Special Detective (Ashton-Kirk)

Ashton-Kirk is a young man of means and position. The unusual has a sort of fascination for him; his subtle perception, and keen, direct habit of mind cause him to delight in the investigation of those crimes which have proved too shadowy for the police.

In “Ashton-Kirk, Investigator,” another book dealing with his experiences, he was concerned with the strange case of the murder of the numismatist, Hume. In “Secret Agent,” he was involved in a crisis between two nations; and a great war was averted by his skill and ready courage.

In this volume, he is called upon by an ancient friend who has been plunged into an appalling series of circumstances of which he can make nothing, except that all concerned are in immediate and deadly peril. And it is here shown how the special detective’s acute mind, deft manipulation and resourcefulness warded off a terrible danger.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. MR. SCANLON RELATES SOME PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES 9

II. SHOWS HOW MATTERS STOOD AT SCHWARTZBERG 17

III. IN WHICH THE SPECIAL DETECTIVE TAKES UP THE HUNT 28

IV. TELLS SOMETHING OF THE MAN IN THE ROLLING CHAIR 35

V. SPEAKS OF ASHTON-KIRK’S FIRST VISIT TO SCHWARTZBERG 45

VI. IN WHICH ASHTON-KIRK INDICATES MUCH BUT SAYS LITTLE 62

VII. SHOWS HOW MR. SCANLON MET THE MAN WITH THE SOFT VOICE 80

VIII. TELLS HOW THE NIGHT BREEZE BLEW FROM THE NORTHWEST 88

IX. IN WHICH SOME THINGS ARE DONE AND SOME OTHERS ARE SAID 97

X. SHOWS HOW MRS. KRETZ SPOKE HER MIND 103

XI. TELLS SOMETHING OF TWO GENTLEMEN WHO WERE ENCOUNTERED UNEXPECTEDLY 112

XII. SPEAKS OF THE MANNER IN WHICH THE GATES OF SCHWARTZBERG WERE OPENED 122

XIII. DEALS WITH SOME HAPPENINGS OF THE NEXT DAY 127

XIV. IN WHICH ASHTON-KIRK HEARS MATTERS OF INTEREST 143

XV. TELLS HOW AMAZEMENT FILLED THE MIND OF MR. SCANLON 151

XVI. SHOWS HOW THE GREAT SWORD WAS MISSED FROM THE WALL 162

XVII. SPEAKS OF A HARP WHICH WAS PLAYED IN SILENCE 174

XVIII. DEALS MAINLY WITH SOME NEWS FROM MEXICO 187

XIX. IN WHICH ASHTON-KIRK PAYS HIS SECOND VISIT TO SCHWARTZBERG 197

XX. TELLS HOW ASHTON-KIRK POINTED OUT CERTAIN MATTERS OF INTEREST 205

XXI. SHOWS HOW THE GREAT SWORD SPOKE TO SCANLON 222

XXII. IN WHICH A MATTER OF MUCH INGENUITY IS CONSIDERED 234

XXIII. CONCLUSION 241

SPECIAL DETECTIVE

(ASHTON-KIRK)

CHAPTER I

MR. SCANLON RELATES SOME PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES

Ashton-Kirk, student of crime, sat cross-legged upon a rug; thoughtfully he drew at the big pipe; the wreaths of smoke drifted over the tottering towers of books with which he was surrounded, and eddied out at an open window.

“Fuller,” said he, “get me the name Campe.”

The nimble fingered assistant ran through the cards of a filing system.

“Campe--Mexico--financiers?” said he, at length, turning his head.

“Right,” spoke Ashton-Kirk.

“Volume II,” said Fuller, closing the drawer. “Shall I have it sent up?”

“Yes.”

In a few moments, Stumph, gravest of men servants, entered, bearing a bulky folio which he placed before his employer.

“In a short time,” said Ashton-Kirk, “Mr. Scanlon will call. Bring him up as soon as he arrives.”

Stumph silently withdrew; the special detective puffed at the meerschaum and nodded to Fuller.

“Let’s see what we have about the Campes,” requested he.

Fuller took the book, opened it at the index, and then turned over until he came to a certain page. He read: