“Just working out a little idea, that’s all.”
At the voice Mr. Scanlon gasped. Then the man’s head lifted without the blue glasses. Even the yellow stain was no disguise.
“Kirk!” said the big man. “Kirk, by George!”
CHAPTER XIV
IN WHICH ASHTON-KIRK HEARS MATTERS OF INTEREST
THE special detective smiled and nodded.
“Just a moment,” said he; “there are a few little indications which I want to make sure of, then I’ll talk to you.” Swiftly he worked with the glass and a small ivory rule; then pocketing these he resumed the blue glasses and arose to his feet. “I gather from your words and your expression of face that you’re a trifle surprised!”
“It’s a clean knock-out,” announced Bat. He looked closely at the other and then shook his head. “I never understood before how much a man’s eyes had to do with his appearance,” said he.
“Hide the eyes,” said Ashton-Kirk, “and you are half disguised already. Then a change in the voice and the dress and you are complete, only needing some acting along the line of your assumed character. The rôle of a sick man is one of the easiest to assume, as perhaps any physician could tell you. The blue glasses are natural, then; also the tinted skin and the huskiness of voice. A suit of clothes three or four sizes too large at once sets you down as having lost a great deal of weight; and then some intimate conversation regarding your particular complaint places you above suspicion.”
“Intimate conversation is good,” said Mr. Scanlon. “You talked about yours with the freedom and knowledge of a man who had bred one for years. But without that I’d not have recognized you; you fitted so well into place among that outfit of crooks that I never thought of you being something else.”
“Crooks!” said Ashton-Kirk. “So you have found that out.”