the red seal-第8节

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e　drawers。　　He　had　half　completed　his　task；　without　finding　any　clew　to　the　missing　securities；　when　he　was　interrupted　by　the　sound　of　the　opening　of　the　front　door；　and　had　but　time　to　slam　the　drawers　shut　and　pocket　the　keys　when　the　night　clerk　of　the　hotel　stepped　inside　the　apartment　and；　closely　followed　by　a　sandy…haired　man；　walked　into　the　living　room。　　He　halted　abruptly　at　sight　of　Kent。

〃Good　evening；　Mr。　Kent；〃　he　exclaimed；　and　took　in　at　a　glance　the　orderly　arrangement　of　the　room。　　〃Pardon　my　unceremonious　entrance；　but　I　had　no　idea　you　were　here；　sir；　we　received　a　telephone　message　that　a　burglar　had　broken　in　here。〃

〃You　did！〃　Kent　stared　at　him。　　Was　he　right；　after　all；　in　his　conjecture；　had　the　man　been　Philip　Rochester？　　It　would　seem　so；　for　who　else；　after　taking　refuge　elsewhere；　would　have　telephoned　a　warning　of　burglars　to　the　hotel　office？　　〃Have　you　any　idea　who　sent　the　message；　Mr。　Stuart？〃

〃I　have　not；　it　was　an　out…side　call　…〃　　Stuart　turned　to　his　companion。　　〃Sorry　I　brought　you　here　on　an　idiotic　chase；　Mr。　Ferguson。〃

〃That's　all　right；〃　responded　the　detective　good　naturedly。　　〃Would　you　like　me　to　look　through　the　apartment　just　to　see　if　any　one　really　is　concealed　on　the　premises；　Mr。　Kent？〃　he　asked；　and　added　quickly；　seeing　Kent　hesitate；　〃I　am　from　the　central　office；　Mr。　Stuart　can　vouch　for　me。〃

Kent's　hesitation　vanished。　　〃I'd　be　obliged　if　you　would；　Ferguson。〃　As　he　spoke　he　led　the　way　to　Rochester's　bedroom。　　〃Come　with　us；　Stuart；〃　as　the　clerk　loitered　behind。

〃Guess　not；　sir；　I'm　needed　down　at　the　desk；　we　are　short…handed　to…night。　　Let　me　know　how　the　hunt　turns　out；〃　and　he　stepped　into　the　vestibule。　　〃Good　night。〃

〃Good　night；〃　called　Kent；　and　he　accompanied　Ferguson　as　far　as　the　bathroom　door；　then　returned　to　his　inspection　of　Rochester's　table。　He　had　just　completed　his　task　when　the　detective　rejoined　him。

〃No　trace　of　any　one；〃　the　latter　announced。　　〃Some　one　put　up　a　joke　on　Stuart；　I　imagine。　　Find　what　you　wished；　sir？〃

Kent　was　distinctly　annoyed　by　the　question。　　〃Yes；〃　he　replied　shortly。

Ferguson　ignored　his　curt　tone。　　〃Will　you　spare　me　a　few　minutes　of　your　time；　Mr。　Kent？〃　he　asked　persuasively。　　〃I　won't　detain　you　long。〃

〃Certainly。〃　Kent　moved　over　to　the　chair　in　the　window　which　he　had　occupied　before　and　pointed　to　another；　equally　as　comfortable。

〃What　can　I　do　for　you？〃　he　asked　as　Ferguson　dropped　back　and　stretched　himself　in　the　soft　depths　of　the　big　chair。

〃Supply　some　information；〃　answered　the　detective　promptly。　　〃Just　a　minute；〃　as　Kent　started　to　interrupt。　　〃You　don't　recall　me；　but　I　met　you　while　working　on　the　Chase　case；　you　handled　that　trial　in　great　shape；〃　Ferguson　looked　admiringly　at　his　companion。　　〃Lots　of　the　praise　went　to　your　partner；　Mr。　Rochester；　but　I　know　you　did　the　work。　　Now；　please　let　me　finish；〃　holding　up　a　protesting　hand。　　〃I　know　you've　carried　Mr。　Rochester　in　your　firm；　he's　dead　wood。〃　Kent　was　silent。　　What　the　detective　said　was　only　too　true。　Rochester；　realizing　the　talent　and　industry　which　characterized　his　younger　partner；　had　withdrawn　more　and　more　from　active　practice；　and　had　devoted　himself　to　the　social　life　of　the　National　Capital。

〃This　is　rather　a　long…winded　way　of　reaching　my　point；〃　finished　the　detective。　　〃But；　Mr。　Kent；　I　want　your　assistance　in　a　puzzling　case。〃

〃Go　on；　I'm　listening。〃　　As　he　spoke；　Kent　drew　out　his　cigar　case　and　handed　it　to　Ferguson。　　〃The　matches　are　on　the　smoking　stand　at　your　elbow。　　Now；　what　is　it；　Ferguson？〃

His　companion　did　not　reply　at　once；　instead　he　puffed　at　his　cigar。

〃Did　you　read　in　the　paper　about　Mr。　Turnbull's　death？〃　he　asked　when　the　cigar　was　drawing　to　his　satisfaction；　and　as　Kent　nodded　a　silent　affirmative　in　answer　to　his　question；　he　asked　another。　〃Did　you　know　him　well？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Did　he　have　an　enemy？〃

〃Not　to　my　knowledge。〃　　Kent　was　watching　the　detective　narrowly；　what　was　he　driving　at？　　〃On　the　contrary　Turnbull　was　extremely　popular。〃

〃With　Colonel　McIntyre？〃　　Ferguson　had　hoped　to　surprise　Kent　with　the　question；　but　his　companion's　expression　did　not　alter。

〃N…no；　perhaps　he　was　not　over…popular　with　the　colonel；〃　he　admitted　slowly。　　〃What　prompts　the　question；　Ferguson？〃

The　detective　hitched　his　chair　nearer。　　〃I'm　going　to　lay　all　my　cards　on　the　table；〃　he　announced。　　〃I　need　advice　and　you　are　the　man　to　give　it　to　me。　　Listen；　Mr。　Kent；　this　Jimmie　Turnbull　masquerades　as　a　burglar　night　before　last　at　the　McIntyre　house；　is　arrested；　a　charge　brought　against　him　for　house…breaking　by　Miss　Helen　McIntyre；　and　shortly　after　he　dies　…〃

〃From　angina　pectoris；〃　finished　Kent；　as　the　detective　paused。

〃So　Mr。　Rochester　contended；〃　admitted　Ferguson。　　〃We'll　let　that　go　for　a　minute。　　Now；　when　Miss　McIntyre　saw　Turnbull's　body；　she　demanded　an　autopsy。　　Why？〃

〃To　discover　the　cause　of　death；〃　answered　Kent　quietly。　　〃That　is　obvious；　Ferguson。〃

〃Sure。　　And　why　did　she　wish　to　discover　it？〃　　He　waited　a　brief　instant；　then　answered　his　own　question。　　〃Because　Miss　McIntyre　did　not　agree　with　Rochester　that　Turnbull　had　died　from　angina　pectoris　…　that　is　obvious；　too。　　Now；　what　made　her　think　that？〃

〃I　am　sure　I　don't　know〃　…　Kent's　air　of　candor　was　unmistakable　and　Ferguson　showed　his　disappointment。

〃Hasn't　Miss　McIntyre　been　to　see　you？〃

〃No；〃　was　Kent's　truthful　answer；　Barbara　was　the　younger　twin　and　her　sister　was　therefore；　〃Miss　McIntyre。〃

〃You　must　recollect；　Ferguson；〃　he　added；　〃that　had　Miss　McIntyre　called　to　see　me　about　poor　Turnbull；　I　would　not　have　discussed　the　interview　with　any　one；　under　any　conditions。〃

〃Certainly。　　I　am　not　asking　you　to　break　any　confidences；　in　fact；〃　Ferguson　smiled；　〃I　must　ask　you　to　consider　our　conversation　confidential。　　Now；　Mr。　Kent；　does　it　not　strike　you　as　odd　that　apparently　the　only　man　in　Washington　who　really　disliked　Turnbull　was　Colonel　McIntyre；　and　it　is　his　daughter　who　intimates　that　Turnbull's　death　was　not　due　to　natural　causes？〃

〃Oh；　pshaw！〃　　Kent　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃You　are　taking　an　exaggerated　view　of　the　affair。　　Colonel　McIntyre　is　an　honorable　upright　American；　and　Turnbull　was　the　same。〃

〃People　speak　highly　of　both　men；〃　acknowledged　the　detective。　　I　saw　Mr。　Clymer；　president　of　Turnbull's　bank　this　afternoon；　and　he　paid　a　fine　tribute　to　his　dead　cashier。〃

Kent　drew　an　inward　sigh　of　relief。　　Benjamin　Clymer　had　proved　true　blue；　he　had　not　permitted　Colonel　McIntyre's　desire　for　immediate　publicity　and　belief　in　Turnbull's　guilt　to　shake　his　faith　in　his　friend。

〃You　see；　Ferguson；　there　is　no　motive　for　such　a　crime　as　you　suggest；〃　he　remarked。

〃Oh；　for　the　motive；〃　…　Ferguson　rubbed　his　hands　nervously　together　as　he　shot　a　look　at　his　questioner；　the　latter's　clear…cut　features　and　manly　bearing　inspired　confidence。　　〃We　know　of　no　motive；〃　he　corrected。

〃And　we　know　of　no　crime　having　been　perpetrated；〃　rapped　out　Kent。　〃Come；　man；　don't　hunt　a　mare's　nest。〃

〃Ah；　but　it　isn't　a　mare's　nest！〃　Ferguson　remarked　dryly。

Kent　bent　eagerly　forward　…　〃You　have　heard　from　the　coroner　…〃

〃Not　yet；〃　　Ferguson　jerked　forward　his　chair　until　his　knees　touched　Kent。

Had　either　man　looked　toward　the　window　near　which　they　were　sitting；　he　would　have　seen　a　black　shadow　squatting　ape…like　on　the　window　ledge。　　As　Kent　leaned　over　to　relight　his　cigar；　the　face　at　the　window　vanished；　to　cautiously　reappear　a　second　later。

〃The　case　piqued　my　interest；〃　continued　the　detective　after　a　pause。　〃And　I　made　an　investigation　on　my　own　hook。　　After　the　departure　of　the　McIntyre　twins　and　Coroner　Penfield；　I　went　back　to　the　court　room　and　poked　around　the　prisoners'　cage。　　There　I　found　this。〃　He　took　out　of　his　pocket　a　small　bundle　and　carefully　unwrapped　the　oil…skin　cover。

〃A　handkerchief？〃　questioned　Kent　as　the　detective　did　not　unfold　the　white　muslin；　but　held　it　with　care。

〃Yes。　　One　of　the　prisoners　in　the　cage　told　me　Turnbull　dropped　it　as　Dr。　Stone　and　the　deputy　marshal　carried　him　into　the　ante…room。　Smell　anything？〃　holding　up　the　handkerchief。

〃Yes。〃　　Kent　wrinkled　his　nose　and　sniffed　several　times。　　〃　Smells　like　fruit。〃

Ferguson　nodded。　　〃Good　guess；　I　noticed　the　odor　and　went　at　once　to　Dr。　McLane。　　He　told　me　the　handkerchief　was　saturated　with　amyl　nitrite。〃

〃Amyl　nitrite；〃　repeated　Kent　reflectively。　　〃It　is　given　for　angina　pectoris。〃

〃Yes。　　Well；　in　this　case　it　was　the　remedy　and　not　the　disease　which　killed　Turnbull；〃　announced　Ferguson　triumphantly。

〃Nonsense！〃　ejaculated　Kent。　　〃I　happen　to　know　that　the　capsules　contain　only　three　minims　…　I　once　heard　Turnbull　say　so。〃

〃True；　but　Turnbull　got　a　lethal　dose；　all　right；　and　he　thought　he　was　taking　only　the　regular　one。　　Devilishly　ingenious　on　the　part　of　the　criminal；　wasn't　it？

〃Yes。　　Have　you　detected　the　criminal？〃　　Kent　put　the　question　with　unmoved　countenance；　but　with　inward　foreboding；　the　detective's　mysterious　manner　was　puzzling。

〃Not　yet；　but　I　will；〃　Ferguson　hesitated。　　〃The　first　thing　was　to　establish　that　a　crime　had　really　been　committed。〃

Kent　bent　down　and　sniffed　again　at　the　handkerchie