"A friend, yes," answered Ashton-Kirk, readily. "But scarcely what could be called an old one."
"Ah!" The drooping lids almost hid the searching black eyes. "Then you have not known them long?"
Again the glances of the yellow men met, and again did a rapid intelligence pass between them.
"Two days," repeated Okiu, softly. "That is odd, is it not?"
"Acquaintances must begin some time," protested the secret agent.
"To be sure. But that your acquaintance with Dr. Morse should begin last night, and that he should die to-night----"
"Well?" The keen eyes of Ashton-Kirk met the peering ones of Okiu inquiringly.
"Fate seemed determined that the friendship should not grow," answered the Japanese, gently. "It is strange how things come about, is it not?"
"Fate seldom consults us," he said, drily. "If it did, perhaps things would happen differently."
Just then there came the growing sound of voices without; the shuffle of feet was heard upon the walk and then more noisily upon the porch. The bell rang in long streams of sound.
"The police," said Ashton-Kirk, looking at his watch. "Their methods are as distinguishable as their uniforms."
Fuller looked in; the secret agent nodded and the young man stepped briskly toward the hall door. In another moment a thick-set man in a sergeant's dress entered the room, and with him were two patrolmen.
"How are you?" said the sergeant, nodding to the three men. "Members of the family?"
In a few moments the status of the Japanese was explained; the sergeant listened to their story of the prowler with satisfaction.
"There's the party we want," said he. "Had a bag, did he? Humph! Full of swag, I'll bet." He then took Okiu's name and address. "A headquarters man will go on this case, of course," continued the sergeant, "and he'll want to hear you tell about that. And in the meantime," stuffing his note-book into his breastpocket, "I'll have to ask you all to go. We've got to look things over, and get the hang of it all, and you can see how too many people would be in the way."
As Ashton-Kirk and Fuller emerged from the house, they found the two Japanese standing by the gate. Dixon, who had been waiting all this time, threw on the power at sight of his employer, and the engine of the big French car began to hum in the silence.