the red seal-第21节

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ll　candle　in　its　brass　holder　which　matched　the　rest　of　the　desk　ornaments；　but　before　heating　the　wax　he　looked　for　his　signet　ring；　and　frowned　when　he　recalled　leaving　it　on　his　dresser。　He　hesitated　a　moment；　then　catching　sight　of　a　silver　seal　lying　at　the　back　of　the　desk　he　picked　it　up　and　moistened　the　initial。　A　few　minutes　later　he　blew　out　the　candle；　returned　the　wax　and　seal　to　a　pigeon　hole；　and　carefully　placed　the　envelope　with　its　well　stamped　letter　〃B〃　in　his　coat　pocket；　and　tramped　upstairs。

Helen　heard　his　heavy　tread　coming　down　the　hall　toward　her　room；　and　scrambled　back　to　bed。　　She　had　but　time　to　arrange　her　dressing　sacque　when　her　father　walked　in。

〃Good　morning；　my　dear；〃　he　said　and；　stooping　over；　kissed　her。　As　he　straightened　up；　the　side　of　his　single…breasted　coat　turned　back　and　exposed　to　Helen's　bright　eyes　the　end　of　a　white　envelope。　　〃Barbara　told　me　you　are　not　well；〃　he　wheeled　forward　a　chair　and　sat　down　by　the　bed。　　〃Hadn't　I　better　send　for　Dr。　Stone？〃　　〃Oh；　no；〃　her　reply；　though　somewhat　faint；　was　emphatic；　and　he　frowned。

〃Why　not？〃　aggressively。　　〃I　trust　you　do　not　share　Barbara's　suddenly　developed　prejudice　against　the　good　doctor。〃

〃I　do　not　require　a　physician；〃　she　said　evasively。　　〃I　am　well。〃

McIntyre　regarded　her　vexedly。　　He　could　not　decide　whether　her　flushed　cheeks　were　from　fever　or　the　result　of　exertion　or　excitement。　　Excitement　over　what？　　He　looked　about　the　room；　it　reflected　the　taste　of　its　dainty　owner　in　its　furnishings；　but　nowhere　did　he　find　an　answer　to　his　unspoken　question；　until　his　eye　lighted　on　a　box　of　rouge　under　the　electric　lamp　on　her　bed　stand。

〃Don't　use　that；〃　he　said；　touching　the　box。

〃You　know　I　detest　make…up。〃

〃Oh；　that！〃　　She　turned　to　see　what　he　was　talking　about。　　〃That　rouge　belongs　to　Margaret　Brewster。〃

McIntyre　promptly　changed　the　conversation。　　〃Have　you　had　your　breakfast？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；　Grimes　took　the　tray　down　some　time　ago。〃　　Helen　watched　her　father　fidget　with　his　watch　fob　for　several　minutes；　then　asked　with　characteristic　directness。　　〃What　do　you　wish？〃

〃To　see　that　you　have　proper　medical　attention　if　you　are　ill；〃　he　returned　promptly。　　〃How　would　a　week　or　ten　days　at　Atlantic　City　suit　you　and　Barbara？〃

〃Not　at　all。〃　　Helen　sat　up　from　her　reclining　position　on　the　pillows。　　〃You　forget；　father；　that　we　have　a　house…guest；　Margaret　Brewster　is　not　leaving　until　May。〃

〃I　had　not　forgotten；〃　curtly。　　〃I　propose　that　she　go　with　us。〃

A　faint　〃Oh！〃　escaped　Helen；　otherwise　she　made　no　comment；　and　McIntyre；　after　contemplating　her　for　a　minute；　looked　away。

〃Either　go　to　Atlantic　City　with　us；　Helen；　or　resume　your　normal；　everyday　life；〃　he　said　shortly。　　〃I　am　tired　of　heroics；　Jimmie　Turnbull　was　hardly　the　man　to　inspire　them。〃

〃Stop！〃　Helen's　voice　rang　out　imperiously。　　〃I　will　not　permit　one　word　said　in　disparagement　of　Jimmie；　least　of　all　from　you；　father。　Wait；〃　as　he　attempted　to　speak。　　〃I　do　not　know　what　traits　of　character　I　may　have　inherited　from　you；　but　I　have　all　mother's　loyalty；　and　…　that　loyalty　belongs　to　Jimmie。〃

McIntyre's　eyes　shifted　under　her　gaze。

〃I　regret　very　much　this　obsession；〃　he　said　rising。　　〃I　will　not　attempt　to　reason　with　you　again；　Helen；　but　〃…　he　made　no　effort　to　lower　his　voice；　〃the　world　…　our　world　will　soon　know　what　manner　of　man　James　Turnbull　was；　of　that　I　am　determined。〃

〃And　I　〃…　Helen　faced　her　father　proudly　…　〃I　will　leave　no　stone　unturned　to　defend　his　memory。〃

Her　father　wheeled　about。　　〃In　doing　so；　see　that　you　do　not　compromise　yourself；〃　he　remarked　coldly；　and　before　the　infuriated　girl　could　answer；　he　slammed　the　door　shut　and　stalked　downstairs。

Some　half　hour　later　he　opened　the　door　of　Rochester　and　Kent's　law　office　and　would　have　walked　unceremoniously　into　Kent's　private　office　had　not　John　Sylvester　stepped　forward　from　behind　his　desk　in　the　corner。

〃Good　morning；　Colonel；〃　he　said　civilly。　　〃Mr。　Kent　is　not　here。　Do　you　wish　to　leave　any　message？〃

〃Oh；　good　morning；　Sylvester；〃　McIntyre's　manner　was　brusque。　　〃When　do　you　expect　Mr。　Kent？〃

〃In　about　twenty　minutes；　Colonel。〃　　Sylvester　glanced　at　the　wall　clock。　　〃Won't　you　sit　down？〃

McIntyre　took　the　chair　and　planted　it　by　the　window。　　Never　a　very　patient　man；　he　waited　for　Kent　with　increasing　irritation；　and　at　the　end　of　half　an　hour　his　temper　was　uppermost。　　〃Give　me　something　to　write　with；〃　he　demanded　of　Sylvester。　　Accepting　the　clerk's　fountain　pen　without　thanks；　he　walked　over　to　the　center　table　and；　drawing　out　his　leather　wallet；　took　from　it　a　visiting　card　and；　stooping　over；　wrote

　　　　　　　　You　have　but　thirty…six　hours　remaining。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　McIntyre。

〃See　that　Mr。　Kent　gets　this　card；〃　he　directed。　　〃No；　don't　put　it　there；〃　irascibly；　as　the　clerk　laid　the　card　on　top　of　a　pile　of　letters。　　〃Take　it　into　Mr。　Kent's　office　and　put　it　on　his　desk。〃

There　was　that　about　Colonel　McIntyre　which　inspired　complete　obedience　to　his　wishes；　and　Sylvester　followed　his　directions　without　further　question。

As　the　clerk　stepped　into　Kent's　office　McIntyre　saw　a　woman　sitting　by　the　empty　desk。　　She　turned　her　head　on　hearing　footsteps　and　their　glances　met。　　A　faint　exclamation　broke　from　her。

〃Margaret！〃　McIntyre　strode　past　Sylvester。　　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃

Mrs。　Brewster's　ready　laugh　hid　all　sign　of　embarrassment。　　〃Must　you　know？〃　she　asked　archly。　　〃That　is　hardly　fair　to　Barbara。〃

〃So　Barbara　sent　you　here　with　a　message！〃　　Mrs。　Brewster　treated　his　remark　as　a　statement　and　not　a　question；　and　briskly　changed　the　subject。

〃I　can't　wait　any　longer；〃　she　pouted。　　〃Please　tell　Mr。　Kent　that　I　am　sorry　not　to　have　seen　him。〃

〃I　will；　madam。〃　Sylvester　placed　McIntyre's　card　in　the　center　of　Kent's　desk　and　flew　to　open　the　door　for　Mrs。　Brewster。

As　the　widow　stepped　into　the　corridor　she　brushed　by　an　over…dressed　woman；　whose　cheap　finery　gave　clear　indication　of　her　tastes。　　Hardly　noticing　another's　presence　she　turned　and　took　McIntyre's　arm　and　they　strolled　off　together；　her　soft　laugh　floating　back　to　where　Mrs。　Sylvester　stood　talking　to　her　husband。


CHAPTER　XIII

THE　FACE　AT　THE　WINDOW

Harry　Kent　rang　the　doorbell　at　the　McIntyre　residence　for　the　fifth　time；　and　wondered　what　had　become　of　the　faithful　Grimes；　the　butler　was　usually　the　soul　of　promptness；　and　to　keep　a　caller　waiting　on　the　doorstep　would；　in　his　category；　rank　as　the　height　of　impropriety。　　As　Kent　again　raised　his　hand　toward　the　bell；　the　door　swung　open　suddenly　and　Barbara　beckoned　to　him　to　come　inside。

〃The　bell　is　out　of　order；〃　she　explained。　　〃I　saw　you　from　the　window。　　Hurry；　and　Grimes　won't　know　that　you　are　here；〃　and　she　darted　ahead　of　him　into　the　reception　room。　　Kent　followed　more　slowly；　he　was　hurt　that　she　had　had　no　other　greeting　for　him。

〃Babs；　aren't　you　glad　to　see　me？〃　he　asked　wistfully。

For　an　instant　her　eyes　were　lighted　by　her　old　sunny　smile。

〃You　know　I　am；〃　she　whispered　softly。　　As　his　arms　closed　around　her　and　their　lips　met　in　a　tender　kiss　she　added　fervently；　〃Oh；　Harry；　why　didn't　you　make　me　marry　you　in　the　happy　bygone　days？〃

〃I　asked　you　often　enough；〃　he　declared。

〃Will　you　go　with　me　to　Rockville　at　once？〃　　Her　face　changed　and　she　drew　back　from　him。　　〃No；〃　she　said。　　〃It　is　selfish　of　me　to　think　of　my　own　happiness　now。〃

〃How　about　mine？〃　demanded　Kent　with　warmth。　　〃If　you　won't　consider　yourself；　consider　me。〃

〃I　do。〃　　She　looked　out　of　the　window　to　conceal　sudden　blinding　tears。　　There　was　a　hint　of　hidden　tragedy　in　her　lovely　face　which　went　to　Kent's　heart。

〃Sweetheart；〃　his　voice　was　very　tender；　〃is　there　nothing　I　can　do　for　you？〃

〃Nothing；〃　she　shook　her　head　drearily。　　〃This　family　must　'dree　its　weir。'

Kent　studied　her　in　silence；　that　she　was　in　deadly　earnest　he　recognized；　she　was　no　hysterical　fool　or　given　to　sentimental　twaddle。

〃You　came　to　me　on　Wednesday　to　ask　my　aid　in　solving　Jimmie　Turnbull's　death；〃　he　said。　　〃I　have　learned　certain　facts　…〃

Barbara　sprang　to　her　feet。　　〃Wait；〃　she　cautioned。　　〃Let　me　close　the　door。　　Now；　go　on　…〃　with　her　customary　impetuosity　she　reseated　herself。

〃Before　I　do　so；　I　must　tell　you；　Babs；　that　I　recognized　the　fraud　you　and　Helen　perpetrated　at　the　coroner's　inquest　yesterday　afternoon。〃

〃Fraud？〃

〃Yes；〃　quietly。　　〃I　am　aware　that　you　impersonated　Helen　on　the　witness　stand　and　vice　versa。　　You　took　a　frightful　risk。〃

〃I　don't　see　why；〃　she　protested。　　〃In　my　testimony　I　told　nothing　but　the　truth。〃

〃I　never　doubted　you　told　the　truth　regarding　the　events　of　Monday　night　as　you　saw　them；　but　the　coroner's　questions　were　put　to　you　under　the　impression　that　you　were　Helen。〃　　Kent　scrutinized　her　keenly。　　〃Would　Helen　have　been　able　to　give　the　same　answers　that　you　did　without　perjuring　herself？〃

Barbara　started　and　her　face　paled。　　〃Are　you　insinuating　that　Helen　killed　Jimmie？〃　she　cried。

〃No；〃　his　emphatic　denial　was　prompt。　　〃But　I　do　believe　that　she　knows　more　of　what　transpired　Monday　night　than　she　is　willing　to　admit。　　Is　that　not　so；　Barbara？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　acknow