Fire-Tongue

hand. Harley took it eagerly and tore open the envelope. A look of expectancy faded from his eager face almost in the moment that it appear

custom, when the clue to a labyrinth evaded him, to outline his difficulties to his confidential secretary, and by the mere exercise of verbal construction Harley would often

smoked. No one had approached him. Therefore, if he was poisoned, he was poisoned at his own table. Since he was never out of my observation from the mom

wi

was poisoned. In the first place, he clearly went in fear of some such death. It was because of this that he consulted me. What was the origin of his fear? S

Fire-Tongue. What do we know about Fire-Tongue? One thing only: that it had to

r circumstances suggesting that burglary was not the object of the entrance. And next? He was assaulted, with murderous intent. Thirdly, he believed himself to be subjected to constant surveillance.

lose attention from some mysterious person or persons the object of which he be

So far you are

ear up when the evidence of Miss Abingdon becomes available-how did

something to that

r to prosecute his inquiries, since Nicol Brinn is a well-known f

accident and before he was in full possession

ning. They recalled the incident, of course. Mr. Brinn never uttered

r. Harley," he said. "Your biggest difficulty at th

Charles's murder: Nicol Brinn believes he was murdered. Nicol Brinn has known others, in his own words, 'to go t

raid of s

w a man of proved courage more afraid in my life. He prefers to cour

unbeli

, if Nicol Brinn's

front of the watchful secretary

that during the past seven years he had courted death. Isn't it plain enough, Innes? If ever a man possessed all t

hook hi

e woman!" snapp

mith, the typist, entered. "Miss Phil A

Why, she can only just-" He checked himse

hinking of the photograph in Sir Charles Abingdon's library and waitin

ch. And Harley found himself wondering whether her eyes were really violet-coloured or

force. The seeming repose of the photograph was misleading. That her glance could be naive he realized-as it could also be gay-and now her eyes were sad with

itely and fashionably dressed, and even the pallor of grief could not rob her cheeks of the bloo

rward quite naturally-and quite naturally Paul Harley discovered her little gloved hand to lie clasped between both his own. It was m

ave come back?" It was recognition. Of the hundreds of men and women who came into his life for a while, and ere long went out of it a

terval of silence-although perhap

ingdon!" said Harley. "How

nes of Doctor McMurdoch. "She arrived

s dreadful doubt is removed. Mr. Harley"-she turned to him appealingly-"please don't study my feelings in t

e gloomy eyes he read admiration of this girl who could thus conquer the inherent weakness of her sex

the door, setting his silk hat upon the floo

h, Miss Abingdon," said Harley, gl

already overwrought to the danger point, but he was helpless for all his dour obstinacy. Harley, looking down at the girl's profile, read a new meaning into the firm line of her chin. He was conscious

him of the menace which he had believed to hang over his life. He spoke slowly, deliberate

chair in which she was seated. Once, at some reference to words spoken by her father, her sensitive lips began to

peaker looked up bravely, and Harley, reassured, pro

ncluded, "I hope you will allow me to call

elf to come to see you to-day," she said, "because I realize th

Harley interrupt

ad rebelliously. "Please ask me what

his thoughts again wandering into strange, wild byways and was only recalled to the realities by the d