Ashton-Kirk, Secret Agent

by John Thomas McIntyre

  CHAPTER VI

  THE VISIT OF OKIU

  For a moment there was a silence; then Fuller spoke.

  "Japanese!" exclaimed he. "At this time of the night? They are originalin their choice of hours, anyhow."

  "Let them come in," said Ashton-Kirk, quietly.

  The old woman turned her startled face toward him; her hands went uprebelliously.

  "No," she said. "They must not come in--at this time above all others."

  The singular eyes of the secret agent fixed themselves upon hersteadily.

  "Show them into the room across from the library," said he in an eventone. "It is necessary that I should speak to them."

  The stern gray eyes met the dark ones squarely. There was no sign ofweakening in them; the yellow tinge left the old face; the hands fell ather side.

  "Very well," she said, after a moment. "But let it be understood that Ilifted my voice against it."

  Again she went to the door; they heard the bolt shot and a rush of airtold them the door had opened. From where they stood they had no view ofthe entrance, as the stairway shut it off. Again there came the voices,then footsteps and once more the door closed. In a moment the old womanreturned. She pointed down the hall.

  "I have done what you ordered," she said. Then in an ominous tone sheadded: "And I trust no harm comes of it."

  With that she went on, and they saw her enter the rear room once more.Ashton-Kirk spoke quietly to Fuller.

  "Stand in the hall and busy yourself somehow."

  "I understand," answered Fuller.

  Ashton-Kirk approached the room into which the visitors had been shown,and went in.

  Two men arose upon the entrance of the secret agent. One was the smallgray-haired man Ashton-Kirk had seen weeding the lawn two days before;the other was larger in girth and taller; his face was yellow and asdevoid of lines as that of an infant.

  It was the latter who spoke.

  "Do I see Dr. Morse?" he inquired. The accent was perfect, the voicesoft, smooth and almost caressing. Ashton-Kirk, as he looked at him, sawthat the lineless face was singularly expressionless; however, a pair ofjetty eyes looked out piercingly from between the drooping lids and thechin protruded with much natural resolution.

  "I am a friend of the family," said the secret agent. "If there isanything that I can do I shall be pleased."

  The Japanese smiled.

  "You are very good," said he. "But it is Dr. Morse whom I wish to see."

  The voice was soft and purring; it was as though he were speaking to achild.

  "If you will be kind enough to call him," suggested the speaker, "I willbe obliged to you."

  "That," said Ashton-Kirk, "is a thing which I should readily do if itcould have any effect. But it would not. Dr. Morse is dead."

  There was complete silence for a moment; a tall clock ticked solemnly atone side; its strokes now seemed to grow quicker and louder, like theheart-beats of a man fighting down an increasing excitement.

  "Dead!" said the small man in a throaty voice.

  "Not that, surely!" spoke the other, and one hand went out, as though inprotest.

  "He is dead," said the secret agent. "And more, he has been murdered."

  "No, no," cried the small man. "That is horrible!"

  The other approached a step or two; both hands were gesticulating asthough he found it difficult to find words. And the hands were quitewonderful, slim and strong and beautifully shaped. Their color was abright saffron, the fingers were long and as supple as those of amagician; their tips were delicately pointed, the nails rounded andgleaming.

  "This what you tell us," said he, "is a frightful thing! Murdered! Andby whom?"

  Ashton-Kirk shook his head.

  "That," said he, "is yet to be learned."

  "But the police? They are not here?"

  "No."

  One of the wonderful hands touched the smaller man upon the shoulder.

  "Humadi," said the gentle voice, "murder has been done and the policeare not here."

  The eyes of the gray-haired Japanese sought those of his companion; anda look as rapid as lightning passed between them.

  "The West prides itself on many things," said Humadi, "but in Tokio,this would not be so."

  "The officers will arrive in due course," said Ashton-Kirk, quietly."But, in the meantime, if there is anything that I can do, I shall be,as I said before, much pleased."

  "Will you permit me to sit down?" asked the taller of the two. "Thankyou; and you will sit there, will you not?" As he spoke he smiled andpushed a chair toward the secret agent in such a way that it would bringhis back toward the door if he sat in it. But Ashton-Kirk took itreadily, without a sign that he noticed anything studied in the act.

  "My name," said the Japanese, as he seated himself facing Ashton-Kirk,"is Okiu. My house is on the next street; the back you can see from therear windows of this. On the second floor there is a room where I readand smoke and study. It is at the back, and there," with a wave of thehand, "I sat to-night."

  Ashton-Kirk nodded.

  "It is in the blood of all lands," proceeded Okiu, "to love its nativeliterature. I have many quaint books and rare manuscripts; they are fullof the, as you of the West call it, folk-lore of my people. I love it;"the soft voice seemed to caress the subject on which it dwelt; "I sitand smoke and dream for hours. The bright legends of the Samurai soundlike music to the mind; and forgotten heroes rise before me in all theirancient power." Here he laughed gently. "You see," said he, "how filledI am with the subject, when I drift unconsciously into it at a time likethis.

  "To-night I was so engaged. I was deep in a book lately sent me by afriend, a reprint of a precious writing that I had never before seen. Ibecame lost in its pages; two, three hours slipped by before I knew it.But when the clock struck ten, I got up and turned off the light, for Ilive very strictly," smilingly, "much as one of the recluses of thewaste places of our own island. The night was beautiful, however, and Istood for a little looking out. The shadows fell in long lines andfinally upon the edge of one of these--the shadow cast by this veryhouse--I saw something stir."

  The last word had hardly left his lips when there came a sharp swiftrustle in the hall, an exclamation and the sound of a closing door.

  "What is that?" cried Okiu, as he came to his feet.

  "I'm inclined to think it's your friend," said Ashton-Kirk, as helounged back in his chair. "I rather wondered why he went out into thehall."

  Humadi appeared in the doorway, his manner apologetic, but a heavyfurrow between his eyes. Fuller glanced in, over his shoulder.

  "The gentleman made a mistake in the room," said he. "If I startled himin putting him right, I'm sorry."

  "It is my place to ask pardon," said Humadi to Ashton-Kirk. "While youtalked to my friend I stepped into the hall thinking to observesomething which might be of value to the police when they came."

  "I thank you for your interest," said the secret agent. "It is kind ofyou to trouble yourself. The door across the way leads to the room wherethe body lies, and it is as well that it be kept closed."

  "It is for you to say," agreed Humadi, as he sat down, wearing asomewhat baffled look.

  Okiu laughed softly, and the wonderful hands gestured appreciation.

  "You do not know Humadi," he said to Ashton-Kirk; "you do not know him,or you would not wonder at him for this. His is one of the helpfulnatures; always is he desirous of being of assistance. To aid others ishis one ambition."

  "Ah, yes, to be sure." And Ashton-Kirk's fine white teeth shone in asmile of understanding. "One meets people of that sort now and then, butupon the whole such natures are rare."

  "Rare, indeed! But the world," caressingly, "would be greatly the betterif there were more." There was an instant's pause, then Okiu went on:"As I was saying, while I stood at my window, I saw a stirring just uponthe edge of the shadow cast by this house. It was not a very markedmovement, and at first I thought it must be something waving in thebreeze. But aft
er a little I knew that this was not so; the movement wastoo intelligent; I felt that there was some one lurking about on thelawn. Then I called Humadi; and when he came he said--what was it yousaid, Humadi?" turning to the gray-haired man.

  "I said it must be men," said the other Japanese promptly. "And I saidthat there were more than one, and that they appeared to be thieves."

  "He has such excellent vision," said Okiu, approvingly, to Ashton-Kirk."He is many years older than I, but his eyes are like those of a boy.Yes, he said that they must be thieves, and I agreed with him. Wewatched for some time, but the shadows were so dense that we could makeout little or nothing. Then suddenly we saw a man emerge into themoonlight."

  "A tall man," said Ashton-Kirk, "broad in the shoulders, and carrying aleather bag."

  Both Japanese turned their eyes upon him with swift surprise.

  "You saw him?" cried Humadi.

  "No, I merely fancied that it might be so."

  The surprise died quickly out of Okiu's eyes; and in its place came alook that was peculiarly speculative; from the beginning he had regardedAshton-Kirk with interest; but to this was now added surmise and,perhaps, quickening dread. But when he spoke his voice snowed no traceof this.

  "Your imagination is excellent," purred he, gently; "indeed, it amountsto something like second sight. You are quite right, sir," his glancerunning over Ashton-Kirk; "he was tall and well set, and also young,judging by the ease with which he leaped over the fence. After this, asnothing more happened, I went to bed. But I could not sleep. I felt surethat something had occurred, and it troubled me. At last I got up,called to Humadi and came here to speak to Dr. Morse."

  Here the Japanese arose; the smooth chubby face expressed no emotion,but the eyes, the hands, the whole body showed evidences of shock.

  "I thought," said he, "to tell of a mere robbery; but I find somethingmore terrible!" Then as though a thought had occurred to him. "But theothers--the young lady? the young man? They met with no harm?"

  The secret agent shook his head.

  "No," replied he.

  "That is well! The other is a frightful calamity, but even that could beworse." He seemed to hesitate for a space, then added in another tone:"You will express my sympathy to them?"

  "I will," said Ashton-Kirk.

  "I would not disturb them now," and Okiu gestured the idea from him."No, that would not do. But I will leave my sorrow with you. It isfitter that it should be mentioned by an old friend of the family likeyourself." Again there was a slight pause; the speaker looked atAshton-Kirk inquiringly as he asked:

  "Am I right in understanding you to say that you are an old friend ofthe family?"

  "A friend, yes," answered Ashton-Kirk, readily. "But scarcely what couldbe called an old one."

  "Ah!" The drooping lids almost hid the searching black eyes. "Then youhave not known them long?"

  "For two days merely."

  "Two days!"

  Again the glances of the yellow men met, and again did a rapidintelligence pass between them.

  "Two days," repeated Okiu, softly. "That is odd, is it not?"

  "Acquaintances must begin some time," protested the secret agent.

  "To be sure. But that your acquaintance with Dr. Morse should begin lastnight, and that he should die to-night----"

  "Well?" The keen eyes of Ashton-Kirk met the peering ones of Okiuinquiringly.

  "Fate seemed determined that the friendship should not grow," answeredthe Japanese, gently. "It is strange how things come about, is it not?"

  Ashton-Kirk also got upon his feet.

  "Fate seldom consults us," he said, drily. "If it did, perhaps thingswould happen differently."

  Just then there came the growing sound of voices without; the shuffleof feet was heard upon the walk and then more noisily upon the porch.The bell rang in long streams of sound.

  "The police," said Ashton-Kirk, looking at his watch. "Their methods areas distinguishable as their uniforms."

  Fuller looked in; the secret agent nodded and the young man steppedbriskly toward the hall door. In another moment a thick-set man in asergeant's dress entered the room, and with him were two patrolmen.

  "How are you?" said the sergeant, nodding to the three men. "Members ofthe family?"

  In a few moments the status of the Japanese was explained; the sergeantlistened to their story of the prowler with satisfaction.

  "There's the party we want," said he. "Had a bag, did he? Humph! Full ofswag, I'll bet." He then took Okiu's name and address. "A headquartersman will go on this case, of course," continued the sergeant, "and he'llwant to hear you tell about that. And in the meantime," stuffing hisnote-book into his breastpocket, "I'll have to ask you all to go. We'vegot to look things over, and get the hang of it all, and you can see howtoo many people would be in the way."

  As Ashton-Kirk and Fuller emerged from the house, they found the twoJapanese standing by the gate. Dixon, who had been waiting all thistime, threw on the power at sight of his employer, and the engine of thebig French car began to hum in the silence.

  "Good-night," said Okiu, gently, a smile upon his smooth face. "I shallsee you again, sir."

  Ashton-Kirk waved his hand in answer; and as the car started off, and heand Fuller settled themselves back, the latter said:

  "Did you notice the way that fellow said that? It sounded to me much asthough he had something against you, and meant to get square."

  "Perhaps," returned Ashton-Kirk quietly, "that _is_ what he meant. Onecan never tell.