the red seal(红印)-第15节
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Kent wondered if she had heard him； she was so long in replying； and
he was about to repeat his question when she addressed him。
〃Have you heard from Coroner Penfield？〃
〃No。 I tried several times to get him on the telephone； but without
success；〃 replied Kent； his disappointment at not receiving an answer to
his question showed in his manner。 〃I went to Penfield's house last night；
but he had been called away on a case and； although I waited until nearly
ten o'clock； he had not returned when I left。 Have you had word from
him？〃
〃Not … not directly。〃 She had been nervously twisting her
handkerchief about in her fingers； suddenly she turned and looked full at
Kent； her eyes burning feverishly。 〃I would give all I possess； my hope
of future happiness even； if I could prove that Jimmie died from angina
pectoris。〃
Kent looked at her in mingled sympathy and doubt。 … What did her
words imply … further tragedy？
〃Jimmie might not have died from angina pectoris；〃 he said； 〃and still
not have been poisoned …〃
〃You mean …〃
〃Suicide。〃
Slowly Helen took in his meaning； but she volunteered no remark； and
Kent after a pause； added； 〃While I have not seen Coroner Penfield I did
hear last night what killed Jimmie。〃 Helen straightened up； one hand
pressed to her heart。 〃It was a lethal dose of amyl nitrite。〃
〃Amyl nitrite；〃 she repeated。 〃Yes； I have heard that it is given for
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heart trouble。 How〃 … she looked at him queerly。 〃How is it
administered？〃
〃By crushing a capsule in a handkerchief and inhaling its fumes 〃 … he
was watching her closely。 〃The handkerchief Jimmie was seen to use
just before he died was found to contain two or more broken capsules。〃
Helen sat immovable for over a minute； then she bowed her head and
burst into dry tearless sobs which wracked her body。 Kent laid a tender
hand on her shoulder； then concluding it was better for her to have her cry
out； he wandered aimlessly about the office waiting for her to regain her
composure。
He stopped before one of the windows facing south and stared
moodily at the Belasco Theater。 That playhouse had surely never staged
a more complicated mystery than the one he had set himself to unravel。
What consolation could he offer Helen？ If he encouraged her belief in
his theory that Jimmie committed suicide he would have to establish a
motive for suicide； and that motive might prove to be the theft of Colonel
McIntyre's valuable securities。 Threatened with exposure as a thief and
forger； Jimmie had committed suicide； so would run the verdict； the fact of
his suicide was proof of his guilt of the crime Colonel McIntyre virtually
charged him with； and vice versa。
What had been discovered to point to murder？ The finding of a
handkerchief； saturated with amyl nitrite； which had not belonged to the
dead man。 Proof … bah！ it was ridiculous！ What more likely than that
Jimmie； while in the McIntyre house before his arrest as a burglar； had
picked up one of Barbara's handkerchiefs； stuffed it inside his pocket； and
when threatened with exposure on being held for the grand jury； had； in
desperation； crushed the amyl nitrite capsules in Barbara's handkerchief
and killed himself。
Kent drew a long； long sigh。 His faith in Jimmie's honesty was
shaken at last by the accumulative evidence； and he was convinced that he
had found the solution to the problem； but how impart it to the weeping
girl？ To prove her lover a thief； forger； and suicide was indeed a task he
shrank from。
A ring at the telephone caused Kent to move hastily to the instrument；
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when he hung up the receiver Helen was adjusting her veil before a mirror
over the mantel。
〃Colonel McIntyre is in the next room；〃 he said； keeping his voice
lowered。
〃My father！〃 Helen's eyes were hard and dry。 〃Does he know that I
am here？〃
〃I don't know； Sylvester simply said he had called to see me and is
waiting in the outer office。〃 Observing her indecision； Kent opened the
door leading directly into the corridor。 〃You can leave this way without
encountering Colonel McIntyre。〃
Helen hurried through the door and paused in the corridor to whisper
feverishly in Kent's ear； 〃Promise me you will remain faithful to Barbara
whatever develops。〃
〃I will！〃 Kent's pledge rang out clearly； and Helen with a lighter
heart turned to walk away when a telegraph boy appeared around the
corner of the corridor and thrust a yellow envelope at Kent； who stood half
inside his office watching Helen。
〃Sign here；〃 the boy said； indicating the line on the receipt slip； and
getting it back； departed。
Motioning to Helen to wait； Kent tore open the telegram。 It was from
Cleveland and dated the night before。 The message ran： Called to
Cleveland。 Address City Club。 Rochester。
Without comment Kent held out the telegram so that Helen could read
it。
〃What！〃 she exclaimed。 〃Philip in Cleveland last night。 I … I … don't
understand。〃 And looking at her Kent was astounded at the flash of
terror which shone for an instant in her eyes。 Before he had time to
question her she bolted around the corridor。
Kent remained staring ahead for an instant then returned thoughtfully
to his office； and within a second Sylvester received a telephone message
to show Colonel McIntyre into Kent's office。 Not only Colonel McIntyre
followed the clerk into the room but Benjamin Clymer。 〃Any further
developments； Kent？〃 inquired the banker。 〃No； we can't sit down； just
dropped in to see you a minute。〃
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〃There is nothing new；〃 Kent had made instant decision； such
information regarding the death of Turnbull as he had gleaned from
Ferguson； and the events of the night before should be confided to Clymer
alone； and not in the presence of Colonel McIntyre。
〃Did you search Turnbull's apartment last night as you spoke of
doing？〃 asked McIntyre。
〃I did； and found no trace of your securities； Colonel。〃
McIntyre lifted his eyebrows as he smiled sarcastically。 〃Can I see
Rochester？〃 he asked。
〃He is in Cleveland； I don't know just when he will be back。〃
〃Indeed？ Too bad you haven't the benefit of his advice；〃 remarked
McIntyre insolently。 〃At Clymer's request； Kent； I have allowed you
until Saturday night to find the securities and either clear Turnbull's name
or admit his guilt； there remain two days and a half before I take the affair
in my own hands and make it public。〃
〃I hope to establish Turnbull's innocence before that time；〃 retorted
Kent coolly。
Inwardly his spirits sank； had not every effort on his part brought but
further proof of Jimmie's guilt？ That McIntyre would make no attempt to
hush up the scandal was obvious。
〃Keep me informed of your progress；〃 McIntyre's manner was
domineering and Kent felt the blood mount to his temples； but he was
determined not to lose his temper whatever the provocation； McIntyre was
Barbara's father。
Clymer； aware that the atmosphere was getting strained； diplomatically
intervened。
〃Dine with me to…night； Kent；〃 he said。 〃Perhaps you will then have
some news that will throw light on the present whereabouts of the
securities。 I found； on making inquiries； that they have not been offered
for sale in the usual channels。 Come； McIntyre； I have a directors'
meeting in twenty minutes。〃
McIntyre； who had been swinging his walking stick from one h
