the red seal(红印)-第8节
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sleepless night。 〃I want to engage you as our counsel to help Helen find
out about Jimmie's death。〃
〃Find out what？〃 asked Kent； his bewilderment increasing。 〃Do you
mean that Jimmie's death was not the result of a dangerous heart disease；
but of foul play？〃
Barbara nodded her head vigorously。 〃Yes。〃
Kent sat back in his chair and regarded her in silence for a second。
〃How could that be； Babs； in an open police court with dozens of
spectators all about？〃 he asked。 〃The slightest attempt to kill him would
have been frustrated by the police officials； remember； a prisoner
especially； is hedged in and guarded。〃
〃Well； he wasn't so very hedged in；〃 retorted Barbara。 〃I was there
and saw how closely people approached Jimmie。〃
〃Did you observe any one hand him anything？〃
〃N…no；〃 Barbara drawled the word as she strove to visualize the scene
in the court room； then catching Kent's look of doubt she added with
unmistakable emphasis。 〃Helen and I do not believe that Jimmie died
from natural causes； we think the tragedy should be investigated。〃 Her
soft voice deepened。 〃I must know the truth； Harry； dear； for I feel that
perhaps I am responsible for Jimmie's death。〃
〃You！〃 Kent's voice rose in indignant protest。 〃Absurd！〃
〃No； it isn't If it had not been for my wager with Jimmie； he never
would have entered our house disguised as a burglar。〃
〃What brought about the wager？〃
〃Last Sunday Helen was boasting of her two new police dogs which
Philip Rochester recently gave her； and said how safe she felt。 We've had
several burglaries in our neighborhood；〃 Barbara explained； 〃and when
Jimmie scoffed at the dogs； I bet him that he could not break into the
house without the dogs arousing the household。 I never once thought
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about Jimmie's heart trouble；〃 she confessed； and her lips quivered。 〃I
feel so guilty。〃
〃You are inconsistent； Babs；〃 chided Kent gently。 〃One moment you
reproach yourself for being the cause of bringing on Jimmie's heart attack；
and the next you declare you believe he died through foul play。 You；〃
looking at her tenderly； while a whimsical smile softened his stern mouth；
〃don't go so far as to claim you murdered him； do you？〃
〃Of course I didn't！〃 Barbara spoke with indignant emphasis； and her
fingers snapped in uncontrollable nervousness。 〃Jimmie was very dear〃 …
she hesitated … 〃to us。 Neither Helen nor I can leave a stone unturned
until we know without a shadow of a doubt what killed him。〃
〃That is easily proven；〃 declared Kent。 〃An autopsy …〃
〃Helen asked the coroner to hold one。〃
Kent stared … the twins were certainly in earnest。
〃My advice to you is to wait until you hear the result of the post…
mortem from Coroner Penfield；〃 he said gravely。 〃Until we know
definitely what killed Jimmie； speculation is idle。〃
Barbara rose at once。 〃I thought you would be more sympathetic；〃
she remarked； and her voice was a bit unsteady。 〃I am sorry to have
troubled you。〃
In an instant Kent was by her side。 〃Barbara；〃 he entreated。 〃I
promise solemnly to aid you in every possible way。 My only happiness
is in serving you；〃 his voice was very tender。 〃I slave here day in and
day out that I may sometime be able to make a home for you。 Don't
leave me in anger。〃
〃I was not angry； only deeply hurt；〃 Barbara confessed。 〃I have so
longed to see you。 I … I needed you！ I …〃 The rest was lost as she bowed
her head against Kent's broad shoulder； and his impassioned whispers of
devotion brought solace to her troubled spirit。
〃I must go；〃 declared Barbara ten minutes later。 〃Father would make
a fearful scene if he knew I had been here to see you。〃 She picked up her
hand…bag； preparatory to leaving。 〃Then I can tell Helen that you will aid
us？〃
〃Yes。〃 Kent stopped on his way to the door。 〃I will try and see the
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coroner this afternoon。 In the meantime； Babs； can't you tell me what
makes you suspect that Jimmie might have been killed？〃
〃I have nothing tangible to go on；〃 she admitted。 〃Only a woman's
instinct …〃
Kent did not smile。 〃Instinct；〃 he repeated thoughtfully。 〃Well；
does your instinct hazard a guess as to the weapon； the opportunity； and
the motive for such a crime？ Jimmie Turnbull hadn't an enemy in the
world。〃
Barbara looked at him oddly。 〃Suppose you find the answer to those
conundrums；〃 she suggested。 〃Don't come to the elevator； Margaret
Brewster may see you with me； and she would tell father of our meeting。
〃Is Mrs。 Brewster still with you？〃 asked Kent； paying no attention to
her protests as he accompanied her down the corridor。 〃I understood she
planned to return to the West last week。〃
〃She did； but father persuaded her to prolong her visit；〃 Barbara was
guilty of a grimace； then hailing the descending elevator she bolted into it
and waved her good…by to Kent as the cage shot downward。
When Kent reentered his office he found Sylvester hanging up the
telephone receiver。
〃Mr。 Clymer has telephoned to ask if you will come to the Metropolis
Trust Company at once；〃 he said； and before Kent could frame a reply he
had darted into the coat closet and brought out his hat and cane； and
handed them to him。
〃Don't wait for me； but go out for your luncheon；〃 directed Kent；
observing the hour。 〃I have my key and can get in when I return if you
should not be here；〃 and not waiting to hear Sylvester's thanks； he hurried
away。
The clock over the bank had just struck noon when Kent reached the
fine office building which housed the Metropolis Trust Company； and as
he entered the bank； a messenger stopped him。
〃Mr。 Clymer is waiting for you in his private office； sir；〃 he said； and
led the way past the long rows of mahogany counters and plate glass
windows to the back of the bank； finally stopping before a door bearing
the name； in modest lettering… BENJAMIN AUGUSTUS CLYMER。 The
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bank president was sensitive on one point； he never permitted initials only
to be used before his name。 The messenger's deferential knock was
answered by a gruff command to enter。 Clymer welcomed Kent with an
air of relief。
〃You know Colonel McIntyre；〃 he said by way of introduction； and
Kent became aware that the tall man lounging with his back to him in one
of the leather covered chairs was Barbara's father。 Colonel McIntyre
returned Kent's bow with a curt nod； and then Clymer pushed forward a
chair。
〃Sit down； Kent；〃 he began。 〃You have already handled several
confidential affairs for the bank in a satisfactory manner； and I have sent
for you to…day to ask your aid in an urgent matter。 Before I go further I
must ask you to treat what I am about to say as strictly confidential。〃
〃Certainly； Mr。 Clymer。〃
〃Good！ Then draw up your chair。〃 Clymer waited until Kent had
complied with his request。 〃You have heard of Jimmie Turnbull's sudden
and tragic death？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃As you know； he was cashier of this bank。〃 Clymer spoke with
deliberation。 〃Soon after word reached here of his death； the vice…
president and treasurer of the bank had a careful examination made of his
books and accounts。〃 Clymer paused to clear his throat； he was troubled
with an irritating cough。 〃Turnbull's accounts were found in fir
