the red seal-第13节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　personal　interest　in　the　dead　man；　the　majority　had　been　attracted　by　morbid　curiosity。　　There　was　a　stir　among　the　spectators　as　an　inner　door　opened　and　the　jury；　led　by　the　morgue　master　filed　into　the　room　and　took　their　places。　Coroner　Penfield　rose　and　addressed　the　foreman。

〃Have　you　viewed　the　body？〃　he　inquired。

〃Yes；　doctor；〃　and　the　man　sat　down。

Coroner　Penfield　then　concisely　stated　the　reason　for　the　inquest　and　summoned　Officer　O'Ryan　to　the　witness　stand。　　The　policeman　stood；　cap　in　hand；　while　being　sworn　by　the　morgue　master；　and　then　took　his　place　on　the　platform　in　the　chair　reserved　for　the　witnesses。

His　answer　to　Coroner　Penfield's　questions　relative　to　his　name；　residence　in　Washington；　and　length　of　service　in　the　city　Police　Force　were　given　with　brevity　and　a　rich　Irish　brogue。

〃Where　were　you　on　Tuesday　morning　at　about　five　o'clock？〃　asked　Penfield；　first　consulting　some　memoranda　on　his　desk。

〃On　my　way　home；〃　explained　O'Ryan。　　My　relief　had　just　come。〃

〃Does　your　beat　take　in　the　McIntyre　residence？　　〃

〃It　does；　sir。〃

〃Did　you　observe　any　one　loitering　in　the　vicinity　of　the　residence　prior　to　five　o'clock；　Tuesday　morning？〃

〃No；　sir。　　It　was　only　when　the　lady　called　to　me　that　I　was　attracted　to　the　house。〃

〃Did　she　state　what　was　the　matter？〃

〃Yes；　sir。　　She　said　that　she　had　locked　a　burglar　in　a　closet；　and　to　come　and　get　him；　and　I　did　so；〃　and　O'Ryan　expanded　his　chest　with　an　air　of　satisfaction　as　be　glanced　about　the　morgue。

〃Did　the　burglar　resist　arrest？〃

〃No；　sir；　he　came　very　peaceably　and　not　a　word　out　of　him。〃

〃Had　you　any　idea　that　the　burglar　was　not　what　he　seemed？〃

〃Devil　an　idea；　begging　your　pardon　…　O'Ryan　remembered　hastily　where　he　was。　　〃The　burglar　looked　the　part　he　was　masquerading；　and　his　make…up　was　perfect；〃　ended　O'Ryan　with　relish。　　〃Never　gave　me　a　hint　he　was　a　gentleman　and　a　bank　cashier　in　disguise。〃

Kent；　who　had　arrived　at　the　morgue　a　few　minutes　before　the　policeman　commenced　his　testimony；　smiled　in　spite　of　himself。　　He　was　feeling　exceedingly　low　spirited；　and　had　come　to　the　inquest　with　inward　foreboding　as　to　its　result。　　On　what　developed　there；　he　Was　convinced；　hung　Jimmie　Turnbull's　good　name。　　After　his　interview　with　Detective　Ferguson　that　morning；　he　had　wired　Philip　Rochester　to　return　to　Washington　at　once。　　He　had　requested　an　immediate　reply；　and　had　fully　expected　to　find　a　telegram　at　his　office　when　he　stopped　there　on　his　way　to　the　morgue；　but　none　had　come。

〃Whom　did　you　see　in　the　McIntyre　house？〃　the　coroner　asked　O'Ryan。

〃No　one　sir；　except　the　burglar　and　Miss　McIntyre。〃

〃Did　you　find　any　doors　or　windows　unlocked？〃

〃No；　sir；　I　never　looked　to　see。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃Because　the　young　lady　said　that　she　had　been　over　the　house　and　everything　was　then　fastened。〃　　O'Ryan　looked　anxiously　at　the　coroner。　　Would　he　make　him　out　derelict　in　his　duty？　　It　would　seriously　affect　his　standing　on　the　Force。　　〃I　took　Miss　McIntyre's　word　for　the　house；　for　I　had　the　burglar　safe　under　arrest。〃

〃How　did　Miss　McIntyre　appear？〃

〃Appear？　　Sure；　she　looked　very　sweet　in　her　blue　wrapper　and　her　hair　down　her　back；〃　answered　O'Ryan　with　emphasis。

〃She　was　not　fully　dressed　then？〃

〃No；　sir。〃

〃Was　Miss　McIntyre　composed　in　manner　or　did　she　appear　frightened？〃　asked　Penfield。　　It　was　one　of　the　questions　which　Kent　had　expected；　and　he　waited　with　intense　interest　for　the　policeman's　reply。

〃She　was　very　pale　and　…　and　breathless　like。〃　　O'Ryan　flapped　his　arms　about　vaguely　in　his　endeavor　to　demonstrate　his　meaning。　　〃She　kept　begging　me　to　hurry　and　get　the　burglar　out　of　the　house；　and　after　telling　her　that　she　would　have　to　appear　in　the　Police　Court　first　thing　that　morning；　I　went　off　with　the　prisoner。〃

〃Were　there　lights　in　the　house？〃　questioned　Penfield。

〃Only　dim　ones　in　the　halls　and　two　bulbs　turned　on　in　the　library；　it's　a　big　room　though；　and　they　hardly　made　any　light　at　all；〃　explained　O'Ryan；　he　was　particular　as　to　details。　　〃I　used　handcuffs　on　the　prisoner；　thinking　maybe　he'd　give　me　the　slip　in　the　dim　light；　but　there　was　no　fight　or　flight　in　him。〃

〃Did　he　talk　to　you　on　the　way　to　the　station　house？〃

〃No；　sir；　and　at　the　station　he　was　just　as　quiet；　only　answered　the　questions　the　desk　sergeant　put　to　him；　and　that　was　all；〃　stated　0'　Ryan。

Penfield　laid　down　his　memorandum　pad。　　〃All　right；　O'Ryan；　you　may　retire；〃　and　at　the　words　the　policeman　left　the　platform　and　the　room。　　He　was　followed　by　the　police　sergeant　who　had　been　on　desk　duty　at　the　Eighth　Precinct　on　Tuesday　morning。　　His　testimony　simply　corroborated　O'Ryan's　statement　that　the　prisoner　had　done　and　said　nothing　which　would　indicate　that　he　was　other　than　he　seemed　…　a　housebreaker。

Coroner　Penfield　paused　before　calling　the　next　witness　and　drank　a　glass　of　ice　water；　the　weather　had　turned　unseasonably　hot；　and　the　room　in　which　inquests　were　held；　was　stifling；　in　spite　of　the　long　opened　windows　at　either　end。

〃Call　Miss　Helen　McIntyre；〃　Penfield　said　to　the　morgue　master；　and　the　latter　crossed　to　the　door　leading　to　the　room　where　sat　the　witnesses。　　There　was　instant　craning　of　necks　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　the　society　girl　about　whom；　with　her　twin　sister；　so　much　interest　centered。

Helen　was　extremely　pale　as　she　advanced　up　the　room；　but　Kent；　watching　her　closely；　was　relieved　to　see　none　of　the　nervousness　which　had　been　so　marked　at　their　interview　that　morning。　　She　was　dressed　with　fastidious　taste；　and　as　she　mounted　the　platform　after　the　morgue　master　had　administered　the　oath；　Coroner　Penfield　rose　and；　with　a　polite　gesture；　indicated　the　chair　she　was　to　occupy。

〃I　am　Helen　McIntyre；〃　she　announced　c1ear1y。　　〃Daughter　of　Colonel　Charles　McIntyre。〃

〃Tell　us　the　circumstances　attending　the　arrest　of　James　Turnbull；　alias　John　Smith；　in　your　house　on　Tuesday　morning；　Miss　McIntyre；〃　directed　the　coroner；　seating　himself　at　his　table；　on　which　were　writing　materials。

〃I　was　sitting　up　to　let　in　my　sister；　who　had　gone　to　a　dance；〃　she　began；　〃and　fearing　I　would　fall　asleep　I　went　down　into　the　library；　intending　to　sit　in　one　of　the　window　recesses　and　watch　for　her　arrival。　　As　I　entered　the　library　I　saw　a　figure　steal　across　the　room　and　disappear　inside　a　closet。　　I　was　very　frightened；　but　had　sense　enough　left　to　cross　softly　to　the　closet　and　lock　the　door。〃　　She　paused　in　her　rapid　recital　and　drew　a　long　breath；　then　continued　more　slowly：

〃I　hurried　to　the　window　and　across　the　street　I　saw　a　policeman　standing　under　a　lamp…post。　　It　took　but　a　minute　to　call　him。　　The　policeman　opened　the　closet　door；　put　handcuffs　on　Mr。　Turnbull　and　took　him　away。〃

Coroner　Penfield；　as　well　as　the　jurors；　followed　her　statement　with　absorbed　attention。　　At　its　end　he　threw　down　his　pencil　and　spoke　briefly　to　the　deputy　coroner；　who　had　been　busily　engaged　in　taking　notes　of　the　inquest；　and　then　he　turned　to　Helen。

〃You　heard　no　sound　before　entering　the　library？〃

〃No　one　walking　about　the　house？〃　he　persisted。

〃No。〃　　She　followed　the　negative　with　a　short　explanation。　　〃I　lay　down　on　my　bed　soon　after　dinner；　not　feeling　very　well；　and　slept　through　the　early　hours　of　the　night。〃

〃At　what　hour　did　you　wake　up？〃

〃About　four　o'clock；　or　a　little　after。〃

〃Then　you　were　awake　an　hour　before　you　discovered　the　supposed　burglar　in　your　library？〃

〃Y…yes；〃　Helen's　hesitation　was　faint。　　〃About　that　length　of　time。〃

〃And　you　heard　no　unusual　sounds　in　that　hour's　interval？〃

〃I　heard　nothing〃　…　her　manner　was　slightly　defiant　and　Kent's　heart　sank；　if　he　had　only　thought　to　warn　her　not　to　antagonize　the　coroner。

〃Where　were　you　during　that　hour？〃

〃Lying　down；〃　promptly。　　〃Then；　afraid　I　would　drop　off　to　sleep　again；　I　went　downstairs。〃

Coroner　Penfield　consulted　his　notes　before　asking　another　question。

〃Who　lives　in　your　house　beside　you　and　your　twin　sister？〃　he　asked。

〃My　father；　Colonel　McIntyre；　our　house　guest；　Mrs。　　Louis　C。　Brewster；　and　five　servants；〃　she　replied。　　〃Grimes；　the　butler；　Martha；　our　maid；　Jane；　the　chambermaid；　Hope；　our　cook；　and　Thomas；　our　second　man；　the　chauffeur；　Harris；　the　scullery　maid；　and　the　laundress　do　not　stay　at　night。〃

〃Who　were　at　home　beside　yourself　on　Monday　night　and　early　Tuesday　morning？〃

〃My　father　and　Mrs。　Brewster；　I　believe　the　servants　were　in　also；　except　Thomas；　who　had　asked　permission　to　spend　the　night　in　Baltimore。〃

〃Miss　McIntyre？〃　　Coroner　Penfield　put　the　next　question　in　an　impressive　manner。　　〃On　discovering　the　burglar　why　did　you　not　call　your　father？〃

〃My　first　impulse　was　to　do　so；〃　she　answered　promptly。　　〃But　on　leaving　the　library　I　passed　the　window；　saw　the　policeman；　and　called　him　in。〃　She　shot　a　keen　look　at　the　coroner；　and　added　softly；　〃The　policeman　was　qualified　to　make　an　arrest；　my　father　would　have　had　to　summon　one　had　he　been　there。〃

〃Quite　true；〃　acknowledged　Penfield　courteously。　　〃Now；　Miss　McIntyre；　why　did　the　prisoner　so　obligingly　walk　straight　into　a　closet　on　your　arrival　in　the　library？〃

〃I　presume　he　was　looking　for　a　way　out　of　the　room　and　blundered　into　it；〃　she　explain