Ashton-Kirk, Criminologist

  Produced by Annie McGuire

  HE WAS STEADFASTLY WATCHING THE GIRL]

  Ashton-KirkCriminologist

  BYJohn T. McIntyre

  Author of "Ashton-Kirk Investigator,""Ashton-Kirk Secret Agent," "Ashton-KirkSpecial Detective," etc.

  ILLUSTRATIONS BYRALPH L. BOYER

  THE PENN PUBLISHINGCOMPANY PHILADELPHIA1918

  COPYRIGHT1918 BYTHE PENNPUBLISHINGCOMPANY

  _To my friend__Edward W. Mumford_

  INTRODUCTION

  It is always a task of much difficulty to select an experience ofAshton-Kirk's from among the many which have been set down in therecords under his name.

  A maze of episodes in these records attracts the mind, and one findsthere a train of singular adventures, any one of which would make abook. The experiences which go to make up the volume "Ashton-Kirk,Investigator" were chosen because they dealt with a rather arabesquemurder, the hidden features of which were brought to light in anextraordinary way. In "Ashton-Kirk, Secret Agent," the elements seemeduniquely mixed, and shed an unusual light upon the windings of Europeandiplomacy.

  In the third volume, "Ashton-Kirk, Special Detective," the note ofhorror was rung shrilly, and the confident talents of this extraordinaryyoung man were brought smartly into play. It may be that the appearancein this history of the detective's big, good-natured, strong-handedfriend, Bat Scanlon, had something to do with its finding a place inthis series. In the present book this engaging personality has again apart in the drama.

  But aside from this influence, the episode makes a powerful appeal; thebrilliancy of the criminologist's work in the case treated here wouldsurely have compelled a place for it in any list of his experiences.

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER PAGE

  I. THE GATHERING CLOUD 11

  II. BAT SCANLON IS SURPRISED 21

  III. THE CLOUD GROWS DARKER 32

  IV. ASHTON-KIRK MAKES ONE VISIT, AND PLANS ANOTHER 50

  V. THE HOUND AND THE SCENT 68

  VI. ASHTON-KIRK ASKS QUESTIONS 79

  VII. SOME NEW DEVELOPMENTS 88

  VIII. SCANLON MAKES A NEW ACQUAINTANCE 100

  IX. A PLACE OF FEAR 113

  X. THROUGH THE WINDOW 124

  XI. DENNISON TALKS ONCE MORE 132

  XII. A DOUBLE SHADOW 142

  XIII. SOMETHING UNEXPECTED 157

  XIV. ASHTON-KIRK VISITS HEADQUARTERS 170

  XV. SCANLON STATES HIS POSITION 179

  XVI. "CONFESSED!" 192

  XVII. THE WATERS ARE TROUBLED 203

  XVIII. NORA GOES TO STANWICK 216

  XIX. IN THE DARK 225

  XX. QUEER INTELLIGENCE 234

  XXI. WHAT THE BURGLAR SAID AT GAFFNEY'S 243

  XXII. WHAT DANNY SAW AT QUIGLEY'S 260

  XXIII. A WOMAN! 270

  XXIV. MR. QUIGLEY IS INTERVIEWED 285

  XXV. NORA TALKS AND SCANLON LISTENS 297

  XXVI. CONCLUSION 309

  ILLUSTRATIONS

  PAGE

  HE WAS STEADFASTLY WATCHING THE GIRL _Frontispiece_

  "EVERY CHAMBER LOADED" 74

  HE LIFTED THE BLADE ONCE MORE 146

  THEN THE DOOR SWUNG OPEN 294