"
"Is that all there is to the report?"
"Almost." The investigator turned to the pages once more, and
proceeded: "'Hume and the elder Morris became quite intimate and were
often seen together. But what it was that formed the bond between
them, no one knows, unless it be a deaf mute named Locke, who was
frequently seen in their society and who seemed upon close terms with
both. But within a year after their first meeting, Hume broke with
Morris. This must have been serious, for it caused a marked enmity to
spring up between them. A number of people recall that Richard Morris
frequently made threats against the other--threats of personal
violence and also of the law. But before anything could come of these,
if he really meant them, he died.
"'Thinking that Locke might be able to throw some light on this phase
of the case, we have endeavored to locate him. Up to this time we have
met with no success; but we hope to learn something of him at an early
date.'"
Ashton-Kirk laid the sheets down upon the table.
"There follows a list of the names of the people who have supplied
this information and their addresses," said he. "Burgess is very
thorough in his work."
"Outside the fact that Hume was a scoundrel--which we knew
before--and that he was acquainted with Locke and Allan Morris's
father, what does this report tell you?"
There was discontent in Pendleton's voice as he asked this question,
and the investigator smiled as he made answer:
"That Hume knew the elder Morris supplies us with a theory as to the
possible part which the younger Morris has taken in this drama.
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