Ashton-Kirk, Secret Agent Read online

  Produced by Annie R. McGuire. This book was produced fromscanned images of public domain material from the GooglePrint archive.

  Book Cover]

  HE TOOK UP THE ENVELOPE]

  ASHTON-KIRKSECRET AGENT

  BYJohn T. McIntyreAuthor of "Ashton-Kirk Investigator," &c.

  ILLUSTRATIONS BYRALPH L. BOYER

  THE PENN PUBLISHINGCOMPANY PHILADELPHIA1912

  COPYRIGHT1912 BYTHE PENNPUBLISHINGCOMPANY

  _To__Helen Ray_

  Introduction

  Those who have read "Ashton-Kirk, Investigator" will recall referencesto several affairs in which the United States government found theinvestigator's unusual powers of inestimable service. In such matters,tremendous interests often stand dangerously balanced, and the mostdelicate touch is required if they are not to be sent toppling. AsAshton-Kirk has said:

  "When a crisis arises between two of the giant modern nations, withtheir vast armies, their swift fleets, their dreadful engines of war,the hands which control their affairs must be steady, secret, and sure.Otherwise an unthinkable horror might be brought about."

  It frequently happens that such a crisis arises, the issue is joined andfought out to the bitter end, and the watchful public press never getseven a hint of it. Indeed, if the secret archives of the nations werethrown open for inspection, a long series of appalling dangers would beshown to have been passed by each--dangers arising from small andapparently remote things, but capable of swift and deadly growth.

  Experience, steady courage, and sure talent are required in dealingwith such things; and these qualities Ashton-Kirk possesses inabundance. To be sure, the departments of the government have the"Secret Service" at their hand; but the specialist is called in when thegeneral practitioner is at a loss, and he is as much a part of thestructure as his regularly employed colleague.

  The adventure of the present story is only one of many to be told ofAshton-Kirk.

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER PAGE I. SOME PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES 11 II. ASHTON-KIRK GOES TO EASTBURY 33 III. AN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIR 50 IV. THE TAKING OFF OF DR. MORSE 64 V. THE HOUND STRIKES THE TRAIL 76 VI. THE VISIT OF OKIU 89 VII. THE METHYLENE STAIN 101 VIII. THE HOUSE ON FORDHAM ROAD 116 IX. OKIU ONCE MORE 126 X. SOME STARTLING INTELLIGENCE 135 XI. A RAY OF LIGHT 144 XII. KARKOWSKY GETS SOME ATTENTION 157 XIII. OLD NANON SPEAKS 167 XIV. OKIU WRITES A LETTER 176 XV. ALMOST! 181 XVI. IN THE DARK 195 XVII. THE SILHOUETTES 204 XVIII. GONE! 214 XIX. THE TAXI-CAB 223 XX. FRESH DEVELOPMENTS 240 XXI. THE MAN WITH THE DECORATION 247 XXII. THE GERMAN EMBASSY BALL 256 XXIII. WHAT VON STUNNENBERG THOUGHT 276 XXIV. SURPRISED! 284 XXV. CAUGHT! 295 XXVI. THE TRUTH 308 XXVII. CONCLUSION 321

  Illustrations

  PAGE HE TOOK UP THE ENVELOPE _Frontispiece_ "WHO BROUGHT THE NEWS?" 73 THE GLITTERING EYES LIFTED 197 "MY TIME IS SHORT" 279