# VI: Ashton-Kirk Looks About explained — Ashton-Kirk, Investigator

> Chapter companion for Ashton-Kirk, Investigator by John T. McIntyre.

## What happens

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.

## Themes in this chapter

### Detective Method and Reasoning

Ashton-Kirk uses deduction from Berg's hint, interviews Sams, and reconstructs the crime scene by analyzing a tiny punched ticket fragment.

### Secrecy and Deception

Berg initially hesitates to share information; Sams calculates risks before revealing what he saw; the woman's identity and actions remain mysterious.

### The Role of Women

A woman driving a private car and entering Hume's late at night challenges conventional expectations, and Pendleton's reaction hints at her possible identity.

## Character check-ins

### Ashton Kirk

Leads the investigation, interviews Berg and Sams, and meticulously examines Hume's rooms.

### Pendleton

Accompanies Ashton-Kirk, reacts emotionally to the cab driver's account of a woman entering Hume's.

### Mr. Berg

Provides a tip about a cab parked near McCausland's gambling house on the night of the murder.

### Mr. Sams

Cab driver who saw a woman drive up in a Maillard, enter Hume's, and heard a shot and scream.

### David Purtell Hume

Murder victim; his rooms and the bloodstained desk are examined.

### Paulson

Policeman on duty; confirms no officers have been out of town recently.

## Key lines

> To begin dot guesswork business when you are talking to the law already, it is dangerous.

Berg says it's risky to speculate when speaking to the authorities.

_Berg explains his earlier reluctance to share his guess._

> Dot cab came last night as I was locking my door up, und stands the curbstone by in front of McCausland's, waiting for a chob.

Berg reports that a cab was parked outside McCausland's gambling house last night when he closed his shop.

_Berg provides the crucial tip about the cab._

> It is that portion of a railroad ticket which a conductor's punch bites out, and which litters the floor and the seats in trains.

Ashton-Kirk identifies the red particle as a punched-out piece of a railroad ticket.

_Key clue found on the desk after the body slid off._

> The first was a revolver shot; the second came right after, and was a kind of a scream—like that of a parrot.

Sams says he heard a gunshot followed by a scream resembling a parrot.

_Sams describes the sounds from inside Hume's after the woman entered._

## Links

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