An International Affair
Next morning Ashton-Kirk's car was drawn up at his door; in the hall, the secret agent pulled on a pair of gloves; at his side stood the alert Fuller.
"You carried out my instructions?" asked the former.
"Yes," answered Fuller. "I telegraphed the secretary that you would reach Washington by 11:40 and would call upon him at once."
"You urged him that the matter was possibly one of much importance?"
"Yes."
The secret agent turned to Stumph, who stood at the front door.
"Have Dixon meet every Washington train after dark," said he. "We shall be on one or the other of them."
Stumph threw open the hall door and then that of the car; the soft throb of the engine changed to a startled snort, and then the huge vehicle glided away.
A little later the two men sat facing each other upon the heavy "Limited"; Ashton-Kirk turned the pages of a magazine. For a time Fuller was silent and thoughtful. But at length he said: