Page:Under three flags; a story of mystery (IA underthreeflagss00tayliala).pdf/47

 Jack Ashley ascends the steps to the veranda, draws a chair opposite his, lights a cigar and tilts his seat back at a comfortable angle.

"You are John Barker, the detective," began Ashley. Barker assents with a nod.

"I haven't a card with me, but my name is Jack Ashley, and I am attached to the staff of the New York Hemisphere." Barker looks duly impressed.

"You are an ordinary detective, I presume?" Barker stares. "What I mean is, if you will pardon my frankness, you are not a Sherlock Holmes or a M. Lecocq?" It is apparent from his face that the detective is in doubt whether to laugh or express his displeasure. He compromises with a faint smile and accepts the proffered cigar.

"My reason for asking," goes on Ashley, "is that I have a proposition to offer you."

Barker strikes a match to touch off his weed. "That proposition is"

"That we work this bank case together." Barker drops the lighted match and gazes at his new acquaintance in astonishment.

"Have another match," remarks the other, passing it over.

The detective lights his cigar and puffs away on it for some moments in silence. "I am not in the habit of taking in partners," he observes finally.

"I always take a deep interest in an affair like the Hathaway case," resumes Ashley, without reference to the other's remark. "In fact, my special line on the Hemisphere has been the running down of mysterious crimes. I have trailed quite a number of them, and you will pardon my egotism when I say I have been quite successful in my dual capacity of sleuth and newspaper man." Barker looks a trifle bored.

"To be candid, however, this case is a bit too big for me to handle alone. It spreads out too much. It is too much of a job for one man to look after."

"Indeed?" The irony in the detective's voice is thinly veiled. He says: