the red seal-第6节

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tment　with　him；　and　to　look　for　other　quarters　as　quickly　as　possible。

So　buried　was　Kent　in　his　thoughts　that　he　never　heard　Sylvester's　knock；　and　it　was　not　until　the　clerk　stood　at　his　elbow　that　he　awoke　from　his　absorption。

〃A　lady　to　see　you；　Mr。　Kent；〃　he　announced。　　〃Shall　I　show　her　in？〃

〃Certainly　…　her　name？〃

〃She　gave　none。〃　　Sylvester　paused　on　his　way　back　to　the　door。　〃It　is　one　of　the　Misses　McIntyre。〃

〃Good　Lord！〃　Kent　was　on　his　feet；　straightening　his　tie　and　brushing　his　rumpled　hair。　　〃Here；　wait　a　minute　〃…　clutching　a　whisk　broom　in　a　frantic　endeavor　to　remove　some　of　the　signs　of　travel　which　still　clung　to　him。　　But　he　had　only　opportunity　for　one　dab　at　his　left　shoulder　before　Barbara　entered　the　office。　All　else　forgotten；　Kent　tossed　down　the　whisk　broom　and　the　next　instant　he　had　clasped　her　hand　in　both　of　his；　his　eyes　telling　more　eloquently　than　his　stumbling　words；　his　joy　at　seeing　her　again。

〃This　is　a　business　call；〃　she　stated　demurely；　on　you　and　Mr。　Rochester。〃　　Her　lovely　eyes　held　a　glint　of　mischief　as　she　mentioned　Kent's　partner；　then　her　expression　grew　serious。　　〃I　want　legal　advice。〃

〃I　am　afraid　you　will　have　to　put　up　with　me；〃　Kent　moved　his　chair　closer　to　the　one　she　had　selected　by　the　desk。　　〃Rochester　is　out　of　town。〃

〃What！〃　Barbara　sat　bolt　upright。　　〃Where　…　where's　he　gone？〃

〃I　don't　know　〃…　Kent　pulled　Rochester's　letter　out　of　his　pocket　and　re…read　it。　　〃He　did　not　mention　where　he　was　going。〃

Barbara　stared　at　him；　she　had　paled。

〃When　did　Philip　leave？〃

〃Last　night；　I　presume。〃　　Kent　tipped　back　his　chair　and　pressed　a　buzzer；　a　second　later　Sylvester　appeared　in　the　doorway。

〃Did　Mr。　Rochester　tell　you　where　he　was　going？〃　he　asked　the　clerk。

〃No；　sir。　　Mr。　Rochester　stated　that　you　had　his　address。

〃I？〃　　Kent　concealed　his　growing　surprise。　　〃Did　he　leave　any　message　for　me；　other　than　the　letter？〃

〃No；　sir。

〃At　what　hour　did　he　leave　the　office？〃

〃I　can't　say；　sir；　he　was　still　here　when　I　went　away　at　five　o'clock。　　He　gave　me　a　key　to　the　office　so　that　I　could　get　in　this　morning。〃　　Kent　remained　silent；　and　he　added；　〃Is　that　all；　sir？〃

〃Yes；　thanks；〃　and　the　clerk　retired。

As　the　door　closed　Barbara　turned　to　Kent。　　〃Have　you　heard　about　Jimmie　Turnbull？〃

Her　voice　was　a　bit　breathless　as　she　put　the　question；　but　Kent；　puzzling　over　his　partner's　eccentric　conduct；　hardly　noted　her　agitation。

〃Yes。　　I　saw　the　account　just　now　in　the　morning　paper；〃　he　answered。　〃A　shocking　affair。　　Poor　Turnbull！　　He　was　a　good　fellow。〃

〃He　was！〃　　Barbara　spoke　with　unaccustomed　vehemence；　and　looking　at　her　Kent　saw　that　her　eyes　were　filled　with　tears。　　Impulsively　he　threw　his　arm　about　her；　holding　her　close。

〃My　heart's　dearest；〃　he　murmured　fondly。　　〃If　there　is　anything　…　anything　I　can　do　…〃

Barbara　straightened　up　and　winked　away　the　tears。　　〃There　is；〃　she　said　tersely。　　〃Investigate　Jimmie's　death。〃

Kent　gazed　at　her　in　astonishment。　　〃Please　explain；〃　he　suggested。　〃The　morning　paper　states　very　plainly　that　the　cause　of　death　was　an　attack　of　angina　pectoris。〃

〃Yes；　I　know；　and　that　is　what　Philip　Rochester　contends　also。〃　Barbara　paused　and　glanced　about　the　office；　they　had　the　room　to　themselves。　　〃B…but　Helen　believes　otherwise。〃

Kent　drew　back。　　〃What　do　you　mean；　Babs？〃　he　demanded。

〃Just　that；〃　Barbara　spoke　wearily；　and　Kent；　giving　her　close　attention；　grew　aware　of　dark　shadows　under　her　eyes　which　told　plainly　of　a　sleepless　night。　　〃I　want　to　engage　you　as　our　counsel　to　help　Helen　find　out　about　Jimmie's　death。〃

〃Find　out　what？〃　asked　Kent；　his　bewilderment　increasing。　　　〃Do　you　mean　that　Jimmie's　death　was　not　the　result　of　a　dangerous　heart　disease；　but　of　foul　play？〃

Barbara　nodded　her　head　vigorously。　　〃Yes。〃

Kent　sat　back　in　his　chair　and　regarded　her　in　silence　for　a　second。　〃How　could　that　be；　Babs；　in　an　open　police　court　with　dozens　of　spectators　all　about？〃　he　asked。　　〃The　slightest　attempt　to　kill　him　would　have　been　frustrated　by　the　police　officials；　remember；　a　prisoner　especially；　is　hedged　in　and　guarded。〃

〃Well；　he　wasn't　so　very　hedged　in；〃　retorted　Barbara。　　〃I　was　there　and　saw　how　closely　people　approached　Jimmie。〃

〃Did　you　observe　any　one　hand　him　anything？〃

〃N…no；〃　Barbara　drawled　the　word　as　she　strove　to　visualize　the　scene　in　the　court　room；　then　catching　Kent's　look　of　doubt　she　added　with　unmistakable　emphasis。　　〃Helen　and　I　do　not　believe　that　Jimmie　died　from　natural　causes；　we　think　the　tragedy　should　be　investigated。〃　　Her　soft　voice　deepened。　　〃I　must　know　the　truth；　Harry；　dear；　for　I　feel　that　perhaps　I　am　responsible　for　Jimmie's　death。〃

〃You！〃　Kent's　voice　rose　in　indignant　protest。　　〃Absurd！〃

〃No；　it　isn't　If　it　had　not　been　for　my　wager　with　Jimmie；　he　never　would　have　entered　our　house　disguised　as　a　burglar。〃

〃What　brought　about　the　wager？〃

〃Last　Sunday　Helen　was　boasting　of　her　two　new　police　dogs　which　Philip　Rochester　recently　gave　her；　and　said　how　safe　she　felt。　We've　had　several　burglaries　in　our　neighborhood；〃　Barbara　explained；　〃and　when　Jimmie　scoffed　at　the　dogs；　I　bet　him　that　he　could　not　break　into　the　house　without　the　dogs　arousing　the　household。　　I　never　once　thought　about　Jimmie's　heart　trouble；〃　she　confessed；　and　her　lips　quivered。　　〃I　feel　so　guilty。〃

〃You　are　inconsistent；　Babs；〃　chided　Kent　gently。　　〃One　moment　you　reproach　yourself　for　being　the　cause　of　bringing　on　Jimmie's　heart　attack；　and　the　next　you　declare　you　believe　he　died　through　foul　play。　　You；〃　looking　at　her　tenderly；　while　a　whimsical　smile　softened　his　stern　mouth；　〃don't　go　so　far　as　to　claim　you　murdered　him；　do　you？〃

〃Of　course　I　didn't！〃　Barbara　spoke　with　indignant　emphasis；　and　her　fingers　snapped　in　uncontrollable　nervousness。　　〃Jimmie　was　very　dear〃　…　she　hesitated　…　〃to　us。　　Neither　Helen　nor　I　can　leave　a　stone　unturned　until　we　know　without　a　shadow　of　a　doubt　what　killed　him。〃

〃That　is　easily　proven；〃　declared　Kent。　　〃An　autopsy　…〃

〃Helen　asked　the　coroner　to　hold　one。〃

Kent　stared　…　the　twins　were　certainly　in　earnest。

〃My　advice　to　you　is　to　wait　until　you　hear　the　result　of　the　post…mortem　from　Coroner　Penfield；〃　he　said　gravely。　　〃Until　we　know　definitely　what　killed　Jimmie；　speculation　is　idle。〃

Barbara　rose　at　once。　　〃I　thought　you　would　be　more　sympathetic；〃　she　remarked；　and　her　voice　was　a　bit　unsteady。　　〃I　am　sorry　to　have　troubled　you。〃

In　an　instant　Kent　was　by　her　side。　　〃Barbara；〃　he　entreated。　　〃I　promise　solemnly　to　aid　you　in　every　possible　way。　　My　only　happiness　is　in　serving　you；〃　his　voice　was　very　tender。　　〃I　slave　here　day　in　and　day　out　that　I　may　sometime　be　able　to　make　a　home　for　you。　　Don't　leave　me　in　anger。〃

〃I　was　not　angry；　only　deeply　hurt；〃　Barbara　confessed。　　〃I　have　so　longed　to　see　you。　　I　…　I　needed　you！　I　…〃　　The　rest　was　lost　as　she　bowed　her　head　against　Kent's　broad　shoulder；　and　his　impassioned　whispers　of　devotion　brought　solace　to　her　troubled　spirit。

〃I　must　go；〃　declared　Barbara　ten　minutes　later。　　〃Father　would　make　a　fearful　scene　if　he　knew　I　had　been　here　to　see　you。〃　　She　picked　up　her　hand…bag；　preparatory　to　leaving。　　〃Then　I　can　tell　Helen　that　you　will　aid　us？〃

〃Yes。〃　　Kent　stopped　on　his　way　to　the　door。　　〃I　will　try　and　see　the　coroner　this　afternoon。　　In　the　meantime；　Babs；　can't　you　tell　me　what　makes　you　suspect　that　Jimmie　might　have　been　killed？〃

〃I　have　nothing　tangible　to　go　on；〃　she　admitted。　　〃Only　a　woman's　instinct　…〃

Kent　did　not　smile。　　〃Instinct；〃　he　repeated　thoughtfully。　　〃Well；　does　your　instinct　hazard　a　guess　as　to　the　weapon；　the　opportunity；　and　the　motive　for　such　a　crime？　　Jimmie　Turnbull　hadn't　an　enemy　in　the　world。〃

Barbara　looked　at　him　oddly。　　〃Suppose　you　find　the　answer　to　those　conundrums；〃　she　suggested。　　〃Don't　come　to　the　elevator；　Margaret　Brewster　may　see　you　with　me；　and　she　would　tell　father　of　our　meeting。　　

〃Is　Mrs。　Brewster　still　with　you？〃　asked　Kent；　paying　no　attention　to　her　protests　as　he　accompanied　her　down　the　corridor。　　〃I　understood　she　planned　to　return　to　the　West　last　week。〃

〃She　did；　but　father　persuaded　her　to　prolong　her　visit；〃　Barbara　was　guilty　of　a　grimace；　then　hailing　the　descending　elevator　she　bolted　into　it　and　waved　her　good…by　to　Kent　as　the　cage　shot　downward。

When　Kent　reentered　his　office　he　found　Sylvester　hanging　up　the　telephone　receiver。

〃Mr。　Clymer　has　telephoned　to　ask　if　you　will　come　to　the　Metropolis　Trust　Company　at　once；〃　he　said；　and　before　Kent　could　frame　a　reply　he　had　darted　into　the　coat　closet　and　brought　out　his　hat　and　cane；　and　handed　them　to　him。

〃Don't　wait　for　me；　but　go　out　for　your　luncheon；〃　directed　Kent；　observing　the　hour。　　〃I　have　my　key　and　can　get　in　when　I　return　if　you　should　not　be　here；〃　and　not　waiting　to　hear　Sylvester's　thanks；　he　hurried　away。

The　clock　over　the　bank　had　just　struck　noon　when　Kent　reached　the　fine　office　building　which　housed　the　Metropolis　Trust　Company；　and　as　he　entered　the　bank；　a　messenger　stopped　him。

〃Mr。　Clymer　is　waiting　for　you　in　his　private　office；　sir；〃　he　said；　and　led　the　way　past　the　long　rows　of　mahogany　counters　and　plate　glass　window