the red seal(红印)-第11节
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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
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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 handkerchief to which a faint
fruity aroma still clung。
〃How did you discover that？〃 he asked。
〃Dr。 McLane and I took the handkerchief to a laboratory and the
chemist found from the number of particles of capsules in the
handkerchief； that at least two capsules … or double the usual dose … had
been crushed by Turnbull and the fumes inhaled by him； with fatal
results。〃
〃Hold on；〃 cautioned Kent。 〃In the flurry of the moment； Turnbull
may have accidentally put two capsules in the handkerchief； meaning only
to use one。〃
〃Mr。 Kent；〃 the detective spoke impressively； 〃that wasn't Turnbull's
handkerchief。〃
〃Not his own handkerchief！〃 exclaimed Kent。 〃Then； are you sure
that Turnbull used it？〃
〃Yes； that fact is established by reputable witnesses； Dr。 Stone； Mr。
Clymer； and the deputy marshal；〃 Ferguson spoke with increasing
earnestness。 〃That is a woman's handkerchief … look at it。〃
Ferguson laid the little bundle on the broad arm of Kent's chair and
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THE RED SEAL
with infinite care folded back the edges of the handkerchief； revealing as
he did so； the small particles of capsules still clinging to the linen。 But
Kent hardly observed the capsules； his entire attention being centered on
one corner of the handkerchief； which had neatly embroidered on it the
letter 〃B。〃
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THE RED SEAL
CHAPTER VI
STRAIGHT QUESTIONS AND CROOKED ANSWERS
Colonel McIntyre； with an angry gesture； threw down the newspaper
he had been reading。
〃Do you mean to say； Helen； that you decline to go to the supper to…
night on account of the death of Jimmie 'Turnbull？〃 he asked。
〃Yes； father。〃
McIntyre flushed a dark red； he was not accustomed to scenes with
either of his daughters； and here was Helen flouting his authority and
Barbara backing her up。
〃It is quite time this pretense is dropped；〃 he remarked stiffly。 〃You
were not engaged to Jimmie … wait；〃 as she attempted to interrupt him。
〃You told me the night of the burglary that he was nothing to you。'〃
〃I was mistaken；〃 Helen's voice shook； she was very near to tears。
〃When I saw Jimmie lying there； dead〃 … she faltered； and her shoulders
drooped forlornly …〃 the world stopped for me。〃
〃Hysterical nonsense！〃 McIntyre was careful to avoid Barbara's eyes；
her indignant snort had been indicative of her feelings。 〃Keep to your
room； Helen； until you regain some common sense。 It is as well our
friends should not see you in your present frame of mind。〃
Helen regarded her father under lowered lids。 〃Very well；〃 she said
submissively and walked toward the door； on reaching it she paused； and
spoke over her shoulder。 〃Don't try me too far； father。〃
McIntyre stared for a full minute at the doorway through which Helen
took her departure。
〃Well； what the …〃 He pulled himself up short in the middle of the
ejaculation and turned to Barbara。 〃Go and get dressed；〃 he directed。
〃We must leave here in twenty minutes。〃
〃I am not going；〃 she announced。
〃Not going！〃 McIntyre frowned； then laughed abruptly。 〃Now； don't
tell me you were engaged to Jimmie Turnbull； also。〃
〃I think you are horrid！〃 Barbara's small foot came down with a
vigorous stamp。
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〃Well； perhaps I am；〃 her father admitted rather wearily。 〃Don't keep
us waiting； Babs； the car will be here in less than twenty minutes。〃
〃But； father； I prefer to stay at home。〃
And I prefer to have you accompany us；〃 retorted McIntyre。 〃Come；
Barbara； we cannot be discourteous to Mrs。 Brewster； she is our guest； and
this supper is for her entertainment。〃
〃Well； take her。〃 Barbara was openly rebellious。
〃Barbara！〃 His tone caused her to look at him in wonder； instead of
the stern rebuke she expected； his voice was almost wheedling。 〃I cannot
very well take Mrs。 Brewster to a caf at this hour without causing
gossip。〃
〃Oh； fiddle…sticks！〃 exclaimed Barbara。 〃I don't have to play
chaperon for you two。 Every one knows she is visiting us； what's there
improper in your taking her out to supper？ Why〃 … regarding him
critically …〃 she's young enough to be your daughter！〃
〃Go to your room！〃 There was nothing wheedling about McIntyre at
that instant； he was thoroughly incensed。
As Barbara sped out happy in having gained her way； she announced；
as a parting shot； 〃If you can be nasty to Helen； father； I can be nasty； too。〃
Colonel McIntyre brought his fist dow
