ASHTON-KIRK is a young man of means and position. The unusual has a sort of fascination for him; his subtle perception, and keen, direct habit of mind cause him to delight in the investigation of those crimes which have proved too shadowy for the police.
In “Ashton-Kirk, Investigator,” another book dealing with his experiences, he was concerned with the strange case of the murder of the numismatist, Hume. In “Secret Agent,” he was involved in a crisis between two nations; and a great war was averted by his skill and ready courage.
In this volume, he is called upon by an ancient friend who has been plunged into an appalling series of circumstances of which he can make nothing, except that all concerned are in immediate and deadly peril. And it is here shown how the special detective’s acute mind, deft manipulation and resourcefulness warded off a terrible danger.
CONTENTS
| CHAPTER | PAGE | |
| I. | Mr. Scanlon Relates Some Peculiar Circumstances | [ 9] |
| II. | Shows How Matters Stood at Schwartzberg | [ 17] |
| III. | In Which the Special Detective Takes Up the Hunt | [ 28] |
| IV. | Tells Something of the Man in the Rolling Chair | [ 35] |
| V. | Speaks of Ashton-Kirk’s First Visit to Schwartzberg | [ 45] |
| VI. | In Which Ashton-Kirk Indicates Much but Says Little | [ 62] |
| VII. | Shows How Mr. Scanlon Met the Man With the Soft Voice | [ 80] |
| VIII. | Tells How the Night Breeze Blew From the Northwest | [ 88] |
| IX. | In Which Some Things Are Done and Some Others Are Said | [ 97] |
| X. | Shows How Mrs. Kretz Spoke Her Mind | [ 103] |
| XI. | Tells Something of Two Gentlemen Who Were Encountered Unexpectedly | [ 112] |
| XII. | Speaks of the Manner in which the Gates of Schwartzberg were Opened | [ 122] |
| XIII. | Deals With Some Happenings of the Next Day | [ 127] |
| XIV. | In Which Ashton-Kirk Hears Matters of Interest | [ 143] |
| XV. | Tells How Amazement Filled the Mind of Mr. Scanlon | [ 151] |
| XVI. | Shows How the Great Sword Was Missed from the Wall | [ 162] |
| XVII. | Speaks of a Harp Which Was Played in Silence | [ 174] |
| XVIII. | Deals Mainly With Some News from Mexico | [ 187] |
| XIX. | In Which Ashton-Kirk Pays His Second Visit to Schwartzberg | [ 197] |
| XX. | Tells How Ashton-Kirk Pointed Out Certain Matters of Interest | [ 205] |
| XXI. | Shows How the Great Sword Spoke to Scanlon | [ 222] |
| XXII. | In Which a Matter of Much Ingenuity is Considered | [ 234] |
| XXIII. | Conclusion | [ 241] |
SPECIAL DETECTIVE
(Ashton-Kirk)
CHAPTER I
MR. SCANLON RELATES SOME PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES
ASHTON-KIRK, student of crime, sat cross-legged upon a rug; thoughtfully he drew at the big pipe; the wreaths of smoke drifted over the tottering towers of books with which he was surrounded, and eddied out at an open window.
“Fuller,” said he, “get me the name Campe.”
The nimble fingered assistant ran through the cards of a filing system.