tion>John T. McIntyre
Ashton-Kirk, Criminologist
(Musaicum Murder Mysteries)
Published by
Books
- Advanced Digital Solutions & High-Quality eBook Formatting -
2021 OK Publishing
EAN 4064066381608
Table of Contents
Chapter I. The Gathering Cloud
Chapter II. Bat Scanlon is Surprised
Chapter III. The Cloud Grows Darker
Chapter IV. Ashton-Kirk Makes One Visit, and Plans Another
Chapter V. The Hound and the Scent
Chapter VI. Ashton-Kirk Asks Questions
Chapter VII. Some New Developments
Chapter VIII. Scanlon Makes a New Acquaintance
Chapter XI. Dennison Talks Once More
Chapter XIII. Something Unexpected
Chapter XIV. Ashton-Kirk Visits Headquarters
Chapter XV. Scanlon States His Position
Chapter XVII. The Waters Are Troubled
Chapter XVIII. Nora Goes to Stanwick
Chapter XX. Queer Intelligence
Chapter XXI. What the Burglar Said at Gaffney's
Chapter XXII. What Danny Saw at Quigley's
Chapter XXIV. Mr. Quigley is Interviewed
Chapter XXV. Nora Talks and Scanlon Listens
CHAPTER I
THE GATHERING CLOUD
Impatiently, Ashton-Kirk threw down the last of the morning newspapers.
"Commonplace,"said he. "And sordid. I am inclined to agree with De Quincey's 'Toad-in-the-Hole' that the age of great criminals has passed."
The man to whom he spoke sat opposite him in the lounging room of Scanlon's Gymnasium; a pair of puffy white hands were folded over a bloated paunch; he had a sodden air of over-feeding and over-stimulation.
"And a good job, too,"spoke this gentleman. "We can get along very well without those fellows."
"I am not sure that I quite agree with that,"said Ashton-Kirk. He lighted a cigar and its smoke drifted across the high ceilinged room. "Crimes are growing no fewer; and if we must have crimes I should personally prefer their perpetrators to have some little artistry."
The swollen gentleman grunted.
"You were always an odd kind of fish,"said he. "But, you know, every one hasn't your love of this kind of thing."
"They have not given it the same amount of consideration, that is all. An artist in crime is, in his way, well worthy of a certain sort of admiration. Who could drive a knife in a man's back with a braver air of deviltry than Benvenuto Cellini? And yet he could turn himself from the deed and devote himself to the producing of a Perseus, or to playing the flute well enough to attract the attention of a Pope. And his own countrymen, the Borgias, had as pretty a talent for assassination as they had for government."
"Very like,"admitted the other. "But ain't we well rid of such bloodthirsty apes?"
Ashton-Kirk smiled.
"I wonder,"said he, "if you have ever read an engaging little volume called 'A Book of Scoundrels.' No? Well, I was afraid that would be so. And you have missed a treat. However, I suppose we can't expect every one to enthuse over such things. It has been said of music that the ability to appreciate it is only second to that of being able to produce it. And this must also be true in the case of crime.
"Stevenson, now, had a magnificent
