the red seal-第17节

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Almost　immediately　Stone　reentered　the　room　and　hurried　to　the　platform。

〃Would　two　or　more　capsules　of　amyl　nitrite　constitute　a　lethal　dose？〃　asked　Penfield。

〃They　would　be　very　apt　to　finish　a　feeble　heart；〃　replied　Stone。　〃Three　capsules；　if　inhaled　deeply　would　certainly　kill　a　healthy　person。〃

Penfield　showed　the　handkerchief　to　the　physician。　　〃Can　a　chemist　tell；　from　the　particles　clinging　to　this　handkerchief；　how　many　capsules　have　been　used？〃

〃I　should　say　he　could。〃　　Stone　looked　grave　as　he　inspected　the　linen；　taking　careful　note　of　the　letter　〃B〃　in　one　corner　of　the　handkerchief。　　〃But　there　is　this　to　be　considered　…　Turnbull　may　not　have　crushed　those　capsules　all　at　the　same　time。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃He　may　have　felt　an　attack　coming　on　earlier　in　the　evening　and　used　a　capsule；　and　in　the　police　court　used　the　same　handkerchief　in　the　same　manner。〃

〃I　see；〃　Penfield　nodded。　　〃The　point　is　cleverly　taken。〃

Kent　silently　agreed　with　the　coroner。　　The　next　instant　Stone　was　excused；　and　after　a　slight　pause　the　deputy　coroner；　Dr。　Mayo；　left　his　table　and　his　notes　and　occupied　the　witness　chair；　after　first　being　sworn。　　The　preliminaries　did　not　consume　much　time；　and　Penfield's　manner　was　brisk　as　he　addressed　his　assistant。

〃Did　you　make　a　post…mortem　examination　of　Turnbull？〃　he　asked。

〃I　did；　sir；　in　the　presence　of　the　morgue　master　and　Dr。　McLane。〃　Dr。　Mayo　displayed　an　anatomical　chart；　drawing　his　pencil　down　it　as　he　talked。　　〃We　found　from　the　condition　of　the　heart　that　the　deceased　had　suffered　from　angina　pectoris〃　…　he　paused　and　spoke　more　slowly　…　〃in　examining　the　gastric　contents　we　found　the　presence　of　aconitine。〃

〃Aconitine？〃　questioned　Penfield；　and　the　reporters；　scenting　the　sensational；　leaned　forward　eagerly　so　as　not　to　miss　the　deputy　coroner's　answer。

〃Aconitine；　an　active　poison；〃　he　explained。　　〃It　is　the　alkaloid　of　aconite；　and　generally　fatal　in　its　results。〃


CHAPTER　X

AT　THE　CLUB　DE　VINGT

The　large　building　of　the　popular　Club　de　Vingt；　or　as　one　Washingtonian　put　it；　the　〃Club　De　Vin；〃　which　had　sprung　into　existence　in　the　National　Capital　during　the　war；　was　ablaze　with　light　and　Benjamin　Clymer；　sitting　at　a　small　table　in　one　corner　of　the　dining…room；　wished　most　heartily　that　it　had　been　less　crowded。　　Many　dinner…parties　were　being　given　that　night；　and　it　was　only　by　dint　of　perseverance　and　a　Treasury　note　that　he　had　finally　induced　the　head　waiter　to　put　in　an　extra　table　for　him　and　his　guest；　Harry　Kent。　　Kent　had　been　very　late　and；　to　add　to　his　short…comings；　had　been　silent；　not　to　say　morose；　during　dinner。　　Clymer　heaved　a　sigh　of　relief　when　the　table　was　cleared　and　coffee　and　cigars　placed　before　them。

Kent　roused　himself　from　his　abstraction。　　〃We　cannot　talk　here；〃　he　said；　looking　at　the　gay　diners　who　surrounded　them。　　〃And　I　have　several　important　matters　to　discuss　with　you；　Mr。　Clymer。〃

His　remark　was　overheard　by　their　waiter；　and　he　stopped　pouring　out　Kent's　coffee。

〃There　is　a　small　smoking　room　to　the　right　of　the　dining　room；〃　he　suggested。　　〃I　passed　there　but　a　moment　ago　and　it　was　not　occupied。　　If　you　desire；　sir；　I　will　serve　coffee　there。〃

〃An　excellent　idea。〃　Clymer　rose　quickly　and　he　and　Kent　followed　the　waiter　to　the　inclosed　porch　which　had　been　converted　into　an　attractive　lounging　room　for　the　club　members。　　It　was　much　cooler　than　the　over…heated　dining　room；　and　Kent　was　grateful　for　the　subdued　light　given　out　by　the　artistically　shaded　lamps　with　which　it　was　furnished。　　There　was　silence　while　the　waiter　with　deft　fingers　arranged　the　coffee　and　cigars　on　a　wicker　table；　then　receiving　Clymer's　generous　tip　with　a　word　of　thanks；　the　man　departed。

Kent　wheeled　his　chair　around　so　as　to　face　his　companion　and　still　have　a　side　view　of　the　dining　room；　where　tables　were　being　rapidly　removed　for　the　dance　which　followed　dinners　on　Thursday　nights。　　Clymer　selected　a　cigar　with　care　and；　leaning　back　in　his　chair　until　the　wicker　creaked　under　his　weight；　he　waited　patiently　for　Kent　to　speak。　　It　was　fully　five　minutes　before　Kent　addressed　him。

〃So　James　Turnbull　was　poisoned　after　all；〃　he　commented。　　〃A　week　ago　I　would　have　sworn　that　Jimmie　hadn't　an　enemy　in　the　world。〃

〃Ah；　but　he　had；　and　a　very　bitter　vindictive　enemy；　if　the　evidence　given　at　the　coroner's　inquest　this　afternoon　is　to　be　believed；〃　replied　Clymer　seriously。　　〃The　case　is　remarkably　puzzling。〃

〃It　is。〃　　Kent　bit　savagely　at　his　cigar　as　a　slight　vent　to　his　feelings。　　〃'Killed　by　a　dose　of　aconitine　by　a　person　or　persons　unknown；'　was　the　jury's　verdict；　and　a　nice　tangle　they　have　left　me　to　ferret　out。''

〃You？〃

〃Yes。　　I'm　going　to　solve　this　mystery　if　it　is　a　possible　thing。〃　Kent's　tone　was　grim。　　〃And　Colonel　McIntyre　only　gave　me　until　Saturday　night　to　work　in。〃

Clymer　eyed　him　in　surprise。　　〃McIntyre　desires　to　get　back　his　lost　securities；　judging　from　his　comments　after　the　inquest；　he　is　not　particularly　interested　in　who　killed　Turnbull。〃

〃But　I　am；〃　exclaimed　Kent。　　〃The　more　I　think　of　it；　the　more　convinced　I　am　that　the　forged　letter；　with　the　subsequent　disappearance　of　McIntyre's　securities　has　some　connection　with　Jimmie's　untimely　death；　be　it　murder　or　suicide。〃

〃Suicide？〃　　Clymer'　s　raised　eyebrows　indicated　his　surprise。

〃Yes；〃　shortly。　　〃Aconitine　would　have　killed　just　as　surely　if　swallowed　with　suicidal　intent　as　if　administered　with　murderous　design。〃

A　pause　followed　which　neither　man　seemed　anxious　to　break；　then　Kent　turned　to　the　banker；　and　the　latter　noticed　the　haggard　lines　in　his　face。

〃Listen　to　me；　Mr。　Clymer；〃　he　began。　　〃My　instinct　tells　me　that　Jimmie　Turnbull　never　forged　that　letter　or　stole　McIntyre's　securities；　but　I　admit　that　everything　points　to　his　guilt；　even　his　death。〃

〃How　so？〃

〃Because　the　theft　of　the　securities　supplies　a　motive　for　his　suicide　…　fear　of　exposure　and　imprisonment；〃　argued　Kent。　　〃But　there　is　no　motive；　so　far　as　I　can　see；　for　Jimmie's　murder。　Men　don't　kill　each　other　without　a　motive。　　〃There　is　homicidal　mania；〃　suggested　Clymer。

〃But　not　in　this　case；〃　retorted　Kent。　　〃We　are　sane　men　and　it　is　up　to　us　to　find　out　if　Jimmie　died　by　his　own　hand　or　was　killed　by　some　unknown　enemy。''

〃Rest　easy；　Mr。　Kent；〃　said　a　voice　from　the　doorway　and　Kent；　who　had　turned　his　back　in　that　direction　the　better　to　talk　to　Clymer；　whirled　around　and　found　Detective　Ferguson　regarding　him　just　inside　the　threshold。　　〃Mr。　Turnbull's　enemy　is　not　unknown　and　will　soon　be　under　arrest。〃

〃Who　is　he？〃　demanded　Clymer　and　Kent　simultaneously。

〃Philip　Rochester。〃

Clymer　was　the　first　to　recover　from　his　astonishment。　　〃Oh；　get　out！〃　he　exclaimed　incredulously。　　〃Why；　Rochester　was　Turnbull's　most　intimate　friend。〃

〃Until　they　fell　in　love　with　the　same　girl；〃　answered　Ferguson　succinctly；　taking　possession　of　the　only　other　chair　the　porch　boasted。　　〃One　quarrel　led　to　another　and　then　Rochester　did　for　him。　　Oh；　it　dove…tails　nicely；　motive；　jealous　anger；　opportunity；　recognition　in　court　of　Turnbull　disguised　as　a　burglar；　at　the　same　time　Rochester　learns　that　Turnbull　has　been　caught　after　midnight　in　the　house　of　his　sweetheart　…〃

〃D　…　mn　you！〃　Kent　sprang　for　the　detective's　throat。　　〃Cut　out　your　abominable　insinuations。　　Miss　McIntyre　shall　not　be　insulted。〃

〃I'm　not　insulting　her；〃　gasped　Ferguson；　half　strangled。　　〃Let　go；　Mr。　Kent。　　I'm　only　telling　you　what　that　half　crazy　partner　of　yours；　Rochester；　was　probably　thinking　in　the　police　court。　　Let　go；　I　say。〃

Clymer　aided　the　detective　in　freeing　himself。　　〃Sit　down；　Kent；〃　he　said　sternly。　　〃Ferguson　meant　no　offense。　　Go　ahead；　man；　and　tell　us　the　rest　of　your　theories。〃

It　was　some　minutes；　however；　before　the　detective　had　collected　sufficient　breath　to　answer　intelligently。

〃I　size　it　up　this　way；〃　he　began　with　a　resentful　glance　at　Kent　who　had　dropped　back　in　his　chair　again。　　〃Rochester　knew　his　friend　had　heart　disease　and　that　his　sudden　death　would　be　attributed　to　it　…　so　he　took　a　sporting　chance　and　administered　a　fatal　dose　of　aconitine。〃

〃How　was　it　done？〃　asked　Clymer。

〃Just　slipped　the　poison　into　the　glass　of　water　he　handed　to　Turnbull　in　the　court　room；〃　explained　Ferguson；　and　glanced　in　triumph　at　Kent。　　〃Neat；　wasn't　it？〃

Kent　regarded　the　detective；　his　mind　in　a　whirl。　　His　theory　was　certainly　plausible；　but　…　〃Have　you　other　evidence　to　prove；　your　theory？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes。〃　Ferguson　checked　off　his　points　on　his　fingers。　　〃Remember　how　insistent　Mr。　Rochester　was　that　Turnbull　had　died　from　angina　pectoris？〃

〃I　do；〃　acknowledged　Clymer；　deeply　interested。　　〃Continue；　Ferguson。〃

The　detective　needed　no　second　bidding。

〃Another　point；〃　he　began。　　〃There　never　would　have　been　a　post…mortem　examination　if　Miss　Helen　McIntyre　hadn't　asked　for　it。　　She　knew　of　the　ill…feeling　between　the　men　and　suspected　foul　play　on　Rochester's　part。〃

〃Wait；〃　commanded　Kent。　　〃Has　Miss　McIntyre　substantiated　that　statement？〃

〃Not　yet；〃　admitted　Ferguson。　　〃I　stopped　at　her　house；　but　the　butler　said　the　young　ladies　had　retired　and　could　not　see　any　one。〃　　Kent；　w