the red seal(红印)-第10节
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replacing each chair and table as well as the rugs which had been over…
turned in his recent tussle； after which he tried the drawers of Jimmie's
desk。 They were unlocked。 A careful search brought nothing to light
but receipted bills； some loose change； old dinner cards； theater programs；
tea invitations； and several packages of cigarettes。
Turning from the desk Kent walked over to the table which he knew
was Philip Rochester's property； he recalled having once seen Jimmie
place some papers there by mistake； having done so once； the mistake
might have occurred again。 Taking out his partner's bunch of keys； he
soon found one that fitted and opened the 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
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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。〃
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〃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？〃
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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
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saw Mr。 Clymer； president of Turnbull's bank this afternoon； and he paid a
fine tribute to his dead cashier。〃
Kent drew an inward
