Ashton-Kirk, Investigator

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.