"Then there's another peculiar thing," resumed Gaskell, a little more freely, yet still whispering. "I suppose you know that I have a country estate not far from my daughter?"
He paused. "Of course I know," he went on, watching Kennedy's face, "that sparks are sometimes struck by horses' shoes when they hit stones. But the shoes of my horses, for instance, out there lately have been giving forth sparks even in the stable. My groom called my attention to it, and I saw it myself."
He continued looking searchingly at Kennedy. "You are a scientist," he said at length. "Can you tell me why?"
Kennedy was thinking deeply. "I can't, offhand," he replied frankly. "But I should like to have a chance to investigate."
"There may be some connection with the fire," hinted Gaskell anxiously as he accompanied us to the door.
At our own apartment, when we returned, we found our friend, Burke, of the Secret Service, waiting for us.
"Just had a hurry call to come to New York," he explained, "and thought I'd like to drop in on you first."
"What's the trouble?" asked Kennedy.
"Why, there's been a mysterious yacht lurking about the mouth of the harbor for several days and they want to look into it."
"Whose yacht do they think it is?"