Ashton-Kirk, Secret Agent. John T. McIntyre

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СКАЧАТЬ "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 one government sufficiently interested in us to go so far."

      "You mean——"

      Ashton-Kirk yawned widely and then asked:

      "Have you seen the morning papers?"

      "Yes."

      "Perhaps you noticed a speech by Crosby, the Californian, in Congress. Rather a slashing affair. He continues to demand a permanent fleet for the Pacific and increased coast defenses."

      The windows were open; the high-pitched complaint from the mean street drifted up and into the room. A bar of sunlight shot between two up-rearing brick bulks across the way; it glittered among the racks of polished instruments, slipped along the shelves of books and entered at the door of the laboratory; here the vari-colored chemicals sparkled in their round-bellied prisons; the grotesque retorts gleamed in swollen satisfaction.

      A knock came upon the door, and Stumph, Ashton-Kirk's grave-faced man servant, entered with a card.

      "It is the gentleman who called yesterday while you were out,"said Stumph.

      The secret agent took the card and read:

      "Mr. Philip Warwick."

      "He asked me to say,"proceeded Stumph, "that his business is urgent and important."

      "Let him come up."

      Stumph went out. Fuller began fingering a packet of documents which he took from the table.

      "I suppose,"said he, "that I may as well file these Schofield-Dempster papers away."

      "Yes, the matter is finished, so far as we are concerned. It was interesting at first, but I'm rather glad to be rid of it. The piquancy of the situation was lost when the 'forgeries' were found to have been no forgeries at all; and the family despair is a trifle trying."

      "Mr. Philip Warwick,"said the low voice of Stumph, a few moments later.

      A big, square-shouldered young man entered the room; he had thick, light colored hair and wide open blue eyes. That he was an Englishman was unmistakable. For a moment he seemed in doubt as to whom he should address; but Fuller indicated his employer and the caller bowed his thanks.

      "Sir,"said he, "if I am intruding, I ask your pardon. I was directed to you by Professor Hutchinson of Hampden College, with whom I have become acquainted through our mutual interest in the Oriental languages."

      "Ah, yes. Hutchinson is a very old friend of mine, a splendid fellow, and a fine judge of tobacco. Will you sit down?"

      "Thank you."

      Mr. Philip Warwick sat down, and looked very big and strong and ill at ease. There was a perplexed expression upon his handsome face; but he said, quietly enough:

      "I take this occasion, Mr. Ashton-Kirk, to express my appreciation of your book upon the Lithuanian language. I spent some years in the Baltic provinces, and am fairly familiar with the tongue."

      Ashton-Kirk smiled, well pleased.

      "A number of people have been good enough to notice that little book,"said he, "though when I wrote it I did not expect it to get beyond my own circle. You see, the Lithuanians have grown rather thick in this section of the city; and the great similarity between their language and the Sanskrit interested me."

      "The work,"said the young Englishman, "is very complete. But,"and his voice lowered a trifle, "much as I am delighted with it, still, that is not why I have ventured to call upon you."

      "No?"The secret agent settled himself in the big chair; his singular eyes studied the visitor with interest. Fuller having finished with the papers at the table now asked:

      "Will you need me?"

      "Perhaps."

      The assistant thereupon sat down, took out a pencil and laid a pad of paper upon his knee. Philip Warwick shifted uneasily in his chair; his powerful fingers clasped and unclasped nervously.

      "Professor Hutchinson informs me,"said he, "that you take an interest in those problems which spring up unexpectedly and confound the inexperienced. Have I been correctly informed?"

      The secret agent nodded.

      "Am I to understand that you have brought me such a problem?"he asked.

      The visitor bent forward a trifle.

      "Perhaps,"he said, "it will prove no problem to you. It may be, to some extent, that our imaginations have been playing tricks upon us. But, however that may be, the whole matter is utterly beyond our comprehension. I have done what I can to get to the bottom of it and failed. If you will be kind enough to hear and advise me, I shall be profoundly grateful."

      Ashton-Kirk gestured for him to go on.

      "The affair,"began the young Englishman, "is not my own, but that of my employer, Dr. Simon Morse."He caught the look in the eyes of the secret agent, and added: "No doubt you have heard of him; his theories attracted wide attention some time ago."

      "I recall him very well,"said Ashton-Kirk. "A sort of scientific anarchist, if I'm not mistaken; he had many daring ideas and considerable hardihood in their expression."

      "Any sort of government, human or divine, has in him an outspoken enemy,"said Warwick. "I know him to be a man of great learning and splendid ability, but somewhere in his brain there is a something which nullifies it all."

      "You say the matter regarding which you came to see me is that of Dr. Morse. Did he ask you to come?"

      "No, no,"young Warwick held up his hand, hastily. "He knows nothing of it; and I much prefer that he should not. You see, he is a man of peculiar temperament. He is very silent and secretive regarding his private affairs; also he has,"drily, "a somewhat violent temper."

      "You picture a rather unpleasant character."

      "But I do him no injustice,"protested the young Englishman. "Frankly, he is not at all my sort; and I should not remain with him a day, were it not for Stella—Miss Corbin."

      "I see."

      "She СКАЧАТЬ