ave a task in that," said Pendleton. "As far as I can see,
the man is up to his eyes in the crime; and that's why he is lying
low."

"I have warned you before now against jumping at conclusions," said
the other, quietly. "Allan Morris may be a confederate of Locke's, or
he may not. We have yet to establish the fact either way. And now,
pardon me while I take a plunge and get into something presentable."

CHAPTER XIX

THE TWO REPORTS

After dinner the two young men settled themselves in the library:
Stumph served their coffee and they renewed their acquaintance with
the Greek tobacco. After a little time there came a knock upon the
door.

"Come," called Ashton-Kirk.

A short man with remarkable breadth of shoulder and depth of chest
entered; he was smooth shaven and salient of jaw and wore the air of
one who was not easily balked in anything that he undertook.

"How are you, Burgess?" said the investigator.

"Good-evening," returned Burgess. He advanced and laid some neatly
folded sheets at the elbow of his employer. "Fuller was busy and I
thought I'd bring these in myself. It's my report on Hume."

"Ah, thank you."

Ashton-Kirk took up the sheets and began running his eye through them.
"As you get deeper into this record, did Hume keep his promise?"

Burgess smiled.

"As to possibilities, do you mean? Why, yes. Indeed, I rather think
he exceeded them." The man lit the cigar which the investigator handed
him and drew at it appreciatively. "I went it alone on the first day;
but after that I took O'Neill and Purvis on. Between us, we managed to
get at something pretty definite."

"Has Fuller finished with Morris?"

"He is typing his report at this moment. It will be ready in a half
hour, I should think."

"Please tell him to bring it in as soon as it is finished."

Burgess nodded and went out. Ashton-Kirk continued to dip into the
report here and there.

"Among three of them," said Pendleton, "they should have sifted the
man's life and adventures pretty well."

As Ashton-Kirk continued to scan the pages, a peculiar expression
slowly came into his eyes.

"They seem to have done so, indeed. And rather cleverly, too, I think.
Would you care to hear the report?"

"By all means," eagerly.

The sheets were shifted into their proper order once more. Then
Ashton-Kirk read:

"'_A Further Investigation into the Affairs of David Purtell Hume_.

"'No record was to be had of Hume, beyond his se