the red seal-第2节

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y　the　iron　railing；　gasping　for　breath。

〃Water；〃　he　pleaded；　and　a　court　attendant　handed　a　cup　to　Rochester；　standing　just　outside　the　cage；　and　he　passed　it　over　the　iron　railing　to　the　burglar。　　Then　turning　on　his　heel　the　lawyer　rejoined　Clymer；　his　discontent　plainly　discernible。

〃A　clear　case　against　your　client；〃　remarked　Clymer；　reading　his　thoughts。　　〃Don't　take　the　affair　to　heart；　man；　you　did　your　best　under　difficulties。〃

Rochester　shook　his　head　gloomily。　　〃I　might　have　…　Jove！　　why　didn't　I　ask　for　bail？〃

〃Bail！〃　　The　banker　suppressed　a　chuckle　as　he　eyed　the　threadbare　suit　and　tattered　appearance　of　the　burglar；　who　had　resumed　his　seat　in　the　prisoner's　cage。　　〃Who　would　have　stood　surety　for　that　scarecrow？〃

〃I　would　have。〃　　Rochester　spoke　with　some　vehemence；　but　his　words　were　partly　drowned　by　the　violent　fit　of　coughing　which　again　shook　the　burglar；　and　before　he　could　finish　his　sentence；　Helen　McIntyre　stood　at　his　elbow。　　She　bowed　gravely　to　Clymer　who　rose　at　her　approach；　and　laid　a　persuasive　hand　on　Rochester's　sleeve。

〃Will　you　come　with　us？〃　she　asked。　　〃Barbara　and　Dr。　Stone　are　ready　to　leave。　　The　doctor　wishes　to　…〃　　As　she　spoke　she　looked　across　at　Stone；　who　stood　opposite　her　in　the　little　group。　　He　failed　to　catch　both　her　word　and　her　eye；　his　gaze；　passing　over　her　shoulder；　was　riveted　on　the　burglar。

〃Something　is　wrong；〃　he　announced　and　pushed　past　Barbara。　　〃Let　me　inside　the　cage；〃　he　directed　as　the　deputy　marshal　kept　the　gate　closed　at　his　approach。　　〃Your　prisoner　appears　ill。〃

One　glance　at　the　burglar　proved　the　truth　of　the　physician's　statement　and　the　gate　was　hastily　opened。　　Stone　bent　over　the　man；　whose　spasmodic　breathing　could　be　heard　distinctly　through　the　court　room；　then　his　gaze　shifted　to　the　other　occupants　of　the　cage。

〃The　man　must　have　air；〃　he　declared。　　〃Your　aid　here。〃　　Looking　up　his　eyes　met　Clymer's；　and　the　latter　came　swiftly　into　the　cage；　followed　by　Rochester；　and　the　deputy　marshal　slammed　the　door　shut　behind　them。

〃Step　out　this　way；〃　he　said；　as　Clymer　aided　the　physician　in　lifting　the　burglar；　and　he　led　them　into　the　ante…room　whence　prisoners　were　taken　into　the　cage。

Stretching　his　burden　on　the　floor；　Stone　tore　open　the　man's　shirt　and　felt　his　heart；　while　Clymer；　spying　a　water　cooler；　sped　across　the　room　and　returned　immediately　with　a　brimming　glass。

〃Here's　water；〃　he　said；　but　Stone　refused　the　proffered　glass。

〃No　use；〃　he　announced。　　〃The　man　is　dead。〃

〃Dead！〃　echoed　the　deputy　marshal。　　〃Well；　I'll　be　…　say；　doctor；〃　but　Stone　had　darted　out　of　the　room；　and　he　turned　open…mouthed　to　Clymer。　　〃If　it　wasn't　Doctor　Stone　I　would　say　he　was　crazy；〃　he　declared。

〃Tut！　　Feel　the　man's　heart　and　convince　yourself；〃　suggested　Clymer　tartly；　and　the　deputy　marshal；　dropping　on　one　knee；　did　so。　Detecting　no　heart…beat；　the　officer　passed　his　hand　over　the　dead　man's　unshaven　chin　and　across　his　forehead；　brushing　back　the　unkempt　hair。　　Under　his　none　too　gentle　touch　the　wig　slipped　back；　revealing　to　his　astonished　gaze　a　head　of　short　cropped；　red　hair。

Clymer；　who　had　followed　the　deputy　marshal's　movements　with　interest；　gave　a　shout　which　was　echoed　by　Rochester　and　Dr。　Stone；　who　returned　at　that　moment。

〃Good　God！〃　gasped　Clymer；　shaken　out　of　his　accustomed　calm。　〃Jimmie　Turnbull！〃

The　deputy　marshal　eyed　the　startled　men。

〃You　don't　mean　…〃　he　stammered；　and　paused。

For　answer　Dr。　Stone　straightened　the　dead　man　and　removed　the　wig。

〃James　Turnbull；〃　he　said　gravely；　and　turning；　addressed　Rochester；　who　had　dropped　down　on　the　nearest　chair。　　〃Cashier　of　the　Metropolis　Trust　Company；　Rochester；　and　your　roommate；　masquerading　as　a　burglar。〃


CHAPTER　II

THE　GAME　OF　CONSEQUENCES

R　0　Chester　did　not　appear　to　hear　Dr。　Stone's　words。　　With　eyes　half　starting　from　their　sockets　he　sat　staring　at　the　dead　man；　completely　oblivious　of　the　others'　presence。　　After　watching　him　for　a　moment　the　physician　turned　briskly　to　the　dazed　deputy　marshal。

〃Summon　the　coroner；〃　he　directed。　　〃We　cannot　move　the　body　until　he　comes。〃

His　curt　tone　brought　the　official's　wits　back　with　a　jump　and　he　made　for　the　exit；　only　to　be　stopped　at　the　threshold　by　a　sandy…haired　man　just　entering　the　room。

At　the　word　coroner；　Rochester　raised　himself　from　his　bent　attitude　and　brushed　his　hand　across　his　eyes。

〃No　need　for　a　coroner　to　diagnose　the　case；〃　he　objected。　　〃Poor　Turnbull　always　said　he　would　go　off　like　that。〃

Stone　moved　nearer。　　〃Like　that？〃　he　questioned；　pointing　to　the　still　figure。　　〃Explain　yourself；　Rochester。　　Did　Turnbull　expect　to　die　here　in　this　manner？〃

〃No　…　no　…　certainly　not。〃　　The　lawyer　moistened　his　dry　lips。　　〃But　when　a　man　has　angina　pectoris　he　knows　the　end　may　come　at　any　moment　and　in　any　place。　　Turnbull　made　no　secret　of　suffering　from　that　disease。〃　　Rochester　turned　toward　Clymer。　　〃You　knew　it。〃

Benjamin　Clymer；　who　had　been　gazing　alternately　at　the　dead　man　and　vaguely　about　the　room；　looked　startled　at　the　abrupt　question。

〃I　knew　Turnbull　had　bad　attacks　of　the　heart；　we　all　knew　it　at　the　bank；〃　he　stated。　　〃But　I　understood　the　disease　had　responded　to　treatment。〃

〃There　is　no　cure　for　angina　pectoris；〃　declared　Rochester。

〃No　permanent　cure；〃　amended　Stone；　and　would　have　added　more；　but　Rochester　stopped　him。

〃Now　that　you　know　Turnbull　died　of　angina　pectoris　there　is　no　necessity　of　sending　for　the　coroner；〃　Rochester　spoke　in　haste；　his　words　tumbling　over　each　other。　　〃I　will　go　at　once　and　communicate　with　an　undertaker。〃　　But　before　he　could　rise　from　his　chair　the　sandy…haired　man；　who　had　conducted　a　whispered　conversation　with　the　deputy　marshal；　advanced　toward　the　group。

〃Just　a　moment；　gentlemen；〃　he　said；　and　turned　back　a　lapel　of　his　coat　and　displayed　a　metal　badge。　　〃I　am　Ferguson　of　the　Central　Office。　　Do　you　know　the　deceased？〃

〃He　was　my　intimate　friend；〃　announced　Rochester　before　his　companions　could　reply　to　the　detective's　question；　which　was　addressed　to　all。　　〃Mr。　Clymer；　here；　can　tell　you　that　Jimmie　Turnbull；　cashier　of　his　bank；　was　well　known　in　financial　and　social　Washington。〃

〃How　came　he　here　in　this　fix？〃　asked　Ferguson　with　more　force　than　grammatic　clarity。

〃A　sudden　heart　attack　…　angina　pectoris；　you　know；〃　replied　Rochester　glibly；　〃with　fatal　results。〃

〃I　wasn't　alluding　to　what　killed　him；〃　Ferguson　explained。　　〃But　why　was　the　cashier　of　the　Metropolis　Trust　Company；〃　he　looked　questioningly　at　Clymer　whom　he　knew　quite　well　by　sight；　〃and　a　social　high…light；　decked　out　in　these　clothes　and　a　wig；　too？〃　leaning　down；　the　better　to　examine　the　clothing　on　the　dead　man。

〃He　had　just　been　held　for　the　Grand　Jury　on　a　charge　of　house…breaking；〃　volunteered　the　deputy　marshal。　　〃I　reckon　that　brought　on　his　heart…attack。〃

〃True；　true；〃　agreed　Rochester。　　〃The　excitement　was　too　much　for　him。〃

〃House…breaking〃　ejaculated　the　detective。　　〃Dangerous　sport　for　a　man　suffering　with　angina　pectoris；　aside　from　anything　else。　Who　preferred　charges？〃

〃The　Misses　McIntyre；〃　answered　the　deputy　marshal；　to　whom　the　question　was　addressed。　　〃Like　to　interview　them？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃No；　no！〃　　Rochester　was　on　his　feet　instantly。　　〃There　is　no　necessity　to　bring　the　twins　out　here　…　it's　too　tragic！〃

〃Tragic？〃　echoed　Ferguson。　　〃Why？〃

〃Why　…　why　…　Turnbull　was　arrested　in　their　house；〃　Rochester　was　commencing　to　stutter。　　〃He　was　their　friend　…〃

〃Caught　burglarizing；　heh？〃　Ferguson's　eyes　glowed；　the　case　already　whetted　his　remarkably　keen　inquisitorial　instinct　which　had　gained　him　place　and　certain　fame　in　the　Washington　police　force。　〃Are　the　Misses　McIntyre　still　in　the　building？〃

〃They　were　in　the　court　room　just　before　we　brought　Turnbull's　body　here；〃　responded　the　deputy　marshal。　　〃I　guess　they　are　still　waiting；　eh；　doctor？〃

Stone；　thus　appealed　to；　nodded。　　〃I　agree　with　Mr。　Rochester；〃　he　said；　and　the　gravity　of　his　manner　impressed　Ferguson。　　〃It　is　better　for　me　to　break　the　news　of　Mr。　Turnbull's　death　to　the　young　ladies　before　bringing　them　here。　　Therefore；　with　your　permission；　Ferguson　…　　He　got　no　further。

Through　the　outer　entrance　of　the　room　came　Helen　McIntyre　and　her　sister　Barbara；　conducted　by　the　same　bowing　patrolman　who　had　ushered　them　into　the　court　room　an　hour　before。

〃My　God！　　Too　late！〃　stammered　Rochester　under　his　breath；　and　he　turned　in　desperation　to　Benjamin　Clymer。　　The　bank　president's　state　of　mind　at　the　extraordinary　masquerade　and　sudden　death　of　his　popular　and　trusted　cashier　bordered　on　shocked　horror；　which　had　made　him　a　passive　witness　of　the　rapidly　shifting　scene。　Rochester　clutched　his　arm　in　his　agitation。　　〃Get　the　twins　out　of　here　…　do　something；　man！　　Don't　you　know　that　Turnbull　was　in　love　with　…〃

His　fervid　whisper　penetrated　further　than　he　realized　and　one　of　the　McIntyre　twins　looked　inquiringly　in　their　direction。　　Clymer；　more　startled　than　his　demeanor　indicated；　wondered　if　she　had　overheard　Rochester's　ejaculations；　but　whatever　action　the　banker　contemplated　in　response　to　the　lawyer's　appeal　was　checked　by　a　scream　from　the　girl　on　his　right。