the red seal-第12节

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〃Amyl　nitrite；〃　she　repeated。　　〃Yes；　I　have　heard　that　it　is　given　for　heart　trouble。　　How〃　…　she　looked　at　him　queerly。　　〃How　is　it　administered？〃

〃By　crushing　a　capsule　in　a　handkerchief　and　inhaling　its　fumes　〃　…　he　was　watching　her　closely。　　〃The　handkerchief　Jimmie　was　seen　to　use　just　before　he　died　was　found　to　contain　two　or　more　broken　capsules。〃

Helen　sat　immovable　for　over　a　minute；　then　she　bowed　her　head　and　burst　into　dry　tearless　sobs　which　wracked　her　body。　　Kent　laid　a　tender　hand　on　her　shoulder；　then　concluding　it　was　better　for　her　to　have　her　cry　out；　he　wandered　aimlessly　about　the　office　waiting　for　her　to　regain　her　composure。

He　stopped　before　one　of　the　windows　facing　south　and　stared　moodily　at　the　Belasco　Theater。　　That　playhouse　had　surely　never　staged　a　more　complicated　mystery　than　the　one　he　had　set　himself　to　unravel。　What　consolation　could　he　offer　Helen？　　If　he　encouraged　her　belief　in　his　theory　that　Jimmie　committed　suicide　he　would　have　to　establish　a　motive　for　suicide；　and　that　motive　might　prove　to　be　the　theft　of　Colonel　McIntyre's　valuable　securities。　　Threatened　with　exposure　as　a　thief　and　forger；　Jimmie　had　committed　suicide；　so　would　run　the　verdict；　the　fact　of　his　suicide　was　proof　of　his　guilt　of　the　crime　Colonel　McIntyre　virtually　charged　him　with；　and　vice　versa。

What　had　been　discovered　to　point　to　murder？　　The　finding　of　a　handkerchief；　saturated　with　amyl　nitrite；　which　had　not　belonged　to　the　dead　man。　　Proof　…　bah！　it　was　ridiculous！　　What　more　likely　than　that　Jimmie；　while　in　the　McIntyre　house　before　his　arrest　as　a　burglar；　had　picked　up　one　of　Barbara's　handkerchiefs；　stuffed　it　inside　his　pocket；　and　when　threatened　with　exposure　on　being　held　for　the　grand　jury；　had；　in　desperation；　crushed　the　amyl　nitrite　capsules　in　Barbara's　handkerchief　and　killed　himself。

Kent　drew　a　long；　long　sigh。　　His　faith　in　Jimmie's　honesty　was　shaken　at　last　by　the　accumulative　evidence；　and　he　was　convinced　that　he　had　found　the　solution　to　the　problem；　but　how　impart　it　to　the　weeping　girl？　　To　prove　her　lover　a　thief；　forger；　and　suicide　was　indeed　a　task　he　shrank　from。

A　ring　at　the　telephone　caused　Kent　to　move　hastily　to　the　instrument；　when　he　hung　up　the　receiver　Helen　was　adjusting　her　veil　before　a　mirror　over　the　mantel。

〃Colonel　McIntyre　is　in　the　next　room；〃　he　said；　keeping　his　voice　lowered。

〃My　father！〃　　Helen's　eyes　were　hard　and　dry。　　〃Does　he　know　that　I　am　here？〃

〃I　don't　know；　Sylvester　simply　said　he　had　called　to　see　me　and　is　waiting　in　the　outer　office。〃　　Observing　her　indecision；　Kent　opened　the　door　leading　directly　into　the　corridor。　　〃You　can　leave　this　way　without　encountering　Colonel　McIntyre。〃

Helen　hurried　through　the　door　and　paused　in　the　corridor　to　whisper　feverishly　in　Kent's　ear；　〃Promise　me　you　will　remain　faithful　to　Barbara　whatever　develops。〃

〃I　will！〃　　Kent's　pledge　rang　out　clearly；　and　Helen　with　a　lighter　heart　turned　to　walk　away　when　a　telegraph　boy　appeared　around　the　corner　of　the　corridor　and　thrust　a　yellow　envelope　at　Kent；　who　stood　half　inside　his　office　watching　Helen。

〃Sign　here；〃　the　boy　said；　indicating　the　line　on　the　receipt　slip；　and　getting　it　back；　departed。

Motioning　to　Helen　to　wait；　Kent　tore　open　the　telegram。　　It　was　from　Cleveland　and　dated　the　night　before。　　The　message　ran：　Called　to　Cleveland。　　Address　City　Club。　　Rochester。

Without　comment　Kent　held　out　the　telegram　so　that　Helen　could　read　it。

〃What！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃Philip　in　Cleveland　last　night。　　I　…　I　…　don't　understand。〃　　And　looking　at　her　Kent　was　astounded　at　the　flash　of　terror　which　shone　for　an　instant　in　her　eyes。　　Before　he　had　time　to　question　her　she　bolted　around　the　corridor。

Kent　remained　staring　ahead　for　an　instant　then　returned　thoughtfully　to　his　office；　and　within　a　second　Sylvester　received　a　telephone　message　to　show　Colonel　McIntyre　into　Kent's　office。　　Not　only　Colonel　McIntyre　followed　the　clerk　into　the　room　but　Benjamin　Clymer。　　〃Any　further　developments；　Kent？〃　inquired　the　banker。　〃No；　we　can't　sit　down；　just　dropped　in　to　see　you　a　minute。〃

〃There　is　nothing　new；〃　Kent　had　made　instant　decision；　such　information　regarding　the　death　of　Turnbull　as　he　had　gleaned　from　Ferguson；　and　the　events　of　the　night　before　should　be　confided　to　Clymer　alone；　and　not　in　the　presence　of　Colonel　McIntyre。

〃Did　you　search　Turnbull's　apartment　last　night　as　you　spoke　of　doing？〃　asked　McIntyre。

〃I　did；　and　found　no　trace　of　your　securities；　Colonel。〃

McIntyre　lifted　his　eyebrows　as　he　smiled　sarcastically。　　〃Can　I　see　Rochester？〃　he　asked。

〃He　is　in　Cleveland；　I　don't　know　just　when　he　will　be　back。〃

〃Indeed？　　Too　bad　you　haven't　the　benefit　of　his　advice；〃　remarked　McIntyre　insolently。　　〃At　Clymer's　request；　Kent；　I　have　allowed　you　until　Saturday　night　to　find　the　securities　and　either　clear　Turnbull's　name　or　admit　his　guilt；　there　remain　two　days　and　a　half　before　I　take　the　affair　in　my　own　hands　and　make　it　public。〃

〃I　hope　to　establish　Turnbull's　innocence　before　that　time；〃　retorted　Kent　coolly。

Inwardly　his　spirits　sank；　had　not　every　effort　on　his　part　brought　but　further　proof　of　Jimmie's　guilt？　　That　McIntyre　would　make　no　attempt　to　hush　up　the　scandal　was　obvious。

〃Keep　me　informed　of　your　progress；〃　McIntyre's　manner　was　domineering　and　Kent　felt　the　blood　mount　to　his　temples；　but　he　was　determined　not　to　lose　his　temper　whatever　the　provocation；　McIntyre　was　Barbara's　father。

Clymer；　aware　that　the　atmosphere　was　getting　strained；　diplomatically　intervened。

〃Dine　with　me　to…night；　Kent；〃　he　said。　　〃Perhaps　you　will　then　have　some　news　that　will　throw　light　on　the　present　whereabouts　of　the　securities。　　I　found；　on　making　inquiries；　that　they　have　not　been　offered　for　sale　in　the　usual　channels。　　Come；　McIntyre；　I　have　a　directors'　meeting　in　twenty　minutes。〃

McIntyre；　who　had　been　swinging　his　walking　stick　from　one　hand　to　the　other　in　marked　impatience；　turned　to　Kent；　his　manner　more　conciliatory。

〃Pleasant　quarters　you　have；〃　he　remarked。　　〃Does　Rochester　share　　his　room　with　you？〃

〃No；　Colonel；　his　is　across　the　ante…room　where　you　waited　a　few　minutes　ago；〃　explained　Kent　as　he　accompanied　his　visitors　to　the　door。　　〃This　is　my　office。〃

〃Ah；　yes；　I　thought　as　much　on　seeing　only　one　desk；〃　McIntyre's　manner　grew　more　cordial。　　〃Does　Rochester's　furniture　duplicate　yours；　　safe　and　all？〃

〃Safe　…　no；　he　has　none；　that　is　the　firm's　safe。〃　　Kent　was　becoming　restless　under　so　many　personal　questions。　　〃Good…by；　Mr。　Clymer。〃

〃Don't　forget　to…night　at　eight；〃　the　banker　reminded　him　before　stepping　into　the　corridor。　　〃We'll　dine　at　the　Club　de　Vingt。　Come　along；　McIntyre。〃

Sylvester　stopped　Kent　on　his　way　back　to　his　office　and　handed　him　the　neatly　typewritten　copies　of　his　brief；　and　with　a　word　of　thanks　the　lawyer　went　over　to　his　desk　and；　gathering　such　papers　as　he　required　at　the　court　house；　he　thrust　them　and　the　brief　into　his　leather　bag；　but　instead　of　hurrying　on　his　way；　he　stood　still　to　consider　the　events　of　the　morning。

Helen　McIntyre；　during　their　interview；　had　not　responded　to　his　appeal　for　her　confidence；　nor　vouchsafed　any　reason　for　her　belief　that　Jimmie　Turnbull　had　been　the　victim　of　foul　play。　　And　Colonel　McIntyre　had　given　him　only　until　Saturday　night　to　solve　the　problem！　　Kent's　overwrought　feelings　found　vent　in　an　emphatic　oath。

〃Excuse　me；〃　exclaimed　Sylvester　mildly　from　the　doorway。　　〃I　knocked　and　understood　you　to　say　come　in。

〃Well；　what　is　it？〃　　Kent's　nerves　were　getting　a　bit　raw；　a　glance　at　his　watch　showed　him　he　had　a　slender　margin　only　in　which　to　reach　the　court　house　in　time　for　his　appointment。　　Not　even　waiting　for　the　clerk's　reply　he　snatched　up　his　brief　case　and　made　for　the　private　door　leading　into　the　corridor。　　But　he　was　destined　not　to　get　away　without　another　interruption。

As　Sylvester　was　hastily　explaining；　〃Two　gentlemen　to　see　you；　Mr。　Kent；〃　the　clerk　was　thrust　aside　and　Detective　Ferguson　entered；　accompanied　by　a　deputy　marshal。

〃Sorry　to　detain　you；　Mr。　Kent；〃　exclaimed　the　detective。　　〃I　came　to　tell　you　that　Coroner　Penfield　has　just　called　an　inquest　for　this　afternoon　to　inquire　into　Jimmie　Turnbull's　death。　　Where's　your　partner；　Mr。　Rochester？〃　looking　around　inquiringly。

〃In　Cleveland。　　Won't　I　do？〃　replied　Kent；　his　appointment　forgotten　in　the　news　that　Ferguson　had　just　given　him。

〃No；　we　didn't　come　for　legal　advice；〃　Ferguson　smiled；　then　grew　serious。　　〃What's　Mr。　Rochester's　address？〃

Kent　walked　over　to　his　desk　and　picked　up　the　telegram。　　〃The　City　Club；　Cleveland；〃　he　stated。

〃Thanks；〃　Ferguson　jotted　down　the　address　in　his　note…book。　〃Jones；　here；〃　placing　his　hand　on　his　companion；　〃came　to　serve　Mr。　Rochester　with　a　subpoena；　he's　wanted　at　the　Turnbull　inquest　as　a　material　witness。〃


CHAPTER　VIII

THE　INQUEST

Coroner　Penfield　adjusted　his　eyeglasses　and　scanned　the　spectators　gathered　for　the　Turnbull　inquest。　　The　room　was　crowded　with　both　men　and　women；　the　latter　predominating；　and　the　coroner　decided　that；　while　some　had　come　from　a　personal　interest　in　the　dead　man；　the　majority　had　been　attra