the red seal(红印)-第30节
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Thank you； good afternoon；〃 and counting over the money she thrust it
inside her bag and hurried away。
She had been gone a bare five minutes when Kent reached the window
and pushed several checks toward the teller。
〃Is Mr。 Clymer in his office； McDonald？〃 he asked； placing the bank
notes given； him in his wallet。
〃I'm not sure。〃 The teller glanced around at the clock； the hands stood
at ten minutes of three。 〃It's pretty near closing time； Kent； still； he may
be there。〃
〃I'll go and see；〃 and with a nod of farewell Kent turned on his heel
and walked off in the direction of the office of the bank president。 On
reaching there he saw； through the glass partition of the door； Clymer
seated in earnest conclave with two men。
Happening to glance up Clymer recognized Kent and beckoned to him
to come inside。 〃You know Taylor；〃 he said by way of introduction。
〃And this is Mr。 Harding of New York … Mr。 Kent；〃 he turned around in his
swivel chair to face the three men。 〃Draw up a chair； Kent； we were just
going over to see you。
〃Yes？〃 Kent looked inquiringly at the bank president； the gravity of his
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manner betokened serious tidings。 〃 What is it； Mr。 Clymer？〃
Clymer did not reply at once。 〃It's this；〃 he said finally； with blunt
directness。 〃Your partner； Philip Rochester； appears to be a bankrupt。
Harding and Taylor came in here to attach his private bank account to
cover indebtedness to their business firms。〃
An exclamation broke from Kent。 〃Impossible！〃 he gasped。
〃I would have said the same this morning；〃 declared Clymer。 〃But on
investigation I find that Rochester has over…drawn his account here for a
large amount and borrowed heavily。 The further I look into his financial
affairs the more involved I find them。〃
〃But〃 … Kent was white…lipped。 〃I know for an absolute fact that
Rochester was paid some exceedingly large fees last week； totaling over
fifty thousand dollars。〃
〃He has never deposited such a sum； or anywhere like that amount in
this bank either last week or this；〃 stated Clymer； running his eyes down a
bank statement which； with several pass books； lay on his desk。
〃Does he carry accounts at other banks？〃 inquired Harding。
〃Not that I can discover；〃 responded Taylor。 〃I have been to every
national and private banking house in Washington； but all deny having
him as a depositor。 Did Rochester ever bank out of town； Kent？〃
〃Not to my knowledge。〃 Kent drew out a bank book。 〃Here is the
firm's balance； Mr。 Clymer； we bank here； you know。〃
〃Yes。〃 Clymer's look of anxiety deepened。
〃Did you see McDonald as you came in？〃
〃Yes； he cashed some checks for me。〃
〃Your personal checks？〃
〃Yes。〃 Kent looked questioningly at Clymer。 What do you mean？〃
〃Only this； that all moneys deposited here in the firm name of
Rochester and Kent have been drawn out。〃
〃That's not possible！〃 Kent started up。
〃Checks on that account must bear both Rochester's signature and
mine。〃
〃Checks bearing both signatures have been presented for the total sum
deposited to your credit；〃 stated Clymer and he picked up four canceled
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checks。 〃See for yourself。〃
Kent stared at the checks in dumbfounded silence； then carrying them
to the light he examined them with minute care before bringing them back
to the bank president。
〃This is the first I have heard of these transactions；〃 he said。
〃You mean …〃
〃That the signatures are clever forgeries。〃 His statement was heard
with gravity。 Taylor exchanged a meaning look with the New Yorker。
〃You mean your signature is a forgery；〃 he suggested。 〃Rochester
had a peculiar gift of penmanship。〃
Kent sprang up。 〃Do you accuse Philip Rochester of signing these
checks and inserting my name to them？〃
〃I do；〃 calmly。 〃I am not familiar with your signature； Kent； but that
Rochester wrote the body of those four checks and put his own signature
at the bottom I will swear to in any court of law。 To make them valid he
had to add your name。〃
〃But； d…mn it； man！〃 Kent stared in bewilderment at his three
companions。 〃Rochester was honorable and straight…forward …〃
〃And addicted to drink；〃 put in Harding。 〃But not a forger；〃 retorted
Kent firmly。 Harding's only rejoinder was a skeptical smile as he turned
to address Clymer。
〃So Rochester not only has taken his own money； but withdrawn that
belonging to the firm of Rochester and Kent without the knowledge of his
junior partner； it looks black； Mr。 Clymer；〃 he remarked。 〃Especially when
taken in consideration with his other involved financial transactions。〃
〃Where will we find Rochester； Kent？〃 asked Taylor； before the bank
president could answer the New Yorker。
Kent paused in indecision。 What reply could he make without further
involving Rochester in trouble？ He had not the faintest idea where
Rochester was； but to state that he was missing could not but add to the
belief that he had made away with all the money he could lay his hands on。
The noon edition of the Times had hinted at Rochester's disappearance but
had stated they could not get the statement confirmed from Police
Headquarters； obviously Harding and Taylor had not seen the newspaper。
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Was it just to the men before him to keep them in the dark？ If their
claims were true； and Kent never doubted that they were； they had already
lost money through Rochester's extraordinary behavior。 Kent turned sick
at the thought of his own loss … his savings swept away。 Would Barbara
wait for him … was it fair to ask her？
Taylor broke the prolonged silence。
〃I met Detective Ferguson on my way here；〃 he stated。 〃He told me
that the police were looking for Rochester。〃
〃What？〃 Harding looked up； startled。 〃Why didn't you inform me of
that？〃
〃Well； I thought we'd better hear from Mr。 Clymer the true state of
Rochester's finances；〃 responded Taylor。 〃I never anticipated such facts
as he has given us。〃
〃But if you knew the police were after Rochester …〃 objected Harding。
Clymer broke into the conversation； there was a heavy frown on his
usually placid countenance。 〃I judged from Detective Ferguson's
confidences to us； Kent； at the Club de Vingt that he was wanted by the
police in connection with the Turnbull tragedy； but the facts brought out
through Harding's action to attach Rochester's bank account； puts a
different construction on Rochester's disappearance。〃
〃What had Rochester to do with Jimmie Turnbull？〃 questioned
Harding； before Kent could answer Clymer。
〃They lived together；〃 he replied shortly。
〃And one dies and the other disappears；〃 Harding whistled dolefully。
〃Wasn't Mr。 Turnbull an official of this bank； Mr。 Clymer？〃
〃Yes； our cashier。〃
〃Were his affairs involved？〃
〃Not in the least；〃 Clymer spoke with emphasis。 〃A most honorable
fellow； Jimmie Turnbull； his murder was a shocking affair。〃
〃Have the police found any motive for the crime； Kent？〃 asked Taylor。
〃I believe not。〃
Harding； who had been ruminating in silence； leaned forward； his
expression alight with a sudden idea。
〃Could it be that Turnbull found out that Rochester was passing forged
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checks； and Rochester insured his silence by Poisoning him？〃 he asked。
Clymer and Kent exchanged glances； as Kent's thoughts reverted to the
forged letter presented by Turnbull to the bank's treasurer； whereby he had
been given McIntyre's valuable negotiable securities。 Could it be that
Rochester had written the letter；
