the red seal(红印)-第1节
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THE RED SEAL
THE RED SEAL
by Natalie Sumner Lincoln
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THE RED SEAL
CHAPTER I
IN THE POLICE COURT
Te Assistant District Attorney glanced down at the papers in his hand
and then up at the well…dressed； stockily built man occupying the witness
stand。 His manner was conciliatory。
〃According to your testimony； Mr。 Clymer； the prisoner； John
Sylvester； was honest and reliable； and faithfully performed his duties as
confidential clerk；〃 he stated。 〃Just when was Sylvester in your
employ？〃
〃Sylvester was never in my employ；〃 corrected Benjamin Augustus
Clymer。 The president of the Metropolis Trust Company was noted for
his precision of speech。 〃During the winter of 1918 I shared an
apartment with Judge James Hildebrand； who employed Sylvester。〃
〃Was Sylvester addicted to drink？〃 〃No。〃
〃Was he quarrelsome？〃
〃No。〃
〃Was Sylvester married at that date？〃
At the question a faint smile touched the corners of Clymer's clean
shaven mouth and his eyes traveled involuntarily toward the over…dressed
female whose charge of assault and battery against her husband had
brought Clymer to the police court as a 〃character〃 witness in Sylvester's
behalf。
〃Sylvester left Judge Hildebrand to get married；〃 he explained。 〃He
was a model clerk； honest； sober； and industrious。〃
〃That is all； Mr。 Clymer。〃 The Assistant District Attorney spoke in
some haste。 〃You may retire； sir；〃 and； as Clymer turned to vacate the
witness box； he addressed the presiding judge。
Clymer did not catch his remarks as； on stepping down； he was button…
holed by a man whose entrance had occurred a few minutes before
through the swing door which gave exit from the space reserved for
witnesses and lawyers into the body of the court room。
〃Sit over here a second；〃 the newcomer said in an undertone；
indicating the long bench under the window。 〃Has Miss McIntyre been
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THE RED SEAL
here？〃
〃Miss McIntyre … here？〃 Clymer stared in amazement at his questioner。
〃No； certainly not。〃
〃Don't be so positive；〃 retorted the lawyer heatedly； his color rising at
the other's incredulous tone。 〃Helen McIntyre telephoned me to meet her；
and … by Jove； here she comes；〃 as a slight stir at the back of the court
room caused him to glance in that direction。
A gray…haired patrolman； cap in hand； was in the lead of the small
procession which filed up the aisle； and Clymer gazed in astonishment at
Helen McIntyre and her twin sister； Barbara。 What had brought them at
that hour to the police court？
The court room was filled with men； both white and black； while a
dozen or more slatternly negro women were seated here and there。 The
Assistant District Attorney's plea for a postponement of the Sylvester case
on the ground of the absence of an important witness and the granting of
his plea was entirely lost on the majority of those in the court room； their
attention being wholly centered on Helen McIntyre and Barbara； whose
bearing and clothes spoke of a fashionable and prosperous world to which
nearly all present were utterly foreign。
Barbara； sensitive to the concentrated regard which their entrance had
attracted； drew closer to Dr。 Amos Stone； their family physician； who had
accompanied them at her particular request。 Except for Mrs。 Sylvester；
she and her sister were the only white women in the room。
Before they could take the seats to which they had been ushered； the
clerk's stentorian tones sent the girls' names echoing down the court room
and Barbara； much perturbed； found herself standing with Helen before
the clerk's desk。 There was a moment's wait and the deputy marshal；
who had motioned to one of the prisoners sitting in the 〃cage〃 to step
outside； emphasized his order with a muttered imprecation to hurry。 A
slouching figure finally shambled past him and stopped some little
distance from the group in front of the Judge's bench。
〃House…breaking；〃 announced the clerk。 〃Charge brought by …〃 He
looked up at the two girls。
〃Miss Helen McIntyre；〃 answered one of the twins composedly。
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THE RED SEAL
〃Daughter of Colonel Charles McIntyre of this city。〃
〃Charge brought by Miss Helen McIntyre；〃 continued the clerk；
〃against …〃 and his pointed finger indicated the seedy looking man
slouching before them。
〃Smith；〃 said the latter； and his husky voice was barely audible。
〃Smith；〃 repeated the clerk。 〃First name …？〃
〃John；〃 was the answer； given after a slight pause。
〃John Smith； you are charged by Miss Helen McIntyre with house…
breaking。 What say you … guilty or not guilty？〃
The man shifted his weight from one foot to the other and shot an
uneasy look about him。
〃Not guilty；〃 he responded。
At that instant Helen caught sight of Benjamin Clymer and his
companion； Philip Rochester； and her pale cheeks flushed faintly at the
lawyer's approach。 He had time but for a hasty handshake before the
clerk administered the oath to the prisoner and the witnesses in the case。
Rochester walked back and resumed his seat by Clymer。 Propping
himself in the corner made by the bench and the cage； inside of which sat
the prisoners； he opened his right hand and unfolded a small paper。 He
read the brief penciled message it contained not once but a dozen times。
Folding the paper into minute dimensions he tucked it carefully inside his
vest pocket and glanced sideways at Clymer。 The banker hardly noticed
his uneasy movements as he sat regarding Helen McIntyre standing in the
witness box。 Although paler than usual； the girl's manner was quiet； but
Clymer； a close student of human nature； decided she was keeping her
composure by will power alone； and his interest grew。
The Judge； from the Bench； was also regarding the handsome witness
and the burglar with close attention。 Colonel Charles McIntyre； a
wealthy manufacturer； had； upon his retirement from active business；
made the National Capital his home； and his name had become a
household word for philanthropy； while his twin daughters were both
popular in Washington's gay younger set。 Several reporters of local
papers； attracted by the mention of the McIntyre name； as well as by the
twins' appearance； watched the scene with keen expectancy； eager for
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early morning 〃copy。〃
As the Assistant District Attorney rose to question Helen McIntyre； the
Judge addressed him。
〃Is the prisoner represented by counsel？〃 he asked。
For reply the burglar shook his head。 Rising slowly to his feet； Philip
Rochester advanced to the man's side。
〃If it please the court；〃 he began； 〃I will take the case for the prisoner。〃
His offer received a quick acceptance from the Bench； but the scowl
with which the burglar favored him was not pleasant。 Hitching at his
frayed flannel collar； the man partly turned his back on the lawyer and
listened with a heavy frown to Helen's quick answers to the questions put
to her。
〃While waiting for my sister to return from a dance early this
morning；〃 she stated； 〃I went downstairs into the library； and as I entered it
I saw a man slip across the room and into a coat cl
