Ashton Kirk, Secret Agent

isit

e was a silence;

time of the night? They are origina

in," said Ashto

artled face toward him; her

ust not come in-at this

secret agent fixed them

library," said he in an even tone. "It

ere was no sign of weakening in them; the yellow t

ment. "But let it be understood t

here they stood they had no view of the entrance, as the stairway shut it off. Again there came the voices,

aid. Then in an ominous tone she adde

her enter the rear room once more.

all and busy yo

and," answ

oom into which the visitors

man Ashton-Kirk had seen weeding the lawn two days before; the other was larger i

e latter

-Kirk, as he looked at him, saw that the lineless face was singularly expressionless; however, a pair of jetty

the secret agent. "If there is anyth

panese

id he. "But it is Dr. M

rring; it was as though h

call him," suggested the spea

I should readily do if it could have any e

ly at one side; its strokes now seemed to grow quicker and louder,

e small man in

he other, and one hand went

secret agent. "And more

the small man. "

the hands were quite wonderful, slim and strong and beautifully shaped. Their color was a bright saffron, the finge

aid he, "is a frightful th

rk shook

he, "is yet t

ice? They ar

N

nds touched the smaller

ice, "murder has been done a

ght those of his companion; and a look a

y things," said Humadi, "but i

k, quietly. "But, in the meantime, if there is anything t

s he spoke he smiled and pushed a chair toward the secret agent in such a way that it would bring his back toward t

xt street; the back you can see from the rear windows of this. On the second floor there is a room whe

-Kirk

my people. I love it;" the soft voice seemed to caress the subject on which it dwelt; "I sit and smoke and dream for hours. The bright legends of the Samurai sound like music to the mind; and f

before I knew it. But when the clock struck ten, I got up and turned off the light, for I live very strictly," smilingly, "much as one of the recluses of the waste places of our own island. The n

here came a sharp swift rustle in the hall, a

ried Okiu, as he

Ashton-Kirk, as he lounged back in his chair. "

apologetic, but a heavy furrow between his

e room," said he. "If I startled hi

you talked to my friend I stepped into the hall thinking to obser

of you to trouble yourself. The door across the way leads to the r

d Humadi, as he sat down, wea

nd the wonderful hands

ou would not wonder at him for this. His is one of the helpful natures; alwa

one in a smile of understanding. "One meets people of that s

ng just upon the edge of the shadow cast by this house. It was not a very marked movement, and at first I thought it must be something waving in the breeze. But after a little I knew that this was not so

se promptly. "And I said that there were more

e like those of a boy. Yes, he said that they must be thieves, and I agreed with him. We watched for some time, but the

rk, "broad in the shoulders,

their eyes upon him

him?" cri

fancied that i

peculative; from the beginning he had regarded Ashton-Kirk with interest; but to this was now ad

on-Kirk; "he was tall and well set, and also young, judging by the ease with which he leaped over the fence. After this, as nothing more happened, I went to be

ce expressed no emotion, but the eyes, the ha

ing more terrible!" Then as though a thought had occurred to him. "

agent sho

repl

at could be worse." He seemed to hesitate for a space, then a

said Ash

l leave my sorrow with you. It is fitter that it should be mentioned by an old friend of the family li

g you to say that you are a

n-Kirk, readily. "But scarcely

id the searching black eyes. "Th

o days

o d

men met, and again did a rapid

Okiu, softly. "That

egin some time," prot

e with Dr. Morse should begin last nig

shton-Kirk met the peering

uld not grow," answered the Japanese, gently. "

also got u

id, drily. "If it did, perhaps t

he shuffle of feet was heard upon the walk and then more no

ng at his watch. "Their methods are a

briskly toward the hall door. In another moment a thick-set man in a

eant, nodding to the three m

was explained; the sergeant listened to th

on this case, of course," continued the sergeant, "and he'll want to hear you tell about that. And in the meantime," stuffing his note-book into his breastp

ng by the gate. Dixon, who had been waiting all this time, threw on the power at sig

y, a smile upon his smooth fac

as the car started off, and he and Fulle

t? It sounded to me much as though he had so

irk quietly, "that is what h