Detective Ashton-Kirk (Boxed-Set). John T. McIntyre

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ every one of them a devotee, so to speak, of Bacchus. Sure, the finer the intellect, the greater the sup of drink appeals to them, if it does at all. One of the greatest frequenters of the club was a man whose inventions,"with a grandiloquent gesture, "revolutionized the industries of the world. And when he was mellow with it, boys o' boys, but he could discourse! His name was Morris,"added the speaker, "and he was the father of the young man whose name has been mixed up with this Hume affair which is so occupying the public mind just now."

      "Indeed."

      There was a pause: Tobin's mobile face looked back upon the past; his eyes had an introspective light in them.

      "To think,"said he, "how the natures of men differ. Some are like the gods of old, and others again are like—well, like anything you choose to call them. And yet,"with philosophic speculation, "these two widely diversified types are sometimes friends. To the surprise of everyone they occasionally take up with one another. It's hard to say why, but it is so."

      "I've noticed it myself,"said Ashton-Kirk.

      Tobin nodded.

      "Never,"said he, "did I see it so exemplified as in the case of Richard Morris and this felly who has just been killed. Never were two men more unlike; but sorra such an intimacy did I ever see afore, as there was between them. Morris when he had the drink in him was a poet. His ideas soared to the starry skies; he flew about upon the wings of the wind; faith I believe he thought the sun was not beyond his reach. But Hume was a divil! God save us, that I should say the like about any human creature; but he had the imp in him, for many's the time I see it grinning and looking out at his two eyes."

      "I've heard it said that he was an unpleasant sort of chap,"agreed the other.

      "Unpleasant,"said Tobin, "does not do credit to his capabilities, though 'tis a good word enough. There was never a man came into the Coffin Club, during the five years that I were there, that looked as though the place fitted him, but Hume. The others were like bad little boys who wouldn't take a dare. But Hume was just right. To see him lift one of the stone skulls to his lips and grin over it at you, would make your blood run cold. And bless us and save us, gentlemen, how he would jeer and snarl and laugh all at the one time. Many's the time I've listened to poor Morris rave and paint his pictures of what he was going to do in times to come; and on the other side of the coffin-table, Hume would urge him on, leerin' and grinnin' like Satan himself, and making all manner of game of him. Bedad, me gorge rose at it more than once, and it was all I could do to keep from takin' him by the scruff of the neck and throwin' him intil the street."

      "Almost every man has some spark of good in his nature, however faint,"said Ashton-Kirk. "And Hume may have had one, too, though no one seems to have discovered it."

      Tobin smiled and returned:

      "An Irishman always has a good deal of respect for the fighting strain, no matter if it be in a man, or a beast, or a bird. Old Nick himself must be a grand, two-handed man, and as such we must give him credit. And 'twas the same way with this felly Hume. He had real fighting blood, so he had; and sorra the man ever undertook to impose on him the second time."

      "And as a true Celt, you held this to be a credit mark,"laughed Ashton-Kirk.

      "I did. And, indeed, he seemed to consider it so himself, though he was not one to care a snap what others thought of him. But often he'd boast of the stock he came from. Fighters they were to the core, he said, fighters who never knew when they were whipped, and who'd go on fighting while they had a leg to stand on, an eye to see, and an arm to strike a blow."

      Tobin here paused and stroked his smooth-shaven chin, reflectively.

      "He claimed descent from someone who was rated a real man in his day,"he continued. "'Twas an officer, I think, who fought with—faith, yes,"smiling in recollection, "at the side of sorra the one less than Washington himself."

      Pendleton, listening with dwindling interest, saw Ashton-Kirk's hand clench, and saw a gleam shoot into his eyes. Then he saw him bend toward Tobin, his elbows on his knees, his clenched hands beneath his chin.

      "Ah,"said the investigator, and his voice was calmer than Pendleton remembered ever hearing it before, "he claimed a pedigree, did he? And from a Revolutionary officer. Such things are always interesting. It's a pity you can't remember the soldier's name."

      Tobin pondered.

      "I can't,"confessed he, at length; "but there is one thing that I remember hearing Hume tell about him; it seemed laughable at the time, and I suppose that's why it's stuck to me. It seems that the supposed ancestor were a great felly for dress, and expected the like of all the men under him; and though he often had niver a crust of bread to put into their mouths, he always managed to have a pinch of white powder for them to dress their hair."

      Ashton-Kirk laughed suddenly, and leaned back in his chair. The gleam died out of his eyes, and a twinkle of satisfaction replaced it.

      "That,"said he, "sounds amusing enough to be true. Mr. Hume's ancestor was at least consistent. But,"and his tone changed, "we must not keep you from your duties, Mr. Tobin, and so we'll get to the matter in hand."

      "If it is not hurrying you,"agreed Tobin.

      "A while ago,"spoke Ashton-Kirk, "you mentioned young Allan Morris; and during your conversation you have led me to think that you were his father's friend."

      "I were,"said Tobin. "He were a decent man."

      "Then perhaps your friendship extends to the son as well."

      "Perhaps it does,"and a note of perceptible caution crept into Tobin's voice.

      "I am glad to hear it,"said the investigator. "He seems badly in need of friends of the right sort just now; and I am confident, Mr. Tobin, that you are of that sort."

      "A man who has disappeared as completely as this one has done,"stated Tobin, "is out of the reach of even the best of friends."

      "Have you not heard from him since the murder?"

      "No,"replied the other with a readiness that carried conviction.

      "Then you will, and before long."Ashton-Kirk arose and stood looking into the old man's face. "Perhaps it will be to-night; but it will be by to-morrow night at latest. And when you do you can best show your friendship for him by telling him not to be a fool."

      "You mean,"said Tobin, shrewdly, "that I'm to advise him to give over hiding?"

      "Exactly."

      "I'll do that willingly enough, if I hear of him. An innocent man has no call to hide himself like a rat. But,"inquiringly, "after I tell him that, what will I do?"

      Ashton-Kirk took out a card; handing it to the other, he said:

      "Ask him to come see me."

      Tobin gave the card one glance, then his face lit up and his hand went out.

      "Let me shake your hand, sir,"said he. "And I'll tell the lad what you say with a heart and a half."

      CHAPTER XXI

       ASHTON-KIRK BEGINS TO PLAN

       Table СКАЧАТЬ