Ashton-Kirk, Investigator · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Ashton-Kirk, Investigator by John T. McIntyre.
Chapter 1
Dedication
The author dedicates the book to his friend Grant Gibney.
Chapter 2
Ashton-Kirk, Investigator
The chapter introduces Ashton-Kirk, a renowned investigator, and his assistant Pendleton. It sets the stage for the investigation into the murder of David Purtell Hume, with Miss Edyth Vale seeking Ashton-Kirk's help.
Chapter 3
Pendleton Calls Upon Ashton-Kirk
Pendleton visits his friend Ashton-Kirk at his old family home in a now-deteriorating neighborhood. They discuss literature, crime, and murder as a subject of fascination. Pendleton reveals that he has arranged for Miss Edyth Vale, a wealthy heiress and distant relative, to consult Ashton-Kirk professionally about a matter of consequence.
Chapter 4
Miss Edyth Vale States Her Case
Miss Edyth Vale visits Ashton-Kirk to seek his help regarding a mysterious and threatening situation involving her fiancé, Allan Morris. She describes a mocking shopkeeper, Hume, who seems to have a hold over Morris, and recounts her attempts to uncover the relationship between them. Ashton-Kirk agrees to investigate and immediately sets his assistant Fuller to gather information on Hume and Allan Morris.
Chapter 5
III: The Portraits of General Wayne
Ashton-Kirk reflects on the evening's drama and the parallels to Miss Edyth Vale's own hesitancy. He reviews reports on Allan Morris and David Purtell Hume, while Pendleton recounts Miss Vale's mysterious disappearance and reappearance. Ashton-Kirk investigates Hume's murder, noting the lack of newspaper coverage and the tension in Miss Vale's behavior.
Chapter 6
IV: Stillman's Theory
Ashton-Kirk and Pendleton observe the crime scene and the body of Hume, noting a bayonet wound and a bruise on the forehead. Coroner Stillman arrives with his assistant and begins his investigation, questioning the police and ordering inquiries. Ashton-Kirk notices a scrapbook with torn prints of General Anthony Wayne, hinting at a possible motive.
Chapter 7
Stillman Asks Questions
Coroner Stillman interviews three witnesses about the murder of David Purtell Hume: Mrs. Dwyer, the scrubwoman who discovered the body; Isidore Brolatsky, Hume's clerk; and Franz Berg, a local delicatessen dealer. Brolatsky reveals Hume's obsessive collection of portraits of General Anthony Wayne and mentions Antonio Spatola, an Italian violinist who was seen entering Hume's building around eleven o'clock the night before. Pendleton shares his suspicions connecting Edyth Vale, Allan Morris, and the murder.
Chapter 8
VI: Ashton-Kirk Looks About
Ashton-Kirk and Pendleton follow up on Berg's tip about a cab seen near the crime scene, track down the driver Sams, and learn that a woman driving a Maillard automobile entered Hume's building shortly before a gunshot and scream were heard. Later, Ashton-Kirk reexamines Hume's rooms, discovers a punched railroad ticket fragment on the desk, and deduces it must have fallen after the body slid off, suggesting a later arrival.
Chapter 9
VII: The Schwartz-Michael Bayonet
Ashton-Kirk and Pendleton examine the bayonet used to murder Hume. Fuller brings the weapon and reports that Berg identified a photograph of Allan Morris as Hume's secret visitor. Ashton-Kirk deduces the bayonet is a Schwartz-Michael, a rare military arm used by Bolivia, Serbia, and Turkey. He suspects it may have been sold by Bernstine Brothers after Bolivia's army upgrade. Fuller also locates two schools for mutes. Pendleton reflects on Edyth Vale's visit and Morris's involvement.
Chapter 10
IX: Miss Vale Tells What She Knows
Miss Vale visits Ashton-Kirk, apologizing for her earlier deception. She recounts Allan Morris's agitated behavior the day before the murder, her fear that he might be guilty, and her subsequent belief in his innocence. She presents a theory that Antonio Spatola could be the murderer, using the roof escape. Ashton-Kirk remains noncommittal, noting multiple possibilities, and asks to see Morris, but Miss Vale reveals Morris has disappeared.
Chapter 11
X: Ashton-Kirk Asks Questions
Ashton-Kirk and Pendleton discuss the sensational newspaper coverage of the Hume case. Pendleton is agitated by the press's treatment of Miss Vale and blames Allan Morris. Ashton-Kirk remains calm and proposes a methodical investigation. They visit Bernstine's store to trace the sale of bayonets from a Bolivian military lot. The shipping clerk Sime recalls selling the last bayonet to an Italian man who gave his address as Christie Place, hinting at Antonio Spatola. Pendleton is eager to convict Spatola, but Ashton-Kirk cautions against jumping to conclusions. They then proceed to the station to speak with Conductor Purvis.
Chapter 12
XI: Pendleton Is Vastly Enlightened
Ashton-Kirk demonstrates to Pendleton how the bell on Hume's showroom door produced a sound like a pistol shot, and explains that the intruder was unfamiliar with the building. He then reveals that the candle drippings on the stairs form a three-word sentence in German shorthand: 'Hinter Wayne's Bildnisse' ('Behind Wayne's Portrait'), indicating a hidden object. From the traces, he deduces that two men were involved, one of whom was a deaf-mute (Locke), and that the mute conveyed the hiding place to his companion via the tallow writing. Pendleton is astonished by the deductions, and they proceed to visit Spatola.
Chapter 13
XII: Antonio Spatola Appears
Ashton-Kirk and Pendleton arrive at the City Hall cell room to find Osborne, Bernstine, and Sime already there. Sime identifies the bayonet but cannot identify Spatola as the buyer. Ashton-Kirk speaks with Spatola, learning of his past as a violinist and confirming his knowledge of German. When Ashton-Kirk subtly probes about musical shorthand, Spatola reacts with suspicion and anger, leading Pendleton to believe Spatola is the murderer.
Chapter 14
A New Light on Allan Morris
Ashton-Kirk and Pendleton visit the lodging house of Antonio Spatola, where they interview the landlady Mrs. Marx and a machinist. They learn about Spatola's background, his loss of employment, and his multilingual abilities. A lodger named Hertz reveals that a man named Crawford frequently visited Spatola. Ashton-Kirk shows a photograph that Pendleton recognizes as Allan Morris, revealing that Crawford and Allan Morris are the same person.
Chapter 15
Miss Vale Unexpectedly Appears
Ashton-Kirk and Pendleton dine early and then drive to the Mercer Institute to visit Professor Locke. After a confusing encounter with a local, they reach Locke's cottage and workshop, where they witness a tense scene: Locke gesticulating wildly while Edyth Vale calmly examines a paper. The chapter deepens the mystery surrounding Locke and Miss Vale's involvement.
Chapter 16
Miss Vale Departs Suddenly
Ashton-Kirk and Pendleton observe Miss Vale meeting secretly with the mute Professor Locke, leading Ashton-Kirk to conclude she has not been entirely truthful. He deliberately reveals himself at the window, causing Miss Vale to flee in a car. Locke then admits them, and after a written conversation in shorthand, Ashton-Kirk claims to have learned something but refuses to disclose it until he can verify it.
Chapter 17
Steel Against Steel
Ashton-Kirk visits Miss Edyth Vale, engaging her in a discussion of Ibsen's 'Rosmersholm' to probe her psychological state. He subtly challenges her composure, revealing his suspicion that she was out the previous night and pressing her about Allan Morris's concealment. Miss Vale defends Morris but is visibly shaken by Kirk's confidence that he will soon discover the hiding place.
Chapter 18
XVII: What Happened on the Road
Miss Edyth Vale drives a Maillard car into the suburbs, unknowingly pursued by an Italian laborer (Antonio Spatola) on a motorcycle. She attempts to shake him off with ruses, but he skillfully tracks her. Eventually, she stops near a house hidden among trees, pretending to work on her car while covertly observing the house. Spatola climbs a tree and watches her through field glasses, noting her interest in the house. After she leaves, a young man retrieves her dropped gloves, finding a note reading 'Tobin Rangnow' in one thumb; Spatola copies the note and replaces the gloves before returning to the city.
Chapter 19
XVIII: Ashton-Kirk Tells Why
Ashton-Kirk explains to Pendleton how he deduced that Miss Vale has been secretly visiting Allan Morris, and recounts following her to Morris's hiding place. He deciphers a coded message from Morris to Miss Vale, leading to an address at the Rangnow apartment house. Pendleton grows increasingly concerned for Miss Vale's reputation as the newspapers sensationalize her involvement in the Hume case.
Chapter 20
XIX: The Two Reports
After dinner, Ashton-Kirk and Pendleton receive two investigative reports. Burgess's report on Hume reveals his past as a smuggler and his connection to Richard Morris, Allan Morris's father, through a mutual acquaintance named Locke. Fuller's report on Allan Morris shows him as a diligent but increasingly agitated engineer with a deep interest in patent reports, and confirms his father's erratic genius and friendship with Hume. The reports suggest a link between Hume, the elder Morris, and a mysterious invention. Ashton-Kirk decides to visit Tobin, the former steward of the Coffin Club, for further information.
Chapter 21
XX: One of the Old Sort
Ashton-Kirk and Pendleton visit Mr. Tobin at his apartment house, where Tobin reveals his past as the philosopher of the Coffin Club and shares insights about Hume's character and ancestry. Ashton-Kirk urges Tobin to advise the missing Allan Morris to come forward and gives him a card to pass along.
Chapter 22
Ashton-Kirk Begins to Plan
Ashton-Kirk reveals to Pendleton that he has deduced the motive for the murder, the identity of the murderer, and the location where they will be captured. He arranges with Superintendent Weagle to withdraw the police guard from Hume's residence and to allow himself and Pendleton to watch the premises, anticipating that the criminals will return to retrieve what they failed to find on the night of the murder.
Chapter 23
XXII: Ashton-Kirk Is Annoyed
Ashton-Kirk visits Miss Vale's house, encountering reporters and Osborne, who has failed to get information from her. Inside, Ashton-Kirk confronts Miss Vale about her involvement with Allan Morris and her visit to Locke, revealing his knowledge of her actions and his annoyance at her continued deception. He advises her to stop aiding Morris and hints that Morris may be at his place in two days.
Chapter 24
The Secret of the Portrait
Pendleton confesses his long-standing love for Edyth Vale and his feelings of inadequacy compared to Allan Morris. Ashton-Kirk and Pendleton disguise themselves and secretly enter 478 Christie Place after the police detail is withdrawn, waiting for the murderer to return. They spend a tense night and the next day in hiding, discussing the case and Pendleton's romantic hopes.
Chapter 25
The Second Night
During the second night of their vigil in Hume's rooms, Pendleton and Ashton-Kirk wait in near silence. A woman, later revealed to be Edyth Vale, enters the darkened suite. After a tense pause, a second intruder, M. Sagon, forces his way into the bedroom, retrieves a hidden packet of papers from behind Hume's portrait, and is confronted by Miss Vale. Pendleton knocks Sagon down with a gloved fist, and Ashton-Kirk handcuffs him, summoning the police.
Chapter 26
XXV: Approaching the Finish
Pendleton spends the night at Ashton-Kirk's and learns that Locke was observed lurking around Christie Place the previous night. Allan Morris arrives, confessing his involvement with the missing monoplane plans and his strained relationship with Miss Vale. Ashton-Kirk reveals that Sagon used a bayonet as a form of poetic justice for Hume's betrayal of their smuggling league.
Chapter 27
The Finish
Ashton-Kirk and Pendleton confront the mute Locke at his workshop, where Locke reveals a bomb and gives them two minutes to escape before detonating it, killing himself. The chapter concludes with the case's resolution as Ashton-Kirk explains the final details of the night of Hume's murder.
Chapter 28
List of Illustrations
A simple list of illustrations, each marked by three horizontal lines stacked vertically with a squiggly symbol above the middle.
