," continued the Secret Service man, "but
on the _Haytien_ was a man--black of course--Guillaume Leon. He was a
friend of the United States--at least so he called himself, I
believe--wanted a new revolution down there, more American marines
landed to bolster up a new government that would clean things up, a new
deal all around."

Burke paused, then added by way of explanation of his own attitude in
the matter, "That may be all right, perhaps,--may be just what they need
down there, but we can't let people come here and plot revolutions like
that right in New York. They're sore enough at us without our letting
them think in Latin America that we're taking a hand in their troubles."

"Quite right," agreed Kennedy. "About Leon."

"Yes, Leon," resumed Burke, getting back to the subject. "Well, I was
told by the Chief of the Service to look out for this fellow. And I did.
I thought it would make a good beginning to go down the bay on a revenue
tug to meet the _Haytien_ at Quarantine. But, by Jingo, no sooner was I
over the side of the ship than what do you suppose I ran up against?"

He did not pause long enough to give us a guess, but shot out
dramatically, "Leon was dead--yes, dead!"

Kennedy and I had been interested up to this point. Now we were eager to
have him go on. "He died on the voyage up," continued Burke, "just after
passing the Gulf Stream, suddenly and from no apparent cause. At least
the ship's surgeon couldn't find any cause and neither could they down
at Quarantine. So after some time they let the ship proceed up the bay
and placed the whole thing in the hands of the Secret Service."

"Is there anyone you suspect?" I asked.

"Suspect?" repeated Burke. "I suspect them all. The _Haytien_ was full
of niggers--as superstitious as they make 'em. The ship's surgeon tells
me that after the body of Leon was discovered there was such a scene as
he had never witnessed. It was more like bedlam than a group of human
beings. Some were for putting the body over into the sea immediately.
Others threatened murder if it was done. Most of them didn't know what
it was they wanted. Then, there was a woman there. She seemed to be
nearly crazy--"

There came a knock at the laboratory door.

"If you'll just go into the next room with Walter," said Craig to Burke,
"I'll see you in a few minutes. Sit down, make yourself at home."

I went in with him and Burke dropped into a chair beside my typewriter.
The laboratory door