Fire-Tongue

ng the Strand. Outwardly he was still the keen-eyed investigator who could pry more deeply into a

n. From dreams which he recognized in the moment of awakening to have been of Phil Abingdon, he was suddenly arou

to be hurrying along as if desirous of avoiding recognition. Every now and again she glanced back, evidently in search of a cab, and a dormant suspicion which ha

hurrying, black-clad figure. "Miss Abingdon," he said, "

she opened them widely. Perhaps he misread their message. To him Phil Abingdon's expression was that of detected gui

ected meeting, Phil Abingdon took Harley's outstretched hand and held it for a moment be

the Savoy wou

got tired of waiting," s

dispelled, and, observing an empty cab appr

o go to?" he inquire

McMurdoch's," she

, glancing from the s

with me," said Phil Abingdon. "I

replied Harley, a statement

irections to the taxi man and seate

last few days have seemed like one long nightmare to me." She sighed pathetically. "Surely Doct

sure," she said. "His extraordinary words to you no doubt have some simple explanation. Oh, it would be suc

to offer consolation to this sorrowing girl. But, although he could not honestly assure her that he had abandoned

In any event, I hope you will think as little as poss

s. I know that you must have some good reason for your idea; something, I mean,

ated, too, by the promptings of the note of danger which, once seemingly attuned to the movements of Sir Charles Abingdon, had, after the surgeon's death, apparently become centred upon himself

h Phil Abingdon on the border of a spirit world which had no existence for the multitudes around. Psychically, he was very close to her at that moment; and when he replied he replied evasively: "I have absolutely no scrap of evidence

glancing down to where with one small shoe she was restlessly tap

denly. "Or don't you think I am clev

, and he felt all the force of personality w

ered, quietly. "If I withhold anything from you, I am pro

thing from me," she said,

this affair are over, I want to have a long talk with you.

don's glance w

so, but you won't do me the

a quarrel. But he found much consolation in the fact that she had thus shifted the discussion from the abstract to the personal. He smiled slight

ted but bewildered by her sudden chang

character of a Colonial visitor with much time on his hands, he had haunted the Savoy for hours in the hope of obtaining a glimpse of Ormuz Khan. His vigil had been fruitless, and on returning by a roundabout route to hi

part of the conduct of such a case. But while he had personally undertaken the matter of his excellency he had left the work of studying the activities of Nicol Brinn to an

e," said Ph

h, who, as experience had taught him to anticipate, was as plump and merry and vivacious as her husband was lean, gloomy, and taciturn. But she w

en the formality of presenting Harley was ov

veil, and Harley could see that her eyes were full of

a visit to her old home, from which the funeral of Sir Charles Abingdon was to take place o

he said, turning to the dour physician. "Shall I a

s on the matter. She stepped up be

Mr. Harley," she ple

use. The gloved hand resting on his arm trembled, but when he looked down solicitously into Phi

e two, as they stood there looking at the tributes to the memory of the late Sir Charles-which overflowed from a neighbo

me of hyacinths. Now he saw whence it arose; for, conspicuous amid the wreaths and crosses,

ld manner which was hers, and she saluted the visitors with a bow which promised to develop into a curtsey. Noting the direction of Phil Abingdon

wing Harley along with her. She glanced from the card u

is secretary to see if he could be of any assistanc

nched his hand tightly so that the muscles of his forearm became taut to Phil Abingdon's touch. Sh

replie

deal of the next day was over Phil Abingdon would have to face cross-examination by the conscientious Scotsman

is old doubts and suspicions found a new life, so that his share in the conversatio

bout her friendships or even to advise her. He determined, however, even at the cost of incurring a rebuke, to urge Doctor McMurdoch to employ

octor McMurdoch, in whose composition tact was not a predominant factor. Almost before they were seated in the doctor's drawing room he voiced his disapp

it was upon him that she fixed her gaze in replying. "Perhaps you a

at he was not entitled to do so. Had he been capable of that calm analysis to which ordinarily he submitted all psychological problems, he must have found matter for rejoi

look at him cha

or McMurdoch, "but if you were, your

. "As your father's oldest friend," he continued, "I feel called upon to remark th

ation, "do I understand that this

lared Doctor McMurdoch, gloo

eaties of his wife. "I will speak of this later,"

ickle down Phil A

cried little Mrs. McMurd

ad disdainfully, as if to banish tears and weakness, and glanced rapidly around from face to face.

nt door

tor McMurdoch, "I'v

hless indignation and then foll