook had been -driven here to hold one of the portraits; and the breaking of the -plaster shows that some determination was required to tear the picture -down. Yet--next this--is an engraving of an old mansion which remains -untouched. The next four again were portraits of the General, and all -have been demolished." - -Pendleton nodded. - -"That's true," said he. "Whoever did this was after the Revolutionary -hero alone. But why?" - -Ashton-Kirk smiled. - -"We'll look into matters a little further," said he. "Perhaps there -are facts to be gathered that will shed some light upon the things -that we have already seen." - -They repassed through the other rooms; with his hand upon the frame of -the door leading to the show room, Ashton-Kirk paused. - -"Better brace yourself for rather a shocking sight," said he to his -friend. - -"Go on," said Pendleton, quietly. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -STILLMAN'S THEORY - - -There were four good-sized windows in the show room, all overlooking -the street. It was a large, square place, and, as Miss Vale had said, -literally stuffed with odd carvings, pottery of a most freakish sort, -and weird bric-a-brac. Two large modern safes stood at one side, -behind a long show case spread with ancient coins. At the end of this -case was a carpeted space, railed in and furnished with a great -flat-topped desk. Upon the floor at the foot of the desk, and with -three separate streams of blood creeping away from it, lay the -huddled, ghastly figure of a man. - -Pendleton, though he had been warned, felt his breath catch and his -skin grow cold and damp. - -"Heavens!" said he, under his breath. "It's the man whose picture we -saw inside there on the wall." - -Even the shock of death could not, so it seemed, drive the sneer from -the thick lips; mockery was frozen in the dead eyes. - -"What a beast he must have been," went on Pendleton. "Like a satyr. I -don't think I ever saw just that type of face before." - -Ashton-Kirk was bending over the body; suddenly he raised himself. - -"There is a heavy bruise on the forehead," said he. "He was felled -first; then bayoneted." - -"Bayoneted!" Pendleton peered at the body. - -"There it is, sticking from his chest." Ashton-Kirk drew aside the -breast of the dead man's coat and his companion caught sight of a -bronze hilt. The broad, sword-like blade had been driven completely -home. - -"If we attempted to move the body," said the investigator, "I should -not be surprised if we found it pinned to the floor. It took brawn to -give that stroke; the man who dealt it made sure of the job." - -With soft, quick steps he crossed the room. The doors of the safes -were locked. - -"If the purpose was robbery," said Ashton-Kirk, "the criminal -evidently knew where to look for the most portable and valuable -articles. There seems to be no indication of anything having been -tampered--" He stopped short, his eyes upon a huge vellum covered tome -which lay open upon the floor. He whistled softly between his teeth. -"General Wayne once more!" he said. - -The volume, as far as Pendleton could see, was a sort of scrap book in -which had been fastened a great number of prints. Upon the two pages -that they could see, six prints had been affixed by the corners. Of -these, four had been torn out and lay upon the floor. - -"Gambetta and John Bright have been spared," said Ashton-Kirk, -pointing at the book, "but," and he gathered up the fragments of the -mishandled prints, "upon Mad Anthony they laid violent hands four -separate times." - -Pendleton wrinkled his brow. - -"Now what the deuce can it mean," he asked, vexedly. "Not only what -did the fellow mean who did this, but what did _he_ mean," pointing at -the dead man, "by having so many portraits of General Wayne?" - -"I think something might be found to point the way if we could only -look for it," said Ashton-Kirk, his face alight with eagerness. "But -we'll have to await the coroner's people." - -"When will they come?" - -The investigator shrugged his shoulders. - -"Probably not for hours," he answered. "However, as the coroner -himself appears to be new in the office, he may be more anxious to get -his work over with than the usual official. In the mean time we'd -better go down and have a talk with Osborne. If I remain here I'll -succumb to temptation, go rummaging about and so get myself into -trouble." - -He turned the knob of the door with the ground glass panel; but it -was fast. They passed into the store room, and so out into the hall. - -"Any signs of the people from the coroner's office?" asked Ashton-Kirk -of the policeman who stood there. - -"Someone just drove up a minute ago," answered the man. "I hear him -down there talking to Osborne now." - -Ashton-Kirk was about to go down when there came a tramping on the -stairs. The big figure of the headquarters detective was first; after -him came a nervous, important looking young man and a stolid-faced old -one. - -With a large gesture Osborne laid his hand upon Ashton-Kirk's -shoulder. - -"Mr. Stillman," said he to the nervous looking young man, "this is Mr. -Ashton-Kirk. I guess you've heard of him." - -The important manner of the young coroner visibly increased as he held -out his hand. - -"I have heard of you frequently, sir," he stated, firmly, "and I am -quite delighted to meet you. More especially, sir, at a time like -this." - -"A very nasty looking affair," returned the investigator. "Osborne has -been good enough to let me glance about," in explanation. - -"I trust," said Stillman, "that you have disturbed nothing." - -"Except for gathering up a few scattered pictures in the bedroom, we -have done nothing but look," assured Ashton-Kirk. - -"I find that the exact conditions must remain if we are to secure even -a fairly good idea of the crime's environments," stated Stillman, -nervously. "It is a thing that I insist upon from the police in every -instance." - -"Sure, sure," said Osborne. "Headquarters does its best never to make -trouble for you, Mr. Stillman." - -The nervous young coroner seemed to be relieved to hear this. He waved -his hand in a gesture that might have meant anything and turned to the -stolid looking, elderly man who accompanied them. They conversed for a -few moments; the stolid man seemed to be explaining something -carefully, to which Stillman listened with the utmost attention. -Osborne bent his head toward Ashton-Kirk. - -"The old party is a left-over in the coroner's office, of many years' -standing," said the detective. "He knows the ropes and puts the newly -elected ones on to the points of the game." - -Stillman finally turned; there was an added importance in his manner, -and his nervousness had also increased. - -"Mr. Osborne," said he, "please let us have what facts the police have -gathered." - -"That won't take long," said Osborne. "Just before daylight--three -o'clock, I think she said--the woman whom Hume employed to scrub the -passage-way and stairs got here. She has almost a dozen such jobs in -the neighborhood, and as she must have them all done before business -begins, she's compelled to get at it early. She has a key to the -street door; so she let herself in, came up these stairs and started -for the far end of the hall, where there is a water tap. She didn't -notice anything unusual until she returned with her pail filled; then -she saw this door," pointing to that of the store room, "standing -open." - -"I see," said Mr. Stillman; and he gazed very hard at the door. - -"Hume, according to the scrub-woman's story," resumed the big man, -"was a queer kind of a chap. You didn't always know just how to take -him. He's lapped up a good bit of booze first and last and sometimes -he's come home pretty well settled. So when the woman sees the door -open, this is the first thing that enters her mind. But to make sure, -she goes into the room and calls him by name. The room's dark and -there's just a touch of daylight coming in through the open door -leading into the front room. So as there was no answer, she takes a -peep in there and sees him on the floor." - -"And is that all she can tell?" - -"Yes; except that she bolted down the stairs in a hurry, met Paulson -here," with a nod to the policeman, who had now discarded his cigar, -"and told him what she had seen." - -"What is her name and address?" - -Osborne consulted a note book. - -"Mrs. Dwyer, 71 Cormant Street," read he. - -"Please make a note of that," said Stillman to his clerk. "And send -for her later in the day." Then turning once more to Osborne, he -continued. "Before doing anything else we will endeavor to find out -how the criminal gained an entrance." - -"That's the way with these Johnnie Newcomers," grumbled Osborne as -Stillman turned once more to his aide. "They want to do it all. Why -don't he go in, look at the body and leave the police business to the -police." - -"Too much earnestness may have its drawbacks," said Ashton-Kirk, "but -it is to be preferred to the perfunctory methods of the accustomed -official, for all." - -"From your angle, maybe so," said Osborne with a frown; "but not from -ours." - -Stillman began rubbing his palms together with what was intended to be -business-like briskness; he stepped up and down the dark hall, peering -right and left. But for all his assumption of confidence, his -nervousness was very apparent. - -"You say," said he to Osborne, "that the scrubwoman unlocked the -street door. Very good. That shows that _it_ was fast at all events. -Now what other means are there of entering the building?" - -"None, except by the fire-escapes and windows. But the windows on this -floor are all secured except for those at the front." - -"Except for those at the front." The young coroner paused in his hand -rubbing. "Would it not have been possible for the person or persons -who did this murder to enter by one of those?" - -"It would have been possible," returned the big headquarters man, "but -no sane person would do it. They'd have to swarm up the face of the -building in full view of anyone that might be passing at the time." - -"Exactly," said Stillman, stiffening under what he was half inclined -to consider a rebuff. "Well, that eliminates _that_ possibility. Now -to the next one. Who occupied the building besides the murdered man?" - -"A man named Berg keeps a delicatessen store on the first floor. His -place in no way communicates with the rest of the building. The third -and fourth floors are used for storage purposes by a furrier. Except -in the spring and fall, so Mrs. Dwyer tells me, he seldom visits the -building." - -"Is there any way of getting in from the top of the house--the roof?" -asked the coroner. - -A look of something like respect came into Osborne's face. Clearly the -question was one which he considered worth while. - -"There is a scuttle," he replied. "The bolt is rusted and broken; it -has probably not been fastened for months, perhaps years." - -"Now we are beginning to come at something," cried Stillman, well -pleased. "In all probability the assassin entered by way of the -scuttle." He turned as though for the approval of the stolid-faced -man. "Eh, Curran? What do you think of that?" - -"It looks very like it, Mr. Stillman." - -"At all events," spoke the coroner, "we will now examine the rooms." - -He advanced and tried the door of the show room. - -"Ah, locked!" said he. He turned and entered the store room, the -others following. The gas was still burning; the coroner stuck a pair -of big-lensed eyeglasses upon his rather high nose and gazed about him -intently. - -"There seems to be nothing of an informing nature here," said he, -after a time. "Where is the body?" - -Osborne led the way into the front room. After a glance at the -ghastly, huddled figure upon the carpet near the desk, the coroner -took a careful survey of the apartment. - -"Did Mr. Hume employ any person to assist him?" he asked. - -"The scrub-woman told me that there was a young man here always when -she came during the business day for her wages. A sort of clerk, she -thought." - -"He will be able to tell us if anything has been disturbed, no doubt," -remarked Stillman. - -Then he examined the body minutely. In the pockets were found a wallet -containing a large sum of money, a massive, old-fashioned gold watch -with a chain running from pocket to pocket of the waist-coat. Upon the -little finger of Hume's left hand was a magnificent diamond. - -"Worth two thousand if it's worth a cent," appraised Osborne. - -"If the criminal had meant robbery these things would unquestionably -have been taken," commented the young coroner. "Eh, Curran?" - -"That is a very safe rule to go by, Mr. Stillman," replied his -assistant, with the utmost stolidity. - -Through his big lenses the coroner gazed curiously at the bronze haft -protruding from the dead man's chest. - -"A bayonet," said he. "Not a common weapon in a crime like this. In -fact, I should say it was rather in the nature of an innovation." - -"It probably belonged in Hume's stock," suggested Osborne. "There -seems to be about everything here." - -But Stillman shook his head. - -"We have already about concluded that the intention of the criminal -was not robbery," stated he. "And now, if we make up our minds that -the bayonet belonged to Hume--that the assassin, in point of fact, -came here without a weapon--it must be that he did not intend murder -either." - -"Maybe he didn't," ventured Osborne. "There might have been a sudden -quarrel. The person who struck that blow may have grabbed up the first -competent looking thing that came to his hand." - -Stillman turned to Ashton-Kirk. - -"That sounds reasonable enough, eh?" - -"Very much so," replied Ashton-Kirk. - -"A bayonet is a most unusual weapon," said the coroner thoughtfully, -readjusting his glasses. "And I think it would be a most awkward thing -to carry around with one. Therefore, it would be a most unlikely -choice for an intending assassin. I am of the opinion," nervously, -"that we may safely say that it was a sudden quarrel which ended in -this," and he gestured with both hands toward the body. - -The safe doors were tried and found locked; a cash register was opened -and found to contain what had been apparently the receipts of the day -before. An examination of the cabinets and cases disclosed hundreds -of ancient coins and other articles the value of which must have been -heavy. But their orderly array had not been disturbed. A long curtain -of faded green material hung from the wall at one side, as though to -screen something from the sunlight and dust. - -"What have we here?" said the coroner. - -He stepped across the store and whisked the curtain aside. A large -gilt frame was disclosed; and from it hung the slashed remains of a -canvas. - -"Hello!" exclaimed Osborne, with interest. "This begins to look like -one of the old affairs that they say Hume's been mixed up in. -Somebody's tried to cut that picture from the frame." - -They examined it carefully. A keen knife had been run around the top -and both sides, close to the frame. The painting hung down, its gray -back displayed forlornly. - -Stillman regarded it with great satisfaction. - -"Here," said he, "we at least have a possible motive." - -Ashton-Kirk took a twisted walking stick from a rack, and with the end -of it, raised the slashed canvas so that its subject could be seen. It -was a heroic equestrian figure of an officer of the American -Revolution. His sword was drawn; his face shone with the light of -battle. - -Pendleton was just about to cry out "General Wayne," when the stick -fell from his friend's hand, the canvas dropping to its former -position. While the others were trying to get it into place once more, -Ashton-Kirk whispered to Pendleton: - -"Say nothing. This is their turn; let them work in their own way. I -will begin where they have finished." - -After a little time spent in a gratified inspection of the painting, -Stillman said: - -"But, gentlemen, let us have a look at the other rooms. There may be -something more." - -They re-passed through the store room and into the living room. -Nothing here took the coroner's attention, and they entered the -bedroom. Both these last had doors leading into the hall; upon their -being tried they were found to be locked. - -The smashed pictures upon the bedroom floor at once took the eye of -Stillman. He regarded the broken places in the plaster and prodded the -slivers of wood and glass with the toe of his shoe with much -complacency. - -"This completes the story," declared he. "It is now plain from end to -end. The criminal entered the building from the roof, made his way -down stairs and gained admittance through the door which the scrub -woman found unlocked. His purpose was to steal the painting in the -front room. - -"In a struggle with Hume, who unexpectedly came upon him, the -intruder killed him. Not knowing the exact location of the picture he -wanted, he first looked for it here. The light probably being bad he -tore down every picture he could reach in order to get a better view -of it. When, at last, he had found the desired work, he set about -cutting it from its frame. But, before he had finished, something -alarmed him, and he fled without the prize." - -The stolid man listened to this with marked approval. Even Osborne -reluctantly whispered to Pendleton: - -"He's doped it out. I didn't think it was in him." - -After a little more, the coroner said to his clerk: - -"I think that is about all. Curran, see to it that the post-mortem is -not delayed. Put a couple of our men on the case, have them make -extensive inquiries in the neighborhood. Any persons who appear to -possess information may be brought to my office at three o'clock. -Especially I desire to see this Mrs. Dwyer, Berg, who keeps the store -on the ground floor and the young man who was employed by Hume. I'll -empanel a jury later." He took off his eye-glasses, placed them in a -case and, in turn, carefully slipped this into his pocket. "At three -o'clock," he repeated. - -"If I should not be intruding," said Ashton-Kirk, "I should like to -be present." - -Stillman smiled with the air of a man triumphant, but who still -desired to show charity. - -"I shall be pleased to see you, sir," he said, "then or at any other -time." - - - - -CHAPTER V - -STILLMAN ASKS QUESTIONS - - -It wanted a few minutes of three o'clock when Ashton-Kirk, still -accompanied by the curious Pendleton, walked into the outer room of -the coroner's suite. - -"Mr. Stillman will be here at any moment now," said Curran. Then -lowering his voice and making a short little gesture from the elbow, -he added: "These people are the ones he wanted to see." - -As he and Pendleton sat down, Ashton-Kirk looked at the persons -referred to. The first was a thin, wiry little woman, unmistakably -Irish, cleanly dressed and with sharp, inquisitive eyes. Engaged in a -low-pitched conversation with her was a thick-necked German, heavy of -paunch and with a fat, red face. The third was a spectacled young Jew, -poring over a huge volume which he seemed to have brought with him. He -had a tremendous head of curling black hair; his clothing was shabby. -There was a rapt expression upon his face; plainly nothing existed for -him at that moment outside the pages of his book. - -After a brief space, the coroner came in, - -"Ah, how do you do, gentlemen," greeted he. He was good-natured and -strove to be easy; but his natural nervousness clung to him. "I am -glad to see you." - -He looked at Curran and nodded at the three inquiringly. - -"Yes, sir," replied the clerk; "these are the parties." - -"Then we will get down to business." He opened a door and entered an -inner room. "Will you come in?" he asked of Ashton-Kirk and Pendleton. - -They followed him at once; and Curran, addressing the little -Irishwoman, said: - -"Now, Mrs. Dwyer, this way, please." - -She arose briskly and also entered the inner room. Stillman seated -himself at a desk and carefully perched his glasses upon his nose. - -"I perhaps take more trouble than is customary in these cases," he -said to Ashton-Kirk. "It is usual to hear statements, I believe, only -when they are proffered as testimony at the inquest. But it seems to -me that the office should be carried on in a more thorough way. -Preparation, I think, is necessary to get at the facts." - -Then he faced the woman who had taken a chair beside the desk. - -"Your full name, please," said he. - -"Honora Dwyer. I'm a widow with four children; I live at 71 Cormant -Street, an' me husban' has been dead these three years," declared she, -in a breath. - -Stillman smiled. - -"You don't believe in keeping anything back, Mrs. Dwyer, I can see -that," said he. "And a very good trait it is." He leaned back in his -swivel chair and looked at her through the glasses. "You are the -person who discovered the body of Mr. Hume, are you not?" - -"Yes, sir, I were," replied Mrs. Dwyer; "and God spare me such another -sight." - -"Tell us about it," said the coroner. - -"I work as scrub woman for a good many in Christie Place an' the -immejeat neighborhood," said Mrs. Dwyer, genteelly. "But I always gets -to Mr. Hume's first." - -"You are quite sure you found the street door locked?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"And you noticed nothing unusual about the place?" - -"Only the open door to the store room, sir. Mr. Hume was always -particular about closing up, sir. For a man who was in the habit of -taking a sup of drink, sir, I'll say he was _very_ particular." - -"When you noticed the door being open you went in at once, I suppose?" - -"No, sir; I did not. After I got me water, I set down on the top step -to get me breath. When I saw the door stan'nin' open, thinks I to -meself, thinks I; 'Mr. Hume is up early this mornin'.' But everything -was quiet as the grave," in a hushed dramatic tone. "Sorra the sound -did I hear. So I gets up and goes in. And in the front room I sees him -lyin'. Mr. Hume was never a handsome man, sir; and he'd gained nothing -in looks by the end he'd met with. God save us, how I ever got out -into the street, I'll never know." - -She rocked to and fro and fanned herself with her apron. - -"It must have been a very severe shock, Mrs. Dwyer," agreed the -coroner. "Now," after a pause, "do you know anything--however slight, -mind you--that would seem to point to who did this thing?" - -Mrs. Dwyer shook her head. - -"Me acquaintance with Mr. Hume was a business one only, sir," she -said. "I never set foot into his place further than the hall except on -the days when I went to get me pay--and this morning, save us from -harm!" - -"You know nothing of his friends then--of his habits?" - -"There is the Jew boy, outside there, that worked for him. He's a -nice, good mannered little felly, and is the only person I ever see -in the office when I went there, barrin' the boss himself. As for Mr. -Hume's habits, I can say only what everybody knows. He were drunk when -he engaged me, and he were drunk the last time I seen him alive." - -"That will be all, Mrs. Dwyer," said Stillman. "Thank you. Curran, -I'll see the young man next." - -As Curran and Mrs. Dwyer went out the young coroner turned to his two -visitors. - -"I am still assured that we have the motive for the crime in the -attempt to steal the painting," he said. "But it will do no harm to -get all the light we can upon every side of the matter. The smallest -clue," importantly, "may prove of the utmost value at the inquest." - -Ashton-Kirk smilingly nodded his entire assent to this. Then Curran -showed in the clerk. - -The young man still carried the thick volume and, when he sat down, -laid it upon a corner of Stillman's desk. Its back was turned toward -Ashton-Kirk and he noted that it was a work on anatomy such as -first-year medical students use. - -"What is your name, please?" asked the coroner. - -"Isidore Brolatsky," replied the young man. - -"You are, or were, employed by Mr. Hume?" - -"As a clerk, yes, sir. I've been with him for some years." Brolatsky -spoke with scarcely a trace of accent. "He didn't pay much, but then -there wasn't much to do, and I had plenty of time to study." - -"Ah," said Stillman, encouragingly. "To study, eh?" - -"Yes. I've taken up medicine. There's a college up town that has night -classes. I have been attending the lectures there and reading during -the day. There's a big chance for physicians who can speak Yiddish. -Not only to make money, but to do good." - -"I see." The coroner regarded him reflectively for a moment. "Now, Mr. -Brolatsky, having worked for Hume for some years, you must have picked -up some details as to his business and himself. Suppose you tell us -all you know about both." - -The dark face of Brolatsky became thoughtful. - -"Mr. Hume was a hard man to get along with," he said. "He seemed ready -to quarrel at any time with anybody. I don't recall a customer ever -coming into the store that he didn't have some kind of trouble with -before they went out. But he had a great knowledge of the things he -dealt in. People came from far and near to get his opinion on items in -their collections. His fees," with appreciation, "were large. - -"But there is one thing that I noticed about him. While he knew all -about objects of art, he did not seem to care for them. He had no love -for his trade, no sympathy, I may say, for the collectors who came to -him. I wouldn't be going far from the truth if I said that he thought -them all fools for paying their money for such things. And I _know_ -that he mocked them." - -"Humph!" Stillman looked at Ashton-Kirk, with surprise upon his face. -"That seems odd. Men usually go into Hume's business through love of -it." He turned once more to Brolatsky. "And he had no hobby of his -own, no collection that he fancied more than another?" - -Brolatsky nodded amusedly. - -"Yes," he replied. "I was just coming to that. He _did_ have a -collection that he called his own. And he never sold an item from it -as long as I was with him. Indeed, I think if anybody had offered to -buy, he would have come to blows with him." - -Ashton-Kirk bent forward. For the first time since entering the room, -he spoke. - -"And what was the nature of that collection?" he inquired eagerly. - -"Portraits," answered Isidore Brolatsky. "Prints, lithographs, -mezzo-tints, engravings, paintings, it made no difference. And all of -the same person. He had hundreds, I guess, and every one of them was -of General Wayne." - -Ashton-Kirk leaned back in his chair with a faint breath of triumph. - -"When a portrait of General Wayne was offered him," continued -Brolatsky, "he never haggled over it. He paid the price asked and -seemed quite delighted to get it. It was a standing joke in the trade -that if you wanted to get even with Mr. Hume for driving a hard -bargain with you, all you had to do was to offer him a portrait of -General Wayne. I never saw him refuse one. Even if he had dozens of -duplicates, which often happened; still he'd buy." - -A look of great acuteness had settled upon the face of the young -coroner. - -"There is a painting at one side of the show room," said he. "It is -under a large green curtain. Is that of General Wayne?" - -"It is," replied the clerk. "And I believe that he valued it more than -anything else that he owned." - -Stillman laughed with pleasure. - -"Now," said he to his visitors, "we are getting at it, indeed. Someone -probably knew of the value he attached to this painting and planned to -steal it, perhaps for a ransom. Hume has been suspected of doing this -sort of thing himself before now. He was supposed to have engaged -someone to do the actual work, I believe, as in the case of the -Whistler portrait of the Duchess of Winterton. Suppose this someone," -and Stillman rapped his knuckles upon the edge of the desk excitedly, -"took the notion to go into the picture stealing business of his own -account. Hume himself with his much prized portrait of General Wayne -was ready at hand--and so," with a sweeping gesture, "what has -happened, has happened." - -Pendleton, much impressed, looked at Ashton-Kirk. But the latter's -thoughts seemed far away; his eyes were fixed upon the wall; his -expression was of delighted anticipation. - -Stillman also noticed this non-attention to his reasoning, and a -little wrinkle of discontent appeared between his brows. So he turned -his gaze upon Brolatsky and spoke rather sharply. - -"Now, as to Mr. Hume's intimates? What do you know of them?" - -Isidore Brolatsky shifted in his chair; his long fingers began to drum -upon his knees. - -"I have known of the matter of the Whistler portrait," said he, "but I -never knew anything more about it than what I read in the newspapers. -It happened before my time." - -"I'm not accusing you," said Stillman. "I'm asking you about Hume's -friends." - -The clerk considered. - -"There was no one that I ever saw or heard of that you could call his -friend, exactly," said he at length. "He made game of people too much -to have any I guess." - -"Had he no associates--no one with whom he spent his time?" - -Brolatsky shook his head. - -"Perhaps so; but then I was only in Christie Place during business -hours. I have heard that he frequently went out at night; but where I -do not know." - -"Was there no one who came to visit him while you were there during -the day. No one whom he spoke of in an intimate way?" - -Again the clerk shook his head. Stillman began to appear nonplussed. -He looked at the other, pondering and frowning through his glasses. - -"Who came most frequently to the store?" he inquired finally. - -"Why, I think Antonio Spatola," said Brolatsky. - -"Was he a customer?" - -The clerk smiled. - -"Oh, no. He's a street musician. You may have seen him often about the -city. He plays the violin and carries some trained cockatoos upon a -perch." - -"What was the nature of his business at Hume's?" - -"If there was anything that Mr. Hume liked better than strong drink," -said the clerk, "it was music. Antonio Spatola would come and play to -him for hours at a time." - -"A lover of music who could stand the playing of a street musician for -hours!" cried Stillman. "That's astonishing." - -"But," protested Brolatsky, "Spatola is a splendid musician. He's -studied his instrument under the greatest masters in Paris, Rome and -other European cities. He has played in the finest orchestras. But he -never could keep a position because of his temper. He's told me -himself that when aroused he doesn't know what he is doing." - -"I understand," said the coroner. "What sort of relations existed -between Hume and Spatola outside the music? Were they friendly?" - -"No, sir. I might say just the reverse. For hours, sometimes, Mr. Hume -would lie back in his chair with his eyes closed listening to the -violin. Then, perhaps, he'd get up suddenly, throw Antonio a dollar or -so and tell him to get out. Or maybe he'd begin to jeer at him. -Antonio had an ambition to become a concert violinist. Ole Bull and -Kubelik had made great successes, he said; and so, why not he? - -"This was usually the point Mr. Hume would take up in mocking him. -He'd call him a curbstone fiddler, and say that he ought to be playing -at barn dances and Italian christenings instead of aspiring to the -platform. Spatola would get frantic with rage, and fairly scream his -resentment at these times. - -"Often Mr. Hume would have him bring his trained cockatoos. And while -he was making them go through their tricks, Mr. Hume would call him a -mountebank, a side show fakir and other things, and tell him that he -ought to stick to that as a business, for he could make a living at -it, where he would starve as a violinist. I've often seen Antonio go -out trembling and white at the lips with rage. Several times he's -tried to injure Mr. Hume--once he took out a knife." - -"Hah!" said the coroner. - -"That was the time Mr. Hume called him 'Mad Anthony.' I also remember -that Mr. Hume pulled aside the curtain and showed him the large -painting of General Wayne, laughing and telling him that that was -another Mad Anthony. He was so successful that day in arousing -Spatola, that always after that, when he was drunk, he'd call the -Italian 'Mad Anthony' and it never failed to infuriate him. - -"Do you know where this man Spatola lives?" - -"In Christie Place, sir; just about half a dozen doors from the store. -I believe he rents a garret there, or something." - -Stillman seemed struck by this. - -"In view of the fact that the building was entered by way of the -scuttle," said he to Ashton-Kirk, "I consider that a most interesting -piece of information." - -"It may indeed prove so," was the non-committal reply. - -Once more the discontented crease showed itself upon the coroner's -forehead; and again as he turned to Brolatsky, his voice rose sharply. - -"Next to Antonio Spatola, who came most to Hume's place while you were -there?" - -"The next most frequent caller," returned the clerk, "was Mr. Allan -Morris." - -Ashton-Kirk, glancing at Pendleton, saw him start. - -"And who," queried the coroner, "is Mr. Allan Morris?" - -"At first I took him to be a customer," replied Brolatsky. "And -perhaps he was. He talked a great deal at times about engraved gems -and would look at lists and works upon the subject. But somehow I got -the notion that that was not just what he came for." - -"What caused you to think that?" asked the coroner. - -"His manner, partly, and then the fact that there seemed something -between Mr. Hume and him--something that I never understood. Mr. -Morris was another one that the boss used to make game of. Not so -much as he would Spatola, but still a good bit. Mr. Morris always took -it with a show of good temper; but underneath I could see that he too -was sometimes furious." - -"About what did Hume deride _him_?" - -"That's what I never could quite make out. It always seemed as though -it was something that Mr. Morris wanted. At first I got the notion -that it was something that he wanted to buy and which Mr. Hume refused -to sell; but later I changed my mind. There seemed to be more to it -than appeared on the top. Both were very secretive about it." - -"I understand." Stillman's face wore a puzzled expression; it was as -though this latter development worried him. But in a few moments he -went on: "Do you know where this man Morris is to be found?" - -"Oh, yes. He's quite well known. Has an office in the Blake Building, -and is employed just now, so I've heard, by the Navy Department." - -"You have visited Christie Place to-day?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Did the police have you look about?" - -"Yes, sir. And so far as I can see, nothing has been taken." - -"The weapon that Hume was killed with, now. Do you know anything -about it--did it belong to the store?" - -"The bayonet? No, sir." - -"Are you sure of that?" earnestly. - -"Positive. It was my duty to keep a complete list of everything we had -in stock. We had other sorts of arms, but no such thing as a bayonet." - -There were a few more questions, but as they drew out nothing of -interest, Stillman signified to Brolatsky that the interview was at an -end. - -"Now, you will go with Mr. Curran to police headquarters on the next -floor," said he, "and tell them what you have told me about this -Antonio Spatola." - -Then he opened the door and stepped out. - -"Curran," they heard him say, importantly. - -"I want you to--" then the door closed, cutting the sentence short. - -Pendleton gazed fixedly at Ashton-Kirk. - -"I say," said he, "I'm not up in this sort of thing at all. I've been -putting two and two together, and it's led me into a deuce of a -state." - -Ashton-Kirk looked at him inquiringly; there was expectancy in the -investigator's eyes, but he said nothing. - -"Perhaps you'll think that I'm all kinds of a fool," continued -Pendleton, "and maybe I am. But here are the things that I'm trying to -marshall in order. I'll take them just as they happened." He held up -one hand and with the other began to check off the counts upon his -fingers. "Yesterday you have a visit--a visit of a professional -nature--from Edyth Vale. Last night she strangely disappears for a -time. At a most unconventional hour this morning I find you at her -door. Then I learn that you are on your way to look into the details -of a murder that you had just heard of--somehow. Now I hear that Allan -Morris, Edyth's fiancé, has been, in rather an odd way, upon familiar -terms with the murdered man." - -He paused as he checked this last count, still regarding his friend -fixedly. - -"I don't claim," he went on, after a moment, "that these things have -anything to do with each other. But, somehow, they've got together in -my mind, and I can't--" - -Here the door re-opened and Stillman entered, followed by the big -German. - -"Just take a chair, Mr. Berg," said the coroner, seating himself at -the desk and affixing his eyeglasses. - -The German lowered his form into the chair indicated and folded his -fat hands across his monstrous paunch. - -"Your name in full--is what?" asked Stillman with formality. - -"Franz Berg. I sell me delicatessen at 478 Christie Place. I haf been -there for fifteen years." - -"You were acquainted with the murdered man?" - -The delicatessen dealer unfolded his hands and waved them -significantly. - -"I was aguainted with him--yes. But I was not friendly with him--no. -He is dead, ain't it? Und it's not right to say someding about the -dead. But he was no friend of mine." - -"I understand. But tell me, Mr. Berg, how late do you keep your place -open?" - -"In the summertime--seven o'clock. But after dose theaters open, I -stays me on the chob till twelve, or later somedimes. There is -one--two--three what you call burlesque places, right by me; and no -sooner do they close up, than right away those actor peoples come to -buy. I do a goot business, so I keep open." - -"Then you were there until midnight last night?" - -"More later than that yet." - -"Was there any movement of any sort about Hume's place? Did you see or -hear anything?" - -The great red face of Berg took on a solemn look. - -"It is maybe not ride that I should say somedings," complained he. -"But if the law will not excuse me, I will say it, if it makes some -more trouble or not." - -"It is vitally necessary," stated the young coroner, firmly, "that you -tell me everything you know about this matter." - -"Well," said the delicatessen dealer, reluctantly, "last night as I -stood by my window looking oudside on the street, I see me that -Italian feller go by und turn in at the side door; a second lader I -hear him go up the steps to Hume's place." - -"What Italian fellow do you refer to?" - -"He lifs close by me, a few doors away. His name is Spatola, und he -plays the violin the gurb-stones beside." - -"What time was it that you saw him?" - -"Maybe elefen o'clock. I am not sure. But it was just a little while -before I got me the rush of customers from the theaters." - -"Did you notice his manner? Was there anything unusual in his looks?" - -"I had me only a glimbs of him. He looked about the same as effer. He -was in a hurry, for it rained a liddle; und under his coat yet he -carried his fiddle." - -"If it was under his coat, how do you know it was his fiddle?" - -The German scratched his head in a reflective way. - -"I don't know it," said he at last. "But he somedimes takes his -instrument inside there, und I just get the notion that it was so. -Yes?" - -"When did he come out?" - -The man shook his head. - -"I don'd know," he said. - -"Do you mean that you saw no one come out?" - -"No; I _did_ see someone come out. But first I see me someone else go -in." - -"Ah! And who was that?" - -"I don't know his name; but I had seen him often before. He is a kind -of svell feller. He had a cane und plendy of style." - -"And later you saw someone come out. Now, your use of the word -'someone' leads me to think that you do not know whether it was -Spatola or the stranger." - -"I don'd," said Berg. "I was busy then. I just heard me someone rush -down the stairs, making plendy noise, und I heard that drunken Hume -lift up a window, stick out his head and call some names after him. My -customers laugh und think it's a joke; but I am ashamed such a -disgracefulness to have around my business yet." - -"If Hume called after the person who left," said Stillman, acutely, to -Ashton-Kirk, "that eliminates one of the callers. It proves that Hume -was still alive after the man had gone." - -"That is undoubtedly a fact," replied the investigator. - -Stillman turned upon Berg with dignity. - -"Surely you must have noticed the man if all that uproar attended his -exit. You must have detected enough to mark a difference between an -exceptionally well-dressed man and an Italian street musician." - -Berg shook his big head. - -"It was aboud twelve o'clock in the night-dime, und my customers -besides I had to pay some attention to," stated he. - -The coroner was baffled by the man's positiveness. - -"Well," said he, resignedly. "What else did you see?" - -Berg shook his head once more. - -"Nothing else. Putty soon I closed up and went home." Then a flash of -recollection came into his dull face. "As I went down the street I saw -some lights in Hume's windows. One of them windows was open--maybe the -one he sticked his head out of to call the man names--und I could hear -him laughing like he used to do when he was trying to make a jackass -of some peoples." - -The coroner pondered. At length he said: - -"This object that Spatola carried under his coat, now. Could it have -been a bayonet?" - -"No, no," said Berg with conviction. "It vos too big. It vos bigger as -a half dozen bayonets already." - -This seemed the limit of Berg's knowledge of the night's happenings; -a few more questions and then Stillman dismissed him. The door had -hardly closed when the telephone rang. After a few words, the coroner -hung up the receiver and turned to his visitors. - -"I think," said he, with a smile of satisfaction, "that I've made the -police department sit up a little. They talked to all three of these -people before I had them, and didn't seem to get enough to make a -beginning. But just now," and the smile grew wider, "I've heard that -Osborne is on his way to arrest Antonio Spatola." - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -ASHTON-KIRK LOOKS ABOUT - - -Berg was standing in the corridor waiting for the elevator when -Ashton-Kirk and Pendleton came out. The big German mopped his face -with a handkerchief, and said apologetically: - -"A man can only tell what he knows, ain't it?" - -Ashton-Kirk looked at him questioningly, but said nothing. - -"To begin dot guess-work business when you are talking to the law -already, it is dangerous," stated Berg in an explanatory tone. - -"Well," said Ashton-Kirk, "sometimes a good, pointed guess is of great -service, Mr. Berg. And," with a laugh, "as I am not the law and not -the least dangerous, suppose you make the one that I can see you -turning over in your mind." - -"Oh," said Berg, "you are not the coroner's office in?" - -"No; merely interested in this case, that's all." - -The delicatessen dealer looked relieved. - -"I don't want to get people in trouble," said he, guardedly. "But this -is what I guess. Late every night, about the time I shut up my place, -there is a cab comes und by the curbstone stands across the street. I -will not say what is der place it stands in front of; that is not my -business." - -"McCausland's gambling house, perhaps," suggested Ashton-Kirk. - -The big German looked more relieved than ever. - -"Ach, so you know about dot place, eh? All ride. Now I can speak out -and not be afraid to do some harm to nobody." He lowered his voice -still further. "Dot cab came last night as I was locking my door up, -und stands the curbstone by in front of McCausland's, waiting for a -chob. Maybe when I goes away home der driver he sees what happened at -Hume's afterwards, eh?" - -"Excellent!" said Ashton-Kirk, his eyes alight. "Thanks for the hint, -Mr. Berg." - -The delicatessen dealer lumbered into the elevator which had stopped; -Pendleton was about to follow, but his friend detained him, and the -car dropped downward without them. - -"That cab," said Ashton-Kirk, "is sure to be a night-hawk; and more -than likely it is put up at Partridge's. Pardon me a moment." - -There was a telephone booth at one side of the corridor; the speaker -went in and closed the door. After a few moments he came out. - -"Just as I thought," he said, well pleased. "Partridge knew the cab -in a moment. The driver's name is Sams, and he lives at the place they -call the Beehive." He looked at his watch. "It wants but a few minutes -of four," he added, "and a night-hawk cabby will be just about -stirring. The Beehive is only three blocks away; suppose we go around -and look him up." - -Pendleton agreed instantly; and after a brisk walk and a breathless -climb, they found themselves on the fourth floor of a huge brick -building where they had been directed by a meek-looking woman in a -dust-cap. A long hall with a great many doors upon each side, all -looking alike, stretched away before them. - -"It's very plain that the only way to find Mr. Sams is to make a -noise," said Ashton-Kirk. And with that he stalked down the hall, his -heels clattering on the bare boards. "Hello," he cried loudly. "Sams -is wanted! Hello, Sams!" - -A door opened, and a face covered with thick soap suds and surmounted -by a tangle of sandy hair looked out. - -"Hello," growled this person, huskily. "Who wants him?" - -"Very glad to see you, Mr. Sams," said Ashton-Kirk. "We have a small -matter of business with you that will require a few moments of your -time. May we come in?" - -"Sure," said Sams. - -They entered the room, which contained a bed, a trunk, a wash-stand, -and a chair. - -"One of you can take the chair; the other can sit on the trunk," said -the hack driver, nodding toward these articles. Then he proceeded to -strop a razor at one of the windows. "Excuse me if I go on with this -reaping. I must go out and feed the horse, and then get breakfast." - -"You breakfast rather late," commented Ashton-Kirk. - -"I'm lucky to get it at any time, in this business," grumbled Sams. -"Out all night, sleep all day, and get blamed little for it, at that." - -He posed before a small mirror stuck up beside the window and gave the -blade an experimental sweep across his face. Then he turned and asked -inquiringly: - -"Did youse gents want anything particular?" - -"We'd like to ask a question or two regarding what happened last night -in Christie Place." - -The cab driver's forehead corrugated; he closed his razor, laid it -down and shoved his' soapy face toward the speaker. - -"Say," spoke he, roughly. "I drives people wherever they wants to go; -but I don't ask no questions." - -"It's all right, Mr. Sams," said Ashton-Kirk. "The affair that I'm -looking up happened across the street--at Hume's--second floor of -478." - -"Oh!" Sams stared for a moment, then he took up his razor, turned his -back and went on with his shaving. But there was expectancy in his -attitude; and Ashton-Kirk smiled confidently. - -"While you were drawn up in Christie Place, waiting for a fare," he -asked, "did you hear or see anything at 478?" - -"I saw a light on the second floor--something I never saw before at -that hour. And I saw the Dutchman that keeps the store underneath -shutting up. And I heard somebody laughing upstairs," as a second -thought. "I think that's what made me notice the light." - -"Nothing else?" - -Sams shaved and considered. He wiped his razor at last, poured some -water in a bowl and doused his face. Then he took up a towel and began -applying it briskly. - -The investigator, watching him closely, saw that he was not trying to -recall anything. It was plain that the man was merely calculating the -possibilities of harm to himself and patrons if he told what he knew. - -"There has been a murder," said Ashton-Kirk, quietly, thinking to jog -him along. - -Sams threw the towel from him and sat down upon the bed. - -"A murder!" said he, his eyes and mouth wide open. "Well, what do you -know about that." He sat looking from one to the other of them, -dazedly, for a space; then he resumed: "Say, I thought there was -something queer about that stunt of hers!" - -"Tell us about it," suggested Ashton-Kirk, crossing his legs and -clasping one knee with his hands. - -The cabby considered once more. - -"There's lots of things that a guy like me sees that look off color," -he said, at length; "but we can't always pass any remarks about them. -It would be bad for business, you see. But this murder thing's a -different proposition, and here's where I tell it all. Last night -while I was waiting in front of McCausland's, I hears an automobile -turn into the street. It was some time after I got there. I wouldn't -have paid much attention to it, but you see there's a fellow been -trying to get my work with a taxicab, and I thought it was him." - -"And it wasn't?" - -"No, it was a private car--a Maillard, and there was a woman driving -it." - -The chair upon which Pendleton sat was an infirm one; it creaked -sharply as he made a sudden movement. - -"She was going at a low speed," proceeded Sams, "and as she passed -Hume's I noticed her look up at the windows. After she disappeared -there wasn't a sound for a while. You see, nobody hardly ever passes -through Christie Place after one o'clock. Then I hears her coming -back. This time she stopped the car, got out and went to the door that -leads into Hume's place. There she stopped a little, as though she -didn't know whether to go in or not. But at last she went in." - -Pendleton coughed huskily at this point; and his friend glancing at -him saw that his face was white. - -"And up to that time," said Ashton-Kirk, "are you sure that there was -no movement--no sound--in the front room at Hume's?" - -"As far as I noticed, there wasn't. But a few minutes after I heard -the woman go in, I _did_ hear some sounds." - -The man stroked his shaven jaws in the deliberate manner of a person -about to precipitate a crisis. Pendleton leaned toward him, anxiously. - -"What sort of sounds?" he asked. - -"There were two," replied the cab driver. "The first was a revolver -shot; the second came right after, and was a kind of a scream--like -that of a parrot." - -"And what then?" asked Ashton-Kirk, easily. - -"There wasn't anything for a few minutes, anyway. But the revolver -shot had kind of got my attention, so I was taking notice of the -windows. Then suddenly I caught sight of the woman. You see, the -gas-light was near the window and she kind of leaned over and turned -it out. It was only for a time as long as that," and the man snapped -his fingers. "But I saw her plain. Then I heard her coming down the -stairs to the street--almost at a run. She banged the street door shut -after her, jumped into her car and went tearing away as if she was -crazy. I stayed fifteen minutes before I got a fare; but nothing else -happened." - -Pendleton's hand closed hard on the edge of the chair he sat in. There -was a moment's silence; then Ashton-Kirk asked: - -"Just where was your cab standing at this time?" - -"Right in front of McCausland's door." - -"And you were on the box?" - -"Yes." - -The investigator put a piece of money in the man's hand as he and -Pendleton arose and prepared to go. - -"Say," said Sam curiously, "I've been in bed all day and ain't heard a -word of anything. Who's been done up?" - -"Hume. Stabbed in the chest." - -"Shot, you mean." - -"No, I mean stabbed. With a bayonet." - -The man stared wonderingly. - -"G'way," he said. - -They bid him good-day and tramped down the three long flights to the -street. Pendleton was silent, and walked with his head held down. - -"We have more than an hour of good daylight left," said his friend, as -they reached the street. "And as I must have a good unrestricted look -at Hume's apartments before everything is hopelessly changed about, -suppose we go there now. We can get a taxi in the next street." - -"Just a moment," said Pendleton. "Before we take another step in the -matter, Kirk, I must ask a question." - -Ashton-Kirk put his hand upon his friend's shoulder. - -"Don't," said he. "I know just what the question would be, and at the -present time I can't answer it. At this moment, except for some few -theories that I have yet to verify, I am as much puzzled as yourself." - -"But," and there was a tremble in the speaker's voice, "you must -answer me, old chap--and you must answer now." - -The catch in his voice, the expression upon the young man's face -caused Ashton-Kirk to grasp an astonishing fact. The hand that he had -laid upon Pendleton's shoulder tightened as he answered: - -"Yes, Edyth Vale is concerned. As a rule I do not speak of my clients -to others, but in view of what you have already heard and seen, it -would be a waste of words to deny it. But, see here, there are lots of -things we don't know yet about this business. It may look very -different in a few hours. Come." - -Pendleton gazed with sober eyes into the speaker's face for a moment. -Then he said: - -"Let us get the cab; if you are to go over Hume's rooms before dark, -you haven't any too much time." - -At the next corner they signaled a taxicab, and in a short time they -were set down in Christie Place. Paulson, the policeman, was standing -guard. - -"How are you?" he greeted them affably. - -"Been here all day?" asked Ashton-Kirk. - -"Oh, no. Just come on. I'm the third shift since I saw you last." - -"Nobody has been permitted to go upstairs, I presume?" - -"Only the coroner's man, who came for the body. And they touched -nothing but the body. Our orders were strong on that." - -"Has anything been heard as the result of the post-mortem?" - -"It showed that Hume was in bad shape from too much drink. Then he had -a hard knock on the head, and the wound in his chest." - -"But there was no sign of a bullet wound?" - -"No," said Paulson, surprised. "Nothing like that." - -"Just a moment," said the investigator to Pendleton. He crossed the -street, walked along for a few paces, then paused at the curb and -looked back toward Hume's doorway. Then he returned with quick steps -and an alert look in his eyes. - -"Now we'll go upstairs," he said. - -But before doing so he stopped and examined the lock of the street -door closely; then he mounted the stairs slowly, his glances seeming -to take in everything. At the top he paused, his head bent, apparently -in deep thought. Then he lifted it suddenly, and laughed exultantly. - -"That's it," he said, "I'm quite sure that is it." - -"I wouldn't doubt your word for an instant," said Pendleton, in -something like his old voice. "Whatever it is, I'm quite sure it is if -you say so." - -The policeman on guard in the hall examined them carefully. - -"All right," said he, after they had explained and he had verified it -by calling to his mate at the street door. "Go right to work, gents. -I'm here to see that nobody gets in from above by way of the scuttle, -and I guess I won't be in the way." - -There were three gas branches at intervals along the length of the dim -hall, each with a cluster of four jets. Ashton-Kirk lighted all three -of these and began making a careful examination of the passage. Along -toward the rear was a stairway leading to the floor above. Next this -was a small room in which there was a water tap. At the extreme end of -the hall was a window with a green shade drawn to the bottom. - -Ashton-Kirk regarded this for a moment intently. Then he reached up -and turned off the gas at the branch nearest the window. Daylight -could now be seen through the blind; the investigator pointed and -said: - -"This shows us something. About six inches of the bottom of the blind -is of a decidedly lighter color than the remainder. This is caused by -exposure to the light and indicates that this blind has seldom been -drawn in daylight as it is now." - -He drew back the blind and looked at the side nearest the window. At -the top of the faded space was a heavy dark line. - -"I'll modify that last statement," said he, with satisfaction. "I'll -go as far as to say, now, that the blind has never been drawn since it -was put up. This thick line marks the part that lay across the top of -the roller, and the dust seems never to have been disturbed." - -The gas was lighted once more. - -"Hume did not draw that curtain," said Ashton-Kirk, decidedly. "He -was too careless a man, apparently, to think of such a thing. The -intruders, whoever they were, did it; they had a light, perhaps, and -did not want to be--" - -He paused abruptly here, and Pendleton heard him draw his breath -sharply between his teeth; his eyes were fixed upon the lowermost step -of the flight that led to the floor above. - -One of the gas branches hung here; its full glare was thrown downward. -Following the fixed gaze of his friend, Pendleton saw two partly -burned matches, the stump of a candle, and some traces of tallow which -had fallen from the latter upon the step. To Pendleton's amazement, -his friend dropped to his knees before these as a heathen would before -an idol. With the utmost attention he examined them and the step upon -which they lay. Then he arose, enthusiasm upon his face. - -"Beautiful!" he cried. "I do not recall ever having seen anything just -like it!" He slapped Pendleton upon the back with a heavy, hand. "Pen, -that stump of candle sheds more light than the finest arc lamp ever -manufactured." - -"I'm watching and I'm listening," spoke Pendleton. "Also I'm agitating -my small portion of gray matter. But inspiration, it seems, is not for -me. So I'll have to ask you what these things tell you." - -"Well, they give me a fairly good view of the man who, while he may -not actually have murdered Hume, had much to do with his taking off." -He bent over the lower step once more, then looked up with a smile -upon his face. "What would you say," asked he, "if I told you that I -draw from these things that the gentleman was short, well-dressed, -near-sighted and knew something of the modern German dramatists." - -"I should say," replied Pendleton, firmly, "that you ought to have -your brain looked at. It sounds wrong to me." - -Ashton-Kirk laughed, and started up the stairs toward the third floor. - -"I'll return in a moment," he said. "Don't trouble to come up." - -He was gone but a very little while, and when he returned his face -wore a satisfied look. - -"The bolt of the scuttle is broken, just as Osborne said," he -reported. "And anyone who could gain the roof would have little -difficulty in effecting an entrance." He led the way down the hall, -saying as he went: "Now we'll browse around in the rooms for a while; -then we'll be off to dinner." - -The storage room was entered first as upon the earlier visit, but -Ashton-Kirk wasted but little time upon it. In the front room, -however, he examined things with a minuteness that amazed Pendleton. -And yet everything was done quickly; like a keen-nosed hound, the -investigator went from one object to another; nothing seemed to escape -him, nothing was too small for his attention. One of the first things -that he did was to get a chair and plant it against the lettered door -that led directly into the hall. At the top was a gong with a -spring-hammer, one of the sort that rings its warning whenever the -door is opened; and this the investigator examined with care. - -He then passed into the railed space where the body had lain and where -the darkened trail of blood still bore ghastly testimony to what had -occurred. The man's singular eyes scanned the floor, the walls, the -flat-topped desk. On this last his attention again became riveted; and -once more Pendleton heard his breath drawn sharply between his teeth. - -"When Hume was struck upon the head," said Ashton-Kirk, after a -moment, "he was standing at this desk. He had just sprung up, probably -upon hearing a sound of some kind. See where the chair is pushed back -against the wall, just as he would have pushed it had he arisen -hastily. When he struck he fell across the desk." He pointed to a dark -trickle of blood down the back of the piece of furniture in question. -"That is the result of the blow upon the head, and probably flowed -from the mouth or nostrils. After the first senseless lurch the body -settled back and slid to the position in which it was found. Here is -a blotting pad, a small pair of shears, a box of clips and a letter -scale upon the floor where the sliding body dragged them. The top of -the desk is of polished wood; it is perfectly smooth; there are no -crevices or anything of the sort to catch hold of anything. When the -body slipped from it, it must have swept everything with it, cleanly. -And yet," bending forward over the desk and picking up a minute red -particle, "here, directly in the center, we find this." - -"What is it?" asked Pendleton, eagerly. - -Ashton-Kirk placed the red particle on his palm and held it out. It -was shaped like a keystone, and had apparently been cut from something -that had been printed upon. - -"It is that portion of a railroad ticket which a conductor's punch -bites out, and which litters the floor and the seats in trains. Have -you never had one fall from your clothes after a railroad journey?" - -Pendleton looked at the tiny red fragment, and then at the desk. - -"If Hume fell across the desk, as you've just said," he remarked, -slowly, "and pulled all these other things to the floor with him--why, -Kirk, this bit of card, in the very center of the polished top,--it -must have dropped there afterwards." - -"Exactly," said Ashton-Kirk. "And now, if you don't mind, just step -out into the hall and ask Paulson to come up." - -Pendleton did so; and while he was gone, Ashton-Kirk placed the red -fragment carefully in his card-case. When the other re-entered with -Paulson at his heels, he asked: - -"Have any of the policemen detailed here been out of town recently?" - -"No," replied Paulson. "There have been five besides myself, and they -have been on duty every day." - -"Thank you," said the investigator. And as the policeman went out, he -made his way into the kitchen. Here, however, his examination was -brief, as was that of the bedroom also. At length he paused, his hands -in his pockets, his head thrown back, satisfaction lighting his dark, -keen face. - -"That is all, I think," said he. "There have only been a few pages, -but the print has been exceedingly good and the matter of much -interest." He looked at a clock that ticked solemnly upon a shelf. "We -have half an hour to reach my place and dress," he said. "I'm afraid -that we'll be late, and that Edouard will be annoyed. His cookery is -so exquisitely timed that it is scarcely the better for delay." - -"Wait a minute," said Pendleton, grasping his friend's arm. "What part -did Edyth--Miss Vale--play in all this? I can see you have formed in -your mind some sort of completed action. Where does she come into it?" - -"Completed!" Ashton-Kirk smiled into the pale, set face of his friend. -"You give me too much credit, old chap. I have some undoubted scenes -from the drama; but most of the remainder are merely detached lines -and bits of stage business. As to Miss Vale," here the smile vanished, -"I have been unable to make up my mind just how far she is concerned, -if at all. However, perhaps twenty-four hours will make it all clear -enough. In the meantime I will say this to you: Don't jump to harsh -conclusions, Pen. You know this young lady well. How far do you -suppose she would go to the perpetrating of a downright crime?" - -"Not a step!" answered Pendleton, promptly. - -"Then," said Ashton-Kirk, "until we know positively that she has done -so, stick to that." - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -THE SCHWARTZ-MICHAEL BAYONET - - -As Ashton-Kirk and Pendleton sat in the former's library that evening -after dinner, there came a knock upon the door and Fuller entered -briskly. In his hand he carried a paper parcel which he laid upon a -stand at the investigator's elbow. - -"This is the bayonet, sir," said he. "Mr. Stillman, the coroner, -objected to letting me have it at first, but changed his mind after I -had talked to him for a while." - -"Did you take the photograph to Berg in Christie Place?" - -"Yes, sir. He recognized it at once as that of the person in -question." - -"And you made inquiries upon the other point?" - -"I did. Neither Mr. Stillman nor any of the men who removed the body -of Hume have been out of town within a week. I also questioned Mr. -Osborne; his answer was the same. Brolatsky's reply was similar; and -he also said that Hume had not ridden on a railroad in years." - -"That will be all, Fuller; thank you." - -The brisk young man had reached the door when the investigator added: - -"One moment." - -He scribbled something upon a pad, tore off the leaf and handed it to -his aid. - -"Look these things up at once." - -Fuller took the paper, glanced at it and then replied: - -"Very well, sir." - -Seated in his big chair with the jar of Greek tobacco and sheaf of -brown paper wrappers before him, Ashton-Kirk did not display any haste -in removing the covering from the bayonet that had let the life out of -the art dealer. Rather he sank deeper into the arms of the chair; the -cigarette end became gray and dead between his fingers; the strangely -brilliant eyes closed as though he had fallen asleep. - -But Pendleton, who understood his friend's ways, knew better; the -keen, swift-moving mind was but arranging the developments of the day, -weighing them, giving to each its proper value. A little later and the -eyes would unclose, more than likely alight with some new idea, some -fresh purpose drawn from his reflections. - -And as Pendleton waited he, too, fell into a musing state and also -began marshaling the facts as _he_ saw them. Ashton-Kirk, during -dinner, had told him those regarding the visit of Edyth Vale the day -before. - -"Pen, you know I don't usually do this," the investigator had informed -him. "But as you know so much already, and your feelings in the matter -being what they are, I think it best that you should know more." - -And now Pendleton, as he rolled and consumed cigarette after -cigarette, went over the facts as they had been laid before him. - -"And Morris," said he to himself, as he reached the end of his -friend's recital; "now what sort of a mess has Allan Morris got -himself into? And after he had got into it, why in heaven's name -didn't he keep quiet about it? What good could come from Edyth's -knowing it?" - -Then the fact that Morris had apparently tried to keep his secret from -Miss Vale presented itself. But Pendleton dismissed it with contempt. - -"Tried!" he said to himself. "Of course; but how? By marching up and -down the floor. By a great parade of tragic despair; by sighs and the -wringing of his hands. I've always suspected Morris of being a bit -theatrical--and now I am sure of it." - -He roused himself for a moment, lighted a fresh cigarette and settled -back once more. - -"I'm not Kirk by any means," he reflected, "and this sort of thing is -altogether out of my line. But it seems clear that Edyth--after -leaving here yesterday--received some unexpected news. When she was -here, consulting Kirk, she was, to all appearances, in a -quandary--helpless. She did not know how to proceed; she understood -nothing. But her darting off alone that way after midnight proves that -some sort of a crisis had come up. She had heard something--more -than likely through Morris. He probably," with great contempt, -"became hysterical again, couldn't contain himself and blabbed -everything--whatever it was." - -Then he burst out aloud, angrily. - -"She went to Hume's last night because she had reason to think Morris -would be there. And if the truth were known, Morris _was_ there." - -"My dear fellow," said the voice of Ashton-Kirk, "the truth, upon that -particular point, at least, is known. Allan Morris was at Hume's last -night. He was the man whom Berg saw enter after the musician." - -"How do you know?" asked Pendleton, astonished. - -"Fuller, with a report which he recently made upon Morris, handed me a -photograph of that gentleman. While we were at dinner, Berg identified -the portrait as being that of Hume's secret visitor." - -"I was right, then. Edyth _did_ go there expecting to meet him--to -protect him, perhaps. If you knew her as well as I do, Kirk, you'd -realize that it's just the sort of thing she'd do. But," positively, -"she did not find him there." - -"What makes you think that? There was still one of Hume's visitors -left, when she got there. It may have been Morris." - -"It was Spatola," answered Pendleton, with conviction. "The scream of -the cockatoo which came from Hume's rooms when the pistol was -discharged proves it. When Spatola went in, Berg said he was carrying -something under his coat. Brolatsky told the coroner this morning that -the Italian sometimes brought his trained birds with him when he -called at Hume's. That's what he had last night." - -But Ashton-Kirk shook his head. - -"At this time," he said, "it will scarcely do to be positive on some -things. Indications are plenty, but they must be worked out. I have -some theories of my own upon the very point that you have just -covered, but I will not venture a decided statement until I have -proven them to the limit. It's the only safe way." - -Pendleton discontentedly hitched forward in his chair. - -"I thought," said he, "that you worked entirely by putting this and -that together." - -"That is precisely what I do," returned Ashton-Kirk. "But I have -found, through experience, that there must be no loose ends left to -hang. Such things are treacherous; you never know when they'll trip -you up and upset all your calculations." He paused a moment and -regarded his friend steadfastly. Then he continued. "But, just now, I -think we had better not trouble ourselves about Edyth Vale and Allan -Morris. To be sure, the latter's connection with the affair is -peculiar; Miss Vale's visit to Hume's last night, the sounds which -Sams heard immediately after she had gone in--her turning out of the -gas and hurried flight, are also strange and significant enough. But -they are perhaps the very end of the story; and it is best never to -begin at the end." - -"Is there any way by which you can begin at what you think is the -beginning?" asked the other. - -Ashton-Kirk took up the parcel which Fuller had laid at his elbow. - -"Here is one way," he answered. "Let us see where it leads us." - -He stripped off the wrapper, and the bayonet which had killed the -numismatist was revealed, blood-clotted and ugly. Carefully the -investigator examined the broad, powerful blade and heavy bronze hilt. - -"A Schwartz-Michael, just as I thought," he said. - -"The maker's name is upon it then?" said Pendleton. - -But the other shook his head. - -"No," said he. "But it happens that I have given some attention to -arms, and the bayonet, though a weapon that is passing, came in for -its share." - -He balanced the murderous-looking thing in his hand and proceeded. - -"There are not many types of bayonets. The first was what they called -a 'Plug,' because it was made to fit into the muzzle of a flint, or -match-lock. Then there was the socket bayonet, the ring bayonet and an -improved weapon invented by an English officer named Chillingworth -which met with much favor in the armies of Europe. But the latest -development is the sword bayonet, of which this is an example. Its -form is a great improvement over the older makes; it is an almost -perfect side arm as well, having a cutting edge, a point, and a grip -exactly like that of a sword. There are a number of makes of this -type; the Schwartz-Michael is one of the least known of these. -Upon its being placed on the market it was adopted by three -governments--Bolivia, Servia, and Turkey--and there it stopped." - -He laid the weapon upon the table and settled himself back in his -chair. - -"It struck me when I first saw the thing," he went on, "that it was a -little singular that a Schwartz-Michael should even find its way into -the United States. Now, it would not surprise me to find an English -revolver in Patagonia, or an American rifle in Thibet, because they -are universally known and used. Any one might carry them. But a -bayonet is different, of course; it is a strictly military arm, and -its utility is limited. That a criminal should select one with which -to commit a murder is unusual; and, further; the fact that the make is -one never introduced into the United States is rather remarkable." - -"It is--a little," agreed Pendleton. - -"It is a small thing, but all clews are small things. Now there are -many ways in which such a weapon might find its way into the country; -but I took the most likely of these as a beginning. Before I dressed -for dinner, I ran over a rather complete card-index system which I -maintain; and within a few minutes learned that the republic of -Bolivia had, within the past year, changed both the rifle and bayonet -used by its army." - -"Well?" asked Pendleton, with interest. - -"When a nation makes such a change, the discarded arms are usually -bought up by some large speculator or dealer in such things. And in -the course of time they find their way to the military goods dealers -who exist all over the world." - -Here Fuller entered the room, and Ashton-Kirk turned to him -inquiringly. - -"Well?" - -"In the morning _Standard_ of April 9th," announced the young man, "I -find an advertisement of Bernstine Brothers relative to a sale of -condemned army equipment." - -"Is anything specified?" - -"They considered it important that high-power modern rifles were to be -sold at a very small price. And they also lay some stress upon the -fact that the stuff had been in use by the Bolivian army." - -Pendleton saw a look of satisfaction come into his friend's eyes. But -there was no other evidence of anything unusual. - -"And now," said the investigator, quietly, "with regard to this other -matter." - -"I find that there are two schools for mutes in this section," -answered Fuller. "But both are some distance out of town." - -The satisfaction in Ashton-Kirk's singular eyes deepened. - -"Excellent," said he. - -"One is on the main line--Kittridge Station; the other is on the -Hammondsville Branch at a place called Cordova." - -"Thank you," said Ashton-Kirk. - -And when the door had once more closed behind his aid, the -investigator continued to Pendleton: - -"I figured upon some of the equipment reaching here. Military goods -houses, such as Bernstine's, usually advertise each lot they receive; -and I considered it possible that the murderer might have been -attracted by this notice and procured the weapon from them. If he did, -we may get some trace of him by inquiring at Bernstine's. But," -flinging his arms wide and yawning as though weary of the subject, -"that is work for to-morrow. To-night we will rest and prepare for -what is to come. But in the meantime," arising with enthusiasm, "let -me show you a first edition of the 'Knickerbocker's History of New -York' which I picked up recently." - -He went to his book-shelves and took down two faded volumes. With -eager hands Pendleton took them from him. - -"Original covers!" cried he. "Binding unbroken; in perfect condition -inside; not a spot or a stain anywhere." Then he regarded his friend -with undisguised envy. "Kirk," said he, "you're a lucky dog. You can -dig up more good things than anybody else that I know." - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -THE NEWSPAPERS BEGIN TO PLAY THEIR PART - - -Next morning Ashton-Kirk lounged in a comfortable window-seat, almost -knee-deep in newspapers. The published accounts of the assassination -were, in some instances, very sensational. Drawings, by special -artists of persons concerned, were much in evidence, also half-tones -of the exterior of 478 Christie Place. The names of Osborne and -Stillman figured largely in the types; but what interested the -investigator most was a portrait of the musician--the violinist, -Antonio Spatola, and the story of his arrest. - -The pictured face was that of a young man with a great head of curling -hair. The features were regular, the expression eager and appealing. - -"I would have pronounced him a musician, even if I had not heard that -he was one," said Ashton-Kirk. "The head and face formations have all -the qualities." Then he ran over the story of Spatola's arrest and the -causes that led up to it. At the finish he smiled. "They have tried -and convicted him on the first page. If there was any way for them to -do it, they'd execute him in the evening editions and print his dying -words in the sporting extra. But," and he nodded his head -appreciatively, "Osborne has a good case against him, at that." - -Both the clerk, Isidore Brolatsky, and Berg seemed to have talked -freely to the newspapermen. The character of Hume was treated in a -highly colored manner. The visits of the Italian musician to the -numismatist, his ambition to shine as another Kubelik, his -ungovernable temper, the high words that followed Hume's frequent -sneers at his ambition and the fact that he once drew a knife upon his -tormentor, were presented in full. But what appealed to the -space-writers most was Brolatsky's story of how Hume had once called -Spatola "Mad Anthony," and afterward showed him the portrait of -General Wayne. - -"This apparently drove him frantic," wrote one reporter, "and, noting -this, Hume frequently applied the name to him, and more than likely -displayed the portrait as well. The last time that Spatola visited -Hume was upon the night of the murder. He evidently went to regale the -numismatist with music; for the delicatessen dealer, Berg, saw under -his coat what was evidently his violin. During the course of the -concert, Hume probably resumed his sneers; unable any longer to bear -it, the Italian apparently struck him down, and then in blind rage of -resentment, smashed and otherwise destroyed every one of the Wayne -portraits he could find." - -Fuller came in with another newspaper just about this time and -Ashton-Kirk showed him the story. - -"The _Standard_, then, seems to ignore the theory held by Osborne and -Stillman that the murder was done in an attempt to steal the portrait -found partly cut from the frame," said the assistant after studying -the account. Then, inquiringly, he added: "What do you think of it, -sir?" - -"As a piece of sensational writing, I have no fault to find with it," -said the investigator. "But the _Standard's_ young man is no deep -thinker. The single fact that Hume was a lover of real music should -have shown him that his theory was wrong." - -Fuller considered a moment. - -"I don't think I quite get that," said he. - -"It is simple enough. Hume being sensitive to harmony, asked Spatola -very frequently to play for him; and, according to Brolatsky, paid him -rather well for each performance. To furnish good music, Spatola must -have not only talent, but also a violin that was at least fairly -good." - -"Yes, sir, I see that." - -"Having a violin that was at least fairly good, Spatola, being a poor -man, would take care of it. He would carry it in a case--he would -especially do so in wet or damp weather. And it rained on the night -of the murder. If he carried his violin in a case, there was no need -of his putting it under his coat. And, another thing, a violin case is -of such size as to prevent its being so carried, isn't it?" - -Fuller nodded. - -"I think that's very good," said he. - -"It would have been a very easy thing for the _Standard's_ man to have -made a few inquiries as to whether Spatola used a violin case or no. -If he had done so, I am inclined to think that the answers would have -been in the affirmative. But there is another and more vital point -upon which I would base an objection to the reporter's theory. He says -that, goaded into a rage, Spatola struck his tormentor down. But he -forgets that If the murderer did not visit Hume's with the intention -of doing murder, it was rather a freakish thing for him to provide -himself with a bayonet. However, that is a point that I discussed with -Mr. Stillman yesterday; at first he was inclined to assume a somewhat -similar position." - -"But the broken and cut portraits?" questioned Fuller. - -Ashton-Kirk smiled a little. - -"Probably I shall be able to properly account for them when I return -from a little trip that I am about to take to-day," said he. "That -is," as a sort of afterthought, "if some things turn out as I think -they will." - -Fuller unfolded the newspaper that he had brought in. - -"It is a late edition of the _Star_," he said. "The paper seems to -have scored a beat, for it has some developments that may put a -different face upon everything." - -Ashton-Kirk took the sheet, and as he glanced at the flaring -headlines, he whistled softly. The lines read: - - "MYSTERIOUS WOMAN IN A MOTOR CAR! - - "She Visits 478 Christie Place on the Night of Murder! - - "DID A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN'S HAND DEAL THE DEADLY BLOW? - - "A New Element Added to the Hume Sensation!" - -"The _Star_ man seems to have struck up an acquaintance with Sams," -said Ashton-Kirk, with interest. He thought for a moment, and then -added to Fuller: - -"Tell Stumph when Miss Edyth Vale arrives to show her here at once." - -"Oh, you have been expecting her then?" - -"No: I have not. But I am now." - -After Fuller left the room, the investigator turned eagerly to the -_Star's_ leaded narrative. This laid great stress upon the evident -wealth and dazzling beauty of the mysterious midnight visitor in -Christie Place; and second only to her did they feature the -well-dressed stranger whom Berg had seen enter at Hume's door before -he had closed his own place for the night. The revolver shot that had -followed the woman's entrance and the parrot-like scream which had, in -turn, followed that, lost nothing in the telling. - -"Who was the woman? That is the mystery," the newspaper said in -conclusion. "The hack driver caught but a glimpse of her, and in the -excitement of the moment failed to take the number of the car. But -that the latter was a Maillard he is positive. There are several -headquarter's men following up the clew as this goes to press; and -startling developments are expected at any moment. - -"As to the second man whom the fancy grocer, Berg, saw go into Hume's, -there is a well-founded belief that he is very well known in select -circles and had called at Hume's frequently upon a matter concerning -which both he and Hume were always very secretive. The _Star_ called -up both his apartments and his office, but he had not been seen at -either place on the day after the murder. The clubs of which he is a -member were resorted to, but with no more success. As this gentleman -is known to be engaged to the beautiful heiress of a huge fortune, the -_Star's_ well-known special writer, Nancy Prindeville, was detailed to -get her statement. But a man servant stated that his mistress had -given positive orders that she could not be seen." - -The investigator threw down the paper. - -"Well," said he to himself with a shrug, "that makes it a little -annoying for the young lady. The fact that they refer to Morris when -they speak of a young man 'well known in select circles' will be plain -to everyone, for the facts of Morris' visits have been rather well -exploited in all the other papers. And as newspaper men are not -without daring in their conjectures, I wonder how long it will be -before one of them openly associates the 'beautiful unknown' with -Allan Morris' betrothed. I would, I think, offer even money that the -thing is hinted at before night." - -He sat for some time in the midst of the scattered sheets thinking -deeply; then he pressed the bell call, and Fuller presented himself. - -"I want you to take up the investigation of Hume and Allan Morris -where you left off the other day. Put Burgess, O'Neill and any others -that you desire on the matter. I want _complete_ information, and I -want it _quickly_." - -"Yes, sir," answered Fuller. - -"Follow up anything that promises results concerning Morris' father. -Especially find out if he ever knew Hume. Get every fact that can be -gathered about the latter. You, or rather Burgess, hinted in the -preliminary report that it was thought that he had at one time lived -abroad. If it is possible, establish that fact. In any event, go into -his history as deeply as you can." - -"Very well," said Fuller, with the easy manner of a person accustomed -to carrying out difficult orders. - -As the young man went out at one door, Stumph knocked upon another; -then Miss Edyth Vale, very pale, but entirely composed, was shown into -the room. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -MISS VALE TELLS WHAT SHE KNOWS - - -Ashton-Kirk arose, kicked aside the litter of newspapers, and placed a -chair for his visitor. - -"Your man told me that I was expected," she said. "How did you know -that I would come this morning?" - -"I knew that you'd be sure to read the newspapers," said he. "And I -was pretty confident as to the effect the _Star's_ account would -have." - -She sat down quietly and for a few moments did not speak. A slight -trembling of the lower lip was the only indication of the strain under -which she was laboring. Finally she said: - -"I am very sorry that I deceived you yesterday morning." - -He waved his hand lightly. - -"I was not deceived; so there was no harm done," he explained. - -She began tugging nervously at her gloves, much as she had done a few -mornings before. Her face was still composed; but deep in her -beautiful eyes was an expression of fear. - -"I might have known that I could not do it," she said. "But the -impulse came to me to deny everything as the easiest and safest way -out of it all; and I obeyed it. I was not calm enough to consider the -possible harm that it might do. However," and her firm voice broke a -little, "I suppose the newspapers would have ferreted out the facts in -any event." - -"They are very keen in the pursuit of anything that promises a good -story," agreed the investigator. "But if you had given me the facts as -you intended doing when you called me on the 'phone yesterday morning, -I'd have had twenty-four hours start of them, at least." - -She leaned toward him earnestly. - -"I am going to be frank with you now," she said. "And perhaps it is -not yet too late. I _did_ intend telling you everything when I -telephoned you, but, as I have said, the impulse came to hide it, -instead!" - -"It was fear," said Ashton-Kirk, "and was, perhaps, perfectly natural -under the circumstances." - -"When I left you two mornings ago," said Miss Vale, "I felt easier in -my mind than I had in months before. From what I had heard of you, I -felt sure that the little problem which I had set you would prove -absurdly simple. This feeling clung to me all day; I was light and -happy, and astonished my aunt, Mrs. Page, by consenting to go with -her to Mrs. Barron's that night, a thing that I had been refusing to -do for a long time. - -"Late in the afternoon, Allan--Mr. Morris--came. As soon as I saw him -I knew that something had happened or was about to happen. There was -no color in his face; his eyes had a feverish glitter, his voice was -high pitched and excited. But I did not let him see that I noticed -this. I talked to him quietly about a score of things; and by a most -circuitous route approached the matter that interested me most--our -marriage. - -"To my surprise he plunged into the subject with the greatest -eagerness. Before that, as I have told you, he always did his best to -avoid it; the least mention of it seemed to sadden him, to cause him -pain. But now he discussed it excitedly; apparently it was no longer a -dim, far-off thing, but one which he saw very clearly. As you may -imagine, I was both astonished and delighted. But this was only at -first. In a little while I noticed something in his tone, in his -manner, in his feverish eyes that I did not like." - -She paused for a moment; Ashton-Kirk clasped his knee with both hands -and regarded her with interest. - -"It was a sort of subdued fierceness," continued Miss Vale--"as though -he were setting his face against some invisible force and defying it. -When he mentioned our happiness that was to be, I could see his hands -close tightly, I could read menace in the set of his jaw. As he was -going, he said to me: - -"'There has been something--a something that you've never been able to -understand--keeping us apart. But it is about at an end. Human nature -endures a great deal, sometimes, but it's endurance does not last -forever. To-night, my dear, puts an end to my endurance. I am going to -show what I should have shown long ago--that I'm a man.' - -"Then he went away, and I was frightened. All sorts of possibilities -presented themselves to me--vague, indefinite, formless terrors. I -tried to shake them off, but could not. It became firmly fixed in my -mind that something was going to happen--that Allan was about -to--to--" here the steady voice faltered once more, "to take a step -that would bring danger upon him. - -"And that night I went to Mrs. Barron's as I had promised. I talked to -people--I laughed--I even danced. But never for a moment did the fear -cease gripping at my heart. At last I could stand it no longer. I felt -that I must go to where this danger was confronting Allan; and as the -house in Christie Place was the first that arose in my mind, I went -there. - -"I saw the cab upon the opposite side of the street; and the driver of -it looked at me so hard that I drove on without stopping, as the -newspaper states. But my courage came back in a few moments; I -returned and went in." - -"You halted on the stairs," said Ashton-Kirk. "Why?" - -"Because I saw a light moving about in the hallway above," answered -Miss Vale. Then she added: "But how did you know that I stopped upon -the stairs?" - -"I did not know it," replied Ashton-Kirk. "In his story the cab driver -says you entered at Hume's door and went upstairs. I have found that -the position which his cab occupied at the time was fully fifteen feet -west of Hume's doorway, making it impossible for him to see whether -you went up at once, or not. In the face of what immediately followed -your entrance, or rather, what is said to have followed it, I thought -it reasonable to suppose that you had stopped!" - -"Thank you," said Miss Vale. - -"You say there was a light moving about; but what else did you see?" - -"Nothing." - -"But you heard something?" - -"Yes; the revolver shot, and then the dreadful cry that followed it." - -Ashton-Kirk unclasped his hands from about his knee, placed them upon -the arms of his chair and leaned forward. - -"But between the two--after the shot, and before the cry, you heard a -door close," he said. - -She gave a little gasp of surprise. - -"I did," she said. "I remember it distinctly now that you mention it. -It closed sharply, but not very loudly." - -The investigator leaned back and began drumming upon the arm of his -chair with his long supple fingers. - -"Experience never quite takes away that comfortable feeling of -satisfaction that the proving of a theory gives one," said he. "I -suppose it is a sort of reward that Nature reserves for effort." - -And he smiled at his beautiful visitor's puzzled look, and went on: - -"The cab driver says that the cry resembled that of a parrot or -cockatoo. What do you think?" - -"It was not unlike their scream," said Miss Vale. "But I was too much -startled to think of comparing it to anything at the time!" - -"What happened after you heard this cry?" - -"I waited for some little time, part way up the stairs. Then the light -which I had seen glancing over the walls and across the ceiling, -seemed to halt and die down. After this there was a pause, a stoppage -of everything, and fear took possession of me. Suppose Allan had -really intended visiting the place--suppose he had preceded -me--suppose something dreadful had just happened--something in which -he had had a part! - -"Filled with thoughts like these, I ascended the remaining stairs. -There was a light shining through the lettered glass of the door at -the front; but the hall was deserted; the far end was thick with -shadows. I tried the door where the light was, but it was fast; the -door nearest the stairs was open; I entered by that, and passed into -the front room through a communicating doorway. Then I saw the--the -body, turned out the light, ran stumbling through the rooms and down -the stairs." - -"Why did you turn out the light?" asked the investigator. - -"I don't know. Partly, I suppose, to shut the awful thing upon the -floor from my sight--and partly--" - -She stopped, but Ashton-Kirk completed the sentence for her. - -"And partly with the confused idea that you might hide the deed from -public gaze and in that way save Allan Morris from the consequences of -his crime," said he. - -At this she sprang up, her hands outstretched appealingly; the fear -now plain in her face. - -"No, no!" she cried. "He is not guilty! He did not do it!" - -"My dear young lady," said Ashton-Kirk, soothingly, "control -yourself. Don't forget that before this thing is ended you will -probably need all the self-command you can summon." Then as she -resumed her seat, he added: "I did not say that he was guilty. I was -merely telling you of the formless thought that you had in mind when -you turned out the light." - -She sat staring at him, the horror of it all still in her eyes. Then -she nodded her head slowly, and said in a husky voice. - -"Yes; that is what I thought, and that is why I called you on the -telephone. I thought you would pity me and show me some way of -covering it all up. But after I had your promise to come, I was seized -with the fear that you might--that you might betray him. That is, I -suppose, the real reason why I tried to deceive you. In my terror I -myself thought Allan guilty. But, of course, now that I have had time -to calmly think it over, I know he was not--that he _couldn't_ be! No -one who knows him will believe he did it." - -"What reason had you for thinking that he might be guilty?" - -"His manner during the afternoon before the murder. He seemed so -fiercely resolved, so different from his usual self." - -"I understand. And what makes you think now that he is innocent?" - -"I believe it because I understand his nature," said Miss Vale, -earnestly. "He might be finally aroused--under provocation he might -even be violent. But he could never do a thing like this--it is too -utterly horrible." - -"You have judged that it was probably he who was seen to go into -Hume's before the murder?" - -"Yes." - -"Hume was alive when Berg closed up his shop; he was dead when you -entered his showroom a half hour or so later. Therefore he must have -met his death while the cab driver Sams sat on his box across the -street. Now, while Morris was seen to go in, it is not at all positive -that he was the man who came out. We are not _sure_ that he was not -present when the crime was committed." - -Miss Vale reared her head proudly. - -"Is it possible," she said, "that you are trying to fix this deed upon -Allan Morris?" - -"I am trying to find the real truth," answered Ashton-Kirk, gravely. - -"The police," said Miss Vale, "according to the newspapers, thought -that the criminal gained admission by way of the roof. This may or may -not be so; but I think it is pretty evident that he made his way out -in that manner. I was on the stairs while he was in the hall. He fled, -but as he did not pass me, he must have gone upwards. If Allan Morris -had done this murder he would not have thought of this; not knowing -the section, he would have been ignorant as to where the roof would -lead. But if Spatola were the man who remained, it would have been -different. Do the papers not say that he lives in a garret, or loft, -in the same block? How easy it would have been for him to pass out -upon the roof of 478 after the crime and then over the housetops of -the block until he came to a scuttle which perhaps led into his very -attic?" - -"That," said Ashton-Kirk, "is very well conceived. But it has one -weakness. You are not sure that the murderer _did_ ascend to the roof -after the crime. He may have been lurking in the shadows which you say -were lying so thickly at the end of the hall. He may have been -watching you as you discovered the body, while you ran down the hall -once more and down the stairs. To be sure, you slammed the door behind -you; and so locked it. But like all spring or latch locks, it could be -readily opened from the inside. No one else came out while the cab -driver waited; but that was only for another fifteen minutes, -according to his own statement. The murderer could easily have waited -until he had gone and then slipped out, also locking the door after -him." - -Miss Vale sat staring at the speaker dumbly for a space; then she -asked in a dry, expressionless way: - -"And do you really think this is what happened?" - -Ashton-Kirk shook his head. - -"No," said he. "I merely mentioned it to show you that it is difficult -to be sure of anything in a matter like this until," with a smile, -"you _are_ sure. It is one of the things that may have happened; but -it is also open to question. A criminal whose crime has been -discovered does not ordinarily linger upon the scene. You had just -fled with the terror of the thing fresh upon you. How did he know but -that you might scream it out to everyone you met." - -Again she looked at him mutely. Then she said: - -"What, then, is your theory of the crime?" - -"I have a number of possibilities at this moment," he said. "Of -course, there is one to which I give the preference; but until a thing -is proven beyond question, it is my rule never to outline my -theories." - -Before Miss Vale left she had implored him to do all he could to clear -the matter up, for her sake and for Morris's. "Of course," she said in -conclusion, "I now understand that the entire matter will get into the -papers. It is too late to prevent that. But it is not too late for you -to fix the guilt where it belongs. And I have every confidence that -you will do it. If I had not," and her voice quavered pitifully, "I -don't know what I should do." - -"I will do what I can. Success sometimes comes easily--sometimes one -is forced to fight hard for it. But rest assured that I will do what I -can." - -She was going; he held the library door open for her while the -grave-faced Stumph waited in the hall. - -"It will, perhaps, be necessary for me to see Mr. Morris sometime -during the course of the day," said Ashton-Kirk, as an afterthought. -"Would it be convenient for you to let him know that I can be seen at -six?" - -The fear that his soothing words had driven from her eyes, swept back -into them; he saw her tremble and steady herself against the -door-frame. - -"I cannot let him know," she said. "I have not seen him since--since -the time I have mentioned. I have waited, telephoned, sent messages, -even gone in person. But I could not find him. No one seems to know -anything of his whereabouts." - - - - -CHAPTER X - -ASHTON-KIRK ASKS QUESTIONS - - -For some time after Miss Vale had gone, Ashton-Kirk stood at one of -the windows and looked down at the sordid, surging, dirty crowd in -the street. The worn horses went dispiritedly up and down; the -throaty-voiced men clamored strangely through their beards; children -played in the black ooze of the gutters; women bundled in immense -knitted garments and with their heads wrapped in shawls, haggled over -scatterings of faded, weak looking vegetables. The vendors grew -frantic and eloquent in their combats with these experienced -purchasers; their gestures were high, sharp and loaded with protest. - -Then Pendleton came. He was burdened with newspapers and wore an -excited look. - -"I brought these, thinking that perhaps you had not seen them," he -exclaimed, throwing the dailies among the others upon the floor. "But -I note that your morning's reading has been very complete. Now tell -me, Kirk, what the mischief do you think of all this?" - -"I suppose, you refer to the published reports of the Hume case?" - -"Of course! As far as I am concerned, there is not, just now, any -other thing of consequence on earth." Then he struck the table with -his fist. "And it's all the fault of that cur--Allan Morris! Every bit -of it! There is not a space writer or amateur detective on a single -paper in the city that hasn't his nose to the ground at this minute, -hunting the trail. They are all at it. I stopped at the Vale's on my -way here, but they told me she was not at home. From the top step to -the curb, on my way out, I was stopped four times by stony-faced young -men all anxious to make good with their city editors. 'Was I a friend -of the family? Did Miss Vale seem at all upset by the matter? Where -was Allan Morris? What brought him so frequently, as Brolatsky said, -to see Hume?' I believe they'd have come over the back of my car even -after I started, if I had given but an encouraging look." - -"The evening papers will be a trial to Miss Vale for the next few -days." - -"Well, don't neglect the morning issues, if you are going to mention -any. In to-morrow's _Star_ there will be a portrait of Edyth four -columns wide and eight inches high. I'll expect such expressions as -'beautiful society girl,' 'a recent debutante,' 'heiress to the vast -fortune of the late structural steel king,' 'charming manner and -brilliant mind.' And at those odd times when they are not praising -her gowns, her wealth or her good looks, they'll be rather worse than -insinuating that she knows all about the crime--if she didn't commit -it herself!" - -He paced up and down the floor, his huge motoring coat flapping -distressfully about his legs. His face was flushed. - -"If I had Morris here," he threatened, "I'd show him a few things, the -pup!" Then suddenly he stopped his tramping and faced his friend. "But -now that it is as it is," he demanded, "what are we going to do about -it?" - -"There are quite a number of very sensible things for us to do," -replied Ashton-Kirk, good-humoredly. "And the first of them is to keep -our tempers--the second to keep cool." - -"All right," sulked Pendleton. "I know well enough that I need to do -both. But what next?" - -"Is your car still outside?" - -"Yes." - -"Good. We'll have a little use for it to-day, if you're not otherwise -engaged." - -"Kirk," said Pendleton, earnestly, "until this matter is settled, -don't hesitate to command me. I know that I'm not generally credited -with much serious purpose; but even the lightweight feels -things--sometimes." - -Within half an hour, Ashton-Kirk, in a perfectly fitting, carefully -pressed suit of gray, tan shoes and a light colored knock-about cap, -led the way down to the car. As they got in, he said: - -"We'd better go to Bernstine's first. It's the nearest and on our way -to the station." - -A twenty minute's run through a baffling maze of vehicles brought them -to the curb before a store with a very conspicuous modern front of -plate glass and metal. Inside they inquired for one of the Messrs. -Bernstine; and upon one of the gentlemen presenting himself, -Ashton-Kirk handed him his card. Mr. Bernstine was stout, bald and -affable. - -"I have heard of you, sir," said he, "and I am delighted to be of -service!" - -"Within the last few weeks," said Ashton-Kirk, "you have had a sale of -rifles and other things condemned by the military authorities of -Bolivia." - -Mr. Bernstine wrinkled his smooth forehead in reflection. - -"Bolivia?" said he. "Now let me see." He pondered heavily for a few -moments and then sighed. "You see," he explained, "we sell so many -lots, from so many different places, that we can hardly keep the run -of them. But our books will show," proudly; "everything we do is in -our books." - -He looked down the long, table-crowded store and called loudly: - -"Sime!" - -Sime instantly put in an appearance. He was small, sandy-haired and -freckled; he wore an alert expression and carried a marking pencil -behind his ear. - -"This is our shipping and receiving clerk," said Mr. Bernstine. "He's -up to everything around the place." Then he lowered his voice and -jerked his fat thumb toward the newcomer secretly, addressing -Pendleton: "Clever! Just full of it." - -Sime listened to Ashton-Kirk's question attentively. - -"Yes," he said, in answer, "we had some of that stuff lately. Sold -well, too, considering the time of the year." He pulled open a drawer -and took out a fat, canvas-covered book. "Two gross rifles; one -hundred gross cartridges." He closed the book, tossed it into the -drawer and then slid the drawer shut. "There were a few bayonets, too. -About half a dozen." - -With his round, fat countenance shining with admiration, Mr. Bernstine -once more caught Pendleton's eye. - -"Just full of it," he murmured, sotto voce. "As full as he can be." - -"The bayonets," said Ashton-Kirk, "are what we are after. They were -all sold, I suppose?" - -"Yes," replied Sime. "I remember, when the last one went, saying to -one of our men that we were lucky. You see, bayonets don't sell very -well except to military companies; and _they_ are not organizing every -day." - -"Do you know who bought them?" - -Sime took the marking pencil from behind his ear and proceeded to -scratch his head with its point. Mr. Bernstine watched him anxiously. -But when the shipping clerk pulled open the drawer once more, the -employer's face lighted up. - -"Ah!" said he to Pendleton. "The books! Now we'll have it." - -"They were all taken away by the people who bought them," announced -Sime, after a great flipping of ink spattered pages, "All except one." - -"And that one--" - -"It went by our boy. It was sold to Mr. Cartwright the artist, and was -sent to his studio up here in Fifth St. But there was another--the -last one that we had," suddenly, "and now that I get thinking of it, I -remember we had some trouble about it. The man that bought it was a -Dago." - -Pendleton darted a swift look at Ashton-Kirk, but the investigator's -expression never changed. He looked steadily at the clock. - -"When he asked for the bayonet," proceeded Sime, "I knew we had one -left, but I could not just lay my hands on it. He paid for it and I -said we'd send it to him. He started to give me his address, and then -changed his mind and said he'd come back again." - -"And he did?" - -"Yes; the same afternoon. I had found the thing by that time and he -took it with him." - -"You don't recall the address?" - -To his employer's evident mortification, Sime shook his head. - -"Look in the books," suggested Mr. Bernstine with confidence. "Look in -the books." - -"It ain't there," answered Sime. "He said he'd come back, so I didn't -put it down." - -"Was it Christie Place?" - -Sime pointed at Ashton-Kirk with his pencil. - -"You've got it," said he. "That was it, sure enough." - -"And you think the man was an Italian?" - -"Well, he talked and looked like one. Rather well educated too, I -think." - -Ashton-Kirk thanked the clerk, and the now beaming Mr. Bernstine, and -with Pendleton left the place. - -"Well," said Pendleton, as they climbed into the car, "this about -fixes the thing, doesn't it? The musician, Antonio Spatola, is the -guilty man, beyond a doubt." - -The investigator settled back after giving the chauffeur his next -stop. - -"Beyond a doubt," said he, "is rather an extreme expression. The fact -that the bayonet was purchased by an Italian who gave his address as -Christie Place is not enough to convict Spatola. All sorts of people -live in that street, and there are perhaps other Italians among them." - -Pendleton called out to the chauffeur to stop. - -"We'll settle that at once," said he. "Spatola's picture is in the -papers. We'll ask the clerk if it is that of the man to whom he sold -the weapon." - -But Ashton-Kirk restrained him. - -"I thought of the published portraits while Sime was speaking," said -he. "And I also thought that it was very fortunate that neither he nor -his employer were readers of the newspapers." - -"How do you know that they are not?" - -"If they had read to-day's issues they would have at once connected -the Italian who purchased the bayonet with the one who is said to have -used it--wouldn't they; especially as both Italians lived on the same -street? Bernstine and Sime said nothing because they suspect nothing. -And, as I have said, this is fortunate, because, suspecting nothing, -they will continue," with a smile, "to say nothing. If the police or -reporters got this, they'd swoop down on the trail and perhaps spoil -everything!" - -"But Bernstine or his clerk will hear of the matter sooner or later," -complained Pendleton. "And the police and reporters will then get in -on the thing anyhow." - -"But there will be a delay," said his friend. "And that may be what we -need just now. Perhaps a few hours will mean success. You can never -tell. The best that we could get by explaining matters to Sime would -be a positive identification of Spatola, or the reverse. And we can -get that from him at any time. So you see, we lose nothing by -waiting." - -"I guess that's so," Pendleton acknowledged, and again the car started -forward. At the huge entrance to a railroad station they drew up once -more. - -Within, Ashton-Kirk inquired for the General Passenger Agent and was -directed to the ninth floor. The agent was a slim little man with huge -whiskers of snowy whiteness, and a most dignified manner. - -"Oh, yes," he said, after glancing at the investigator's card. "I have -heard of you, of course. Who," with a little bow, "has not? Indeed, if -I remember aright, this road had the honor to employ you a few years -ago in a matter necessitating some little delicacy of handling. Am I -not right?" - -"And I think it was you," said Ashton-Kirk, smoothly, "who provided me -with some very clearly cut facts which were of considerable service." - -The little General Passenger Agent looked pleased and smoothed his -beautiful whiskers softly. - -"I was most happy," said he. - -"Just now," said Ashton-Kirk, "I am engaged in a matter of some -consequence, and once more you can be of assistance to me." - -"Sit down," invited the other, readily. "Sit down, and command me." - -Both Pendleton and the investigator sat down. The latter said to the -passenger agent: - -"I understand that every railroad has a system by which it can tell -which conductor has punched a ticket." - -"Oh, yes. A very simple one. You see the hole left by each punch is -different. One will cut a perfectly round hole, another will be -square, still another will be a triangle, and so on, indefinitely." - -From his card case, Ashton-Kirk produced the small red particle which -he had found upon the desk of the murdered man. - -"Here is a fragment cut from a ticket," he said. "It is shaped like a -keystone. I should like to know, if you can tell me, what train is -taken out by the conductor who uses the keystone punch." - -The agent touched a signal and picked up the end of a tube. - -"The head ticket counter," said he. "At once." Then he laid down the -tube and continued to his visitors. "He is the man who can supply that -sort of information instantly." - -The ticket counter was a heavy-set young man, in spectacles and with -his hair much rumpled. He peered curiously at the strangers. - -"Does any conductor on our lines use a punch which cuts out a -keystone?" inquired the General Passenger Agent. - -"Yes, Purvis," replied the heavy young man. "Runs the Hammondsville -local." - -"I am obliged to you both," said Ashton-Kirk. "This little hint may be -immensely valuable to me. And now," to the agent, "if I could have a -moment with Conductor Purvis, I would be more grateful to you than -ever." - -"His train is out in the shed now," said the ticket counter, looking -at his watch. "Leaves in eight minutes." - -"I'm sorry that I can't have him up here for you," said the passenger -agent. "Just now that is impossible. But," inquiringly, "couldn't you -speak to him down on the platform?" - -"Of course," replied Ashton-Kirk. - -He and Pendleton arose; the little man with the large white whiskers -was thanked once more, as was the heavy young man with the rumpled -hair. - -"You'll find the Hammondsville train at Gate E," the latter informed -them. - -Then the two shot down to the platform level and made their way toward -Gate E. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -PENDLETON IS VASTLY ENLIGHTENED - - -The Hammondsville local was taking on its passengers. It was a sooty -train, made up of three coaches and a combination baggage and smoking -car. The gateman pointed out its conductor, inside, and the two -approached him. - -He was a spare, elderly man with a wrinkled, shrewd face, and a short, -pointed manner of speech. - -"Oh, the General Passenger Agent sent you?" said he, examining them. -"All right. What's wanted?" - -"Your train stops at a station called Cordova, does it not?" - -"It stops at every station on the run. Cordova's one of them." - -"There is an institution at Cordova, I believe?" - -"For deaf and dumb kids--yes." - -"Of course some of the people from there ride in and out with you at -times." - -"I don't get many of the youngsters. But the folks that run the place -often come to the city." - -"You are acquainted with them, of course. I mean in the way that -local conductors come to be acquainted with their regular riders." - -Purvis grinned. - -"Say," said he. "It's hard to get acquainted with some of them asylum -people. There's only a couple of them that can talk!" - -"I see." Pendleton noted Ashton-Kirk's dark eyes fixed steadfastly -upon the man's face as though he desired to read the remainder from -his expression. "There is one of them," continued the investigator, -"whom perhaps you have noticed. He's rather a small man, and wears -thick glasses. He also dresses very carefully, and he wears a silk -hat." - -"Oh, yes," said the conductor, "I know him. He goes in and out quite -often. Very polite too. Always says good day with his fingers; if the -train is crowded, he's a great little fellow for getting up and giving -his seat to the ladies." - -"Have you ever heard his name?" - -"Yes. It's Locke. He's some kind of a teacher." - -Ashton-Kirk thanked the man, and with Pendleton walked through the -gate. As they were descending the stairs to the street, Pendleton -said: - -"And now he wears a silk hat, does he? But you have not made sure of -the man. You forgot to inquire if Mr. Locke favored the German -dramatists." - -For a moment Ashton-Kirk looked puzzled, then he burst into a laugh. - -"Ah," said he, "you remember that." - -"Of course I remember it. How can I forget it? You go prancing about -so like a conjurer that there's not a moment that I don't expect -something. If you finish by dragging the murderer from your sleeve, -I'll not be at all astonished. Your methods lead me to expect some -such a finale." - -"To explain each step as I take it," said the investigator, "would be -much more difficult than the work itself. However the time has now -arrived for me to enlighten you somewhat upon this point, at least. I -am quite convinced that this man Locke played a leading part in the -murder of Hume. He is in a manner definitely placed, and I can speak -of him without fracturing any of my prejudices." - -They got into the car, and Ashton-Kirk continued to the chauffeur: - -"Christie Place." Then to Pendleton, he added as the machine started, -"I want to make some inquiries at the house where Spatola lived; and -in order to make the matter clearer, we'll just drop in at 478." - -As they proceeded along at a bounding pace, the investigator related -to Pendleton what had passed between Edyth Vale and himself a few -hours before. Pendleton drew a great breath of relief. - -"Of course I knew that her part in the matter was something like -that," he said, "but I'm glad to hear it, just the same." He looked at -his friend for a moment and then continued: "But how did you know that -Edyth heard a door close immediately after the pistol shot?" - -They had just drawn up in front of Hume's, and as Ashton-Kirk got out, -he said: - -"If you had only used your eyes as we were going over the place," said -he, "you'd have no occasion to ask that question." - -There was a different policeman at the door; but fortunately he knew -the investigator and they were allowed to enter at once. When about -half way up the stairs, Ashton-Kirk said: - -"This, I think, is about the place where Miss Vale stopped when she -saw the light-rays moving across the ceiling and wall of the hall. You -get the first glimpse of those from this point. Remain here a moment -and I'll try and reproduce what she heard--with the exception of the -cry." - -Pendleton obediently paused upon the stairs; Ashton-Kirk went on up -and disappeared. In a few moments there came a sharp, ringing report, -and Pendleton, dashing up the stairs, saw his friend standing holding -open the showroom door--the one with Hume's name painted upon it. - -"It's the bell," said Ashton-Kirk, pointing to the gong at the top of -the door frame. "When I examined it this morning I saw that it was -screwed up too tight, and knew that it would make a sound much like a -pistol shot to ears not accustomed to it." - -Pendleton stared in amazement at the simplicity of the thing. - -"I see," said he. "While Edyth stood listening on the stairs someone -opened this door!" - -"Yes; someone unacquainted with the place. Otherwise he would have -known of the bell." - -"But how did you know that Edyth heard a door close?" - -"Whoever rang the bell closed the door after him. It has a spring lock -like the street door; and was locked when Miss Vale tried it a few -moments later." - -"You say that the ringing of the bell shows the person who rang the -bell to have been unacquainted with the place. I think you must be -wrong here. Spatola is acquainted with the place; he was here at the -time. This is proven by the scream of the frightened cockatoo which -followed the ringing of the bell." - -"It was not a cockatoo that made the sound," said Ashton-Kirk. "Give -me a moment and I think I can convince you of that." - -The gas in the hall was lighted; the investigator stopped at the foot -of the stairs leading to the fourth floor. - -"Persons," he continued, "who secretly enter buildings, as a rule -never trust to the lighting apparatus of the buildings. One reason for -this is that it is not under their control--another that they cannot -carry their light about with them." - -He pointed to the lowermost step of the flight; there, as before, were -the stump of candle, the burnt matches, the traces of tallow upon the -wood. - -"There were two or more men concerned in this crime," proceeded -Ashton-Kirk, "and that is the method of lighting that they chose--a -candle." - -"Two men! How do you know that?" asked Pendleton. - -"You shall see in a moment," replied the investigator. Then he -continued: "And the candle was used not only for illumination--it -served another purpose, and so supplied me with the first definite -information that my searching had given me up to that time." - -Pendleton looked at the discouraged little candle end, with its long -black wick, the two charred splinters of pine wood and the eccentric -trail of tallow droppings. Then he shook his head. - -"How you could get enlightenment from those things is beyond me," he -said. "But tell me what they indicated." - -"The candle and the match-sticks count for little," said Ashton-Kirk. -"It is the tracings of melted tallow that possess the secret. Look -closely at them. At first glance they may seem the random drippings of -a carelessly held light. But a little study will show you a clearly -defined system contained in them." - -"Well, you might say there were three lines of it," said Pendleton, -after a moment's inspection. - -"Right," said Ashton-Kirk. "Three lines there are, and each follows a -row of tack heads. These latter were, apparently, once driven in to -hold down a step-protector of some sort which has since become worn -out and been removed." - -The speaker took a pad of paper and a pencil from his pocket. Across -the pad he drew three lines one under the other. Then with another -glance at the candle droppings upon the step, he made a copy of them -that looked like this: - -[Illustration: sketch of clue] - -Pendleton bent over the result under the flare of the gas light; and -as he looked his eyes widened. - -"Why," cried he, "they look like a stenographer's word-signs." - -"Good!" said Ashton-Kirk. "And that, my dear fellow, is exactly what -they are. There, scrawled erratically in dripping tallow, is a three -word sentence in Benn Pitman's phonetic characters. It is roughly -done, and may have occupied some minutes; but it is well done, and in -excellent German. I'll write it out for you." - -Then he wrote on the pad in big, plain Roman letters: - - HINTER - WAYNE'S - BILDNISSE - -"There it is," said the investigator, "done into the German language, -line for line. Brush up your knowledge now; let me see you turn it -into English." - -Pendleton, whose German was rusty from long disuse, pondered over the -three words. Suddenly a light shot across his face; then his eyes were -in a blaze. - -"_Behind Wayne's Portrait!_" - -He fairly shouted the words. Astonishment filled him; he was trembling -with excitement. - -"By Heaven," he gasped, "you have it, Kirk. Now I understand the -smashing of the portraits of General Wayne. There was something of -value hidden behind one of them--between the picture and the back! But -what?" - -"It was nothing of any great bulk; the hiding place indicated points -that out, surely," said Ashton-Kirk, composedly. "A document of some -sort, perhaps." - -Pendleton stood for a moment, lost in the wonder of the revelation; -then his mind began to work once more. - -"But I can't understand the writing of the thing upon the step," said -he. - -"It was the fact that it was written that proved to me that there were -at least two men concerned. One knew the hiding place of the coveted -object; and this is how he conveyed the information to his companion," -pointing to the step. - -"But," protested Pendleton, "why did he not put it into words? Surely -it would have been much easier?" - -"Not for this particular person. As it happens, he was a mute." - -Again Pendleton's eyes opened widely; then recollection came to him -and he said: - -"It was Locke--the man concerning whom you were making inquiries of -the railroad conductor!" - -Ashton-Kirk nodded, and replied. - -"And it was he who shrieked when the door of the showroom opened. The -out-cry of a deaf-mute, if you have ever heard one, has the same -squawking, senseless sound as that of a psittaceous bird like the -parrot or cockatoo." - -"But," said Pendleton, "the fact that the man who scrawled these signs -upon the step _was_ a deaf-mute, scarcely justifies the eccentricity -of the thing. Why did he not use a pencil, as you have done?" - -"I can't say exactly, of course. But did it never happen that you were -without a pencil at a time when you needed one rather urgently?" - -"This thing has sort of knocked me off my balance, I suppose," said -Pendleton, rather bewildered. "Don't expect too much of me, Kirk." He -stuffed his hands in his pockets dejectedly and continued: "You now -tell me that this man was a mute. Yesterday you said he was small, -that he was near-sighted, that he was well dressed and knew something -of the modern German dramatists. You also told the conductor that he -wore thick glasses and a silk hat. Now, I suppose I'm all kinds of an -idiot for not understanding how you know these things about a man you -never saw. But I confess it candidly; I _don't_ understand." - -"It all belongs to my method of work," said Ashton-Kirk. "It's simple -enough when you go about it the right way. I have already given you my -reasons for thinking the man who did this," pointing to the step, "to -be a mute. I judged that he was of small stature because he chose the -bottom step upon which to trace his word signs. Even an ordinary sized -man would have selected one higher up." - -"All right," said Pendleton. "That looks good to me, so far." - -"The deductions that he was well dressed and also near-sighted were -from the one source. His hat fell off while he was tracing the signs; -that showed me that he was forced to stoop very close to his work in -order to see what he was about. You see that, don't you?" - -"How did you know his hat fell off?" asked Pendleton, incredulously. - -"Mrs. Dwyer is evidently paid to clean only the hall and lower -stairway," replied Ashton-Kirk, composedly. "And that she sticks -closely to that arrangement is shown by the condition of this upper -flight. The dust upon the step is rather thick. If you will notice," -and he indicated a place on the second step, "here is a spot where a -round, flat object rested. That this object was a silk hat is -positive. You can see the sharp impress of the nap in the dust; here -is the curl in the exact center of the crown as seen in silk hats -only. And men who wear silk hats are usually well-dressed men." - -"But how can you be at all sure that the hat fell off? Isn't it -possible that he took it off and laid it there?" - -"Possible--yes--but scarcely probable. A well-dressed man is so from -instinct. And his instinctive neatness would hardly permit him to put -his well-kept hat down in the dust." - -"Go on," said Pendleton. - -"The stairs have been used since the hat fell there; but the dust has -not been disturbed. There is a hand-rail on the other side of the -flight, and consequently, all went up and down on that side." - -"I can understand the thick glasses," said Pendleton, "his being -near-sighted suggested those. But what made you think he cared for the -modern German dramatists?" - -"That was a hazard, merely," and the investigator laughed. - -"He knew German and was apparently a man of intelligence. No man who -combines these two things can fail of admiration of Hauptmann, -Sudermann and their brothers of the pen. And then a mute who knew -shorthand well enough to have such ready recourse to it, struck me as -being unusual. They all know the digital sign language; but German and -phonography classed him as one above the ordinary. This knowledge -brought the suggestion of an institution. Then came the suggestion -that he might be an instructor in such an institution. The fragment -from the railroad ticket hinted that the institution might be out of -town. Fuller's research placed two such institutions. The ticket -counter at the railroad office narrowed it down to one. The conductor -of the train all but put his hand on the man." - -There was a short silence. Then Pendleton drew a long breath. - -"Well, Kirk," said he. "I don't mind admitting that you have me -winging. I'll tell you now it's clever; but if I can think of a -stronger word later, I'll work it in instead." - -"We have a pretty positive line on one of the criminals, and we will -now turn to the other," said the investigator, briskly. "It was this -other who committed the murder. The infirmities of Locke, the mute, -made it impossible for him to venture into the rooms. The risks for a -deaf and short-sighted man would be too great. Danger might creep upon -him and he neither hear nor see it. For some reason which I have not -yet discovered, but it may have been distrust, he had not informed his -confederate as to the whereabouts of the object of their entrance. -When they got as far as this hall, he concluded to do so; but as -neither man had a pencil, he conveyed the information as shown; then -the confederate entered Hume's apartments by the door which Mrs. -Dwyer found open. This, by an oversight, may have been left unlocked, -or the criminals may have had a key. However, that does not affect the -case one way or another. - -"It is my opinion that Hume was seated at his desk at this time and -heard the intruder enter the storage room; then pushing back his chair -as we saw it, he arose. The criminal, however, sprang upon and struck -him so expertly that he collapsed without a sound. Then the bayonet -came into play. - -"A search followed for the thing desired--a search, short, sharp and -savage. The murderer either found what he sought, or the footsteps of -Miss Vale upon the stairs frightened him. At any rate he pulled open -the showroom door--the one with the gong; Locke, still in the hall, -screamed and both fled up these stairs to the roof and away." - -Pendleton had waited patiently until his friend finished. Then he -said, with a twinkle in his eye: - -"You say the murderer opened the show room door, the gong rang and -then Locke screamed. Now, old chap, that's not possible. If Locke is -deaf, he couldn't hear the gong; and so there would be no occasion for -him to cry out." - -"I think if you'll go back over what I've really said," spoke -Ashton-Kirk, "you will find that I have made no mention of Locke -crying out because of the gong. I said the murderer opened the door -that has the gong. Then Locke screamed, not because he heard anything, -but because of the sight he saw." - -"Ah!" - -"He caught a glimpse of Hume upon the floor--as we saw him." - -"You think, then, that Locke's intentions were not murder?" - -"At the present time I am led to think so. The confederate either was -forced to kill to save himself, or he had nursed a private scheme of -revenge. And the ferocity of the blow with the bayonet inclines me to -prefer the latter as a theory." - -"That brings us back to both Morris and Spatola," said Pendleton, -gravely. "By all accounts both bore Hume a bitter grudge. But the fact -that both criminals escaped by the roof shows familiarity with the -neighborhood, as Miss Vale pointed out to you. This seems to point to -Spatola." - -"So does the purchase of the bayonet, and in the same indefinite -fashion," said Ashton-Kirk. "But come, we motored to Christie Place -more to inquire about this same Italian than anything else. So let's -set about it." - -They thanked the policeman in charge and left the building. As they -proceeded down the street toward the house in which the newspapers had -informed them Spatola lived, the investigator paused suddenly. - -"I think," said he, "it would be best for us to first see Spatola -himself, and ask a few questions. This might give us the proper point -of view for the remainder." - -And so they once more got into the car; and away they sped toward the -place where the violinist was confined. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -ANTONIO SPATOLA APPEARS - - -Ashton-Kirk and Pendleton were admitted to the cell room at the City -Hall without question; but a distinct surprise awaited them there. -Through a private door leading from the detectives' quarters they saw -the bulky form of Osborne emerge; and at his heels were Bernstine and -his sandy-haired clerk. - -When Osborne caught sight of Ashton-Kirk he expanded into a wide smile -of satisfaction. - -"Hello!" greeted he. "Glad to see you. You're just in time to see me -turn a new trick. Here's the people that Spatola bought the bayonet -from. How does that strike you?" - -But Bernstine leaned over and said something in a low tone; and the -smile instantly departed. - -"Oh," said Osborne, ruefully, "_this_ is the party who called to see -you, is it?" Then turning to Ashton-Kirk he asked: "How did you get -onto this bayonet business?" - -"Just through thinking it over a little, that's all," answered the -investigator. - -Mr. Bernstine now approached the speaker, a hurt look upon his face. - -"Mr. Ashton-Kirk," said he, "why did you not tell us about this piece -of business? Why did you not enlighten us? How _could_ you go away and -leave us in the dark? We are very much occupied, and have little time -to look at the newspapers. It was only by accident that Sime happened -to see one." Lowering his voice, he added: "There's a smart fellow for -you; he saw the whole thing in an instant. And so we came right here -to do what we can to help justice." He squared his shoulders -importantly. - -"He's seen the bayonet and is prepared to swear to it," stated -Osborne, elated. - -"What of the picture of Spatola in the paper?" asked the investigator. -"Does he recognize that?" - -Osborne's face fell once more. - -"These half-tones done through coarse screens are never any good," -said he. "They'd make Gladstone look like Pontius Pilate. He's going -to have a look at the man himself, and that'll settle it." - -With that a turnkey was dispatched; and in a few moments he returned, -accompanied by a half dozen prisoners; one was a slim, dark young man -with a nervous, expressive look, and a great tangle of curling black -hair. The face was haggard and drawn; the eyes were frightened; the -whole manner of the man had a piteous appeal. - -Osborne turned to Sime. - -"Look them over carefully," directed he. "Take your time." - -"I don't need to," answered the freckled shipping clerk. He pointed to -the dark young man. "That's the man of the picture; but I never seen -him before, anywhere." - -Osborne put his fingers under his collar and pulled as though to -breathe more freely; then he motioned another attendant to take the -remaining prisoners away. - -"I see," said he. "He was too foxy to buy the thing himself. He sent -someone else." Then he fixed his eye on the prisoner and continued: -"We've got the bayonet on you; so you might as well tell us all about -it." - -"I don't understand," said Spatola, anxiously. - -"The easier you make it for us, the easier it will be for you," -Osborne told him. "If you make us sweat, fitting this thing to you, -we'll give you the limit. Don't forget that." - -"I have done nothing," said Spatola, earnestly. "I have done nothing. -And yet you keep me here. Is there not a law?" - -"There is," said Osborne, grimly. "That's what I'm trying to tell you -about. Now, who bought the bayonet?" - -"The bayonet?" Spatola stared. - -"The bayonet that Hume was killed with." - -With a truly Latin gesture of despair, the Italian put his hands to -his forehead. - -"Always Hume," he said. "Always Hume! I can not be free of him. He was -evil!" in a sort of shrill whisper. "Even when he is dead, I am mocked -by him. He was all evil! I believe he was a devil!" - -"That was no reason why you should kill him," said Osborne in the -positive manner of the third degree. - -"I did not kill him," protested Spatola. "There were many times when -it was in my heart to do so. But I did not do it!" - -"I've heard you say all that before," stated Osborne, wearily. Then to -the turnkey: "Take him away, Curtis." - -"Just a moment," interposed Ashton-Kirk. "I came here to have a few -words with this prisoner, and by your leave, I'll speak to him now." - -"All right," replied Osborne. "Help yourself." - -He led Bernstine and Sime out of the cell room; the turnkey, with -professional courtesy, moved away to a safe distance, and Ashton-Kirk -turned to the Italian. - -"You were once first violin with Karlson," said he. "I remember you -well. I always admired your art." - -An eager look came into the prisoner's face. - -"I thank you," he said. "It is not many who will remember in me a man -who once did worthy things. I am young," with despair, "yet how I have -sunken." - -"It is something of a drop," admitted Ashton-Kirk. "From a position of -first violin with Karlson to that of a street musician. How did it -happen?" - -Sadly the young Italian tapped his forehead with one long finger. - -"The fault," he declared, "is here. I have not the--what do you call -it--sense? What happened with Karlson happened a dozen times -before--in Italy, in France, in Spain. I have not the good sense!" - -But justification came into his eyes, and his hands began to -gesticulate eloquently. - -"Karlson is a Swede," with contempt. "The Swedes know the science of -music; but they are hard; they are seldom artists; they cannot -express. And when one of this nation--a man with the ice of his -country in his soul--tried to instruct me how to play the warm music -of my own Italy, I called him a fool!" - -"I see," said the investigator. - -"I am to blame," said Spatola, contritely. "But I could not help it. -He _was_ a fool, and fools seldom like to hear the truth." - -"The Germans, now," said Ashton-Kirk, insinuatingly, "are somewhat -different from the Swedes. Were you ever employed under a German -conductor?" - -"Twice," replied the violinist, with a shrug. "Nobody can deny the art -of the Germans. But they have their faults. They say they know the -violin. And they do; but the Italian has taught them. The violin -belongs to Italy. It was the glory of Cremona, was it not? The tender -hands of the Amatis, of Josef Guarnerius, of old Antonio Stradivari, -placed a soul within the wooden box; and that soul is the soul of -Italy!" - -"Haupt, a German, wrote a treatise on the violin," said Ashton-Kirk. -"If you would read that--" - -"I have read it," cried Spatola. "I have read it! It is like that," -and he snapped his fingers impatiently. - -"But you've probably read a translation in the English or Italian," -insisted the investigator, smoothly. "And all translations lose -something of their vitality, you know." - -"I have read it in the German," declared the Italian; "in his own -language, just as he wrote it. It is nothing." - -Pendleton looked at Ashton-Kirk admiringly; the manner in which his -friend had established the fact that Spatola knew the German language -seemed to him very clever. But Ashton-Kirk made no sign other than -that of interest in the subject upon which they talked. - -"A race that has given the world such musicians as Wagner, Beethoven -and Mozart," said he, "must possess in a tremendous degree the musical -sense. The German knowledge of tone and its combinations is -extraordinary; and their music in turn is as complex as their -psychology and as simple as the improvisation of a child." - -Spatola seemed surprised at this apparent warmth; he looked at -Ashton-Kirk questioningly. - -"And, with all their scholarship, the Germans are so practical," went -on the latter. "Only the other day I came upon a booklet published in -Leipzig that dealt with the difficulty a composer sometimes encounters -in getting the notes on paper when a melody sweeps through his brain. -The writer claimed that the world had lost thousands of inspirations -because of this, and to prevent further loss, he proffered an -invention--a system of--so to speak--musical shorthand." - -A sullen look of suspicion came into Spatola's face; he regarded the -speaker from under lowered brows. - -"Perhaps you don't quite understand the value of such an invention," -proceeded Ashton-Kirk. "But if you had a knowledge of stenography, and -the short cuts it--" - -But the Italian interrupted him brusquely. - -"I know nothing of such things," said he, "and what is more I don't -want to know anything of them." Then in a sharp, angry tone, he added: -"What do you want of me? I am not acquainted with you. Why am I -annoyed like this? Is it always to be so--first one and then another?" - -At this sudden display of resentment, the turnkey approached. - -"I will go back to my cell," Spatola told him, "and please do not -bring me out again. My nerves are bad. I have been worried much of -late and I can't stand it." - -The turnkey looked at Ashton-Kirk, who nodded his head. And, as -Spatola was led gesticulating away, Pendleton said in a low tone of -conviction: - -"I tell you, Kirk, there's your man. Besides the other things against -him, he knows German." - -"But what of the phonographic signs?" - -"He knows them also. His manner proved it. As soon as you mentioned -shorthand he became suspicious and showed uneasiness and anger. I tell -you again," with an air, of finality, "he's your man." - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -A NEW LIGHT ON ALLAN MORRIS - - -From the City Hall the car headed for Christie Place once more; it -halted some half dozen doors from Hume's and the occupants got out. - -The first floor was used by a dealer in second-hand machinery, but at -one side was a long, dingy entry with a rickety, twisting flight of -stairs at the end. Ashton-Kirk rang the bell here, and while they -waited a man who had been seated in the open door of the machine shop -got up and approached them. - -He wore blue overalls and a jumper liberally discolored by plumbago -and other lubricants; a short wooden pipe was held between his teeth, -and a cloth cap sat upon the back of his head. - -"Looking up the Dago?" asked he with a grin. He jerked a dirty thumb -toward the stairs. - -Ashton-Kirk nodded; the man took the wooden pipe from his mouth, blew -out a jet of strong-smelling smoke and said: - -"I knowed he'd put a knife or something into somebody, some day. These -people with bad tempers ought to be chained up short." - -"Do you know him well?" inquired the investigator. - -"Been acquainted with him ever since he's been living here--and that's -going on three years." - -"Did he have many visitors, do you know?" - -The man in the cloth cap pulled at his pipe reflectively. - -"I can't just say," he replied. "But I've been thinking--" he paused -here and examined both young men questioningly. Then he asked: "You're -detectives, ain't you?" - -"Something of that sort," replied Ashton-Kirk. - -The man grinned at this. - -"Oh, all right," said he. "You don't have to come out flat with it if -you don't want to. I ain't one of the kind that you've got to hit with -a mallet to make them catch on to a thing." Here the wooden pipe -seemed to clog; he took a straw from behind his ear and began clearing -the stem carefully. At the same time he added: "As I was saying, I've -been thinking." - -"That," said Ashton-Kirk, giving another tug at the unanswered bell, -"is very commendable." - -"And queer enough, it's been about visitors--here," and the man -pointed with the straw toward the doorway. "Funny kind of people too, -for a house like this." - -"Take a cigar," said Ashton-Kirk. "That pipe seems out of commission." -Then, as the man put the pipe away in the pocket of his jumper and -lighted the proffered cigar, he added: "What do you mean by 'funny -kind of people?'" - -The cigar well lighted, the man in the overalls drew at it with gentle -relish. - -"There's a good many kinds of funny people," said he. "Some of them -you laugh at, and others you don't. These that I mean are the kind you -don't. Now, Mrs. Marx, the woman that keeps this place, is all right -in her way, but it ain't no swell place at that. Her lodgers are -mostly fellows that canvass for different kinds of things; they wear -shiny coats and their shoes are mostly run down at the heels. So when -I see swell business looking guys coming here I got to wondering who -they were. That's only natural, ain't it?" - -Ashton-Kirk nodded, but before he could reply in words there came a -clatter upon the rickety stairs at the far end of the entry. A thin, -slipshod woman with untidy hair and a sharp face paused on the lower -step and looked out at them. - -"What do you want?" she demanded, shrilly. - -Ashton-Kirk, followed by Pendleton, stepped inside and advanced down -the entry. - -"Are you Mrs. Marx?" he inquired. - -"Yes," snapped the woman. "What do you want?" - -"A little information." - -"You're a reporter!" accused the sharp-faced woman. "And let me tell -you that I don't want nothing more to say to no reporters." - -But Ashton-Kirk soothingly denied the accusation. - -"I dare say you've been bothered to death by newspaper men," spoke he. -"But we assure you that--" - -"It don't make no difference," stated the woman, rearing her head -until her long chin pointed straight at them. "I ain't got nothing to -say to nobody. I don't want to get into no trouble." - -"The only way you can possibly get into trouble in this matter," said -the investigator, "is to conceal what you know. An attempt to hide -facts is always considered by the police as a sort of admission of -complicity." - -The woman at this lifted a corner of a soiled apron and applied it to -her eyes. - -"Things is come to a nice pass," she said, vainly endeavoring to -squeeze a tear from eyes to which such things had long been strangers, -"when a respectable woman can't mind her own business in her own -house." - -At this point, Pendleton, who looked discreetly away, caught the -rustle of a crisp bill; and when Mrs. Marx spoke again, her tone had -undergone a decided change. - -"But of course," she said, "if the law asks me anything, I must do -the best I can. I've kept a rooming house for a good many years now, -gentlemen, and this is the first time I have had any notoriety. It is, -I assure you." - -As Ashton-Kirk had seen at a second glance, Mrs. Marx was a lady fully -competent to confront any situation that might arise; so he wasted no -time in soothing her injured feelings. - -"We desire any information that you can give us regarding your lodger, -Antonio Spatola," said he. "Tell us all you know about him." - -"He wasn't a bad-hearted young man," said the landlady, "but for all -that I wish I'd never seen him. If I hadn't then I'd never had this -disgrace come on me." - -Here she made another effort with the corner of her apron; but it was -even more unsuccessful than the first. She gave it up and went on -acidly. - -"Mr. Spatola came here almost three years ago. He was engaged in one -of the vaudeville theaters near here--in the orchestra--and he rented -my second story front at six dollars a week. Except for the fact that -he _would_ play awfully shivery music at all hours of the night, I was -glad to have him. He was quiet and polite; he paid regularly and," -smoothing back the untidy hair, "he gave a kind of tone to the house. - -"But then he lost his position. Had a fight, I understand, with -somebody. For a long time he had no work; he moved from the second -story-front at six dollars a week into the attic at two. When he could -get no place, he went on the street and played; afterwards he got the -trained birds. I didn't like this much. It didn't do the house no good -to have a street fiddler living in it; and then the birds were a -regular nuisance with their noise. But he paid regular, and after a -while he took to keeping the birds in a box in the loft, so I put up -with it." - -"We'll look at his room, if you please," said the investigator. - -Complainingly, the woman led the way up the infirm staircase. At the -fourth floor she pushed open a door and showed them into a long -loft-like room with high ceiling and mansard windows. There came a -squawking and fluttering from somewhere above as they entered. - -"Them's the cockatoos," said the landlady. "They miss Mr. Spatola very -much. When I go to feed them with the stale bread and seed he has here -for them, would you believe it, they'll hardly eat a thing." - -The room was without a floor covering. Upon some rough shelves, nailed -to the wall, were heaps of music. A violin case also lay there. There -were a few chairs, a cot-bed, and a neat pile of books upon a table. -Ashton-Kirk ran over these quickly; they were mostly upon musical -subjects, and in Italian. But some were Spanish, English, German and -French. - -"He was the greatest hand for talking and reading languages," said -Mrs. Marx, wonderingly. "I don't think there was any kind of a -nationality that he couldn't converse with. Mr. Sagon that lives on -the floor below says that his French was elegant, and Mr. Hertz, my -parlor lodger, used to just love to talk German with him. He said his -German was so _high_." - -Ashton-Kirk opened the violin case and looked at the instrument -within. - -"Spatola always carried his violin in this when he went out, I -suppose?" he said, inquiringly. - -"Oh, yes; _that_ one he did. But the one on the wall there," pointing -to a second instrument hanging from a peg, "he never took much care of -that. It's the one he played on the street, you see." - -Her visitors followed the gesture with interest. - -"That was just to clinch a point I made with Fuller this morning," -said the investigator to Pendleton, in explanation. Then to Mrs. Marx -he continued: "Mr. Spatola had visitors from time to time, had he -not?" - -But the woman shook her head. - -"Sometimes he had a pupil who came in the evening. But they never came -more than once or twice; he generally called them thick-heads after -a little, and told them they'd better go back to the grocery or -butcher's shop where they belonged." - -"Are you quite sure that no one else ever called upon him?" - -The woman nodded positively. - -"I'm certain sure of it," she said. "I remember saying more than once -to my gentlemen on the different floors, that Mr. Spatola must be -awfully lonely sometimes. Mr. Crawford would often come up here and -smoke with him and play a game or two of Pedro. Mr. Hertz tried it a -couple of times; but him and Mr. Spatola couldn't hit it very well." - -"How many lodgers have you?" - -"I have rooms for nine. Just now there are seven. But only four are -steadies--Mr. Hertz, Mr. Crawford, Mr. Sagon and Mr. Spatola. Mr. -Hertz is an inspector of the people who canvass for the city -directory; he took the parlor after Mr. Spatola gave it up. He drinks -a little, but he's a perfect gentleman for all that. Mr. Crawford is a -traveling man, and is seldom home; but he pays in advance, so I don't -never worry about him. Mr. Sagon is what they call an expert. He can't -speak much English yet, but sometimes even the government," in an awed -tone, "sends for him to come to the customs house to tell them how -much diamonds are worth, that people bring in. He works for Baum -Brothers and Wright. The others," bulking them as being of no -consequence, "are all gentlemen who are employed on the directory -under Mr. Hertz." - -"Have you any Italian lodgers other than Mr. Spatola?" - -The woman shook her head. - -"No," she said, "and I don't want none, if this is the way they carry -on." - -"Are there any other rooming houses in the street?" - -"No, sir. It's only a block long, and I know every house in it. I'm -the only one as takes lodgers." - -"Are there any Italians in business in the block, or employed in any -of the business places?" - -Mrs. Marx again shook her head positively. - -"Not any." - -"You speak of a Mr. Sagon. Of what nationality is he?" - -"Oh, he's French, but he's lived a long time in Antwerp. That's where -he learned the diamond business. And he must have lived in other -places in Europe; Mr. Spatola says he has spoken of them often." - -Just then there came from below the sound of a heavy voice, singing. -The words were French and the intonation here and there was strange to -Ashton-Kirk. - -"Who is that?" he asked. - -"It's Mr. Sagon," replied the woman. "He's the greatest one for -singing them little French songs." - -"Ah, I have it," said Ashton-Kirk, after a moment. "He's a Basque, of -course. I couldn't place that accent at first." - -A narrow, ladder-like flight of stairs was upon one side. Ashton-Kirk -mounted these and found himself in a smaller loft; a number of -well-kept cockatoos, in cages, set up a harsh screaming at sight of -him. Opening a low door he stepped out upon a tin roof. Mrs. Marx and -Pendleton had followed him, and the former said: - -"The police was up here looking. They said Mr. Spatola came through -the trap-door at Hume's place that night and walked along the roofs -and so down to his own room." - -"That would he very easily done," answered Ashton-Kirk, as his eye -took in the level stretch of roofs. - -After a little more questioning to make sure that the landlady had -missed nothing, they thanked her and left the house. At his door they -saw the man in the cloth cap and overalls. A second and very unwieldy -man, with a flushed, unhealthy looking face, had just stopped to speak -to him. - -He supported himself with one hand on the wall. - -"Hello!" called the machinist to Ashton-Kirk; and as the two -approached him, he said to the unwieldy man: "I stopped you to tell -you these gents had gone in. They're detectives." - -"Oh," said the man, with interest in his wavering eye. "That so." He -regarded the two young men uncertainly for a moment; and then asked: -"Did Mrs. Marx tell you anything?" - -"She didn't seem to know much," answered the investigator. - -The unwieldy man swayed to and fro, an expression of cunning gathering -in his face. The machinist winked and whispered to Pendleton: - -"I don't know his name, but he's one of the lodgers." - -"Marx," declared the unwieldy man, "is a fine lady. But," with an -elaborate wink, "she knows more'n she tells sometimes." The wavering -eye tried to fix the investigator, but failed signally. "It don't do," -he added wisely, "to tell everything you know." - -Ashton-Kirk agreed to this. - -"Marx could tell you something, maybe," said the man. "And then maybe -she couldn't. But, I know _I_ could give you a few hints if I had the -mind--and maybe they'd be valuable hints, too." Here he drew himself -up with much dignity and attempted to throw out his chest. "I'm a -gentleman," he declared. "My name's Hertz. And being a gentleman, I -always try and conduct myself like one. But that's more'n some other -people in Marx's household does." - -"Yes?" - -"Yes, sir. When a gentleman tries to be friendly, I meets him -half-way. But that fellow," and he shook a remonstrating finger at -the door of the lodging-house, "thinks himself better'n other people. -And mind you," with a leer, "maybe he's not as good." - -"Who do you mean--the Dago?" asked the machinist. - -"No; I mean Crawford. A salesman, eh?" The speaker made a gesture as -though pushing something from him with contempt. "Fudge! Travels, does -he? Rot! He can't fool me. And then," with energy, "what did he used -to do so much in Spatola's garret, eh? What did they talk about so -much on the quiet? I ain't saying nothing about nobody, mind you. I'm -a gentleman. My name's Hertz. I don't want to get nobody into trouble. -But if Crawford was such a swell as not to want to speak to a -gentleman in public, why did he hold so many pow-wows in private with -Spatola? That's what I want to know." - -Seeing that the man's befogged intellect would be likely to carry him -on in this strain for an indefinite time, Ashton-Kirk and Pendleton -were about to move on. But they had not gone more than a few yards -when the investigator paused as though struck with an idea. He stepped -back once more and drew a photograph from his pocket. - -"Do you know who this is?" he asked, abruptly, holding it up. - -The unwieldy man swayed gently and waveringly regarded the portrait. - -"Sure!" said he surprisedly, "it's Crawford." - -Ashton-Kirk rejoined his friend; and as they made their way to the -waiting automobile, the latter said; - -"That is a step ahead of me, Kirk, I think. Where did you get a -portrait of this man Crawford?" - -By way of an answer the investigator held up the photograph once more. -Pendleton gave a gasp of amazement. - -"Allan Morris," said he. "_Allan Morris, by George!_" - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -MISS VALE UNEXPECTEDLY APPEARS - - -Edouard, Ashton-Kirk's cook, was astonished and somewhat grieved that -day to receive orders that dinner was to be served an hour earlier -than usual. And Stumph, grave and immobile, was betrayed into an -expression of astonishment when his master and guest sat down to the -same dinner in their work-a-day attire. - -And at best Edouard's delicate art that day received but scant -attention. Stumph could hardly conceive of a more important thing than -the proper and gentlemanly eating of one's dinner. Nevertheless other -things engaged the attention of the two young men; they talked -earnestly and in incomprehensible terms; mysterious allusions were -sprinkled thickly through it all. - -"I do not think," Stumph told the mortified Edouard in the kitchen, -"that Mr. Pendleton has tasted the flavor of a single thing he has -eaten. He listens to Mr. Ashton-Kirk talk; he is surprised at -everything that he is told; there is a trembling in his hands, he is -so eager. No, I don't know what it's about. But then, I never know -what Mr. Ashton-Kirk is about. He is a very remarkable gentleman." - -And no sooner was the dinner completed than Ashton-Kirk's big French -car was brought to the door and both young men got into it. - -"You've looked up the road to Cordova?" inquired Ashton-Kirk of the -chauffeur. - -"Yes, sir," answered the man. "Very good road and almost parallel with -the railroad. No trouble getting there by dark." - -"All right. Get there as soon as you can." - -They cut into a broad asphalted avenue, which eventually led them -through the north suburbs into the country. The April dusk was -settling upon the fields as they raced along; in the isolated houses, -lights were beginning to twinkle; there was a swaying among the trees -and roadside bush; the hum of the flying car must have been borne long -distances; for far away people raised their heads from the finishing -tasks of the day to look at it as it flashed by. - -Pendleton lay back comfortably digesting his dinner, and ticking off -in his mind the case which engrossed him so much. - -"It all tapers down to this," he said to himself. "Hume was murdered -by Locke and a confederate in order that they might gain possession of -something, the nature of which is unknown. Kirk is confident of Locke; -I think he'd even go so far as to give him into custody, if he had -the tangible proofs that the police require. - -"But he lacks enthusiasm in the matter of the confederate. To my mind, -it's Spatola or Morris, or both. Both bore Hume no good will. Morris -has been spending at least part of his time with Spatola under an -assumed name; they are known to have been very much engaged in some -secret matter. Both visited Hume's on the night of the murder. An -Italian purchased the weapon with which the deed was done. A German -sentence was written in shorthand by Locke for his confederate. -Spatola admits he knows German; he grows suspicious when shorthand is -mentioned. And to wind it up, Morris has not been seen at his -apartments, his office, or by his friends, since the murder was -committed." - -At a little unpainted railroad station, the investigator broke in on -Pendleton's thoughts by calling on the chauffeur to stop. There were -the usual signboards on each side of the structure, announcing that -the place was Cordova; and there was the usual knot of loungers that -are always to be found about such places watching with interest the -incoming trains. - -Ashton-Kirk called to one of these. He was a lanky fellow in a -wide-brimmed hat and with a sheep-like look of complacency. - -"What's the best way to Dr. Mercer's place?" asked Ashton-Kirk. - -The lanky man reflected. - -"There's three or four ways of getting there," he stated. "You can go -up the pike and turn at Harbison's store; or you can turn down the -lane along there a piece and go along until you come to--" - -"Which is the nearest?" - -"I ain't never passed no judgment on that; but I think the clay road -down toward Plattville would get you there the quickest--if you didn't -get stuck in the ruts." - -"I think we'd better stick to the pike," suggested Pendleton. - -"The pike's the best road," said the lanky man. "All the people from -Mercer's place use it when they drive here to the station." - -Once more the big French car, now with its lamps lighted, sped along -the road; about a mile further on they came to the store referred to -by the man as Harbison's. Here they received instructions as to how to -proceed, by the store-keeper; and after running about four miles along -an indifferent wagon road, they caught the twinkle of many lights off -in the middle of a wide clearing. - -"That must be it," said the investigator. "We'll leave the car here; -to flash up to the door in the quiet of the evening would attract more -attention than would be good for us, perhaps." - -It was now quite dark, but they found a gate a trifle farther on which -opened readily; and so they proceeded along a walk toward a building -which lay blinking at them with its yellow eyes. A deep-throated dog -scented them from off in the distance and gave tongue. As they drew -near to the institution they heard a man calling to the brute to be -still. A little further on the man himself suddenly appeared from -around the corner of a building with a lantern; he flashed this in -their faces as he said: - -"Well, sirs, this is against the rules. We have no visitors except on -Saturdays; and then only within reasonable hours." - -"We would like to speak to Dr. Mercer," said Ashton-Kirk. - -"Dr. Mercer is at dinner," explained the man with the lantern. "He -don't like it much if he's disturbed at such times." - -"We will wait until he has finished; we are in no great hurry." - -The man seemed puzzled as to how to act. With the light held aloft so -that not a feature escaped him, he examined them closely. Apparently -he could see nothing with which to find fault; and so he sighed in a -perplexed fashion. - -"He does not care to have people wait for him," complained the man. -"He gets very angry if he is worried by such things while dining." - -"You need not announce us until he is through," said Ashton-Kirk, -composedly. - -The man hesitated; but finally resolved upon a course and led them up -a flight of stone steps and into a wide hall. The night was raw and a -brisk fire of pine knots burning in an old-fashioned hall fireplace, -made the place very comfortable. - -"If you will be seated, gentlemen," requested their guide, "I will -tell Dr. Mercer of your presence as soon as he has finished." - -They seated themselves obligingly in a couple of low, heavy chairs -near the fire; and then the man left them. The hall was high and -rather bare: the hardwood floor shone brilliantly under the lights; -save for the faint murmur of voices from a near-by room, everything -was still. - -"I should imagine that a place of this sort wouldn't be at all noisy," -observed Pendleton, in a heavy attempt at jocularity. - -Except for a word now and then, they waited in silence for a half -hour; then a door opened and steps were heard in the hall. Both turned -and saw a remarkably small man, perhaps well under five feet, dressed -with great care and walking with a quick nervous step. His head was -very large and partly bald, rearing above his small frame like a -great, bare dome; he carried a silk hat in his hand, and peered -abstractedly through spectacles of remarkable thickness. - -"Locke," breathed Pendleton, as his heart paused for a moment and then -went on with a leap. - -The little man apparently did not see them until he was almost beside -them; then he paused with a start, and his eyes grew owlish behind the -magnifying lenses as he strove to make them out. That he did not -recognize them seemed to worry him; his thin, gray face seemed to grow -grayer and thinner; with a diffident little bow he passed on and out -at the front door. - -"Not a very formidable looking criminal," commented Ashton-Kirk, -quietly. "However, you can seldom judge by appearances. The most -astonishing crime that ever came to my notice was perpetrated by the -meekest and most conventional man I had ever seen." - -They waited for still another space, and then the man who had shown -them in presented himself. He was now without the lantern, but wore a -melancholy look. - -"Dr. Mercer will see you," said he in a low voice. "He is very much -vexed at being disturbed. He'll remember it against me for weeks." He -appeared very much disturbed. - -Ashton-Kirk placed a coin in the speaker's hand; this seemed to have -a bracing effect, for he led them into his employer's presence in a -brighter frame of mind. Dr. Mercer was seated at the table in his -dining-room. A napkin was tucked in his collar, his fat hands were -folded across his stomach, and he was breathing heavily. - -"Gentlemen," spoke he, rolling his eyes around to them, "I trust you -will pardon my not rising. But to exert myself after dining has a most -injurious result sometimes. My digestion is painfully impaired; the -slightest excitement causes me the utmost suffering." - -"I appreciate the fact that we are intruding at a most inconvenient -time," said Ashton-Kirk. "And I beg of you to accept our apologies." - -The eyes of Dr. Mercer, which had the appearance of swimming in fat, -were removed from his visitors, and fixed themselves longingly upon a -great dish filled with a steaming, heavy-looking pudding. His breath -labored in his chest as he replied: - -"The hour _is_ somewhat unusual; but as it happens I have about -finished my dinner, and if your errand is not of a stirring nature, I -should be pleased to have you state it." - -The man placed chairs in such a position that the doctor would not -have to stir to fully observe his visitors. This done he was about to -withdraw; but his employer stopped him at the door. - -"Haines," complained he, "you have not taken my order for breakfast." - -The man paused and seemed much abashed at his neglect. - -"I really beg your pardon, sir," said he. And with that he produced a -pencil and a small book and stood ready. - -"I will have one of those trout that I purchased to-day," directed the -doctor. "Let it be that large, fine one that I was so pleased with," -his swimming eyes ready to float out of his head with anticipation. -"Then I would like some new-laid eggs, some hot cakes, and perhaps a -small piece of steak, if there is any that is tender and tasty. And -mind you," in an nervous afterthought, "tell Mrs. Crane to have it but -rarely done. I will not tolerate it dry and without flavor." He -pondered awhile, apparently much moved by this painful possibility; -then he added: "I may as well have a cereal to begin with, I suppose. -And that will be all with the exception of a few slices from the cold -roast and some white rolls." - -Carefully Haines had taken this down; and after he had read it over at -his employer's order and noted a few alterations and additions, he -departed. For a few moments the doctor's eyes were closed in expectant -rapture; his breathing grew so stertorous that his callers were -becoming alarmed; but he spoke at last, reluctantly, resentfully. - -"I am now ready to hear you, gentlemen, if you please. And kindly -remember that I prohibit anything of an exciting nature at this time." - -"We have heard your school highly spoken of," said Ashton-Kirk. "And -have come to make some inquiries before making up our minds." - -"Ah," breathed Dr. Mercer, solemnly, "you have an afflicted one. Too -bad! Tut, tut, tut, too bad!" - -"There are many institutions of the sort," proceeded the investigator. -"But for the most part they stop at the threshold, so to speak, of -knowledge." - -Dr. Mercer roused himself so far as to unclasp his hands and point -with one finger at the speaker. - -"Sir," said he, in a voice full of grave significance, "they seldom -reach the threshold. A large majority of them are conducted by -dishonest persons. Afflicted youth left in their charge are rarely -properly directed--they rarely acquire that digital dexterity so -necessary to success in their limited lives. The isolated brain, so to -call it, is seldom more than half awakened. Unless it is intelligently -approached, the shadows are never thoroughly dispelled." - -Here he paused, panting distressedly; his eyes were filled with -reproach as he relapsed into his first attitude; and his manner was -that of one who mutely begged that no further tasks be thrust upon -him. - -"The difference in institutions of this type lies mainly in the -methods employed, I believe," said Ashton-Kirk. - -"In the methods--and in the persons who apply them," replied Dr. -Mercer in a smothered tone. - -"To be sure. I have heard something of your teaching staff. It is a -very excellent one, is it not?" - -"The best in the world." The soft, fat, white hands of the doctor -again unclasped themselves; and this time both of them were employed -in a faintly traced gesture. "We employ scientists. We do not stop at -what you have correctly called the threshold. We explore the entire -structure of the intellect. Our Professor Locke, himself an afflicted -one, is a man of vast erudition--a scholar of an advanced type, a -philosopher whose adventures into the field of psychology and natural -science is widely known. He has charge of the practical work of the -Mercer Institute, and under him its results are positive and unique." - -"We have heard of Professor Locke," and, drily, "have seen some of his -work." - -"If you had stated your business before--ah--coming in to me," spoke -the doctor, "you might have had an opportunity of consulting him. He -left for his cottage immediately after dining." - -"He does not live here, then?" - -"Not in this building--no. There is a detached cottage at the far end -of the grounds which he occupies. If you'd like to see him," and the -heavy jowls of the speaker trembled with eagerness, "Haines will show -you there at once." - -"If it is no trouble," said Ashton-Kirk, smoothly. - -"Not in the least." The doctor rang for his man, and when he entered, -said: "These gentlemen would like to speak to Professor Locke. Show -them the way to his house. And, gentlemen," to the callers, with -anxiety, "the professor can arrange everything with you. It is my -habit to nod for a half hour after dinner. My system has grown to -expect it, and if I am deprived of it, I suffer considerably in -consequence." - -"We will not trouble you again, doctor," Ashton-Kirk assured him. -"Thank you, and good-night." - -Once more outside, the man led them along a foot-path that seemed to -cut the institution grounds in two. The rays of his lantern danced -along the carefully kept lawn; the shadowy trees seemed to move -backward and forward, as the thin beams wavered among them. - -"The professor lives a good piece away," the man informed them. "Away -over on the county road." - -"Prefers to be alone, eh?" - -"I suppose so, sir. And then he has his laboratory and work-shop -there, well away from interruption. He don't like to be much disturbed -while he is engaged in his studies." - -"Few of us do," said Pendleton. - -"Quite right, sir." - -They walked along in silence for a time; then they caught a clear -humming noise from some distance ahead. - -"A motor car," said Pendleton. - -"It's on the county road," said the man with the light. "We always -hear them when the wind blows from that direction." - -After some fifteen minutes' steady walking they saw a long twinkling -shaft of light coming from among the trees. - -"That's the house," said Haines. "I hope the professor ain't busy; you -wouldn't believe what a blowing up he can give a body with his fingers -when he's vexed. I'd almost rather have the doctor himself; though, as -a rule, the professor is a very nice gentleman." - -The house was a brick structure of two stories and dimly lighted on -the lower floor. Near by was a long, shed-like building, the windows -of which were brilliantly lighted. - -"He's at work," said Haines, in a troubled tone. "And in the shop too! -If it was even the laboratory, it wouldn't be so bad. But he _does_ -get so interested in the shop. That machine means more to him, -whatever it is, than anything else about the place." - -There came a harsh burring sound from within both the shop and the -house. Haines seemed surprised. - -"Visitors," he said. "He seldom has one; and I never knew any to come -at night before." - -They saw the figure of Locke cross one of the shed windows toward a -door. And just then Ashton-Kirk stumbled rather heavily against -Haines; the lantern dropped to the ground and was extinguished. - -"I beg your pardon," said the investigator in a rueful tone; then he -began to rub his shins. "That was rather hard, whatever it was." - -The door of the building opened and Locke appeared; his great bald -head shone in the light that streamed after him; and it was thrust -forward as he strove to penetrate the darkness ahead. - -"He feels the vibrations of those buzzers," Haines told them, "and -knows right away when anyone wants to get in." - -He began fumbling with the lantern as Locke disappeared; but -Ashton-Kirk said to him: - -"You need not light that. We can see very well. And, on second -thought, you need not wait, either. We can introduce ourselves to -Professor Locke without troubling you further." - -"Thank you, sir," said the man, vastly relieved. "They all have queer -dispositions, you see, and I don't like to trouble them." - -At once Haines made his way back along the path by which they had -approached; some distance away they saw him kindle his lantern, and -then watched the yellow spark as it glanced fitfully away across the -grounds. - -The cottage and work-shop of Professor Locke appeared to be set back -some little distance from what Haines had called the county road; a -grove of tall trees thickened the shadows all about, and it was into -these trees that the professor had gone. - -"The buzzer must have the button that sounds it attached to a gate -opening upon the road," said Pendleton. - -They stood for a short time in silence; then Pendleton nudged his -friend with an elbow. - -"Look," he whispered. "There at the door of the shed." - -Ashton-Kirk did so. And he was just in time to see a large, iron-gray -head, a craggy, powerful face, and a pair of thick shoulders; the -expression and attitude were those of a man listening intently. Almost -instantly, as Ashton-Kirk's gaze fell upon him, the man withdrew. - -"Humph," exclaimed Pendleton under his breath. "Who's that, I wonder?" - -They waited for some time longer in silence. But the little man did -not return, nor did the head appear again at the shop door. -Ashton-Kirk appeared puzzled. - -"Locke intended returning at once," he said to Pendleton. "Otherwise -he would have closed his work-shop door." Then his eyes wandered -toward the house, and his grip closed tightly upon his companion's -arm. "Look," whispered he, in his turn. - -Pendleton's gaze flew toward the house. The lower windows had been -dimly lighted when they approached; but now the glow from them was -high and brilliant. In one of the rooms they saw Locke; he was -striding up and down, his hands clinched and gesturing, his face -upturned, writhing hideously. Seated at a table, calmly engaged in -examining something traced upon a sheet of paper, and apparently not -paying the slightest attention to the gesticulating man, was a young -woman. And Pendleton felt himself grow suddenly faint and sick as he -recognized Edyth Vale. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -MISS VALE DEPARTS SUDDENLY - - -For a moment there was a silence between the two men; then Ashton-Kirk -said, dryly: - -"Miss Vale has, apparently, not been altogether frank with us in this -matter." - -"You think then--" began Pendleton in a voice of terror. But -Ashton-Kirk stopped him. - -"I think many things," said he. "But they are neither here nor there. -Facts are what count. Put the circumstances together for yourself and -see where they lead you. Miss Vale has been from the first mixed up -more or less in this crime. She explained. As far as I knew the -explanation was made in good faith. Now we find her here in this -lonely place, quietly engaged with a man whom I have convinced myself -is one of Hume's murderers." - -There was another pause; this time it was Pendleton who broke the -silence. - -"As you say," spoke he, in a strange, throaty sort of tone, "she has -not been quite frank. Take all the circumstances together and they -seem to point--" - -He paused as though quite unable to finish. Ashton-Kirk laid a hand -upon his shoulder. - -"Imagination is a thing that is vitally necessary in this sort of -work," said he. "But it must be held in check by reason. The great -trouble with an amateur is that he reasons up to a certain point; then -he allows his imagination to take a long leap toward a result. The -upshot is that his results have seldom anything to support them. The -correct method, I think, is to allow the imagination to scurry ahead -in the way that is natural to it; but reason must follow close behind, -proving each step of the way. To be sure, you may have theories, -hypotheses, ideas without end, but you must never take them for -granted. Select each in its turn, place it in a tube as the chemist -does, add a few drops of reason, and you may produce a fact. It is the -only way to go about it. Once a man becomes fixed in a belief, be -there ever so little foundation for it, his mind stops revolving the -subject; further procedure is hopeless." - -"I understand all that well enough," said Pendleton. "But," and he -waved his hand toward the house, "what does _this_ mean?" - -"I don't know," said Ashton-Kirk. "And neither do you. So--that being -the case--there is but one thing to do--find out." - -They gazed toward the window once more, Miss Vale had apparently -mastered the contents of the paper, and was now engaged in writing -rapidly. As the young men watched, she stopped, read carefully what -she had written, and then handed it to Locke. The mute carried the -paper to the light, and holding it very near to his eyes read it with -much attention; then he tore it into strips, placed it upon the red -coals of a stove which stood near him and watched it burn. Facing Miss -Vale, his fingers began to fly rapidly in intricate signs. This only -lasted a moment, however; for he stopped, gestured passionately, -seized a pad of paper and began to write. - -While he was thus engaged, Ashton-Kirk said to Pendleton in a low -tone: - -"Remain here for a moment." - -Then slowly, carefully, the investigator made his way toward the -window through which Miss Vale and Locke were to be seen. - -Heavy beams of light shot across the ground from the windows; but here -and there were trails of shadow. He clung to these until he had -reached the shelter of the walls; then to Pendleton's amazement he -stepped directly in front of the window through which the two were to -be seen, rapped smartly upon the glass, and remained standing in full -view, of the two in the room. - -[Illustration: HE RAPPED SMARTLY ON THE WINDOW] - -Pendleton saw the pad drop from Locke's hands; he saw the mute wheel -as he felt the vibrations and stare at the window, his eyes puckered -and straining. He also saw Miss Vale rise, saw her hands thrown out in -a gesture much like despair; and also he heard the cry that she -uttered, muffled by the confines of the room, but full of fear. Then -the room was plunged into darkness; an instant later a door was heard -to open; the sound of quick-moving feet came to him; there followed -the pulsations of a motor and the racing of a car away into the night. - -"She's off," breathed the young man, and there was undoubted relief in -the knowledge. "She's off, and I really believe that's what Kirk was -after." - -He walked toward the house and found his friend standing in the -shadows. - -"Well," chuckled the investigator, "it did not take her long to make -up her mind, eh?" - -"You had some motive in doing that," accused Pendleton. "What was it?" - -Ashton-Kirk was about to reply; but just then the small figure of -Locke made its appearance. He carried a lantern and was approaching -with stumbling steps, his eyes peering and blinking in their efforts -to pierce the gloom. Not until he was well upon the two did he make -them out; then he halted, lifted the light above his head and surveyed -them intently. - -In the rays of the lantern Ashton-Kirk smiled urbanely, and bowed. -The supple fingers of the mute writhed inquiringly. - -"Each of them forms itself into a wild note of interrogation," said -Pendleton. "They are fairly screaming questions at you." - -Ashton-Kirk smiled even more agreeably at Locke and shook his head. -Then he went through the pantomime of one writing, and finished by -pointing to the house. - -Carefully, eagerly, fearfully, the mute examined them; his -near-sighted eyes and the wavering light must have made it all but -impossible for him to make them out. However, he at length motioned -for them to follow him, and started back by the way which he had come. -But after a few steps he halted. He indicated that they were to remain -where they were; then he went to the shed-like building, closed the -door and locked it, placing the key in his pocket. - -"It would seem," observed Ashton-Kirk, "that we are not to be trusted -implicitly." - -"Also," replied Pendleton, "that there is something of value in the -shed." - -Returning, Locke led the way to a door upon the other side of the -house. Showing them into a small room furnished with books and -scientific apparatus and evidently a study, he set down the lantern -and with a sign bade them be seated. Upon their doing so he produced a -small pad of paper and a pencil; handing these to Ashton-Kirk he -stood peering at them expectantly. With the swift, accurate touch of -an expert, the investigator wrote in the Pitman shorthand: - -"We ask pardon if we have startled you." - -Then he tore off the sheet and handed it to Professor Locke. The man -seemed surprised at the medium selected by his visitor; nevertheless -he quickly traced the following in the same characters. - -"Who are you? What is your errand?" - -"We were sent to you by Dr. Mercer," replied Ashton-Kirk with flying -pencil. "Our business is to secure the admission of a new pupil." - -Locke read this and regarded them for a moment, doubtfully. - -"Why did you not press the button at the door?" he demanded in -writing. - -"I hardly expected you to have such a thing as a bell," answered -Ashton-Kirk, on the pad. "And so, seeing you, I attracted your -attention as best I could." - -Professor Locke read this and stood with his pencil poised, when the -buzzer sounded harshly; he went at once into the hall; they heard him -open the door; and in a few moments he returned, followed by Haines. - -The fingers of the two flashed their signals back and forth; then a -look of relief came into Locke's face; he even smiled, and nodded -understandingly at the two young men. - -"I beg pardon, gentlemen," said Haines. "But when I got back to the -hall, Dr. Mercer made me return and make sure that you had got to see -the Professor." - -"Thanks," replied the investigator. "We had not the slightest -difficulty." - -"I'm glad to hear it, sir," said the man. "Good-night to you." - -He flashed the same wish to the mute, who answered readily; then he -went out and through the window they saw his light again go bobbing -away in the darkness. Then the professor began to write once more. - -"I beg your pardon," was his message in long-hand. "The man tells me -that it was quite as you say. But I must confess I was a trifle -startled." - -"The lady," wrote Ashton-Kirk, "seemed startled, too." - -For the fraction of a moment the mute halted in his reply. Then the -pencil with much assurance formed the following: - -"It was my niece. She was about to go just as you came; so do not -reproach yourself for having driven her away." - -For some time the penciled conversation continued between the two; but -as it was all based upon the fanciful pupil whom the investigator -stated he desired to place in Dr. Mercer's care, Pendleton paid little -heed to it. At last, however, they bid the Professor good-by, and left -him upon the threshold, his massive head nodding his adieus, his frail -little body sharply outlined by the glow from the hall. - -The two had reached their own car around on the other road before -Pendleton spoke. Then he inquired: - -"Well, have you learned anything from him?" - -"I think I can say 'yes' to that," answered the other. "But I'm not -yet sure. I'll have to put it to the proof first, according to the -formula which I gave you a half hour ago. If it succeeds, I'll tell -you what it is; if it does not, I'll say nothing, and it will go upon -the scrap heap devoted to broken fancies. And now, Dixon," to the -chauffeur, "we'll go home." - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -STEEL AGAINST STEEL - - -Shortly before noon next day, Ashton-Kirk, in an immaculate morning -suit, was ushered into the presence of Miss Edyth Vale. If he expected -confusion, embarrassment or anything of that sort, he was -disappointed; for she greeted him eagerly and with outstretched hand. - -"This is a surprise," she said. - -He held her hand and looked meaningly at her. - -"My appearances _are_ sometimes surprising," he said. "But I usually -select the night for them; the effect is better then, you see." - -She smiled into his eyes. - -"I have no doubt but that you are dreadfully mysterious," she said. -"But please sit down." - -She seated herself near the window; holding a book in her hand, she -fluttered the leaves to and fro. - -"The composure," thought the investigator, as he sat down, "is -somewhat overdone." - -"I wonder," said Miss Vale, looking at the book, "if you are an -admirer of Ibsen." And as he nodded, she proceeded with a slight -smile. "I know that he is scarcely the usual thing for a spring -morning. But there are times when I simply can't resist him." - -"He's a strong draught at any time," said Ashton-Kirk. "But his tonic -quality is undoubted." - -"His disciples claim that for him, at any rate," she answered. "But -sometimes I question its truth. Where is the tonic effect of -'Rosmersholm?' I think it full of terrors." She shuddered and added: -"The White Horses will haunt me for weeks." - -"It's the atmosphere of crime," said he. "That quiet home on the -western fiords reeks with it." - -She made a gesture of repulsion. - -"It's ghastly!" she exclaimed. "And, somehow, one feels it from the -very first--before a word is spoken. Imagine Rebecca at the window, -watching through the plants to see if Rosmer uses the footbridge from -which his wife once leaped to her death." She paused a moment, her -eyes upon the open pages; then lifting her head, she asked: "What do -you think of Rebecca?" - -"A tremendous character--of wonderful strength. It was just such -proud, dark, purposeful souls that Byron delighted to draw; but the -only one in literature to whom I can fully liken her is the wife of -Macbeth. There was the same ambition--the same ruthless will--the same -disregard of everything that stood in her way. And, like Cawdor's -wife, she weakened in the end." - -She regarded him fixedly. - -"Would you call it weakness?" she asked. - -"She fell in love with Johannes, did she not? That was weakness--for -her. She herself recognized it as such." - -The girl looked at him thoughtfully for a moment. - -"That is true," she said. - -"Some of the world's most daring and accomplished criminals have been -women," he went on. "But Nature never intended woman to be the bearer -of burdens; there is a weakness in her soul structure somewhere; she -usually sinks under the consciousness of guilt." - -"More so than men, do you think?" - -"As a rule--yes." - -She put down the book and clasped her hands in her lap. - -"There is no need to sympathize with Rebecca," she said. "She was -brave and strong, even in her love for Johannes. But he," and there -was a note in her voice that recalled the night he had listened to it -over the telephone, "he was different. There is no more dreadful thing -in the play, to me, than the character of Rosmer. To think of him -sitting quietly in that charnel house, prospering in soul, growing -sleek in thought, becoming stored with high ideas. Perfect peace came -to him in spite of the stern-faced portraits which shrieked murder -from the walls. He dreamed of freeing and ennobling mankind, and all -the time Fate was weaving a net about him that was to drag him from -the mill bridge after his dead wife." - -"Kroll knew him," said the investigator. "And he said Rosmer was -easily influenced. It is usually men of that type who are drawn into -the vortex which swirls at every door." - -Her face was a little pale; but she now arose with a laugh and began -rubbing her finger-tips with a handkerchief. - -"I think we'd better remove the dust of the Norwegian," she said; "and -I make a vow never to read him again--in the morning." She stood -looking down at her caller, good-humoredly and continued: "I suppose -it is my fault, but you have a dreadfully gloomy expression. Or -maybe," as an afterthought, "you ate an unwholesome dinner last night. -Were you at the Perrings, by any chance?" - -He shook his head, his keen eyes searching her face. - -"No," said he, "I had much more important matters on hand." - -She held up her hand. - -"It was something about this Hume affair," she said. - -"Yes," he replied. - -The smile was now gone; she leaned back against a heavy table, her -fingers tightly clasping its edge. - -"I have been trying to forget that dreadful thing," she said. "I've -stopped looking at the papers, because I would be sure to see it -mentioned. And," with never a faltering in her eyes, "because I might -be reminded of it in some other way, I now remain indoors." - -"Last night was an exception, perhaps," suggested he, smoothly. - -"Last night?" There was a questioning look in her beautiful eyes; the -finely posed head with its crown of bright hair bent toward him -inquiringly. - -An expression of chagrin crept into his face. - -"You were not out last night, then?" said he. - -"What makes you think so?" smilingly. "It was dreadfully dull here, -too. But then," with a shrug, "anything is better than a constant -reminder of that Christie Place affair." - -He nodded understandingly. - -"I suppose it _is_ very distressing." He frowned gloomily at the tips -of his shoes and she could see that he bit his lip with vexation. -After a moment or two, he said: "It's very strange; but I was quite -sure I saw you last night." - -"Yes?" Her tone was one of careless interest. - -"However," he went on, "I had but a glimpse of the lady; and could -easily have been mistaken." He wore a baffled look, but smiled as he -got up. "And," said he, "my visit of this morning was based upon the -sight I fancied I had of you last night." - -She laughed amusedly. - -"It was something interesting," she said. "Please tell me about--but, -no, no," hastily. "If it has anything to do with the Hume case, I'd -rather not hear it." - -She had pressed the bell call for the footman, when he said: - -"Mr. Morris still keeps himself well concealed, I note." - -Like a tigress leaping to defend her young, she met the accusation. - -"Mr. Morris has done no wrong," she declared, spiritedly. "And there -is no need of his concealing himself." - -"Of course I will not say as to that." His voice was soothing and low. -"But he makes a mistake in not coming forward. His name, you have -noticed, has already appeared in the papers in direct connection with -the murder." - -He glanced at her keenly once more. - -"It may be that he has gone away upon some urgent business," she said. -"And the chances are that he has not heard anything of the matter." - -"If he had gone away on business, don't you think he would have -mentioned it to someone?" - -"Perhaps he did not think it necessary. And again, maybe he did not -expect to be gone so long. Such things frequently happen, you know." - -"They do," admitted Ashton-Kirk. "But in the case of Allan Morris, -they somehow fail to fit. I am convinced that he is in hiding." - -She regarded him steadily for a moment; then she said: - -"You are convinced, you say?" - -"I am." - -"May I ask upon what your conviction is based?" - -"Not now--no." - -There was another pause; the man was at the door, ready to show the -investigator out. - -"Perhaps," and her tone was very low, "you even fancy that you know -his hiding-place." - -"Not just yet," said he, "but in a few hours at most, I will." - -Her lips formed the good-by as he stood in the doorway; but she made -no sound. And Ashton-Kirk as he walked down the hall, smiled quietly -to himself. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -WHAT HAPPENED ON THE ROAD - - -About half an hour after Ashton-Kirk had left the Vale mansion, a -Maillard car drew up before the door. As it did so, an Italian laborer -arose from the curb not far away where he had been comfortably seated -with his back against a tree; then throwing his arms wide in a -luxurious yawn, he started leisurely down the street. - -Five minutes later, a veiled, dust-coated female figure descended the -step; the driver of the Maillard was dismissed, and Miss Vale -composedly took his place at the wheel. As the car started forward, -the gauntleted hands guided it firmly; the steady eyes were set -straight ahead as the lever was pushed first to one speed and then -another. - -And as the rapid pulse of the motor was borne along the quiet avenue, -the Italian laborer calmly appeared from around a corner, pushing a -powerful-looking motor cycle before him. Another moment and the -machine was sounding its wild fusillade; the Italian sped away in the -same direction as the Maillard, his battered soft hat set jauntily -upon the back of his head, his gay-colored neckkerchief streaming in -the wind. - -The car kept to the avenue for a long time; but finally in the far -suburbs it made a sharp turn to the left and a few miles further on -shot into a broad highway that ran parallel with the railroad. - -Bending forward so as to offer the least resistance to the wind, the -Italian's swarthy face relaxed at this; his fine white teeth showed in -a smile. - -"Cordova, I think," muttered he, in very good English. "If not, then -somewhere very near to it." - -Once upon the highway, which was hard, level and practically deserted, -the Maillard increased its speed. Eddies of dust curled in its wake; -its hum resembled that of a gigantic top; its shining brass and smooth -gloss made it look like a streak of light. But the motor cycle was of -the best; its compact, powerful mechanism answered bravely to each -call that was made upon it by the dark-faced man in the saddle; its -explosions had merged into one long volley. - -At a small and not very firm-looking bridge the Maillard slowed down; -apparently for the first time Miss Vale heard the cycle in the rear, -for she turned and gave it a quick look. But the dust of her own -progress hung thickly in the air and she could not see very clearly. -Passing the bridge at a low rate of speed, she turned again. The dark -face of the rider, his battered hat and flying 'kerchief seemed to -satisfy her; for once more she gave attention to her course, and again -the car increased its speed. A mile or two further on there was a -rather broken stretch of road and she was forced to slow down. As the -sound of her own vehicle diminished, she, as before, caught the -volleying of the motor cycle; and as she turned the eyes that looked -through the veil were intent and searching. - -This time she appeared not so well satisfied, for upon reaching the -end of the broken stretch, she drew her car to one side and stopped. -As the hammering explosions of the motor cycle grew plainer and -plainer she sat rigidly erect upon her seat, her face turned directly -ahead. But a close observer would have noted a slow movement of her -right hand among the folds of the dust coat; and if he was also an -experienced observer he would have immediately understood that Miss -Vale did not venture alone and unarmed upon the road. - -However, the Italian never even gave her a glance as he came up; his -machine flew by with a swirl, amid a crashing crescendo; then it -disappeared in the dust of the distance. - -But Miss Vale, when she once more resumed her journey, had not gone -much more than a mile when she came upon the same swarthy son of the -south and his vociferous machine. But the latter was now silent -enough; it leaned against a fence, and its rider knelt beside it, a -wrench in his hand, testing its parts carefully and intently. - -The Maillard was less than a quarter of a mile away when Miss Vale -caught the rapid series of explosions once more. With a quick glance -ahead, she threw the lever forward and the car tore along at a -breathless rate. Fences ran by in a giddy staggering line; trees -seemed merged into one tangle of branches; the dust arose in solid -towers behind her. However, she held to this but a scant five minutes; -her breath was short when she decreased the power; the hands upon the -wheel shook a little, but her head was held erect, her face was still -purposefully set forward. - -Above the decreasing hum of her car, came the swift, brave shocks of -the motor cycle. But, if there was a dread that fell to tightening at -her heart, she showed it little. The Maillard still bore swiftly on; -she did not once turn her head. - -A little further on there came into view a post with a series of -white, pointing sign-boards, that indicated a cross-roads. When still -a hundred yards from this the car stopped once more; again the Italian -flew by; again he vanished, this time around a bend beyond the -cross-roads. But once hidden by the bend, he stopped and got down; -the smile again appeared upon his face, the brilliant teeth shone -good-naturedly. - -"A simple little ruse," he said to himself. "And one that I've seen -used with effect more than once. Evidently Miss Vale has her wits -about her." - -Leaning against his machine he waited and listened. From around the -bend came the low sound of the Maillard; nearer and nearer it came for -a time; then it began to recede. At this the Italian remounted; the -explosions of his motor were muffled as he went swiftly along upon the -way by which he had come. At the cross-roads he slowed up and examined -the ground. Deep in the dust was the broad impress of the tires, -showing the car to have taken the turn to the left. Then swiftly the -cycle turned into the same road and took up the trail once more. - -Some three miles further on, the track veered back toward the highway -along a badly cut dirt road. - -"Slow going for a heavy car," said the pursuer calmly. "It will not be -long before I sight it again." - -There was a hard, beaten footpath at one side of the road; taking to -this, the man on the motor cycle found it easy traveling enough. -Shortly after, he caught the laborings of the Maillard as it made its -way through the binding ruts; then he slowed down and ran easily along -the path, content, apparently, to keep in sound of the chase. - -But upon finally reaching the highway, he increased his speed until he -sighted the dust of the car; this he hung to like a beagle, but never -once allowed the car itself to come into view. - -At last the sounds of the Maillard ceased and the pall of dust thinned -and dissolved itself in the air. The motor cycle ran swiftly on until -the car, now at a standstill, became visible; then the Italian got -down, took out a pair of field-glasses and swept the highway before -him. - -What he saw must have satisfied him that there would be no more use -for his machine for a time, at least; for he pushed it to a place -where there was a break in a fence and concealed it behind a -musty-looking corn shock, left from the fall before. Then placing the -glass under his arm he walked guardedly along the road in the -direction of Miss Vale's car. - -Some distance further on there was a tall swamp maple growing by the -roadside; it was an easy task to mount into its branches from the top -fence-rail; then resting snugly in a high fork, he leveled his glass -and proceeded to scan the scene before him. - -Miss Vale had descended from her car; her veil was raised, and she -was gingerly picking at the mechanism with hands sheathed in canvas -gloves. With apparent intentness she took out tools; small parts were -inspected minutely. And yet, for all that, there was something unusual -in her manner; every now and then she would lift her head, casually, -so it seemed, and glance away across the fields. - -"And always to the right," murmured the man in the tree-top, after a -little. - -At once the big glass swept around in that direction. - -"A house," added the watcher, with great satisfaction. - -The building was almost buried in a thick growth of trees; its white -sides and red roof shone in the sun through branches abud with April. - -Suddenly, in the midst of her labor, Miss Vale paused; her manner -changed, the tools were dropped, the parts lost interest. Facing the -house, she yawned, with arms thrown wide after the manner of one much -wearied with a task; then she took off the gloves, unpinned her hat -and smoothed her hair. This was gone through with careful elaboration -and afterwards there was a pause; the girl then gathered up the -things, got into the machine, placed the hat upon the seat beside her, -went careening away with never a backward glance. - -But the man in the tree seemed in no haste to follow; instead he -covered the distant house with his glass and waited patiently. Five, -ten, fifteen minutes passed, then half an hour and finally an hour. At -the end of that time, however, a figure emerged from the trees about -the house and walked hastily toward the road; the eyes of the watcher -glistened, his fine teeth shone in an appreciative smile. - -Reaching the road where the car had stopped, the newcomer, who was -young, well-dressed and rather good-looking, suddenly paused, stooped -and lifted something from the ground. He held in his hands the work -gloves of Miss Vale, which she had dropped after taking them off. For -a moment the young man stood looking at them as though hesitating what -to do; then he turned, went to the roadside and placed them carefully -upon the top rail of the fence. Then trudging along on his way, he -unsuspectingly passed beneath the maple which concealed the man with -the glass. - -When he was out of sight, the Italian slipped down the tree and ran -lightly along the road to the place where the gloves lay. He took up -one and looked within; but it was empty. However, in the thumb of the -next was a slip of paper which bore a single line of writing: - -"Tobin Rangnow." - -Studying this for a moment, the Italian made a copy of it. Then he -slipped it back into the thumb of the glove and replaced both exactly -as they were; after which he made his way back to the motor cycle, and -mounting, went flying toward the city. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -ASHTON-KIRK TELLS WHY - - -It was about four in the afternoon, and young Pendleton sat in -Ashton-Kirk's big chair, reading the newspapers and waiting. Finally -he rang a bell and Stumph gravely appeared. - -"Are you sure that he said three?" asked Pendleton. - -"_About_ three, sir," replied the man. - -"Oh! I suppose he's been detained then. That will be all, Stumph!" - -When the man disappeared, Pendleton lighted a cigar and resumed his -reading. The Hume case was still holding its place as the news feature -of the day. Nothing had occurred to equal it in sensation; and the -huge headings flared across the front pages, undiminished and -undismayed. - -"Why," screamed the _Standard_, in a perfect frenzy of letter press, -"did Miss Edyth Vale visit Hume on the night of the murder?" - -The girl's name had crept into the paper on the day before; with each -edition it appeared in larger type; and that afternoon the _Standard_ -was printing it in red ink. Allan Morris was not neglected; on the -contrary, he figured a very close second to his betrothed in the -types. - -"_Where is Allan Morris?_" - -One paper asked this question perhaps fifty times on each page. It -peered at one in square, heavy-faced type from the bottoms of columns -and between articles. There were interviews with his clerks; the -opinions of his stenographer were given in full, together with her -portrait; and what his man servant had to say was treated as being of -great consequence. - -Another sheet, which made a point of appealing to the tastes of the -vast foreign element of the city, grew very indignant as to the arrest -of Antonio Spatola. - -"Why," it inquired, "is this man detained and no attempt made to take -those higher up into custody? If the Police Department is so ready to -incarcerate a poor musician, why should it hesitate upon the threshold -of the rich man's mansion?--or the rich woman's, for the matter of -that?" - -This item incensed Pendleton beyond measure; he threw the paper aside -and stormed up and down the room. - -"Of all the blatant wretched twaddle I ever did read," he exclaimed, -"this is positively the worst. Why, the rag would have the police -arrest Edyth--arrest her for--" - -"Well," demanded a sharp, aggressively pitched voice, "what for you -make-a da blame, eh? Da cops pinch-a Spatola, and for why, eh? Because -he's da wop, da Ginney, da Dago and got-a no friends." - -At the first word Pendleton had whirled about in astonishment, and -faced the speaker, who stood in the doorway, pointing with one hand in -the attitude of melodrama. - -"Well," asked the young man, "who the deuce are you?" - -By way of an answer the other burst into a laugh that showed his -brilliant teeth; then he threw off his battered soft hat and gayly -colored handkerchief, after which he sank into the chair which -Pendleton had lately vacated. - -"Pen," said he, in an altered voice, "if you appreciate my friendship -at all, give me one of the blackest cigars in the case over there." - -Pendleton stared for a moment; then a grin crept over his face and he -said: - -"Oh, it's you, is it?" He went to the cabinet and took out a box. -"Here's a brand that looks like black Havana," he said. "And now, what -the dickens are you doing in that rig?" - -"I've been taking a long ride in the country--on a motor cycle," -answered Ashton-Kirk, crossing his shabbily clothed legs and striking -a match. "Any time you feel disinclined to face your meals, Pen, I -recommend you heartily to do the same. It is a greater bracer. At this -moment I really believe I could do complete justice to even the very -best culinary thoughts of our friend, Dr. Mercer." - -Pendleton sat down and regarded his friend with questioning eyes. - -"It wasn't to acquire an appetite that you made up this way. You've -been working." - -Ashton-Kirk comfortably blew one smoke-ring through another before he -answered. - -"Will you be surprised to hear that I have been following Miss Edyth -Vale on a little voyage to the neighborhood of Cordova?" - -"Again!" - -"But this time she did not pay a visit to Professor Locke. To-day the -favored one was Allan Morris." - -"Morris! Then she knows where he is?" - -"So it would seem." - -"But she told you the other day that she did not." - -Ashton-Kirk shrugged his shoulders. - -"Things happen swiftly and unexpectedly," said he. "Perhaps she did -_not_ know it then." - -"And perhaps she did not know Locke or his whereabouts, either," said -Pendleton, with bitter irony. - -"Who knows?" replied Ashton-Kirk, composedly. "At any rate, it was -just a supposition that led to my labors of to-day." - -"I don't think I understand," said Pendleton, after a moment. - -"Last night," said the investigator, "you asked me if I had learned -anything from Professor Locke. And I replied to the effect that I -thought I had. Now," after a pause, devoted to the grateful smoke, -"when one sees a girl circumstanced as Miss Vale assuredly is in this -case, paying a secret visit to a man who is rather more than suspected -of the murder, what does one suppose?" - -"That she is leagued with him, somehow," replied Pendleton, -reluctantly. - -"Exactly. But on the other hand, when the same girl, upon sight of us, -rushes off and leaves the man to face us without giving him a hint as -to who we are, what does one suppose?" - -But Pendleton rose gloomily and strode over to the window. - -"I don't know," said he. - -"One supposes," proceeded Ashton-Kirk, "that she has not much interest -in him." Here Pendleton faced about again. "If she had been leagued -with him, as you put it, you may be sure that she would have managed -to warn him in some way as to our identity. But that she had not done -so, the mute's manner told me as plainly as words could have done. -Seeing this, I began figuring what it meant. If she was not associated -with Locke in the crime, why was she there? Immediately came the -answer--through Morris. But, when I saw her last, she denied any -knowledge of Morris's whereabouts. Then I reasoned, she had seen him -in the interim." - -"That's it," cried Pendleton, as he stepped forward and slapped the -table with his palm; "that's it, beyond a doubt! He's managed to get -word to her; she's seen him; he's told her all or part of the truth; -and once more she's trying to help him. Why, Kirk, I'll venture to -say," hot with indignation, "that she was led to visit this little -scoundrel Locke, last night, much as she was led to visit Hume's place -on the night of the murder--completely in the dark, and merely with -some sort of a vague notion of protecting Morris." - -"Perhaps you are right, but I can't exactly say. But that she has seen -Morris I have made quite sure." - -"How?" - -"Last night when I appeared at Locke's window, I established a reason -for calling upon her this morning, also I laid a foundation for what -followed. Before the call I made certain preparations for a quick -change of front," with a gesture that called attention to his costume; -"in our conversation, I managed to tell her that Morris's hiding -place was discovered. Then I left. As I expected, she at once called -her car and set off to warn him; and I followed close behind upon the -motor cycle." - -"I see, I see. And did you get sight of him?" - -Ashton-Kirk nodded. Then he proceeded to relate the story of the -noon-day run to the country house which Morris had selected as a -hiding place. When he had finished, Pendleton sat frowning blackly. - -"Secret signals," said he. "He fears discovery so much that he has -forbidden her approaching the house. A regular code has been arranged, -eh? And the gloves were dropped in the road purposely; he slipped his -answer into one of them; on her way back she discovers her supposed -loss, looks for the gloves, and finds them. It is quite ornate," with -a bitter sneer. - -Then he took from the investigator's hand the card upon which he had -copied the message of Allan Morris. - -"Tobin Rangnow," he read. Then looking up he inquired with a wan -smile. "More secret writing, eh? Or is it a man's name?" - -"There is a decided Irish flavor to Tobin," answered Ashton-Kirk. "But -Rangnow is unfamiliar to me; and if it is a name at all, it is of -Eastern European origin. In that case," laughing, "it could scarcely -be expected to share the honors with Tobin." - -He took the card from Pendleton and looked at it thoughtfully. Then he -glanced up in a satisfied sort of way: - -"As you suggested, Miss Vale no doubt returned, recovered her gloves -and read the message," said he. "As she had just warned him that his -hiding place was discovered, it is only natural to suppose that his -answer would have something to do with his future movements." - -"That seems likely enough," said Pendleton. - -"Look here; if we put a comma between the two words," went on the -investigator, taking out a pencil and doing so, "the thing takes on -the appearance of a name and address." - -Once more he gave the card to Pendleton; then rising he went to the -telephone stand and took up the directory. Skimming rapidly through -this he paused at a page and went down its columns carefully. Then -with a laugh he slapped it shut. - -"We have it," declared he. "When we so desire, we can call at an -apartment house known as the 'Rangnow' and inquire for Mr. Tobin. And -when we see that gentleman we shall be looking upon one in the -confidence of Allan Morris." - -There was a long pause on the part of Pendleton. Ashton-Kirk rang for -Stumph and directed him to turn the water into his bath, and get him -out some fresh linen. It was after the man had gone that Pendleton -spoke. - -"When you came in, Kirk," he said, "you said something which conveyed -the notion that you would not be much astonished if the police took up -the Hume matter with Edyth Vale." - -"It is only the fact that the newspapers were first in discovering her -apparent connection with it, that has kept Osborne and his fellows -from visiting her before this. Jealousy, you know, does many strange -things." - -Pendleton did not reply; he bent his head and covered his face with -his hands. Ashton-Kirk went on: - -"The reasonable thing for her to do would be to come forward and tell -the plain truth." - -Pendleton roused himself. - -"But don't you see that that is the very thing that her brave nature -will not do? She's protecting Morris; and she'll go on protecting him, -no matter what the consequence to herself." - -"In that event," said the investigator slowly, "we can not be in too -great a hurry in removing the cause that keeps Morris in hiding." - -"You'll have a task in that," said Pendleton. "As far as I can see, -the man is up to his eyes in the crime; and that's why he is lying -low." - -"I have warned you before now against jumping at conclusions," said -the other, quietly. "Allan Morris may be a confederate of Locke's, or -he may not. We have yet to establish the fact either way. And now, -pardon me while I take a plunge and get into something presentable." - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -THE TWO REPORTS - - -After dinner the two young men settled themselves in the library: -Stumph served their coffee and they renewed their acquaintance with -the Greek tobacco. After a little time there came a knock upon the -door. - -"Come," called Ashton-Kirk. - -A short man with remarkable breadth of shoulder and depth of chest -entered; he was smooth shaven and salient of jaw and wore the air of -one who was not easily balked in anything that he undertook. - -"How are you, Burgess?" said the investigator. - -"Good-evening," returned Burgess. He advanced and laid some neatly -folded sheets at the elbow of his employer. "Fuller was busy and I -thought I'd bring these in myself. It's my report on Hume." - -"Ah, thank you." - -Ashton-Kirk took up the sheets and began running his eye through them. -"As you get deeper into this record, did Hume keep his promise?" - -Burgess smiled. - -"As to possibilities, do you mean? Why, yes. Indeed, I rather think -he exceeded them." The man lit the cigar which the investigator handed -him and drew at it appreciatively. "I went it alone on the first day; -but after that I took O'Neill and Purvis on. Between us, we managed to -get at something pretty definite." - -"Has Fuller finished with Morris?" - -"He is typing his report at this moment. It will be ready in a half -hour, I should think." - -"Please tell him to bring it in as soon as it is finished." - -Burgess nodded and went out. Ashton-Kirk continued to dip into the -report here and there. - -"Among three of them," said Pendleton, "they should have sifted the -man's life and adventures pretty well." - -As Ashton-Kirk continued to scan the pages, a peculiar expression -slowly came into his eyes. - -"They seem to have done so, indeed. And rather cleverly, too, I think. -Would you care to hear the report?" - -"By all means," eagerly. - -The sheets were shifted into their proper order once more. Then -Ashton-Kirk read: - - "'_A Further Investigation into the Affairs of David Purtell Hume_. - -"'No record was to be had of Hume, beyond his settlement in the city -in 1899. People in the same line of business were questioned closely; -and those who knew anything of him at all clung to the idea that he -was an American who had lived for many years abroad. - -"'So we had another look at the old passenger lists of the steamships; -but this time we went further back. We knew that the simple ruse of a -fictitious name would cover Hume completely; but it seemed the only -thing to do, and we set at it systematically. In the records of the -steamer _Baltic_ of the Netherlands Steamship Company for the year -1897, we came upon the name of "D. Purtell." Without much hope of -learning anything definite after such a lapse of time, I inquired -after this passenger. - -"'Luck was with us in the shape of an old clerk with a long memory. He -faintly recalled something of the man, and after some talk got out -still another book. And there it was! D. Purtell, so it seemed, had -been involved in an attempt to smuggle a quantity of diamonds. - -"'Our next step was to visit the customs people. Their records were -very complete. They even had a portrait of Purtell, which proved him -to have been Hume beyond a doubt. Only a trifle of evidence had been -secured against him--not enough to convict--and they were forced to -release him. This seems to have been Hume's specialty. - -"'However, through the customs services of other countries, they had -learned quite a lot about him. The authorities of Holland, Spain and -France knew him as one of the leading spirits in a system of smuggling -that had been going on for years. Once Hume had been located in -Antwerp, once at Hamburg, and for a long time at Bayonne. This system -of contraband had been broken up just before he had been arrested by -the United States service. A number of the criminals had been -convicted; but Hume, with his usual luck, had escaped once more, -because of lack of evidence against him. - -"'Nothing could be learned of the movements of Hume between his arrest -on the _Baltic_ and his location here as a dealer in the curiosities -of art. And after his going into business here, he kept to himself a -great deal. - -"'But the drink habit caused him to frequent certain resorts, and it -was at one of these that he first met Richard Morris, father to Allan -Morris!'" - -"Ah!" said Pendleton. "So Hume knew Morris's father." - -"I asked Fuller, in giving him his instructions, to have this fact -established, if he could," said Ashton-Kirk. "That both Hume and the -elder Morris were heavy drinkers caused me to think it possible." - -"Is that all there is to the report?" - -"Almost." The investigator turned to the pages once more, and -proceeded: "'Hume and the elder Morris became quite intimate and were -often seen together. But what it was that formed the bond between -them, no one knows, unless it be a deaf mute named Locke, who was -frequently seen in their society and who seemed upon close terms with -both. But within a year after their first meeting, Hume broke with -Morris. This must have been serious, for it caused a marked enmity to -spring up between them. A number of people recall that Richard Morris -frequently made threats against the other--threats of personal -violence and also of the law. But before anything could come of these, -if he really meant them, he died. - -"'Thinking that Locke might be able to throw some light on this phase -of the case, we have endeavored to locate him. Up to this time we have -met with no success; but we hope to learn something of him at an early -date.'" - -Ashton-Kirk laid the sheets down upon the table. - -"There follows a list of the names of the people who have supplied -this information and their addresses," said he. "Burgess is very -thorough in his work." - -"Outside the fact that Hume was a scoundrel--which we knew -before--and that he was acquainted with Locke and Allan Morris's -father, what does this report tell you?" - -There was discontent in Pendleton's voice as he asked this question, -and the investigator smiled as he made answer: - -"That Hume knew the elder Morris supplies us with a theory as to the -possible part which the younger Morris has taken in this drama. -Whatever passed between Hume and the father has probably been taken up -by the son." - -"Why, yes," said Pendleton. "I hadn't thought of that." - -"Another thing," added Ashton-Kirk: "The report has swung like the -needle of a compass, and indicated a fact that my imagination -suggested days ago." - -"And that is--" - -"That Hume once lived in the French town of Bayonne." - -Pendleton frowned impatiently. - -"I don't know what ever made you imagine that," he said. "But now that -you find that it is so, of what service is it?" - -"We will speak of that later," answered Ashton-Kirk. - -Pendleton was about to say something more, but just then Fuller -knocked and entered. - -"The report on Allan Morris," said he. - -"Ah, thanks." The investigator took the compactly typed sheets, and -then he continued: "Tell Burgess that he need not bother about the man -Locke whom he mentions. Say that I have already located him." - -"Very well," and Fuller left the room. - -For a space there was no sound save that which came from the street -and the rustle of the pages as Ashton-Kirk went through them. - -"Well," asked Pendleton, finally. "What now?" - -"Morris," replied his friend, "does not develop like Hume. Fuller -suspected that he'd prove colorless, and so it has turned out. -However, I'll read what he says. It's headed: - - "'_A Second Report on Allan Morris_ - -"'A very careful inquiry failed to uncover anything in connection with -this young man's personal affairs that was not mentioned in my first -report on the same subject. He has led a very even, uneventful life, -attending strictly to business and making every movement count in the -direction of distinction as a marine engineer. - -"'However, there has been something in his manner for the last few -years that has attracted the attention of those who knew him best or -came in contact with him. This took the various forms of eagerness of -manner, irritability, long fits of reveries, a feverish desire for -work. At his place of business I learned that he has for some time had -a deep interest in the reports of the patent office. His clerks say -that he'd read these for hours at a time; one of them told me of how -he (the clerk) once forgot to call Morris's attention to the report -until the day after its arrival. Morris has always been very tolerant -with his employees, but that day he burst out in a fury and threatened -to discharge them all. - -"'Richard Morris, father to Allan, was a most erratic genius, as my -first report indicated. His propeller, his smoke-consumer, and his -automatic brake were valuable commercial properties, but had all -slipped from his control. Toward the end of his life he engaged in the -perfection of an invention of which he talked a great deal and of -which he declared that he alone would reap the benefit. - -"'As Burgess will already have told you, Richard Morris knew Hume. The -latter was a frequent visitor to a shop which the inventor maintained -in the outskirts, as was the mute Locke. I have talked with an old -mechanic who worked for Morris at the time; he told me that the -inventor had made a stubborn fight against the drink habit and seemed -likely to conquer it up to the time that he became acquainted with -Hume. After this, however, he became as much a slave to it as ever. -The invention, or whatever it was, never got beyond the paper stage; -for thereafter Richard Morris spent his days in sleep and his nights -at the once famous Coffin Club.'" - -Ashton-Kirk arose eagerly. - -"There is more," said he, "but it is scarcely of interest." Placing -the report upon the table, he added: "You have heard of the Coffin -Club, Pen?" - -"Of course. It met in an underground place somewhere, didn't it? And -if I remember right, it was fitted up like the Café Au Mort in Paris." - -"Something of the sort." The investigator went to a huge card system -and pulled out a drawer labeled "TO." "But I recall it best by the -steward whose philosophy and Irish turns of speech were so frequently -quoted by the newspapers during the heydey of the establishment. Can -you recall his name?" - -"I know whom you mean," answered Pendleton, "but the name has slipped -me." - -Ashton-Kirk paused in the fingering of the cards. - -"It was Tobin," said he. "It came to me that it was, but I wanted to -be sure." He pushed the drawer into place, looked at his friend -inquiringly, and added: "Suppose we go around to the 'Rangnow' and see -him?" - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -ONE OF THE OLD SORT - - -Pendleton looked at his friend in bewilderment. - -"You don't mean to say that the philosopher of the Coffin Club and -this Tobin of young Morris's are the same," cried he. - -"I only _think_ they are," said Ashton-Kirk quietly. "But we can make -sure by paying a short visit to the apartment house." - -"Now?" - -"There is no time like the present." - -And so the end of a half hour found them stepping out of a cab at the -extreme west end of the city. It was only a little after nine o'clock, -but the streets were almost deserted; the arc-lamps clicked and hissed -lonesomely; rows of darkened windows and shadowy doorways ran away on -both sides. - -"There is the place we want," said the investigator, pointing at an -illuminated sign which hung out over the sidewalk some little distance -away. - -When they reached the place, they found it was rather a large building -of the modern type; pushing open the swinging doors and making their -way through a brilliantly lighted passage, they found themselves in -an equally brilliant office. - -Here they saw a dozen or more men seated in tilted chairs; all wore -their hats and for the most part smoked cigars. Behind a polished -counter on which rested a nickeled cash register and a huge book, -stood a white-haired man with a smooth Irish face and a pair of gold -eyeglasses hanging by a black cord. The air was heavy with -disputation; long-tailed words boomed sonorously; red-faced and -earnest, one of the occupants of the chairs assailed the man behind -the counter; with soft, sweeping, eloquent gestures the latter -defended himself. - -"And what," demanded he, placing his hands upon the shining top of the -counter and shoving his head forward inquiringly, "is all this that we -do be hearing about your suffragette? Who is she? What is she? The -newspapers are filled to the top with her, but sorra the sight of her -did I ever see. If she has any existence outside of the comic -supplement, gentlemen, I'd like to have ye show me where. Did ye ever -hear a whisper of her till she began to send herself by registered -mail and chain herself to lamp posts? Niver the one of ye! Is your -wife a suffragette? She's not. Is your mother? No. Your sister? Again -it's no. Then who is it that composes the great army of female ballot -seekers? Is it the cook? The chambermaid? The woman that does the -plain sewing? I'll wager 'tis not. They have too much to do already; -it's not looking for additional burdens they are. Then where does this -advanced woman flourish and have her being?" Here one hand went up and -descended with a slap. "In the mansions of the rich," he declaimed -positively; "in the lap of luxury. Among the feminine descendants of -successful gum shoe men!" - -Here the man with the flushed face attempted to speak; but an eloquent -sweep of both hands silenced him. - -"They have nothing to do," stated the orator, "but to invent ways of -pleasing themselves. Monkey dinner parties, diamonds, automobiles and -boxes on the grand tier have no more attraction; private yachts and -other women's husbands have grown _passé_. They want a new toy, and -faith, nothing will please them but the destinies of the nation. Their -reasoning is simple and direct. If a man who wheels scrap iron at a -blast furnace is competent to handle the--" - -At this point the speaker was interrupted by Ashton-Kirk advancing to -the counter. - -"Pardon me," said the investigator, "but can you tell me where I can -find Mr. Tobin? Is he in?" - -A look of great dignity came upon the face of the other; and he drew -himself up stiffly. - -"You are speaking to him, sir," replied he. - -"I thought so," smiled Ashton-Kirk. "My old friend Dan O'Connor has -mentioned you so often that I felt sure that I recognized the manner." - -The dignity vanished from Mr. Tobin's face, and the stiffness of -demeanor fell from him instantly. - -"Do you know Dan?" asked he, eagerly. "Ah, there is the lad for you. A -credit to his country and to his name. Faith, he is the best judge of -whiskey in the city, and has a heart as large and as mellow as a -barrel of it." - -"If it would not be putting you about in any way, we'd like a few -moments in private with you." - -At once Mr. Tobin touched a button. A young man presented himself, and -to him the conducting of the house was transferred for the time being. -Then the two friends were led into a small sitting-room, where chairs -were placed for them, and Mr. Tobin seated himself opposite them with -some expectation. - -"Since I became manager here," explained he, "I seldom hear of any of -the old lads. Ye see, it's so far from the center of the city," -regretfully, "they seldom get along this way, so they do." - -"Yes, I suppose they cling to their old haunts," said Ashton-Kirk. -"Dan sticks to his school of boxing these days, pretty closely. I -often drop in for a round or two with him. He's as clever as ever, but -he's slowing up." - -Tobin shook his white head sadly. - -"Tut, tut, tut," said he. "And do you tell me that! Faith, he's a -young man yet--not much over sixty--and what call have he to be takin' -on the ways and manners of age? Even as late as the last year of the -Coffin Club he was as swift as the light." - -"He frequently spoke of that club to me," observed the other. "A queer -place, I understand." - -Tobin nodded. - -"Queer enough," he answered, "and the members was as queer in some -ways. Nothing would do them, but they must spend their time -underground, sitting at tables shaped like coffins, and drinking their -liquor out of mugs shaped like skulls. I was steward there a long -time, and got good pay; but I never approved of the notion. It always -seemed like divilment to me, did that." - -"Some very well known people frequented it, did they not?" - -"Many's the time I've seen the governor of the state himself, sitting -there with a mug in his fist. The liquors was of the best, do you -see," with a pleased light in his eyes. "I know that, for it were -meself that selected them. And a good sup of drink is a great -attraction, so it is." - -"I don't think that can be successfully denied," admitted the -investigator. "Some very brilliant men have proved it to their -sorrow." - -"True for ye," said Tobin. "Don't I know it? We had actors and writers -and editors--the cream of their professions--and every one of them a -devotee, so to speak, of Bacchus. Sure, the finer the intellect, the -greater the sup of drink appeals to them, if it does at all. One of -the greatest frequenters of the club was a man whose inventions," with -a grandiloquent gesture, "revolutionized the industries of the world. -And when he was mellow with it, boys o' boys, but he could discourse! -His name was Morris," added the speaker, "and he was the father of the -young man whose name has been mixed up with this Hume affair which is -so occupying the public mind just now." - -"Indeed." - -There was a pause: Tobin's mobile face looked back upon the past; his -eyes had an introspective light in them. - -"To think," said he, "how the natures of men differ. Some are like the -gods of old, and others again are like--well, like anything you choose -to call them. And yet," with philosophic speculation, "these two -widely diversified types are sometimes friends. To the surprise of -everyone they occasionally take up with one another. It's hard to say -why, but it is so." - -"I've noticed it myself," said Ashton-Kirk. - -Tobin nodded. - -"Never," said he, "did I see it so exemplified as in the case of -Richard Morris and this felly who has just been killed. Never were two -men more unlike; but sorra such an intimacy did I ever see afore, as -there was between them. Morris when he had the drink in him was a -poet. His ideas soared to the starry skies; he flew about upon the -wings of the wind; faith I believe he thought the sun was not beyond -his reach. But Hume was a divil! God save us, that I should say the -like about any human creature; but he had the imp in him, for many's -the time I see it grinning and looking out at his two eyes." - -"I've heard it said that he was an unpleasant sort of chap," agreed -the other. - -"Unpleasant," said Tobin, "does not do credit to his capabilities, -though 'tis a good word enough. There was never a man came into the -Coffin Club, during the five years that I were there, that looked as -though the place fitted him, but Hume. The others were like bad little -boys who wouldn't take a dare. But Hume was just right. To see him -lift one of the stone skulls to his lips and grin over it at you, -would make your blood run cold. And bless us and save us, gentlemen, -how he would jeer and snarl and laugh all at the one time. Many's the -time I've listened to poor Morris rave and paint his pictures of what -he was going to do in times to come; and on the other side of the -coffin-table, Hume would urge him on, leerin' and grinnin' like Satan -himself, and making all manner of game of him. Bedad, me gorge rose at -it more than once, and it was all I could do to keep from takin' him -by the scruff of the neck and throwin' him intil the street." - -"Almost every man has some spark of good in his nature, however -faint," said Ashton-Kirk. "And Hume may have had one, too, though no -one seems to have discovered it." - -Tobin smiled and returned: - -"An Irishman always has a good deal of respect for the fighting -strain, no matter if it be in a man, or a beast, or a bird. Old Nick -himself must be a grand, two-handed man, and as such we must give him -credit. And 'twas the same way with this felly Hume. He had real -fighting blood, so he had; and sorra the man ever undertook to impose -on him the second time." - -"And as a true Celt, you held this to be a credit mark," laughed -Ashton-Kirk. - -"I did. And, indeed, he seemed to consider it so himself, though he -was not one to care a snap what others thought of him. But often he'd -boast of the stock he came from. Fighters they were to the core, he -said, fighters who never knew when they were whipped, and who'd go on -fighting while they had a leg to stand on, an eye to see, and an arm -to strike a blow." - -Tobin here paused and stroked his smooth-shaven chin, reflectively. - -"He claimed descent from someone who was rated a real man in his day," -he continued. "'Twas an officer, I think, who fought with--faith, -yes," smiling in recollection, "at the side of sorra the one less than -Washington himself." - -Pendleton, listening with dwindling interest, saw Ashton-Kirk's hand -clench, and saw a gleam shoot into his eyes. Then he saw him bend -toward Tobin, his elbows on his knees, his clenched hands beneath his -chin. - -"Ah," said the investigator, and his voice was calmer than Pendleton -remembered ever hearing it before, "he claimed a pedigree, did he? And -from a Revolutionary officer. Such things are always interesting. It's -a pity you can't remember the soldier's name." - -Tobin pondered. - -"I can't," confessed he, at length; "but there is one thing that I -remember hearing Hume tell about him; it seemed laughable at the time, -and I suppose that's why it's stuck to me. It seems that the supposed -ancestor were a great felly for dress, and expected the like of all -the men under him; and though he often had niver a crust of bread to -put into their mouths, he always managed to have a pinch of white -powder for them to dress their hair." - -Ashton-Kirk laughed suddenly, and leaned back in his chair. The gleam -died out of his eyes, and a twinkle of satisfaction replaced it. - -"That," said he, "sounds amusing enough to be true. Mr. Hume's -ancestor was at least consistent. But," and his tone changed, "we must -not keep you from your duties, Mr. Tobin, and so we'll get to the -matter in hand." - -"If it is not hurrying you," agreed Tobin. - -"A while ago," spoke Ashton-Kirk, "you mentioned young Allan Morris; -and during your conversation you have led me to think that you were -his father's friend." - -"I were," said Tobin. "He were a decent man." - -"Then perhaps your friendship extends to the son as well." - -"Perhaps it does," and a note of perceptible caution crept into -Tobin's voice. - -"I am glad to hear it," said the investigator. "He seems badly in need -of friends of the right sort just now; and I am confident, Mr. Tobin, -that you are of that sort." - -"A man who has disappeared as completely as this one has done," -stated Tobin, "is out of the reach of even the best of friends." - -"Have you not heard from him since the murder?" - -"No," replied the other with a readiness that carried conviction. - -"Then you will, and before long." Ashton-Kirk arose and stood looking -into the old man's face. "Perhaps it will be to-night; but it will be -by to-morrow night at latest. And when you do you can best show your -friendship for him by telling him not to be a fool." - -"You mean," said Tobin, shrewdly, "that I'm to advise him to give over -hiding?" - -"Exactly." - -"I'll do that willingly enough, if I hear of him. An innocent man has -no call to hide himself like a rat. But," inquiringly, "after I tell -him that, what will I do?" - -Ashton-Kirk took out a card; handing it to the other, he said: - -"Ask him to come see me." - -Tobin gave the card one glance, then his face lit up and his hand went -out. - -"Let me shake your hand, sir," said he. "And I'll tell the lad what -you say with a heart and a half." - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -ASHTON-KIRK BEGINS TO PLAN - - -As Ashton-Kirk and Pendleton left the "Rangnow," the latter said: - -"You surely do not suppose that Morris will call on you?" - -"Why not?" - -"It does not sound reasonable." - -"A day or two ago I would have said the same. But things are taking on -a different aspect. And with their change, Morris will change. He had -no idea of what was to come, or he would not have done what he has -done." - -"No criminal would," said Pendleton. - -Ashton-Kirk shrugged his shoulders at this, but made no direct reply. - -"And now if these newspapers, with all their pointed references to -Edyth Vale, do not make the man come forward," he went on, "what is -about to happen--say within the next forty-eight hours--will be sure -to do so." - -Pendleton turned a surprised look upon him. - -"You think, then, that something unusual is about to happen?" - -"I _know_ there is," was the quiet reply. "To-night, old chap, has -been most prolific in results. It has indicated why the murder was -done; it has suggested the identity of the actual murderer; it has -even pointed out the spot upon which we shall finally take him." - -"You really mean all that?" cried Pendleton, incredulously. - -"I do." - -"Then you must have learned it at some time while I was not--" here -Pendleton paused, and then proceeded in another tone. "But you have -_not_ been out of my sight since dinner. Everything you have heard, I -have heard; all that you have seen, I have seen." - -"Just so," said Ashton-Kirk. - -There was a pause; they walked along toward the place where they were -to get a street car. At length Pendleton spoke once more. - -"And from the rather bald reports of your two assistants, and the talk -of this man, Tobin, you have gathered these most vital facts?" - -"We can hardly call them facts as yet," said the other; "but I have -every confidence that we can do so within the time specified." - -A gong sounded sharply and a car crossed the street. Pendleton placed -his hand upon his friend's shoulder. - -"Kirk," said he, "I am not going to ask another question. I'm just -going to wait, and if it turns out as you say, I'll never question a -statement of yours as long as I live. I'll swallow them all as the -Mussulman swallows the Koran." - -They boarded the car and Ashton-Kirk settled himself in a corner. His -arms were folded across his chest, his head gradually sank forward. To -all appearances he was asleep; but Pendleton knew that he was merely -turning over some plan of action that would, in a little time, begin -to reveal itself. - -However, he was not prepared for such quick action as resulted; for -suddenly Ashton-Kirk jumped up, glanced out at the car window, then -darted to the platform and leaped off. Pendleton followed at once, and -came up with him part way down an intersecting street. - -"Where to now?" he asked. - -"City Hall," replied Ashton-Kirk, briefly. - -It was no great distance to the municipal buildings; they shot up in -the elevator and entered the police department. - -"I'd like to see Superintendent Weagle," said the investigator to the -officer who came forward to speak to them. - -"He's just getting ready to go home," answered the man, "but I'll see -what I can do." - -The superintendent of police happened to be in an obliging humor, and -they were shown into his office a few moments later. Weagle stood in -the middle of the floor, drawing on a light over-coat; the end of a -black cigar was clenched between his teeth. - -"How are you?" greeted he. "Anything doing in my line?" - -"Not just yet," replied Ashton-Kirk, "but I have some hopes." - -The official laughed. - -"We all have them," said he. "If we didn't we might as well put up the -shutters." He threw the cigar end away and wiped his stubby moustache -with a large handkerchief. "You've come for something," said he. "What -is it? My wife and kiddies are expecting me, and I must get home." - -"How long are you going to maintain the police guard at 478 Christie -Place?" inquired the investigator. - -"I hadn't thought of it," replied the superintendent. "However, we are -in the habit of keeping such details up for some little time. Another -thing, there is a lot of valuable stuff there which must be looked -after." - -"Beginning with to-morrow night," said Ashton-Kirk, "I want you to -withdraw your men. And further, I want your permission for my friend -Mr. Pendleton and myself to watch in their place." - -The official opened his eyes at this. - -"Well," said he, after a moment's silence, "I don't just understand -your reasons; and the thing is most unusual. But," and he nodded his -head approvingly, "I've always noticed that you have reasons behind -everything you do, and if this thing is expected to throw any further -light on the Hume case, why, it shall be as you say." - -"Thank you," said Ashton-Kirk. "Unless I am much mistaken it will -close the matter finally as far as your department is concerned, and -put the whole thing up to the District Attorney." - -"You mean," said the superintendent with interest, "that you've got -something new on Spatola--and perhaps on Morris and the girl!" - -"I mean," answered Ashton-Kirk, "that I hope to place the murderers of -the numismatist Hume in your hands in a few days--whoever they may -be." - -Weagle waved his hand. - -"That's all we want," said he with a laugh. "Give us the right ones -and we'll make no complaint. And now, if you have nothing more to say, -I'll say good-night." - -They parted with the superintendent in the corridor; then Ashton-Kirk -led the way into a room where some police officials and a number of -young men were lounging about. - -"Oh, how are you?" greeted a stout sergeant, affably. "And how's the -work?" - -While the investigator was speaking to the sergeant, one of the -alert-looking young men approached. - -"Pardon," said he. "But is there anything you'd like to say to the -_Star?_" - -"No," replied Ashton-Kirk. - -"You are working on the Hume case, are you not?" asked the reporter -with professional insistence. - -"Oh, I have had a little interest in it as an outsider, that is all," -returned the other. "However," as he was passing through with -Pendleton, "I can give you a piece of official police news on the -case, which I just got from the superintendent. After to-night the -guard will be removed from Hume's place. Weagle thinks the regular -policeman on the beat is all that is needed from now on." - -As they left the building by the main door, Pendleton said: - -"A little while ago, I rashly promised to ask no more questions. If -you'll release me from that, I'll unburden myself of one or two which -will otherwise keep me awake to-night." - -"Go ahead," said Ashton-Kirk with a smile. - -"Why," asked Pendleton, "do you want the police called off at Hume's? -and why should we place ourselves on watch instead?" - -"At the very first we made up our minds that the men who murdered Hume -were in search of something, didn't we? Up to this time I have been -unable to say whether they had succeeded or not. Now, however, I am -convinced that they failed." - -"Ah!" - -"To-morrow the newspapers will announce that Hume's place is to be no -longer guarded. It may be that the criminals are desperate enough to -venture another visit in order to gain possession of the thing they -covet. If they do, we shall be awaiting them." - -"But how do you know that they failed of their object on the night of -the murder?" - -"You and I," said Ashton-Kirk, laughingly, "are perhaps going to spend -considerable time in Christie Place, beginning with to-morrow evening. -And while there we may find it dull enough, old boy; a little -amusement of a practical sort might not be found out of place. So I'll -not answer your question now; I'll allow it to stand until to-morrow -night; and then I'll give it to you, compact and complete, with -practical illustrations as I go along." - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -ASHTON-KIRK IS ANNOYED - - -On the following day, at about noon, Ashton-Kirk's big French car -glided up to the curb before the Vale house. A man with a thick neck -and a small head nodded to the investigator; another waved a hand from -across the street. - -"Plain-clothes men," he murmured, "and at watch upon the house. That -means that this matter can be brought to an end none too soon for Miss -Vale's comfort." - -He was getting out of his car when a brace of eager reporters accosted -him. - -"The _Standard_ would like to have you say a few words for -publication," said one. - -"The _Herald_ will give you what space you require for a statement at -any time you see fit to make use of it," declared the other. - -"I'm very sorry," said Ashton-Kirk, brushing a speck of dust from an -immaculate sleeve, "but I have nothing to say that would interest your -city editors, or the public. I have no doubt but that the police -officials will be glad to acquaint you with anything new that has -transpired--if there has been anything new." - -The newspaper men pulled wry faces. - -"The police hang onto the Italian musician and profess to think he's -the guilty party," said one. "If they have taken any steps beyond -this, before to-day, we have not known of it." - -"Why have the detectives been placed to watch Miss Vale's house?" -asked the other. "And what has Osborne gone in to talk about?" - -"Ah," said Ashton-Kirk, with interest, "Osborne is within, is he?" - -"Yes; and why are you going in? What has been learned regarding Miss -Vale's connection with the case that has not already been made -public?" - -"I would hardly undertake to answer that last," laughed Ashton-Kirk. -"So much has been made public in one way and another that I haven't -been able to keep track of it all. My own visit is merely a friendly -call. Why Mr. Osborne is here I, of course, cannot say." - -Leaving the newspaper men disappointed and dissatisfied, the -investigator rang the bell and was admitted. In the hall, pulling on -his gloves, was Osborne. - -"Hello!" exclaimed the latter. "So you thought you'd have a try, too, -eh?" - -The big man's tone showed that he was none too well pleased with his -own visit; he jerked at his gloves viciously, and his brow was creased -with vexation. And seeing that the other was disposed to do nothing -more than nod, he went on: - -"Well, you'll have to have a lot better luck than I've had, to have -any at all. Miss Vale, it seems, is a young lady who knows very well -how to say nothing. I've been here something like an hour and have put -her through a regular third degree; but I've had my labor for my -pains, as the saying is. She has told me nothing except her opinion of -the newspapers and the police." - -"Miss Vale will see you, sir," said the man servant, returning. - -"And so you've given it up?" queried the investigator of Osborne. - -The big headquarters man shrugged his shoulders. - -"Hardly," said he. "I've set a time on the thing. We scarcely like to -go to extremes, as you perhaps know; but unless a clean breast of the -matter is made, as far as the party knows," modifying his language -because of the listening servant, "the same party will know what the -inside of a cell is like by this time to-morrow." - -"You really mean to make an arrest?" - -"If we are forced to--yes." - -Ashton-Kirk followed him to the door: - -"Extend the time limit," suggested he. "Make it the day after -to-morrow, and," elevating his brows, "I don't think that you'll need -to do anything unpleasant." - -"Ah," said Osborne, "you're onto something!" He regarded the other -questioningly for a moment, then broke into a grin. "No use to ask -what it is, I suppose? I thought not. Well," reflectively, and in a -lowered tone, "it won't do any harm to oblige you, if the front office -is willing. The party can't make a move that we won't know about; and -the fact is, I've just advised that no going out of any kind be -ventured on. So long, and good luck." - -The door closed behind Osborne, and then Ashton-Kirk followed the -soft-footed servant down the hall, up the stairs and into the presence -of Edyth Vale. - -The girl received him smilingly. - -"I'm getting to be a regular occurrence," said he, as he sat down. - -"But a welcome one, nevertheless," she returned. "Indeed, if it were -not for certain other depressing circumstances, I'd find your visits -dreadfully exciting." - -"I suppose Osborne is one of the circumstances referred to. I just met -him in the hall, and he seemed to be quite in a state of mind. What -have you been saying to him?--or rather," smiling, "what have you -_not_ been saying to him?" - -"He came on what he calls 'police business,'" smiled Miss Vale. "I -considered it quite an alarming expression, and said so; but that made -no impression on him, for he proceeded with a string of wonderfully -conceived questions that must have covered my life from birth to the -present time." - -"The police have about the same method for each case--a sort of -bullying insistence that breaks down denial by sheer weight." - -"I have read of it, frequently, in complaining articles in both -magazines and newspapers. I think I have even seen it very earnestly -compared to the Inquisition." The smile was still upon the girl's lip, -but as she continued, her voice shook a little. "However, I never -thought to go through even a part of it myself." - -"What the police _say_ may be embarrassing and mortifying," said -Ashton-Kirk gravely, "but it is nothing at all, compared with what -they might _do_." - -Miss Vale drew in her breath in a little gasp of terror; but she made -an effort to conceal it with a laugh. - -"I know what you mean," she said, lightly. "You think that they might -go so far as to take me into custody as an accessory to the crime, or -even as the actual criminal." - -"Mr. Osborne told me that such was their intention, if you do not -explain clearly your connection with the case. I don't think that the -Department is at all anxious to draw you into the matter; but some of -the newspapers, as you no doubt have noted, have grown very insistent. -They say that a poor musician is jailed instantly, while the woman of -fashion, who is perhaps equally guilty, is allowed to go free. Such -ways of putting things have a great effect upon public opinion; the -politicians who conduct the municipal departments know this, and -always move to protect themselves, no matter in what direction the -movement takes them." - -"Then," said Miss Vale, "you really think they will do as Mr. Osborne -said?" - -"I have no doubt of it--if the matter is not cleared up before the -time arrives for them to act." - -The girl arose and went to a window as though to look out; the -investigator saw her hand pressed to her heart, and noted the -trembling that had seized her. Yet, when she faced him once more, a -moment or two later, she made a brave attempt to smile as before. - -"I think this is too bad of you," she said. "Your point of view is -almost as pessimistic as the detectives', or the newspapers'. I had -expected comfort and encouragement." - -"And I came to give it--if you'll allow me," said Ashton-Kirk, -quietly. - -She looked at him for a moment, then both hands went out in a mock -despairing gesture, and she laughed. But the laugh was unmistakably -forced, and a keen ear for such things would have detected a pathetic -little catch in it. - -"Now," she said, "you are becoming mysterious. However, I suppose I -must not complain, for it is entirely in character with your -profession, isn't it?" - -He disregarded both the observation and the tone; there was a slight -pucker between his keen eyes that spoke of impatience and resentment. - -"Mr. Osborne has been very plain with you, Miss Vale," said he, "you -have perhaps become accustomed to it in a measure. So I shall not -hesitate to follow in his footsteps. I am going to make you face some -very plain facts." - -"Mercy!" She laughed. "Mercy, Mr. Ashton-Kirk. I had not thought that -you could be so deliberately cruel!" - -"In the first place, Miss Vale," he began, paying not the slightest -attention to her laughter or the mocking light in her eyes, "if you -had continued as you began, this matter would have been cleared up -before this, the newspapers would never have printed your name in -connection with it, and you would have been spared the mortification -of a detective at your doorstep." - -"Is there one--outside?" - -"There are several. If you venture out you will be followed wherever -you go." - -The girl sank into a chair in a limp, rumpled sort of way; somehow the -idea of surveillance affected her more than anything else. Her face -became ashen; her hands shook distressfully as she clasped them -tightly together. - -"When you allowed the fears and desires of Allan Morris to cloud your -reason, you made a mistake. You admitted as much when you came to me -after the murder; but instantly, upon seeing him again, you were as -before. He was struck with fear, and he communicated his terror to -you; as before you dreaded to trust anyone--even myself." - -"I think you are inclined to take a great deal for granted," said Miss -Vale. But in spite of the words, her eyes were wide with alarm. - -"He told you of the deaf-mute, Locke," said Ashton-Kirk; "and also -other things, which seem to have induced you to visit Locke at the -Institute near Cordova on the night before last." - -Miss Vale elevated her brows in surprise; her attitude was one of -wonderment. - -"I don't think I understand." - -"And you did not seem to understand yesterday when I called upon you. -You fancied that I was not sure that I had seen you, and had come -expecting you to admit the visit to Locke. And as I went away, you -also fancied that you had thrown me off the scent." He smiled at the -recollection, in spite of his evident resentment of her position. "But -the fact of the matter was that I knew your fiancé had been the cause -of your visit to the mute. You had seen Morris, you knew where he was, -and I thought it would be a useful thing for me to be also acquainted -with his whereabouts." - -"But," protested Miss Vale in a faint voice, but still acting her -chosen role to the best of her gifts, "if I had known and desired to -conceal his whereabouts, surely you did not expect me to tell you of -it." - -"Not directly. But, if you remember, I dropped a hint that his -hiding-place was about to be discovered. This was true; you were about -to disclose it. I had only to wait and follow as you rushed off to -warn him." - -She leaned back in her chair and regarded him strangely, but he -proceeded with evenness: - -"Your work upon the road was very clever; I congratulate you upon it. -But it was scarcely sufficiently inspired to deceive an old hand." - -Here he waited, apparently expecting her to speak. But as she did not -take advantage of the pause, he went on: - -"I called this morning to acquaint you with these things and to advise -you on your future course. I must admit that I rather admire your -steadfastness in following out what Allan Morris has desired of you; -however, it is a great mistake for a strong nature to submit to the -clamorings of a weaker one." - -She sat suddenly erect; protest was in her eyes, and one hand went up -in denial. But, though her lips opened as though she were about to -speak, no words came; once more she sank back in the chair with the -air of one compelled to admit a bitter truth. - -"I am not so sure as to how deep Morris is in this murder," continued -the investigator, "but I have some ideas on the subject. On the other -hand I am quite sure that you are promised to aid him, and that you -feel duty bound to do so to the end, according to his not very wise -instructions." - -He arose and stood looking down at her kindly. - -"My advice to you," he went on--"and I speak with a fair knowledge of -the facts--is that you do nothing more. Be content with what you have -attempted; allow me to act for you in anything further which you have -in mind. Or, if you cannot give me your confidence, let me carry the -thing on in my own way, as you proposed at the first." - -There was a pause of some length; then the girl spoke. - -"I am just a trifle bewildered at all this," she said; "and I really -cannot say, Mr. Ashton-Kirk, that I altogether follow you." - -He smiled, but the disapproving wrinkle still showed between his eyes. - -"I see that you are still determined to hold to your attitude," he -said. "I am sorry, of course, but then one is called upon at times to -do as one thinks best, and I suppose that is what you are doing." He -turned toward the door, and she arose and touched the bell. "Good-by." - -"Good-by," she returned. - -He stood for a moment in the doorway regarding her with mingled -annoyance and admiration. As he caught the steps of the approaching -servant in the hall, he said: - -"Possibly I can save you some little trouble. You need not call at the -Rangnow Apartments. Up to last night, Allan Morris had not notified -Mr. Tobin as to his new hiding-place. However, if you feel that you -_must_ see him, you can call at my place at this hour on the day after -to-morrow. I am not sure, of course, but it occurs to me that he will -be there." - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -THE SECRET OF THE PORTRAIT - - -The morning papers had all announced the fact that the detail of -police would that day be withdrawn from the scene of the murder in -Christie Place. With them it had been a mere matter-of-fact news item, -but with the evening sheets it was different. They had had time to -digest the matter, and their view of the order was one of surprise. -Two or three allowed this feeling to expand itself into headlines of -some size; a few also commented on the situation editorially. - -Superintendent Weagle had been interviewed. He stated that he could -not be expected to maintain a detail at 478 indefinitely; even with -the police withdrawn from within, so he maintained, the place would be -as effectually guarded as were other buildings. What more was -required? - -Ashton-Kirk read all this with some satisfaction in the late -afternoon. - -"They have given the thing even more publicity than I had hoped for," -he said, as he helped Pendleton in the details of a rough-looking -costume which that worthy was donning. "It must be a bad day for -news, and they have plenty of space. At any rate, anyone who is at all -interested in the fact, is now aware that after six o'clock this -evening, 478 Christie Place will be unguarded, except for the regular -patrolman. Of course," with a glance at Pendleton and another in a -mirror at himself, "if a brace of rough-looking characters are hidden -away within, there will only be a few who know it." - -He opened a drawer and took out two black shining objects; the short -barrels and blocky shapes told Pendleton that they were automatic -revolvers. - -"They will throw ten slugs as thick as your little finger while you're -winking your eye as many times," said Ashton-Kirk. - -They each slipped one of the squat, formidable weapons into a hip -pocket; then they made their way out at the rear of the house. With -the collars of their sack coats turned up and their long visored cloth -caps pulled down, they hurried along among the dull-eyed throngs that -bartered and quarreled and sought their own advantage. - -And when, in the uncertain dusk, a wagon drew up at 478 and two -sack-coated, cloth-capped men began carrying parcels up the stairs, is -it any wonder that Berg, watching from the window of his delicatessen -store, said to his clerk: - -"Dot furrier that rents der rooms by der third floor is putting some -more things in storage over the summer, yet." - -And when the wagon finally drove away, neglectfully leaving the two -men behind, it is not surprising that the fancy grocer did not notice -it. And, then, when the two policemen who had been on duty during the -afternoon, came out, carelessly left the door unlocked, looked up to -make sure that they had left none of the windows open, and then strode -away with a satisfied air that follows a duty well done, who so keenly -watched as to suspect? - -The shadows on the second floor lengthened and grew grayer; they -thickened in the corners; pieces of furniture grew vague and monstrous -as the darkness began to cling to them and their outlines became lost; -suits of armor loomed menacingly out of the gloom, the last rays of -light striking palely upon helm or gorget; hideous gods of wood and -stone smiled evilly at the two watchers. - -"There was food in the bundles which we carried up, then," commented -Pendleton, as he lay back on the old claw-footed sofa. - -"Yes," answered his friend. "The person or persons whom we expect will -hardly come to-night, though we, of course, don't know; if they fail -to appear we shall be forced to stick close to these rooms during the -whole of to-morrow and also to-morrow night. Perhaps it will even be -longer." - -"In that case," said Pendleton, a little disconsolately, "the eatables -will be very welcome. But I hope we won't have to stay long enough to -finish them." - -"Perhaps," said Ashton-Kirk, "I've let you in for too hard a task in -this, Pen?" - -The other rose up instantly. - -"You couldn't give me too much to do in this matter," declared he, -earnestly. "I would do it alone if you were not here, and I had brains -enough, Kirk. The thing must _end_. If it goes on much longer and I -keep seeing those infernal insinuations in the papers, I'll go -completely off my chump." - -There was a little silence; then Ashton-Kirk said: - -"I never knew that you were--ah--this way, old chap, until the other -day. How long has it been going on?" - -"Why, for years, I think," answered Pendleton. "Being very distantly -related, Edyth and I saw quite a deal of each other when she was a -slip of a girl. And she was a stunner, Kirk, even then. Kid-like, I -fancied I'd get it all over with when the proper time came; but -somehow I never got around to it. She turned out to be a dickens of a -strong character, you see; and she expected so much of life that I -got the notion that perhaps I wasn't just the right sort of fellow to -realize her ideals. - -"You know, old boy, there are times when a man thinks quite a bit of -himself. This is more especially so before he's twenty-five. But then -again there are times when he sees his bad points only, and then of -all the unutterable dolts in the universe, he gets the notion that he -is the worst. When we were at college and I held down that third base -position and hit 320 in the first season, I was chesty enough. I -suppose you remember it. And when I came into my money and began to -make collections of motor cars, yachts and such things, I thought I -had taken life by the ears and was making it say 'uncle.' - -"Well, we're only grown-up boys, after all. I recall that I thought -I'd dazzle Edyth with my magnificence, just as Tom Sawyer did the -little girl with the two long braids of yellow hair--do you remember? -And it was after I discovered that she was not to be dazzled that I -sort of gave up. I wasn't anybody--I never would be anybody; and Edyth -would be the sort of woman who would expect her husband to take the -front at a jump. And no sensible person could imagine me at the front -of anything, unless it was a procession on its way to the bow-wows." - -"I think," said Ashton-Kirk, "that you began to prostrate yourself -before your idol; and when a man takes to that, he always gets to -thinking meanly of himself. The attitude has much to do with the state -of mind, I imagine. Miss Vale is a courageous, capable girl; but you -can never tell what sort of a man a woman will select for a husband. -Girls have fancies upon the subject, and give voice to them sometimes; -but it is the man they choose and not the one they picture to whom you -must give your attention." - -"I suppose that is true enough," said Pendleton. - -"Miss Vale's evident strength awed you," went on the other. "And then -your timidity began to magnify her qualities. No woman is what she -seems to be to the man who loves her. Miss Vale is not so difficult to -please as you thought. I fancy that her engagement to young Morris -proves that." - -"There you have it," cried Pendleton. "That's it, Kirk! I've stood -aside, considering myself unworthy, and allowed a fellow to slip by me -who is as colorless as water. Allan Morris is no more fit to be her -husband than--" at loss for a simile he halted for a moment, and then -burst out: "Oh, he's impossible!" - -"So far as we have tested him, certainly," agreed Ashton-Kirk, "he has -shown no great strength of character." - -"He's acted like a frightened child all through this affair. He's -mixed up in it, and through his weakness allowed Edyth to also -entangle herself. Again and again he's run to her, or called to her, -to tell her of some fresh complication that he'd gotten his frightened -self into; and to protect him, she has dared and done what would have -frightened an ordinary woman into fits." - -"I think," observed Ashton-Kirk, "that she has realized his position, -to some extent, at least. The fact that he is weak has, I think, -dawned upon her already; she may also see his evident selfishness -before long. If she does--why, might there not still be some hope for -you, Pen?" - -Pendleton shook his head in the gloom. - -"I'm afraid not," said he, hopelessly. "Somehow a weak man makes a -great appeal to the woman who has grown to care for him. He arouses -her mother instinct. And Edyth is so strong that her pity--" - -"May induce her to do her utmost to see him through this trouble," -interrupted Ashton-Kirk. "But it may not carry her much further. When -once the thing is over, a reaction may set in. Who knows?" - -But Pendleton refused to be comforted. For a long time they talked of -Edyth Vale, Morris, and the killing of Hume. Finally Pendleton said: - -"I suppose we can't smoke here to-night, can we?" - -"No; the lights might be seen; and we can't tell what sharp eyes are -watching the place." - -Pendleton sighed drearily. - -There were many clocks in the rooms; the policemen must have amused -themselves by winding and setting them; for at the end of each hour -they began to strike, singly and in pairs. The brisk strokes of the -nervous little modern clock mingled with the solemn sonorous beat of -an old New England timepiece whose wooden works creaked and labored -complainingly. Elaborate Swiss chimes pealed from others; through the -darkness, a persistent cuckoo could be heard throwing open a small -shutter and stridently announcing his version of the time. - -It was some time after midnight that Pendleton began to yawn. Then -Ashton-Kirk said: - -"Open some of those blankets, Pen, and lie down. There is no need of -two of us watching to-night; I scarcely expect anything to happen." - -Pendleton did not expect anything, either, but he said: - -"All right, I will, if you'll wake me in a few hours and let me take a -turn at it." - -Ashton-Kirk agreed. Pendleton stretched himself upon the sofa, and -soon his deep breathing told that he was asleep. As the night drew on, -the solitary watcher grew chilled in the unheated rooms and huddled -himself into another blanket; but he sat near the door leading to the -hall, which was slightly ajar; and though his eyes closed sometimes in -weariness, he never lost a sound in the street or a tick of one of the -clocks. Through the entire night he watched and waited almost without -moving; it was not until the dawn of a gray, dirty day began to -somewhat lighten the room that he aroused Pendleton. The latter -expostulated sleepily when he noted the time; but with scarcely a word -the investigator took his place upon the sofa and dropped off to -sleep. - -About nine o'clock he awoke and found his friend arranging their -breakfast upon a small table. - -"I say, Kirk," said Pendleton, admiringly, "you did this thing rather -thoroughly. There's quite a tasty little snack here; and the thermos -bottles have kept the coffee steaming." - -At the water tap in the rear the investigator bathed his hands and -face; then he sat down with his friend and did complete justice to the -breakfast. Afterwards, with their cigars going nicely and a feeling of -comfort stealing over them in spite of the rather uncomfortable night, -Pendleton said: - -"You promised the other night to tell me what made you think that the -murderers had failed to secure the thing they sought. The words that -the promise was couched in made me think that you had also something -to show me, and as we could not light up last night, I've waited -patiently until to-day. Now you must ease my curiosity. Come, tell me -a few things." - -Ashton-Kirk took his cigar from his mouth. - -"I told you," said he, "that the reports of Burgess and Fuller, -together with the conversation we had with Tobin, had enlightened me -upon these points." As he enumerated them, he checked them off with -his fingers: - -"_Why the murder was done._ - -"_The identity of the confederate of Locke._ - -"_That the man would return to the scene of the crime._" - -"Yes," said Pendleton, "those, I think, were the points." - -"The first two," went on the investigator, "I will allow to stand for -a while. But I promised to illustrate for you, and I think I can do -so." - -Ashton-Kirk here arose and passed through the storeroom and kitchen -into the bedroom. - -"The writing upon the step in the hall," said he, facing his friend, -"directed Locke's confederate to look for something behind Wayne's -portrait. As all the pictures of Wayne in the place were broken or -otherwise showed traces of rough handling, it seemed that the thing -desired must have been found. However, I was not sure about that, as -I have told you. - -"If you will recall Tobin's remarks of the other night, you will note -that the only thing he could admire in the man's character was his -fighting spirit. Then it developed that Hume made a boast of having -come by this naturally enough. He claimed descent from one of -Washington's officers. Tobin could not recall the officer's name; but -he related an anecdote of him that was unmistakable. The officer was -General Wayne!" - -"By George!" cried Pendleton. - -"The collection of Wayne portraits was in this way explained. It was -also suggested to me that Hume might be an assumed name--that the -numismatist might have once been known as Wayne, and that Locke had -known him by that name. Of course, it's quite likely that he was not -really a descendant of Wayne. But he probably called himself Wayne -nevertheless. - -"I see," said Pendleton, his hands waving with excitement. "And in the -stress of the moment, Locke wrote the name 'Wayne' upon the step in -candle grease, forgetting that his confederate only knew their -proposed victim as Hume." His eyes rested upon the walls and upon the -sneering, unpleasant portrait of the murdered man. "He meant that the -thing he desired was _there_," indicating the portrait with an -exultant sweep of the arm. "And by George, it must be there still." - -He sprang forward with the evident intention of wrenching the picture -from the wall; but Ashton-Kirk restrained him. - -"Don't," said he. "We'll leave that for our expected visitor." - -"Surely," protested the excited Pendleton, "you don't propose to leave -the thing there! Think of the risk! You might lose it in the end; for, -you know, one never foresees what is to turn up." - -"A fisherman must always risk losing his lure," answered the -investigator composedly. - -They spent the long hours of the day in smoking and talking; and at -intervals they ate the sandwiches and other things which had been -smuggled in in the guise of packages of furs. And finally the shadows -gathered and thickened once again in Christie Place. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -THE SECOND NIGHT - - -The second night of the vigil in Hume's rooms wore on. Unlike the -preceding one, the two young men were almost entirely silent; when -they did speak, it was in tones so low as to be scarcely above a -whisper. - -There was a taut, indefinable something in the air that kept the -desire for sleep from both; in the brooding darkness they were alert, -watchful, expectant. The tobacco-loving Pendleton afterwards recalled -with surprise that not once did he think of the weed. But when the -queer, mysterious night sounds began to come--those creakings of loose -planks, strainings of unseen timbers and untraceable snappings in the -walls, that are common in old houses--he frequently thought of the -automatic revolver; and the chill of the polished metal always felt -comforting enough. - -The clocks announced the ends of the hours according to their -temperaments; coming in the midst of the total silence, the din seemed -to Pendleton to be terrific; he pictured appalled criminals on their -way through the dark halls, crouching in fear at the sounds. Eleven -o'clock struck, and then twelve with its continued uproar. It seemed a -long time before one and then two sounded. Pendleton's limbs were -beginning to feel loggy and numb because of the chill and the -continued inaction. He had ventured to stir them a little, and was -wrapping the heavy blanket more closely about himself, when he felt -Ashton-Kirk's hand upon his shoulder. - -"Hush-h-h!" said the investigator in a whisper. - -Instantly Pendleton was motionless; he listened intently, but the -silence of the place seemed complete. - -"What is it?" he finally ventured to breathe. - -The hand upon his shoulder tightened warningly; but there came no -other reply. Again Pendleton listened. The door of the showroom stood -open; Ashton-Kirk had placed it so in order that they might catch any -sound that came from the hall. All the other doors leading into the -hall from Hume's apartments were securely locked; anyone who ventured -into the suite must first pass through the showroom where the two -waited and watched. - -After a space Pendleton's attention was rewarded; a faint, far-off -rustling came to him; somehow it gave him the impression of -hesitation, non-assurance, timidity; he was speculating upon the -queerness of this impression when there came a faint, momentary glow -from the hall--mysterious, phosphorescent, unreal; and then it -vanished. Both young men were huddled upon the sofa, which was placed -facing the open door. A huge Spanish screen was drawn before them; but -the black leather was cracked in places; and through these they had a -clear view of the hall. - -A moment later the glow appeared once more; but this time it was -brighter. - -"Someone is on the stairs," reasoned Pendleton, his hand going to his -revolver. "It looks as though he were lighting matches to show the -way." - -Between the sputters of light were spaces of darkness; these were; -filled in by the faint guarded rustling. But as the light upon each -appearance grew brighter, so did the sound become more distinct; and -at length a light resonance, unmistakably a footstep, came from the -hall. - -Then steadily, softly the sound came on through the darkness; nearer -and nearer it drew until at length it became unmistakable. _The -rustling was that of a woman's skirts!_ Then, so it seemed, the -darkness of the doorway grew denser; the soft, quick breathing of the -newcomer became audible; her hands were heard moving over the door -frame as she blindly searched for the door. - -Then, apparently, she learned that the door was open; a deeper breath -showed the relief she felt at this; now she carefully entered the -room. - -Even before Pendleton's brain realized who it must be, he began to -feel a tightening at his heart; and now as he pictured her advancing -with outstretched, groping hands into the darkened room--a room -horrible with crime and secret dread--it was all that he could do to -hold himself in check. He had almost an overmastering desire to spring -up, to cry out to her, to tell her not to fear. - -He was still struggling with this feeling when he became aware that -she had paused; and, also, that Ashton-Kirk was once more gripping his -shoulder with a warning hand. Becoming instantly alert, his senses -perceived a stoppage of everything; the clocks seemed to tick more -faintly, he could no longer hear the woman breathe. There was an -instant that roared with silence; then came the soft, steady padding -of feet descending the stair. - -Then he heard the girl release her breath in a great, trembling -exhalation; the rustle of skirts came quick and sharp in the darkness; -he heard the door through which she had entered the room squeak upon -its hinges and then close with a click that proclaimed it fast. - -After this there was a long pause. Pendleton could hear the faint -breathing of the girl, and thought it rather odd that she did not -catch the sound of his own. He pictured her leaning against the -locked door, her heart throbbing with fear as she listened to the -descending footsteps; stronger and stronger grew his desire to leap up -and assure her that friends were at hand. But at the same time the -warning grip of his companion, who seemed to feel what was in his -mind, also grew stronger and stronger. - -With the closing of the door, the sounds from the stairs had ceased to -reach them. There was a long pause; Pendleton, during this, grew -sensible of a long, wavering mental antenna which he projected into -the shadows; and its delicate sensitiveness told him of the silent -approach of a fearful thing. A long, long time, it seemed to him, but -in reality it was remarkably brief. - -Then the steps were heard, shuffling and secret, in the hall and very -near at hand. A soft, uncertain touch fell upon the smooth glass of -the door; down its length the inquiring fingers traveled; then the -handle was tried, held a moment and quietly released. - -The steps then receded lightly down the hall. - -For some moments all was quiet, then there came the scratch of a match -from the hall, and its accompanying flare, seen through the glass of -the door. A little space more, and a rending sound came to their ears, -followed by the falling of some metallic objects upon the floor. -Pendleton required no explanation of these sounds; it was plain that -the second intruder had come prepared and had forced one of the doors. - -All the communicating doors of the suite had been left open; through -them came the pushing about of furniture and the drawing down of -blinds; then another match flared, followed by a stronger and steadier -light, which showed that the second visitor had lighted the gas. The -light filtered palely through the various rooms into the one in which -the two men and the woman were hidden; by means of this the former -could make the latter out in a dim, uncertain sort of way. She seemed -unusually tall as she moved noiselessly across the floor and peered -cautiously through the communicating doorways. - -[Illustration: WHAT SHE SAW MUST HAVE STARTLED HER] - -What she saw must have startled her, for she drew quickly back, her -hand pressed to her heart. Then softly she retraced her steps; they -heard the door-catch slip quietly back and were conscious that the -door was swung open; the woman then crept inch by inch, so it seemed, -down the hall. - -It was the bedroom door that had been forced; the two watchers noted -the bar of light that slanted from it across the passage. Nearer and -nearer the woman approached to it. Pendleton had at first thought that -she was making for the stairs; but this died away as she passed them, -unheeding. The automatic revolver was in his hand instantly; leaning -toward his friend, he breathed in his ear. - -"She's going in there." - -The blanket slipped from him as he arose to his feet; his legs were -still cramped and stiffened; he felt clumsy and unsure. Ashton-Kirk -evidently agreed that the time had come for action, for he whispered -in reply: - -"Through the rooms! I will take the hall!" - -Pendleton stepped from behind the screen like a shadow. Through the -door leading to the storeroom he had an uninterrupted view of a part -of the bedroom; and across the floor he saw thrown the shadow of a -man. Noiselessly he tip-toed into the kitchen, the revolver held -ready; just outside the bedroom he paused, and drawing to one side, -waited. Then he noted the shadow move slightly, and heard a deep -rumbling voice say in French: - -"You were a devil! Even now as I look at you, you laugh and jibe!" The -shadow upon the floor here swung its arms threateningly. "But laugh -away. I have won, and it is my turn to laugh!" - -Here the shadow slid along and up the wall; peering around the edge of -the door, Pendleton saw a man with massive, stooped shoulders and a -great square head, covered with thick, iron-gray hair; and instantly -he recognized him as the man whom they had seen that night in the -doorway of Locke's workshop. The stranger was standing just under the -portrait of Hume; he gazed up at it, and his big shoulders shook with -laughter. - -"What a mistake to make," he said, still in French. "How was I to know -that the old devil once called himself Wayne!" - -He reached up and took the picture from its hook; with thick, powerful -fingers he tore the backing away, and a flat, compact bundle of papers -was disclosed. The picture was thrown upon the bed, and the man stood -staring at the papers, a wide smile upon his face. - -"So this is the secret, eh? Well, Locke will pay well for it, and it -will be worth all the risks I've taken." - -He was fumbling with a coat pocket as though to stow them away, when -there came a swift, light rush, the packet was torn from his hands, -and Edyth Vale was darting toward the hall door and the stairway -beyond. - -But despite his bulk, the man with the stooped shoulders proved -himself singularly swift. In two leaps he had overtaken her; dragging -her back to the center of the room, he snatched the packet from her in -turn. Regarding her with calm, pitiless eyes, he said in English: - -"I am sorry, mees, that you have come, eh? Eet makes eet mooch harder -for me. And I am of the kind that would rather be off quietly, is it -not? and say no words to no one." - -Edyth Vale, pale of face, but with steady eye, returned his look. - -"What are you going to do?" she asked. - -"I am sorry to do anything," spoke the stranger. "I do not know you, -and you will onderstan', will you not, that I can't leave you -behind--to talk?" - -As he spoke a flashing something appeared from the girl's pocket; he -lifted one huge paw to beat her down; but a clenched hand, protected -by a corded buckskin glove, thudded against his jaw; his knees -weakened, and he sprawled upon the floor. - -"Jimmie!" gasped Edyth Vale. "Jimmie Pendleton!" - -"Oh, Edyth--Edyth!" was all the man could say. He slipped his arm -around her, for she was tottering; and as he helped her to a chair, -Ashton-Kirk quietly entered at the hall door. - -"Miss Vale," said he, "good-evening." - -Without waiting to note if she even gave him a look, he bent over the -fallen man and snapped a pair of handcuffs upon his wrists. - -"A very pretty blow, Pen," said he, admiringly. "Beautifully timed, -and your judgment of distance was excellent." - -He slipped the fallen papers into his pocket and continued: "Keep an -eye on him, for a moment." - -Then he stepped swiftly through the hall; a moment later they heard -him throw up one of the windows overlooking the street, and a whistle -shrilled through the night. - -"Paulson is on duty," said the investigator, returning. "He'll be here -in a jiffy." - -Sure enough, they soon heard heavy steps upon the stairs; and then -Paulson and a fellow patrolman appeared in the doorway. Astonished, -the policeman gazed at Ashton-Kirk, who nodded to them smilingly, then -they turned their gaze upon Pendleton, who was speaking soothing words -to the white-faced girl, who, now that the danger was over, clung to -him tremblingly. But when their eyes centered upon the manacled -stranger who was then dazedly struggling to a sitting position, -Paulson asked: - -"Who is this?" - -"This," answered Ashton-Kirk, "is M. Sagon, a fellow lodger of Antonio -Spatola, formerly a very close friend of the late Mr. Hume, and once a -resident of Bayonne, in France." - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -APPROACHING THE FINISH - - -Pendleton spent the night at Ashton-Kirk's; and after breakfast he -wandered into the library, a newspaper in his hand and an inquiring -look on his face. - -The investigator was seated in his usual big chair, buried to the -knees in newspapers, and making vigorous inroads upon the Greek -tobacco. Fuller was just leaving the room as Pendleton entered, and -nodding toward the disappearing form, Ashton-Kirk said: - -"There is some rather interesting news. I have had Locke, as you -perhaps know, under observation for some time. Last night he took the -train at Cordova, and Burgess followed him. When he reached the city, -he went directly to Christie Place and was seen lurking about in the -shadows." - -"Humph," said Pendleton, "what time was this?" - -"Perhaps about eleven o'clock. Burgess, so Fuller tells me, never lost -sight of him. He acted in a queerly hesitating sort of way; finally, -however, he seemed to form a resolution and went to the door of the -Marx house. He was about to pull the bell, then paused and tried the -door instead. It was evidently not locked. He seemed both surprised -and pleased at this; he lost no time, however, but went in at once." - -Pendleton sat down. - -"What do you suppose all this meant?" he asked. - -"Well, we can't be too sure," replied Ashton Kirk, "but I think it -probable that he, also, saw the news of the withdrawal of the police -in the papers. Perhaps he came to Christie Place with the intention of -informing Sagon of the opportunity that then presented itself. Or it -might be that he had hopes of somehow over-reaching his companion in -crime." - -"His lurking about would seem to point rather in that direction," said -Pendleton. - -"And his preferring to enter the lodging house without ringing also -indicates some such idea. As I see it, he hoped to gain the roof -unobserved. He knew the house and the habits of the people quite well. -No doubt he had a plan, and a good one. He's a thinker, is Mr. Locke." - -"If he was noticed, he could indicate that he had called to see M. -Sagon." - -"Exactly. But I very much doubt his gaining the roof. Perhaps, after -all, he was detected; for a few minutes later Burgess saw him leave -the house." - -"Humph!" said Pendleton. Then after some few moments spent in the -examination of his paper he threw it down. "It's full of all sorts of -allusions to monoplanes and such like," grumbled he. "As I had to take -Edyth home last night, and you went bravely away with the police and -Sagon, I find myself, as usual, trailing some distance in the rear." - -Ashton-Kirk regarded the litter of newspapers ruefully: - -"I gave them the heads of the case very plainly," said he, "but as it -was almost the hour for going to press, I suppose they did not get the -finer points of my meaning. Some of them have made a sad mess of it. -However, the evening papers will have a coherent account, I suppose." - -"If you think I am going to wait until the evening papers are issued -to get to the bottom of this thing, you're much mistaken," declared -Pendleton. "I demand a full and detailed explanation immediately." - -Here a tap came upon the door; Stumph entered and handed Ashton-Kirk a -card. - -"Let him come up," said the latter; and, as the man went out, he -continued to Pendleton. "We will both probably be much enlightened -now. It is Allan Morris." - -"Just as you said," spoke Pendleton. "It's really almost like second -sight." - -The investigator laughed. - -"A small feat of reasoning, nothing more," said he. "However, an -enthusiast might find some of the elements of second sight in our -conversation in this room about a week ago." - -Pendleton looked at him questioningly. - -"It was on the morning that you called to announce the coming of Miss -Vale. We were speaking of how it sometimes happened that very innocent -things led to most weighty results; and I remarked, if you will -remember, that your visit might lead to my connection with a murder -that would dwarf some of those which we had spoken of." - -"So you did," agreed Pendleton. "That _is_ rather remarkable, Kirk." - -"And further," smiled the investigator, "I recall that I expressed -great admiration for Marryat's conception of a homicide in the matter -of Smallbones and the hag. The weapon used by Smallbones, it turns -out, was identical in character to the one used by Sagon." - -"A bayonet," cried Pendleton. "By George! So it was." - -Just then Stumph announced Allan Morris. - -The latter was pale and haggard; his clothes were neglected, and there -were some days' beard upon his chin. He seemed astonished at sight of -Pendleton; however, he only nodded. Then he said inquiringly to the -investigator: - -"You are Mr. Ashton-Kirk?" - -"I am. Will you sit down, Mr. Morris?" - -Morris sat down dejectedly. - -"Tobin advised me to come see you," he said. "I refused at first; but -in view of what the newspapers contain this morning, I reconsidered -it." - -Ashton-Kirk nodded. - -"If you had, come to me in the first place," said he, "you'd probably -not have fallen into this mess, and you'd have saved yourself a great -deal of suffering." He regarded the young man for a moment, and then -went on. "Miss Vale, I suppose, has told you of her dealings with me." - -"She has," said Morris. "She's been very candid with me in everything. -If I had been the same with her," bitterly, "I should have acted more -like a natural human being. You see, we were to be married; she was -very rich, while I had comparatively nothing. But this in itself -would not have been sufficient to have prevented our wedding for so -long. The fact was that I had gotten myself into trouble through -speculation; I had a fear that my position might even be considered -criminal from some points of view. And I allowed myself to get nervous -over it. - -"However, there was a way by which it was possible for me to -extricate myself. To explain this I'll have to go back some years." - -"Take your own time," said Ashton-Kirk. - -"Well, my father had worked for years perfecting the plans of a -heavier-than-air flying machine," Morris resumed. "At the time of his -death he told me that it was all complete but the constructing, and -that I had millions within my reach. But Hume had the plans--my father -had borrowed money of him--a considerable sum--and had given him the -plans as security. - -"Hume had always derided the idea of the monoplane. Tobin, who knew -them both, tells me that he was forever mocking my father upon the -subject. And when the time came when the plans could be redeemed, Hume -denied having them. There was no receipt, nothing to show that the -transaction had ever occurred. The man declared that the whole thing -was a drunken dream. He had never seen any plans; he had never paid -out any money; he knew nothing about the matter. Time and again the -man reiterated this; and each time, so I've heard, he would go -off into gales of laughter. I have no doubt but that the entire -performance on his part was to afford himself these opportunities; he -seemed to love such things." - -"Was it not possible for your father to duplicate the plans?" - -"At an earlier time it would have meant but a few weeks' application -at most. But at this period the thing was impossible. The last long -debauch seemed to have sapped his intellect; it also was the direct -cause of his death." - -"I see," said Ashton-Kirk. - -"I took the matter up with Hume at once," went on the young man. "But -I had no more success than my father. In the man's eyes, I had but -replaced my father; I was another patient subject for his mockery, -derision and abuse. - -"There were some scattered drawings of the monoplane in father's -office; I began a study of these, thinking to chance upon the -principal idea. But I was unsuccessful. - -"All this, you understand, was before I had met Miss Vale, and before -I was tangled up in the trouble I have just mentioned. - -"The fear began to grow on me that Hume meant to use the plans to his -own advantage; I knew that he had long been familiar with Locke, who -was reputed to be a mechanical genius, and between them, I fancied -they'd take action. I began a watch upon the reports of the Patent -Office, thinking that that would finally give me something tangible to -use against them. However, I never gave up my visits to Hume, or my -efforts to make him admit possession of my father's property. - -"It was during one of these visits that I first met Spatola; and I -was much struck by the performance of his cockatoos. My father had -always held to the idea that the problem of flight would be finally -solved by a study of the birds; this gave me an idea, and I took to -visiting Spatola in his lodgings in Christie Place. He'd have the -cockatoos fly slowly round and round the big attic, and I'd watch them -and make notes. - -"It was about this time that I met Miss Vale and asked her to be my -wife; a very little later, in an effort to raise money, I got into the -financial trouble which I have referred to. After a little the -question of a time for our marriage came up; I was filled with fear -and put it off; this occurred several times, and I was at my wits' -end. I could not marry with that thing hanging over me. Suppose it -should turn out as I feared; imagine the shock to a high spirited girl -to discover that she had married a defaulter. - -"It was then that I turned to the matter of the plans as my only hope; -with a perfected idea I could readily secure a large sum of money in -advance. So I redoubled my efforts to have a settlement with Hume; but -he only derided me as usual. Continued visits to Spatola to study the -flight of the birds, showed me that the Italian was a fine fellow, -well educated and with much feeling and appreciation. We became fast -friends and so, little by little, I told him my story." - -"About the invention?" asked Ashton-Kirk. - -"Yes." - -The investigator turned to Pendleton. - -"I think," said he, "that I now understand why Spatola grew so -uncommunicative and suspicious toward the end of our interview at City -Hall. We both thought it was because I spoke of shorthand. But it was -perhaps because I mentioned an _invention_ in the way of writing -music. He feared that I was trying to incriminate Mr. Morris in some -way." - -Pendleton nodded. - -"That," said he, "I think explains it." - -"As you no doubt know," went on Morris, after the investigator had -once more given him his attention, "Spatola liked Hume none too well. -And he had reason for his hatred, poor fellow. Well, he became -interested in what I told him; and when he learned that I believed my -father's papers were in all probability somewhere in Hume's -apartments, he suggested that I come to live in Christie Place under -an assumed name. He thought that in time an opportunity would present -itself to cross the roofs some night, enter Hume's place by the -scuttle and so possess myself of the plans. - -"On the day preceding the murder, I had made up my mind to have one -more try with Hume; and if that failed I intended to follow Spatola's -advice, break in and take the plans by force. I was so full of this -resolution that I could not contain myself; I hinted at it to Miss -Vale; and the result of that hint, you know." - -He leaned his face forward in his hands and seemed to give way to a -bitter train of thought. He was evidently despondent. - -"It was also some such hint upon your part that induced her to visit -Locke at Dr. Mercer's place, wasn't it?" - -Morris raised his head and nodded. - -"Yes," he said. "After the murder I suspected Locke at once of having -something to do with it. I told Miss Vale; she went there without my -knowledge--seeing that I had not the courage to go myself," he added -bitterly--"and demanded the plans." - -"And she learned that they were still at Hume's--behind the portrait?" - -"Yes. Locke told her--he was overcome with horror at the murder. He -had merely desired to secure the plans,--having somehow learned their -hiding place. He had no intention of killing Hume." - -"But why did Sagon do it?--he must have had it in mind when he bought -the bayonet at Bernstine's," said Pendleton, looking at Ashton-Kirk. - -"He had. Do you recall how Burgess' report spoke of a league of -smugglers in Europe of which Hume was a leading spirit, and also of -how they had been captured and nearly all but Hume were tried and -convicted?" - -"Yes." - -"Sagon was one of those convicted. The diamonds which Hume tried to -smuggle into this country were to have been turned into money at the -time of the gang's arrest and the proceeds spent in their defense. But -instead of doing this, Hume left his comrades to their fate and -absconded. When Sagon gained his freedom he began a search for Hume, -meaning to have revenge. This search finally led him to Locke as a -person who had known Hume, and who would be likely to be able to tell -where he could be found." - -"Sagon has told you this?" queried Pendleton. - -"Yes; he talked freely, after he saw that his case was hopeless; and -he, too, insisted that Locke did not intend to commit murder. Locke, -even at the time of his meeting Sagon, was looking for someone to aid -him in gaining possession of the Morris plans. The work-shop which -we saw beside Locke's house contained a monoplane in course of -construction; but there was something lacking which he felt Morris's -plans could supply; and so he was anxious to get hold of it by hook or -crook. - -"Sagon, whose purpose from the first was murder, was not at all averse -to combining it with something else. He took the room at Mrs. Marx's -place, after he had perceived that an entrance could probably be made -at Hume's by way of the scuttle. The well dressed 'business guys' that -the machinist on the first floor spoke about to us, were no doubt -Locke, who frequently called upon Sagon, and Mr. Morris here, whom the -man did not suspect of being a lodger. - -"To prove a theory that I had formed, and which I have mentioned in a -vague sort of way," went on Ashton-Kirk, "I asked Sagon why he had -used a bayonet. And it turned out as I had thought. Sagon and Hume had -first met at Bayonne; the greater part of their operations had been -carried on there; the band had been finally rounded up and convicted -there. The bayonet, so legend has it, was first made in Bayonne, and -Sagon conceived that it would be a sort of poetic justice if the -traitor were to die by a weapon so closely connected with the scene of -his treachery." - -There was a pause after this, and then young Morris got up slowly and -painfully. - -"I don't want it to be thought," said he "that I was directly -responsible for Miss Vale's adventure of last night--or for any of the -others, for the matter of that. If I had known at the time that she -proposed visiting Locke's, or Hume's, either upon the night of the -murder, or last night, I would have prevented it." - -Ashton-Kirk nodded kindly; the young man's position evidently -appealed to him. But Pendleton sat rather stiffly in his chair and his -expression never changed. - -"I will now come into possession of whatever value there is in my -father's invention," went on Morris, "and added to that, it turns out -that the--the other thing, of which I stood so much in fear, has -turned out favorably. But," in a disheartened sort of way, "I don't -care much, now that my engagement with Miss Vale is broken." - -"Broken!" exclaimed Pendleton. - -"I saw her this morning," said Morris. "During the past week," he -continued, "it gradually came to me that I was not the sort of man to -make her a fitting husband. I hid like a squirrel while she faced the -dangers that should have been mine. I knew that she realized the -situation as well as I, and I did what I could by making it easy for -her." - -He paused at the door. - -"If there is anything that I can do, or say in the final settlement of -this case," he added, to Ashton-Kirk, "I will gladly place myself at -your services, sir. Good-bye." - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -THE FINISH - - -"For the first time," said Pendleton, as the door closed upon Allan -Morris, "I can feel sorry for him. To lose a girl like Edyth Vale is -indeed a calamity. Think of the courage she's shown--of what she was -willing to do. Why, Kirk, she's one in ten thousand." - -But Ashton-Kirk only nodded; he had arisen upon the departure of -Morris, and was now drawing on a pair of gloves. The splendid -qualities of Miss Vale apparently had little appeal for him at that -moment. - -"Are you ready?" he asked, in a business-like way. - -"Ready?" repeated Pendleton, surprised. - -"To be sure. We can scarcely call this case complete until something -has been done in the matter of Locke." - -"That's so. But, somehow, I had the notion that your men had already -attended to him." - -"I always prefer to finish my work in my own way," said the -investigator. "Osborne, as soon as he heard of Locke, through Sagon, -wanted to take up the trail. But I convinced him that he'd better -leave it to me." - -Pendleton clapped on his hat. - -"I'm with you," said he, "but where do you expect to find him?" - -Ashton-Kirk rang for Stumph and ordered the car; then he replied: - -"We'll more than likely find him at home. Burgess followed him back to -Cordova, last night." - -They went down and climbed into the car, and were soon on the road. - -A little distance from the Mercer Institute they came upon a compact -looking man seated upon the top rail of a fence, chewing at a straw. -He wore heavy, much-splashed boots and a sun-scorched suit of clothes. - -"Ah," said Ashton-Kirk, "I see Burgess is still on the job." - -"Burgess," echoed Pendleton. He looked at the man upon the fence in -surprise; except for the very broad shoulders there was no -resemblance. - -However, Burgess grinned amiably through a rather neglected growth of -beard. - -"I expected you along about this time," said he, to the investigator. - -"Is everything all right?" asked Ashton-Kirk. - -"He's still there," answered Burgess, and he nodded toward a house -with a peaked and slated roof which stood some little distance up an -intersecting road. It was the same house through the window of which -Pendleton had seen Edyth Vale some nights previously, but, somehow, it -seemed strange and unfamiliar in daylight. - -"I can see three sides of it from here," went on Burgess. "And if he -dropped out of one of the windows on the fourth side I could sight him -before he'd gone fifty yards. You may be sure he's there, all right." - -"You've heard of what took place last night, I suppose?" - -Burgess tapped a folded newspaper at his breast pocket. - -"So has Locke," said he. "Apparently his orders are to furnish him -with the papers as soon as they arrive. A man from the Institute -building brought one to him more than an hour ago." - -Just then Ashton-Kirk noted far up the road upon which Locke's house -stood, a very small buggy, drawn by an equally small horse. In the -buggy sat a man whose huge bulk seemed to bulge out beyond its sides. -Arriving before Locke's house, the small horse stopped, as though from -habit. Then with a mighty effort, the fat man rolled out and waddled -to the gate. He pressed and re-pressed the button; but no one -answered. - -Ashton-Kirk looked at his assistant. - -"Are you quite sure that our man is there," asked he. - -Burgess chewed his straw calmly. - -"I'm positive of it," said he. - -The fat man now entered at the gate and going to the front door, tried -it. But it was evidently fast, and he turned away. Hesitating for a -moment, he laboriously approached the work shop, the roof of which -could be seen through the trees. Apparently the result was the same -here, for in a very few minutes he was seen to waddle back to his -buggy and climb in with much effort. Then the small horse ambled -forward while the fat man leaned back in great distress. - -"You recognize him, do you not?" smiled Ashton-Kirk. - -"I do, now," returned Pendleton. "It's our friend Dr. Mercer." - -When the buggy arrived at the spot where the motor-car stood, the -doctor regarded its occupants with some surprise. - -"Good-morning," greeted Ashton-Kirk. - -Painfully, gaspingly the other answered this in kind. The round white -face wore an expression of martyrdom. - -"I am pleased to see you once more," said he. - -"You like driving in the morning, then?" said the investigator. - -The principal's flesh quivered with repulsion. - -"It is an exercise ordered by my physician," he answered. "I protested -against it strongly, but he was obdurate. And I am compelled to do it -before I have had my breakfast," hollowly. "It is scarcely short of -barbarous." - -Here the small horse stretched its neck and shook itself until the -harness rattled. Pendleton looking from master to beast thought they -might exchange places much to the master's ultimate well-being. - -There was a short pause; then Dr. Mercer bent his head toward them. - -"When you visited the institute a few nights ago," said he, "you also, -at my request, visited Professor Locke." - -Ashton-Kirk nodded. - -"For some time," proceeded the other, "I have fancied that there -was something wrong with him. Not of a physical nature, as is, -unfortunately the case with myself, but more in a mental way. But -since that night I have been _sure_ that some sort of a derangement -had fixed itself upon him, or is in progress. He can scarcely be -called the same person. More than once I have been afraid," and here -the speaker lowered his voice to a husky whisper, "that he is -unbalanced." - -"That is very grave," said Ashton-Kirk. - -"It has occurred to me," went on the doctor, not without shrewdness, -"that something happened that night which unsettled him." The eyes -seemingly floating in fat, turned themselves first to Pendleton, then -to Ashton-Kirk. "I suppose, though, you know nothing of it?" - -"We noticed that he seemed greatly agitated," replied the -investigator. "And we are alarmed to hear that he seems disturbed." - -"It is our rule that no one leave the institute grounds after -nightfall," said Dr. Mercer, in a troubled voice. "Last night I had -occasion to send for him, but he was gone. This morning I stopped to -reproach him for his absence; but apparently he has not returned." - -"You're mistaken there," put in Burgess. "Look!" - -He indicated the house as he spoke. The small figure of Locke was seen -emerging at the front door; he paused for a moment, peering this way -and that in his near-sighted fashion, then hastily made his way toward -the work-shop. Evidently he had not seen them. - -With great labor and much catching of breath Dr. Mercer had turned -sufficiently to see these things. He seemed greatly astonished. - -"He was there all the time," said he. "It is not possible that he did -not feel the vibrations of the buzzer, for he is very sensitive to -such things." - -His indignation appeared to swell him to even greater proportions -than before. - -"It is an affront," he stated in a choked tone. "It is a deliberate -affront. He felt the buzzer, and he knew it was I. But he did not -consider me of enough importance to trouble himself about." - -Panting he sought to turn the small horse, but in a moment Ashton-Kirk -was out in the road and had the animal by the head. - -"I beg your pardon," said the investigator, "but it would probably be -more beneficial to yourself and others, if you continued your drive -and left Professor Locke to us." - -Amazed beyond ability to stir, the doctor sat and stared. But finally -he found his tongue. - -"Bless my soul and body," exclaimed he with a great wheezing -exhalation. "I scarcely understand this, sir." - -"My dear doctor," said Ashton-Kirk soothingly, "it is not at all -necessary that you do so. The fact is, to state it briefly, there is -a trifling matter for adjustment between Professor Locke and the -commonwealth." - -"The commonwealth!" cried the doctor, and he shook like a great mass -of gelatine. - -"Nothing less. So, you see, it will be as well for you to do as I -suggest." Then turning to Pendleton, Ashton-Kirk continued: "I think -we had better walk the remainder of the way; otherwise we might get -Locke's attention before it is advisable." - -Pendleton jumped down, and without another word to Dr. Mercer, they -set off toward the slate-roofed house by the roadside. However, after -they had gone about fifty yards, Pendleton turned and looked back. He -saw the small horse jogging away, while behind it, helplessly fat and -hopelessly befogged, sat Dr. Mercer, swaying dispiritedly from side to -side. - -As Ashton-Kirk and Pendleton advanced upon the house, they bore in -mind the possibility of Locke being on the watch; so they kept out of -sight as much as possible. - -"It's rather odd, I think, that he hangs on here, knowing that his -part in the murder of Hume must now be known," said Pendleton. "I -rather expected an attempt at escape." - -"That may come later," said the investigator, grimly. "The finish of -a thing of this sort is always a matter for speculation. I have seen -desperate criminals who surrendered like lambs; and I've seen the -other sort give a platoon of police a good day's work in their -taking." - -"Do you think it possible that Locke is one of this latter type?" - -"There is no knowing. But I am inclined to believe that he is." - -Pendleton shook his head. It seemed impossible that this dapper -little man with his peering, short-sighted eyes could be capable of -any determined effort to escape the police when once driven into a -corner. However, Pendleton had ample reason to respect Ashton-Kirk's -judgment; and so when the latter deemed it necessary to approach with -caution, he acted accordingly. - -They paused in front of the house. - -It was now past ten o'clock and the sun was shining brightly; a little -patch of garden, filled with early flowering plants lay between the -house and the wood; all about the work-shop were the tall trees which -they had noticed upon their previous visit. - -"We had better not use the gate," suggested the investigator. "There -might be an attachment of some sort that will give him warning." - -So under cover of the trees they scaled the fence; then they carefully -made their way toward the shop. The windows and door of this were -closed, nothing was stirring. Near the door was scattered some rubbish -and loose paper. The place had an utterly deserted look. - -"Do you think he is there?" asked Pendleton. - -"I will know in a few moments," replied the other. "Wait here." - -Pendleton expected Ashton-Kirk to continue his cautious approach. But -to his surprise the investigator with cool assurance stepped out from -behind a tree and advanced toward the outbuilding; when he reached -the door he opened it and calmly stepped inside. - -The building was in one great room. It had some windows at the side, -but the greater part of its illumination came from a huge skylight. As -he closed the door behind him, Ashton-Kirk had a vague impression of -something huge, made of steel rods and with far-stretching wing-like -projections at the sides. But he had no time to give the mechanism -even a glance; of greater interest was the small figure which sat at a -wide work-table upon which a litter of drawings was scattered. - -It was Locke; and as the slight jar of the closing door reached him he -lifted his eyes and saw the intruder. If Ashton-Kirk expected any -display of fear or other emotion, he was disappointed; upon each of -his previous meetings with Locke the latter had shown great -trepidation; but now he simply nodded quietly and seemed not at all -surprised. - -But as Ashton-Kirk made a step toward him, he rose and raised his hand -in a gesture that was peremptory and unmistakable. The investigator -paused; then Locke pointed to a chair directly before his bench, but -some half dozen yards away; and when Ashton-Kirk smilingly seated -himself, Locke did likewise. - -Then in heavy characters he scrawled upon the back of one of the -blue-prints. - -"I was expecting a visitor, and fancied that it might be you." - -This he held up so that the investigator might read it. Ashton-Kirk -nodded. Again the back of a plan came into service and this time the -investigator read. - -"What has occurred is most unfortunate. I had no hand in it, though, -of course, I do not expect anyone to believe me." - -Here Ashton-Kirk drew a note book from his pocket and was about to -write, but the other stopped him with a gesture. Then the man once -more wrote; carefully, heavily, in order that the other might have no -difficulty in reading it from the distance. - -"Pardon me! But it is not necessary for you to go to any trouble. -Moreover--I beg of you not to think me rude--your opinions in the -matter have no interest for me." - -Ashton-Kirk acknowledged this with a grave nod. The pencil was -instantly at work again. - -"As I have said, I expected a visitor; but I will now add that I did -not expect to be here to receive him." - -Ashton-Kirk looked swiftly into Locke's face as he read this; the -expression was unmistakable, and the investigator leaped to his feet. -But the mute uttered a strange parrot-like cry--evidently the same -that Edyth heard that night in Christie Place--and Ashton-Kirk saw his -hand go swiftly to a button at one side of the work-bench. Instantly -the investigator paused; once more a gesture bade him be seated. - -Slowly he obeyed; and once more Locke began to trace bold characters -upon the stiff paper. This message read: - -"You are a wise man. I had arranged everything before you came in, and -had sat down to make an end of it. This button at my hand once started -an electric apparatus; but now it is connected with a quantity of an -explosive--my own invention, and a terrible one. Believe me, one touch -and everything in this building is in fragments." - -Ashton-Kirk, when he had finished reading, nodded quietly. Again the -mute began to write. - -"I have no ill will toward you," the words ran, "you have two minutes -to leave here, and get safely away." - -When he saw that this had been read, Locke threw down the paper and -took out his watch. Then he pointed toward the door and sat waiting. - -It was strange to see the little man sitting there calmly, with only -the pressure of a finger between him and eternity. But Ashton-Kirk -knew stern resolution too well to mistake the look on the mute's -face. There was nothing to do but to obey. He waved his hand in a -farewell. Locke returned the gesture. Then Ashton-Kirk walked to the -door, opened it and stepped out. - -Pendleton, patiently watching among the trees, saw him emerge and at -once moved toward him; to his amazement the investigator took him by -the arm and broke into a run. - -"What the deuce is the matter now?" asked Pendleton, after they had -passed the gate and were racing down the road. - -"You'll know in a few moments," returned Ashton-Kirk grimly. - -He permitted no pause until they reached the car, the engine of which -had not been stopped. - -"Quick, for your lives!" he ordered, as he leaped in. - -Pendleton and Burgess followed instantly. The car had scarcely begun -its plunge forward when a horrible rending shock staggered them. And -as they sped away the debris of the deaf-mute's work-shop was falling -all about them. - -The evening papers were glaring with the news from Cordova by the -time the two friends were once more alone in Ashton-Kirk's library. -Pendleton seemed to be pondering. - -"I say," said he, at last, "was it Morris or Spatola who remained at -Hume's the night of the murder?" - -"I spoke to Spatola about that," answered Ashton-Kirk. "He said it -was Morris who left first and whom Hume pursued by jeers through the -open window. Morris had, according to his resolve, called at the place -to demand the plans; but Hume was mad with liquor and was even worse -in his manner than usual. Unable to bear it, Morris had rushed out. -Spatola later made his way out by way of the scuttle and across the -roof, as he frequently did. - -"The thing which Spatola had carried under his coat that night was a -diploma which he had received from a musical conservatory in Rome. It -was in a frame and so made considerable bulk. Hume had denied that -afternoon that Spatola had ever studied in this particular -conservatory; frantic with rage, but knowing that he was a fool for -doing it, the Italian had brought his diploma as proof. - -"Morris, under the name of Crawford, occupied a room on the floor -below Spatola; and as soon as the musician entered through the -scuttle, he descended the stairs and went immediately to his friend's -room to console and encourage him. - -"Some time passed, and while they were still talking they heard a step -upon the stairs leading to the attic. As no one lived there but -himself, Spatola looked and in the semi-darkness saw two men -descending. He called and asked who they were, and Sagon's voice -replied that it was he and a friend. They had gone up to have a talk -and smoke a cigar with him; but seeing that he was not in, they had -come down at once. And now, as he was apparently engaged, they would -not trouble him, and with that they disappeared within Sagon's room." - -"Then," said Pendleton, "they had gone up through the attic, across -the roofs, committed the deed, and returned while Spatola was with -Morris?" - -"It would seem so." - -"But suppose that on reaching the attic, upon their return they had -found Spatola there?" - -"Sagon had calculated it all very nicely. One night a week Spatola -went to play with two compatriots at their rooms; with piano, harp and -violin, they gave vent to the harmony that was in them. That was the -night for the trio, and Sagon knew it. But In his rage and his desire -to prove his standing to Hume, Spatola had forgotten it. When he -descended to Morris's rooms, the two criminals thought he had gone to -make his usual visit to his friends. Sagon says he almost lost his -nerve when the Italian confronted them on the stairs." - -"But here's a thing I've not been able to puzzle out. According to -your notion--and you may have proved it since, for all I know--Locke -was not in the showroom during or after the murder. And yet it should -have been he who dropped the little particle from the railroad ticket -upon the desk." - -"It would seem that way," admitted Ashton-Kirk, "but the fact is that -Sagon visited Locke at the Institute and rode to the city with him -that afternoon. The particle may be accounted for in that way." - -"Yes," mused the other, "that's so. But, one thing more. I should have -asked this of Morris himself if he had not been in such a confoundedly -miserable way. Why did he take to hiding immediately after the -murder?" - -"He spent the night in his lodgings at Christie Place; next day the -papers told him that he was suspected. He knew that if he appeared -he'd be arrested; and as he desired to recover the plans before the -murderers escaped with them, he felt that this would be fatal to his -chances. Of course, I am not sure of this; but I think it more than -likely." - -"Speaking of taking chances on the plans," said Pendleton, "you were -willing enough to take pretty long ones on them last night. Why, Sagon -actually had them in his hands." - -Ashton-Kirk drew a flat packet from his pocket. Opening it he showed -that it contained nothing but blank paper. - -"This is what Sagon found behind the portrait," said he, with a -smile. "The real papers I was very careful to remove two days ago. One -moment--that's the telephone." - -Pendleton sat rolling a cigarette and wondering, while Ashton-Kirk -took down the receiver. - -"Well?" said he. Then in a moment his expression changed. "Oh, is it -you? Well, how are you after your exciting experience?" - -Here Pendleton dropped the completed cigarette and listened. - -"You may consider yourself very fortunate to escape with a slight -headache," said Ashton-Kirk. Then there was a pause, and he said, -apparently in answer to a question: "Oh, yes, he's with me now. Will -you speak with him?" - -Pendleton arose and took a step toward the stand. But he halted as if -shot when his friend continued in the transmitter: - -"No?" Pause. "Oh, very well. Good-by." - -Ashton-Kirk hung up the receiver and turned to his friend. - -"So," said Pendleton, in a queer sort of voice, "she doesn't wish to -speak to me." - -"Not over the wire--no. But she wants you to come to her--at once. She -desires to hear all about what she calls the wonderful way we have -handled this case, and she wants to hear it--from you." Ashton-Kirk -looked at his watch. "It is now 10:45. You can get there by eleven if -you rush." - -"Do you call doing that little distance in fifteen minutes rushing?" -The young man's face was radiant and he was making for the door as he -spoke. "If I don't do it in half that time, I'm a duffer." - -Then the door slapped behind him, and Ashton-Kirk heard him bounding -down the stairs. - - - - * * * * * - -Another story in this series is "ASHTON-KIRK AND THE SCARLET SCAPULAR" -(in press) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Ashton-Kirk, Investigator, by John T. 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