the red seal-第4节

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y；　to　the　large　dining　room　beyond；　a　morning　room；　billiard　room；　the　front　and　back　halls；　and　the　Italian　loggia　which　over…looked　the　stretch　of　ground　between　the　McIntyre　residence　and　its　neighbor　on　the　north。　　Apparently；　she　and　Dr。　Stone　had　the　room　to　themselves。

〃I　cannot　answer　your　question　with　positiveness；〃　she　stated。　〃Frankly；　Jimmie　appeared　impartial　in　his　attentions　to　the　twins。　When　he　wasn't　with　Barbara　he　was　with　Helen；　and　vice　versa。〃

Stone　gazed　at　her　in　some　perplexity。　　〃Are　you　aware　that　Helen　stated　at　the　police　court　this　morning　that　she　was　Turnbull's　fiancee？〃

〃What！〃　Mrs。　Brewster　actually　bounced　in　her　seat。　　〃You　…　you　astound　me！〃

〃I　was　a　bit　surprised　myself；〃　acknowledged　the　physician。　　〃I　thought　Rochester　…　however；　that　is　neither　here　nor　there。　　Helen　not　only　announced　she　was　Jimmie's　fiancee　but　as　such　demanded　that　a　post…mortem　examination　be　held　to　determine　the　cause　of　his　death。〃

Mrs。　Brewster's　pretty　color　faded　and　the　glance　she　turned　on　her　cousin　was　sharp。　　〃Why　should　Helen　suspect　foul　play？〃　she　demanded。　〃For　that　is　what　her　request　hinted。〃

〃True。〃　Stone　pulled　his　beard　absentmindedly。　　〃Ah；　here　is　Colonel　McIntyre；〃　he　exclaimed　as　the　portieres　before　the　hall　door　parted　and　a　tall　man　strode　into　the　library。

McIntyre　was　a　favorite　with　the　old　physician；　and　he　welcomed　his　arrival　with　warmth。　　Exchanging　a　word　of　greeting　with　Mrs。　Brewster；　McIntyre　drew　up　a　chair　and　dropped　into　it。

〃I　called　at　your　office；　doctor；〃　he　said。　　〃Went　there　at　once　on　learning　the　shocking　news　about　poor　Turnbull。　　Why　in　the　world　didn't　he　announce　who　he　was　when　my　daughter　had　him　arrested　as　a　burglar？　He　must　have　realized　that　prolonged　excitement　was　bad　for　his　weak　heart。〃

Mrs。　Brewster；　who　had　settled　herself　more　comfortably　in　her　corner　of　the　sofa　on　McIntyre's　arrival；　answered　his　remark。

〃I　only　knew　Jimmie　superficially；〃　she　said；　〃but　he　had　one　distinguishing　trait　patent　to　all；　his　inordinate　fondness　for　practical　jokes。　　Probably　the　predicament　he　found　himself　in　was　highly　to　his　taste　…　until　his　heart　failed。〃

Her　voice；　slightly　raised；　carried　across　the　room　and　reached　the　ears　of　a　tall；　slender　girl　who　had　stood　hesitating　on　the　threshold　of　the　dining　worn　door　on　beholding　the　group　by　the　sofa。　　All　hesitation　vanished；　however；　as　the　meaning　of　Mrs。　Brewster's　remark　dawned　on　her；　and　she　walked　over　to　the　sofa。

〃You　are　very　unjust；　Margaret；〃　she　stated；　and　at　sound　of　her　low　triante　voice　McIntyre　whirled　around　and　frowned　slightly。　〃Jimmie　was　thinking　of　the　predicament　of　others；　not　of　himself。〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　Helen？〃　her　father　demanded。

〃Why；　how　could　Jimmie　reveal　his　identity　in　court　without　involving　us？〃　she　asked。　　〃Good　afternoon；　doctor；〃　recollecting　her　manners；　and　her　attention　thus　diverted；　she　missed　the　sudden　questioning　look　which　Mrs。　Brewster　and　her　father　exchanged。　　〃No；〃　she　continued；　〃Jimmie　sacrificed　himself　for　others。〃

〃By　becoming　a　burglar。〃　McIntyre　laughed　shortly。　　〃Don't　talk　arrant　nonsense；　Helen。〃

The　girl　flushed　at　his　tone；　and　Dr。　Stone；　an　interested　onlooker；　marveled　at　the　fleeting　flash　of　disdain　which　lighted　her　dark　eyes。　　Stone's　interest　grew。　　The　McIntyre　family　had　always　been　particularly　congenial；　and　the　devotion　of　Colonel　McIntyre　（left　a　widower　when　the　twins　were　in　short　frocks）　to　his　daughters　had　been　commented　on　frequently　by　their　wide　circle　of　friends　in　Washington　and　by　acquaintances　made　in　their　travels　abroad。

Colonel　McIntyre　had　married　when　quite　a　young　man。　　Frugality　and　industry　and　a　brilliant　mind　had　reaped　their　reward；　and；　wiser　than　the　majority　of　Americans；　he　retired　early　from　business　and　devoted　himself　to　a　life　of　leisure　and　the　education　of　his　daughters。　　Their　debut　the　previous　autumn　had　been　one　of　the　social　events　of　the　Washington　season；　and　the　instant　popularity　the　girls　had　attained　proved　a　source　of　pride　to　Colonel　McIntyre。　His　chief　pleasure　consisted　in　gratifying　their　every　whim；　and　Dr。　Stone；　knowing　the　family　as　he　did；　wondered　at　the　faintly　discernible　air　of　constraint　in　the　girl's　manner。　　Usually　frank　to　a　sometimes　embarrassing　degree；　she　appeared　to　some　disadvantage　as　she　sat　gazing　moodily　at　the　tips　of　her　patent…leather　pumps。　Dr。　Stone's　attention　shifted　to　Colonel　McIntyre　and　lastly　to　the　pretty　widow　at　his　elbow。　　Had　Dame　Rumor　spoken　truly　in　the　report；　widely　circulated；　that　the　colonel　had　fallen　a　victim　to　the　charms　of　Margaret　Brewster；　his　daughters'　guest？　　If　so；　it　might　account　for　the　young　girl's　manner　…　however　devoted　McIntyre's　daughters　might　be　to　Mrs。　Brewster　as　a　friend　and　companion；　they　might　resent　having　so　young　a　woman　for　their　step…mother。

Not　receiving　any　reply　to　his　remarks；　McIntyre　was　about　to　address　his　daughter　again　when　she　spoke。

〃Jimmie　will　be　justified；〃　she　declared　stoutly。　　〃Has　the　coroner　held　the　autopsy　yet；　Dr。　Stone？〃

〃Autopsy！〃　McIntyre　spoke　with　sharp　abruptness。　　〃I　thought　it　was　clearly　established　that　Jimmie　died　from　angina　pectoris？〃

〃It　is　so　believed；〃　responded　Stone。　　His　mystification　was　growing；　had　not　Helen　informed　her　father　of　the　scene　which　had　transpired　at　the　police　court；　and　of　her　request　to　the　coroner？　　〃I　understand　the　post…mortem　examination　will　be　made　this　afternoon；　Helen。〃

A　heavy　paper　knife；　nicely　balanced　between　McIntyre's　well　manicured　fingers；　dropped　to　the　floor　as　a　step　sounded　behind　him　and　the　butler；　Grimes；　stopped　by　his　side。

〃Mr。　Rochester　just　telephoned　that　his　partner；　Mr。　Harry　Kent；　is　out　of　town；　Miss〃　…　bowing　to　the　silent　girl。　　Grimes　always　contented　himself　with　addressing　his　〃young　ladies〃　by　the　simple　prefix　〃Miss；〃　and　never　added　their　given　names；　because；　as　he　expressed　it；　〃them　twins　are　alike　as　two　peas；　and　which　is　which；　I　dunno。〃　　Considering　himself　one　of　the　family　from　his　long　service　with　Colonel　McIntyre；　he　kept　a　watchful　eye　on　the　twins；　but　their　pranks　in　childhood　had　often　exasperated　him　into　giving　notice；　which　he　generally　found　it　convenient　to　forget　when　the　first　of　a　new　month　came　around。

〃Mr。　Kent　will　be　back　to…morrow；〃　added　the　butler；　as　silence　followed　the　delivery　of　his　message。　　〃Mr。　Rochester　wishes　to　know　if　he　can　transact　any　business　for　you。〃

〃Please　thank　him　and　say　no。〃　　The　girl's　color　rose　as　she　caught　her　father's　disapproving　look。　　The　colonel　waited　until　the　butler　had　disappeared　before　addressing　her。

〃Why　did　you　send　for　Harry　Kent？〃　he　questioned。　　〃You　know　I　do　not　approve　of　his　attentions　to　Barbara。　　Rochester　is　well　enough　…〃

〃Speaking　of　Rochester　〃…　Mrs。　Brewster　saw　the　gathering　storm　clouds　in　the　girl's　expressive　eyes；　and　broke　hastily　into　the　conversation。　　〃I　see　by　the　paper；　Cousin　Amos〃　…　she　turned　so　as　to　face　Dr。　Stone　…〃　that　Mr。　Rochester　declared　positively　that　Jimmie　Turnbull　died　from　angina　pectoris。〃

〃What's　Philip's　opinion　worth？〃　　The　young　girl　smiled　disdainfully。　〃Philip　seems　to　think　that　having　shared　an　apartment　with　Jimmie；　gives　him　intimate　knowledge　of　Jimmie's　health。　　Philip　is　not　a　medical　man。〃

〃No；〃　acknowledged　her　father。　　〃But　here　is　a　medical　man　who　was　on　the　spot　when　Jimmie　died。　　What's　your　opinion；　Stone？〃

Stone；　suddenly　conscious　of　the　keen　attention　of　his　companions；　spoke　slowly　as　was　his　wont　when　making　a　serious　statement。

〃Rochester's　contention　that　Jimmie　died　from　angina　pectoris　would　seem　borne　out　by　what　transpired；〃　he　said。　　〃Undoubtedly　Jimmie　felt　an　attack　coming　on　and　used　the　customary　remedy　to　relieve　it　…〃

〃And　what　was　that　remedy？〃　questioned　Mrs。　Brewster　swiftly。

〃Amy1　nitrite。〃　Stone　spoke　with　decision。　　〃I　could　detect　its　presence　by　the　fruity；　pleasant　odor　which　always　accompanies　the　drug's　use。〃

〃Ah！〃　The　exclamation　slipped　from　Mrs。　Brewster。　　〃Is　the　drug　administered　in　water？〃

〃No；　it　is　inhaled　…　take　care；　you　have　dropped　your　handkerchief。〃　Stone　pulled　himself　up　short　in　his　speech；　and　bent　over　but　the　young　girl　was　too　quick　for　him；　and　stooped　first　to　pick　up　her　handkerchief。

As　she　raised　her　head　Stone　caught　sight　of　the　tiny　mole　under　the　lobe　of　her　left　ear。　　It　was　the　one　mark　which　distinguished　Barbara　from　her　twin　sister。　　Colonel　McIntyre　had　addressed　his　daughter　as　Helen；　and　she　had　not　undeceived　him　…　Why？　　The　perplexed　physician　gave　up　the　problem。

〃The　drug；〃　he　went　on　to　explain；　〃amyl　nitrite　comes　in　pearl　capsules　and　is　crushed　in　a　handkerchief　and　the　fumes　inhaled。〃

Mrs。　Brewster　leaned　forward　suddenly。　　〃Would　that　cause　death？〃　she　asked。

Stone　shook　his　head　in　denial。　　〃Not　the　customary　dose　of　three　minims；〃　he　answered；　and　turning；　found　that　Barbara　had　stolen　from　the　room。　　　

CHAPTER　IV

BARBARA　ENGAGES　COUNSEL

Bidding　a　hasty　good　morning　to　the　elevator　girl；　Harry　Kent；　suit…case　in　hand；　entered　the　cage　and　was　carried　up　to　the　fourth　floor　of　the　Wilkins　Building。　　Several　business　acquaintances　stopped　to　chat　with　him　as　he　walked　down　th