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John T. McIntyre
Ashton-Kirk, Secret Agent
Illustrator: Ralph L. Boyer
e-artnow, 2020
Contact: [email protected]
EAN: 4064066392031
Table of Contents
Chapter I. Some Peculiar Circumstances
Chapter II. Ashton-Kirk Goes to Eastbury
Chapter III. An International Affair
Chapter IV. The Taking Off of Dr. Morse
Chapter V. The Hound Strikes the Trail
Chapter VII. The Methylene Stain
Chapter VIII. The House on Fordham Road
Chapter X. Some Startling Intelligence
Chapter XII. Karkowsky Gets Some Attention
Chapter XIII. Old Nanon Speaks
Chapter XIV. Okiu Writes a Letter
Chapter XX. Fresh Developments
Chapter XXI. The Man With the Decoration
Chapter XXII. The German Embassy Ball
Chapter XXIII. What Von Stunnenberg Thought
CHAPTER I
SOME PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES
Fuller studied the heavy, decided signature at the bottom of the typed page; then he laid the letter upon the table.
"One who judges character by handwriting,"said he, "would probably think the secretary a strong man."
Ashton-Kirk took the stem of the long German pipe from between his lips.
"From your tone,"said he, "you do not so consider him."
Fuller was looking down at the letter.
"With that looking me in the face, how can I? Here is a matter of tremendous importance—one of the most guarded secrets of the government is endangered. Yesterday, in what was undoubtedly a panic, he wired you, begging help. Then, almost immediately after, he weakens and writes, requesting you to do nothing."
Thick clouds arose from the Coblentz; the smoker snuggled down into the big chair luxuriously.
"And from these things,"said he, "you draw that he lacks force?"
"Yes; he quit before even catching a glimpse of the end."
There was a moment's silence, and then the secret agent spoke.
"There are times,"remarked he, "when it is not altogether desirable to catch that glimpse."He blew out a veil of smoke and watched it idly for a moment. "It is possible, in pushing a thing to the end,"he added, "to force an entirely unexpected result. Take for example the case of the Molineux chaplet, some little time since. Could there have been more fire, more determination than that exhibited by old Colonel Molineux in this room when he brought the matter to our attention? And yet, when I showed him that his own daughter was the thief, he instantly subsided."
Fuller regarded his employer with questioning eyes.
"You think, then, that some one concerned in the government has been found out as——"
But the other stopped him.
"Sometimes,"said he, "we are even more anxious to spare an enemy than a friend. And the reason usually is that we do not care to force the said enemy into such a position that his only resource would be an open blow."
"Ah!"Fuller's eyes widened. "They hesitate because they fear to bring about a war."He looked at the secret agent, the question in his face growing. "But with whom?"
Ashton-Kirk put aside the pipe and got up.
"For years,"said he, "the specialists of the Navy Department have been secretly working upon a gun designed to throw a tremendous explosive. That it was delicate work was shown by the quality of the men employed upon it; and that it was dangerous was proven by the lives lost from time to time in the experiments. Six months ago the invention was completed. The news leaked out, and naturally the powers were interested. Then to the dismay of the heads of the department it was learned that a most formidable plan to obtain possession of the secret had been balked by the merest chance. The agents of the government were at once put to work; not satisfied with this, the secretary wired me to come to Washington at once. But I was in no haste to do so, because I foresaw what would happen."
The questioning look in Fuller's eyes increased.
"I knew that the agents of a foreign government laid the plan,"proceeded Ashton-Kirk. "Who else would desire information upon such a point? And at this time there is but