the red seal-第20节

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〃I　was；〃　came　Clymer's　surprised　answer。

〃I　waited　for　McIntyre　to　pick　up　Mrs。　Brewster's　fan。〃

〃Did　he　take　my　letter　off　the　table　also？〃　called　Kent。

〃Why；　no。〃　　Clymer's　voice　testified　to　his　increased　surprise。　〃Mrs。　Brewster　dropped　her　fan　right　in　the　doorway　just　as　McIntyre　and　I　approached；　we　both　stooped　to　get　it　and；　like　fools；　bumped　our　heads　together　in　the　act。　　He　got　the　fan；　however；　and　I　waited　for　him　to　walk　into　the　dining　room　before　following　Mrs。　Brewster。〃

〃As　you　passed　the　table；　Mr。　Clymer；　did　you　see　my　letter　lying　on　the　table？〃　persisted　Kent。

〃Upon　my　word　I　never　looked　at　the　table；〃　Clymer's　hearty　tone　carried　conviction。　　〃I　walked　right　along　in　my　hurry　to　know　what　the　cheering　was　about。　　I　am　sorry；　Kent；　have　you　mislaid　your　letter？〃

〃Yes；〃　glumly。　　〃Sorry　to　have　disturbed　you；　Mr。　Clymer；　good　night；〃　and　Clymer's　echoing；　〃Good　night〃　sounded　faintly　as　he　hung　up　the　receiver。

〃Drew　blank；〃　he　announced；　turning　to　Ferguson。　　〃Confound　you；　Ferguson；　you　bad　no　right　to　touch　the　papers　in　my　safe。　　If　harm　comes　from　it；　I'll　make　you　suffer；〃　and　not　waiting　for　the　detective's　jumbled　apologies　and　explanations；　he　hurried　from　the　building。　　But　once　on　the　sidewalk　he　paused　for　thought。　　McIntyre　must　have　picked　up　the　white　envelope；　there　was　no　other　feasible　explanation　of　its　disappearance。　　But　what　had　attracted　his　attention　to　the　envelope　…　the　red　seal　with　the　big　letter　〃　B〃　was　its　only　identifying　mark。　　If　Helen　had　only　told　him　the　contents　of　the　envelope！

Kent　struck　his　clenched　fist　in　his　left　hand　in　wrath；　something　must　be　done；　he　could　not　stand　there　all　night。　　Although　it　was　through　no　fault　of　his　own　that　he　had　lost　the　envelope　entrusted　to　his　care；　he　was　still　responsible　to　Helen　for　its　disappearance。　　She　must　be　told　that　it　was　gone；　however　unpleasant　the　task。

Kent　walked　hastily　along　Pennsylvania　Avenue　until　he　came　to　a　drug　store　still　open；　and　entered　the　telephone　booth。　　He　had　recollected　that　the　twins　had　a　branch　telephone　in　their　sitting　room；　he　would　have　to　chance　their　being　awake　at　that　hour。

Barbara　McIntyre　turned　on　her　pillow　and　rubbed　her　sleepy　eyes；　surely　she　had　been　mistaken　in　thinking　she　heard　the　telephone　bell　ringing。　　Even　as　she　lay　striving　to　listen；　she　dozed　off　again；　to　be　rudely　awakened　by　Helen's　voice　at　her　ear。


〃Babs！〃　came　the　agitated　whisper。　　〃The　envelope's　gone。〃

〃Gone！〃　Barbara　swung　out　of　bed。

〃Gone　where？〃

〃Father　has　it。〃

Downstairs　in　the　library　Mrs。　Brewster　paused　on　her　entrance　by　the　side　of　a　piece　of　carved　Venetian　furniture　and　laying　her　coronation　scarf　on　it；　she　examined　a　white　envelope　…　the　red　seal　was　intact。

At　the　sound　of　approaching　footsteps　she　raised　a　trap　door　in　the　piece　of　furniture　and　only　her　keen　ears　caught　the　faint　thud　of　the　envelope　as　it　dropped　inside；　then　with　a　happy；　tender　smile　she　turned　to　meet　Colonel　McIntyre。


CHAPTER　XII

THE　ECHO　OF　A　LAUGH

Colonel　McIntyre　tramped　the　deserted　dining　room　in　exasperation。　Nine　o'clock　and　the　twins　had　not　come　to　breakfast；　nor　was　there　any　evidence　that　Mrs。　Brewster　intended　taking　that　meal　downstairs。

〃Will　you　wait　any　longer；　sir？〃　inquired　Grimes；　who　hovered　solicitously　in　the　background。　　〃I'm　afraid；　sir；　your　eggs　will　be　over…done。〃

〃Bring　them　along；〃　directed　McIntyre；　and　flung　himself　into　his　chair　at　the　foot　of　the　table。　　He　had　been　seated　but　a　few　minutes　when　Barbara　appeared　and　dutifully　presented　her　cheek　to　be　kissed；　then　she　tripped　lightly　to　Helen's　place　opposite　her　father；　and　pressed　the　electric　bell　for　Grimes。

〃Coffee；　please；〃　she　said　as　that　worthy　appeared；　and　busied　herself　in　arranging　the　cups　and　saucers。　　〃Helen　is　taking　her　breakfast　upstairs；〃　she　explained　to　her　father。

〃How　about　Mrs。　Brewster？〃

〃Still　asleep。〃　　Barbara　poured　out　her　father's　coffee　with　careful　attention　to　detail。　　〃I　peeked　into　her　room　a　moment　ago　and　she　looked　so　'comfy'　I　hadn't　the　heart　to　awaken　her。　　You　must　have　been　very　late　at　the　club　last　night。〃

〃We　got　home　a　little　after　one　o'clock。〃

McIntyre　helped　himself　to　poached　eggs　and　bacon。　　〃What　did　you　do　last　night？〃

〃Went　to　bed　early；〃　answered　Barbara　with　brevity。　　〃Helen　wasn't　feeling　well。〃

McIntyre's　handsome　face　showed　concern　as　he　glanced　across　the　table。　　〃Have　you　sent　for　Dr。　Stone？〃

〃No。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃Helen　…　I　…　we　〃…　Barbara　stumbled　in　her　speech。　　〃We　have　taken　an　aversion　to　Dr。　Stone。〃

McIntyre　set　down　his　coffee　cup　with　unwonted　force；　thereby　spilling　some　of　its　contents。

〃What！〃　he　exclaimed　in　complete　astonishment；　and　regarded　her　fixedly　for　a　moment。　　His　tolerant　manner；　which　he　frequently　assumed　toward　Barbara；　grew　stern。　　〃Dr。　Stone　is　my　personal　friend；　as　well　as　our　family　physician　…〃

〃And　a　cousin　of　Margaret　Brewster；〃　put　in　Barbara　mildly。

〃Well；　what　of　it？〃　trenchantly；　aware　that　he　had　colored　at　mention　of　the　widow's　name。　　〃Nothing；〃　Barbara's　eyes　opened　innocently。　　〃I　only　recalled　the　fact　of　his　relationship　as　you　enumerated　his　virtues。〃

Colonel　McIntyre　transferred　his　regard　from　her　to　the　butler。　〃You　need　not　wait；　Grimes。〃　　He　remained　silent　until　the　servant　was　safely　in　the　pantry；　and　then　addressed　his　daughter。　　〃None　of　your　tricks；　Barbara；〃　he　cautioned。　　〃If　Helen　is　ill　enough　to　require　medical　attention；　Dr。　Stone　is　to　be　sent　for；　regardless　of　your　sudden　dislike　to　him；　for　which；　by　the　way；　you　have　given　no　cause。〃

〃Haven't　I？〃　　Barbara　folded　her　napkin　with　neat　exactness。　　〃It's　…　it's　intangible。〃

〃Pooh！〃　McIntyre　gave　a　short　laugh；　as　he　pushed　back　his　chair。　〃I'm　going　to　see　Helen。　　And　Barbara；〃　stopping　on　his　way　to　the　door；　〃don't　be　a　fool。〃

Barbara　rubbed　the　tiny　mole　under　the　lobe　of　her　ear；　a　trick　she　had　when　absent…minded　or　in　deep　thought。　　〃Helen；〃　she　announced；　unaware　that　she　spoke　loud；　〃shall　have　a　physician；　but　it　won't　be　…　why；　Grimes；〃　awakening　to　the　servant's　noiseless　return。　　〃You　can　take　the　breakfast　dishes。　　Did　Miss　Helen　eat　anything？〃

〃Not　very　much；　miss。〃　Grimes　shook　a　troubled　head。　　〃But　she　done　better　than　at　dinner　last　night；　so　she's　picking　up；　and　don't　you　be　worried　over　her；〃　with　emphasis；　as　he　sidled　nearer。　　〃Tell　me；　miss；　is　the　colonel　courtin'　Mrs。　Brewster？〃

〃Ask　him；〃　she　suggested　and　smiled　at　the　consternation　which　spread　over　the　butler's　face。

〃Me；　miss！〃　he　exclaimed　in　horror。　　〃It　would　be　as　much　as　my　place　is　worth；　the　colonel's　that　quick…tempered。　　Why；　miss；　just　because　I　tidied　up　his　desk　and　put　his　papers　to　rights　he　flew　into　a　terrible　passion。〃

〃When　was　that？〃

〃Early　this　morning；　miss；　and　he　so　upset　Thomas；　miss；　that　he　gave　notice。〃

〃Oh；　that's　too　bad。〃　Barbara　liked　the　second　man。　　〃Perhaps　father　will　reconsider　and　persuade　him　to　stay。〃

The　butler　looked　unconvinced。　　〃It　was　about　the　police　dogs；〃　he　confided　to　her。　　〃Thomas　told　him　that　Miss　Helen　wanted　them　brought　back；　and　the　colonel　swore　at　him　…　'twas　more　than　Thomas　could　stand　and　he　ups　and　goes。〃　　Barbara　halted　half　way　to　the　door。　　〃Did　Thomas　get　the　dogs？〃

〃You　wait　and　see；　miss。〃　　Grimes　was　guilty　of　a　most　undignified　wink。　　〃Thomas　ain't　forgiven　himself　for　not　being　here　Monday　night；　miss；　though　it　wouldn't　a　done　him　any　good；　he　wouldn't　a　heard　Mr。　Turnbull　climbing　in　or　his　arrest；　away　upstairs　in　the　servants'　quarters。〃

〃Grimes；〃　Barbara　retracted　her　footsteps　and　placed　her　lips　very　close　to　the　old　servant's　ear。

〃When　I　came　in　on　Tuesday　morning　I　found　the　door　to　the　attic　stairway　standing　partly　open。。。

〃Did　you　now；　miss？〃　　The　two　regarded　each　other　warily。　　〃And　what　hour　may　that　have　been？〃

The　butler　cocked　his　ear　for　her　answer　…　'he　was　sometimes　a　little　hard　of　hearing；　but　he　waited　in　vain；　Barbara　had　disappeared　inside　the　library。

Colonel　McIntyre　had　not　gone　at　once　to　see　his　daughter　Helen；　as　Barbara　had　supposed　from　his　remark；　instead　he　went　down　the　staircase　and　into　the　reception　room　on　the　ground　floor。　　It　was　generally　used　as　a　smoking　room　and　lounge；　but　when　entertaining　was　done；　cloaks　and　wraps　were　left　there。　　McIntyre　looked　over　the　prettily　upholstered　furniture；　then　strolled　to　the　window　and　carefully　inspected　the　lock；　it　appeared　in　perfect　order　as　he　tested　it。　　Pushing　the　catch　back　as　far　as　it　would　go；　he　raised　the　window　…　the　sash　moved　upward　without　a　sound；　and　he　leaned　out　and　looked　up　and　down　the　path　which　ran　the　depth　of　the　house　to　the　kitchen　door　and　servants'　entrance。　There　was　an　iron　gate　separating　the　path　from　the　sidewalk；　always　kept　locked　at　night；　and　McIntyre　had　thought　that　sufficient　protection　and　had　not　put　an　iron　grille　in　the　window。

McIntyre　closed　and　locked　the　window；　then　pulling　out　the　gilt　chair　which　stood　in　front　of　the　desk；　he　sat　down；　selected　some　monogrammed　paper　and　penned　a　few　lines　in　his　characteristic　though　legible　writing。　　Picking　up　some　red　sealing　wax；　he　lighted　the　small　candle　in　its　brass　hold