the red seal-第26节

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〃It　was　beastly　luck　that　the　fuse　burned　out　at　that　second；〃　groaned　Kent。　　〃Fortune　was　with　him　in　that；　but　how　did　the　man　get　free　of　the　handcuffs？〃　pointing　to　them　still　lying　in　the　chair。　　〃We　can't　attribute　that　to　luck；　unless〃　…　staring　keenly　at　Ferguson　…〃　unless　you　did　not　snap　them　on　the　man's　wrists；　after　all。〃

〃I　did；　I　swear　it；〃　declared　Ferguson。　　〃I'm　no　novice　at　that　business。　　Here；　don't　touch　them；　Mr。　Kent；〃　as　his　companion　bent　toward　the　chair。　　〃There　may　be　finger　marks　on　the　steel；　if　so〃　…　he　drew　out　his　handkerchief；　and　taking　care　not　to　handle　the　burnished　metal；　he　folded　the　handcuffs　carefully　in　it　and　put　them　in　his　coat　pocket。　　〃There's　no　use　lingering　here；　Mr。　Kent；　this　apartment　is　vacant　now　except　for　us。　　I　must　get　to　Headquarters。〃

〃Hadn't　you　better　telephone　for　an　operative　and　station　him　here？〃　suggested　Kent。

〃I　did　so　while　you　were　searching　the　back　rooms；〃　replied　Ferguson。　〃There；〃　as　the　gong　sounded。　　〃That's　Nelson；　now。〃

But　the　person　who　stood　in　the　outer　corridor　when　they　opened　the　front　door　was　not　Nelson；　the　operative；　but　Dr。　Stone。

〃Can　I　see　Mr。　Rochester？〃　he　asked；　then　catching　sight　of　Kent　standing　just　back　of　the　detective；　he　added；　〃Hello；　Kent；　I　thought　I　heard　some　one　walking　about　in　here　from　my　apartment　next　door；　and　concluded　Rochester　had　returned。　　Can　I　see　him？〃

〃N…no；〃　Kent　spoke　slowly；　with　a　side…glance　at　the　silent　detective。　　〃Rochester　has　been　here　…　and　left。〃


CHAPTER　XVI

THE　CRIMSON　OUTLINE

Barbara　McIntyre　made　the　round　of　the　library　for　the　fifth　time；　testing　each　of　the　seven　doors　opening　into　it　to　see　that　they　　ere　closed　behind　their　portieres；　then　she　turned　back　to　her　sister；　who　sat　cross…logged　before　a　small　safe。

〃Any　luck？〃　she　asked

Instead　of　replying　Helen　removed　the　key　from　the　lock　of　the　steel　door　and　regarded　it　attentively。　　The　safe　was　of　an　obsolete　pattern　and　in　place　of　the　customary　combination　lock；　was　opened　by　means　of　a　key；　unique　in　appearance。

〃It　is　certainly　the　key　which　father　mislaid　six　months　ago；〃　she　declared。　　〃Grimes　found　it　just　after　father　had　a　new　key　made　and　gave　it　to　me。　　And　yet　I　can't　get　the　door　open。〃

〃Let　me　try。〃　Barbara　crouched　down　by　her　sister　and　inserted　the　key　again　in　the　lock；　but　her　efforts　met　with　no　results；　and　after　five　minutes'　steady　manipulation　she　gave　up　the　attempt。　〃I　am　afraid　it　is　impossible；〃　she　admitted。　　〃Seems　to　me　I　have　heard　that　the　lost　key　will　not　open　a　safe　after　a　new　key　has　been　supplied。〃

Helen　rose　slowly　to　her　feet；　stretching　her　cramped　limbs　carefully　as　she　did　so；　and　sank　down　in　the　nearest　chair。　　Her　attitude　indicated　dejection。

〃Then　we　can't　find　the　envelope；〃　she　muttered。　　〃Hurry；　Babs；　and　close　the　outer　door；　father　may　return　at　any　moment。〃

Barbara　obeyed　the　injunction　with　such　alacrity　that　the　door；　concealing　the　space　in　the　wall　where　stood　the　safe；　flew　to　with　a　bang　and　the　twins　jumped　nervously。

〃Take　care！〃　exclaimed　Helen　sharply。　　〃Do　you　wish　to　arouse　the　household？〃

〃No　danger　of　that。〃　　But　Barbara　glanced　apprehensively　about　the　library　in　spite　of　her　reassuring　statement。　　〃The　servants　are　either　out　or　upstairs；　and　Margaret　Brewster　is　writing　letters　in　our　sitting　room。〃

〃Hadn't　you　better　go　upstairs　and　join　her？〃　Helen　suggested。　　〃Do；　Babs；〃　as　her　sister　hesitated。　　〃I　cannot　feel　sure　that　she　will　not　interrupt　us。〃

〃But　my　joining　her　won't　keep　Margaret　upstairs；〃　objected　Barbara。

〃No；　but　you　can　call　and　warn　me　if　she　is　on　her　way　down；　and　that　will　give　me　time　to　…　to　straighten　father's　papers；〃　going　over　to　a　large　carved　table　littered　with　magazines；　letters；　and　silver　ornaments。　　Her　sister　did　not　move；　and　she　glanced　at　her　with　an　irritated　air；　very　foreign　to　her　customary　manner。　〃Go；　Barbara。〃

The　curt　command　brought　a　stare　from　Barbara；　but　it　did　not　accelerate　her　halting　footsteps；　instead　she　moved　with　even　greater　slowness　toward　the　hall　door；　her　active　brain　tormented　with　an　unspoken　and　unanswered　question。　　Why　was　Helen　so　anxious　for　her　departure？　　She　had　accepted　her　offer　of　assistance　in　her　search　of　the　library　with　such　marked　reluctance　that　Barbara　had　marveled　at　the　time；　and　now。。。

〃Are　you　quite　sure；　Helen；　that　father　had　the　envelope　in　his　pocket　this　morning？〃　she　asked　for　the　third　time　since　the　search　began。

〃He　had　an　envelope　…　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　red　seal；〃　answered　Helen。　　〃Then；　just　before　dinner　he　was　putting　some　papers　in　the　safe。　　Oh；　if　Grimes　had　only　come　in　a　moment　sooner　to　announce　dinner；　I　might　have　had　a　chance　to　look　in　the　safe　before　father　closed　the　door。〃

Whatever　reply　Barbara　intended　making　was　checked　by　the　rattling　of　the　knob　of　the　hall　door；　it　turned　slowly；　the　door　opened　and；　pushing　aside　the　portieres　drawn　across　the　entrance；　Margaret　Brewster　glided　in。　　〃So　glad　to　find　you；〃　she　cooed。　　〃But　why　have　you　closed　up　the　room　and　turned　on　all　the　lights？〃

〃To　see　better；〃　retorted　Barbara　promptly　as　the　widow's　eyes　roved　around　the　large　room；　taking　silent　note　of　the　drawn　curtains　and　portieres；　and　the　somewhat　disarranged　furniture。　　〃Come　inside；　Margaret；　and　help　us　in　our　search。〃

〃For　what？〃　The　widow　tried　to　keep　her　tone　natural；　but　a　certain　shrill　alertness　crept　into　it　and　Barbara；　who　was　watching　her　closely；　was　quick　to　detect　the　change。　　Helen's　color　altered　at　the　question；　and　she　observed　the　widow's　entrance　with　veiled　hostility。

〃For　my　seal；〃　Barbara　answered。　　〃The　one　with　the　big　letter　'B。'　Have　you　seen　it？〃

〃I？　…　No。〃　　The　widow　took　a　chair　uninvited　near　Helen。　　〃You　look　tired；　Helen　dear；　why　don't　you　go　to　bed？〃

〃I　could　not　sleep　if　I　did。〃　　Helen　passed　a　nervous　finger　across　her　eyes。　　〃But　don't　let　me　keep　you　and　Babs　up；　it　won't　take　me　long　to　arrange　to…morrow's　market　order　for　Grimes。〃

Under　pretense　of　searching　for　pencil　and　paper　Helen　contrived　to　see　the　address　of　every　letter　lying　on　the　table；　but　the　envelope　she　sought；　with　its　red　seal；　was　not　among　them。　　When　she　looked　up　again；　pencil　and　paper　in　hand；　she　found　Mrs。　Brewster　leaning　lazily　back　and　regarding　her　from　under　half…closed　lids。　　〃You　are　very　like　your　father；　Helen；〃　she　commented　softly。

The　girl　stiffened。　　〃Am　I？　　Babs　and　I　are　generally　thought　to　resemble　our　mother。〃

〃In　appearance；　yes；　but　I　mean　mannerisms　…　for　instance；　the　way　of　holding　your　pencil；　your　handwriting；　even；　closely　resembles　your　father's。〃　　Mrs。　Brewster　pointed　to　the　notes　Helen　was　scribbling　on　the　paper　and　to　an　open　letter　bearing　Colonel　McIntyre's　signature　at　the　bottom　of　the　sheet　lying　beside　the　pad　to　illustrate　her　meaning。　　〃These　are　almost　identical。〃

〃You　are　a　close　observer。〃　　Helen　completed　her　memorandum　and　laid　it　aside。　　〃What　became　of　father？〃

〃He　went　to　a　stag　supper　at　the　Willard；〃　chimed　in　Barbara；　stopping　her　aimless　walk　about　the　library。　　〃He　said　we　were　not　to　wait　up　for　him。〃

Helen　pushed　back　her　chair　and　rose　with　some　abruptness。

〃I　am　more　tired　than　I　realized；〃　she　remarked　and　involuntarily　stretched　her　weary　muscles。　　〃Come；　Margaret；〃　laying　a　persuasive　hand　on　the　widow's　shoulder。　　〃Be　a　trump　and　rub　my　forehead　with　cologne　as　you　used　to　do　abroad　when　I　had　a　headache。　　It　always　put　me　to　sleep　then；　and；　oh；　how　I　long　for　sleep　now！〃

There　was　infinite　pathos　in　her　voice　and　Mrs。　Brewster　sprang　up　and　threw　her　arm　about　her　in　ready　sympathy。

〃You　poor　darling！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃Let　me　put　you　to　bed；　Mammy　taught　me　the　art　of　soothing　frayed　nerves。　　Come　with　us；　Babs；〃　holding　out　her　left　hand　to　Barbara。　　But　the　latter；　with　a　dexterous　twist；　slipped　away　from　her　touch。

〃I　must　stay　and　straighten　the　library；〃　she　announced。

Mrs。　Brewster's　delicate　color　had　deepened。　　〃It　would　be　as　well　to　open　some　of　the　doors；〃　she　agreed　coldly。　　〃The　library　looks　odd；　not　to　say　funereal；〃　she　glanced　down　the　spacious　room　and　shivered　ever　so　slightly。　　〃Do；　Babs；　put　out　some　of　the　lights；　they　are　blinding。〃

〃Oh；　I'll　turn　them　all　out　〃…　Barbara　sought　the　electric　switch。

〃But　your　father　…〃

〃No　need　to　worry　about　father；　he　can　find　his　way　about　in　the　dark　like　a　cat；〃　responded　Barbara　with　unabated　cheerfulness。　〃Seems　to　me；　Margaret；　you　and　father　are　getting　mighty　chummy　these　days。〃

The　sudden　darkness　into　which　Barbara's　impatient　fingers；　pressing　against　the　electric　light　buttons；　plunged　the　library　and　its　occupants；　prevented　her　seeing　the　curious　glance　which　Mrs。　Brewster　shot　at　her。　　Helen；　who　had　listened　to　their　chatter　with　growing　impatience；　looked　back　over　her　shoulder。

〃Hurry；　Barbara；　and　come　upstairs。　　Now；　Margaret；〃　and　she　piloted　the　widow　along　the　hall　toward　the　staircase　without　giving　her　an　opportunity　to　answer　Barbara's　last　remark。　　Barbara；　pausing　only　long　enough　to　pull　back　the　portieres　of　the　hall　door　and　arrange　them　as　they　hung　customarily；　turned　to　go　upstairs　just　as　Grimes　came　down　the　hall　from　the　dining　room