the red seal-第19章

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〃Did　Colonel　McIntyre　come　with　Mrs。　Brewster？〃　he　asked。

〃No；　Mr。　Kent；　he　came　in　while　she　was　here。〃

〃And　they　went　off　together；〃　volunteered　Mrs。　Sylvester；　who　had　been　a　silent　listener　to　their　conversation。　　Kent　started；　he　had　forgotten　the　woman。　　〃Excuse　me；　Mr。　Kent；〃　she　continued；　and　stepped　toward　him。　　〃I　presume；　likely；　that　you　are　very　interested　in　this　charge　of　murder　against　your　partner；　Mr。　Rochester。〃

〃I　am；〃　affirmed　Kent；　as　Mrs。　Sylvester　paused。

〃I　am　too；　sir；〃　she　confided　to　him。　　〃Cause　you　see　I　was　in　the　court　room　when　Mr。　Turnbull　died　and　I'm　naturally　interested。〃

〃Naturally；〃　agreed　Kent　with　a　commiserating　glance　at　his　clerk；　the　latter's　wife　threatened　to　be　loquacious；　and　he　judged　from　her　looks　that　it　was　a　habit　which　had　grown　with　the　years。　　As　a　general　rule　he　abhorred　talkative　women；　but　…　〃And　what　took　you　to　the　police　court　on　Tuesday　morning？〃

〃Why；　me　and　Mr。　Sylvester　have　our　little　differences　like　other　married　couples；〃　she　explained。　　〃And　sometimes　we　ask　the　Court　to　settle　them。〃　She　caught　Kent's　look　of　impatience　and　hurried　her　speech。　　〃The　burglar　case　came　on　just　after　ours　was　remanded；　and　seeing　the　McIntyre　twins；　whom　I've　often　read　about；　I　just　thought　I'd　stay。　　Let　me　have　that　paper　a　minute。〃

〃Certainly；〃　Kent　gave　her　the　newspaper　and　she　ran　her　finger　down　the　columns　devoted　to　the　Turnbull　case　with　a　slowness　that　set　his　already　excited　nerves　on　edge。

〃Here's　what　I'm　looking　for；〃　she　exclaimed　triumphantly；　a　minute　later；　and　pointed　to　the　paragraph：

　　〃Mrs。　　Margaret　Perry　Brewster；　the　fascinating　widow；　added　　　　nothing　material　to　the　case　in　her　testimony；　and　she　was　　　　quickly　excused；　after　stating　that　she　was　told　about　the　　　　tragedy　by　the　McIntyre　twins　upon　their　return　from　the　　　　Police　Court。〃

〃Well　what　of　it？〃　asked　Kent。

〃Only　this；　Mr。　Kent；〃　Mrs。　Sylvester　enjoyed　nothing　so　much　as　talking　to　a　good　looking　man；　especially　in　the　presence　of　her　husband；　and　she　could　not　refrain　from　a　triumphant　look　at　him　as　she　went　on　with　her　remarks。　　〃There　was　a　female　sitting　on　the　bench　next　to　me　in　Court；　in　fact；　she　and　I　were　the　only　women　on　that　side；　and　I　kinder　noticed　her　on　that　account；　and　then　I　saw　she　was　all　done　up　in　veils　…　I　couldn't　see　her　face。

〃I　caught　her　peering　this　way　and　that　during　the　burglar's　hearing；　I　don't　reckon　she　could　see　well　through　all　the　veils。　Now；　don't　get　impatient；　Mr。　Kent；　I'm　getting　to　my　point　…　that　woman　sitting　next　to　me　in　the　police　court　was　the　widow　Brewster。〃

〃What！〃　Kent　laughed　unbelievingly。　　〃Oh；　come；　you　are　mistaken。〃

〃I　am　not；　sir。〃　　Mrs。　Sylvester　spoke　with　conviction。　　〃Now；　why　does　Mrs。　Brewster　declare　at　the　coroner's　inquest　that　she　only　heard　of　the　Turnbull　tragedy　from　the　McIntyre　twins　on　their　return　home？〃

〃You　must　be　mistaken；〃　argued　Kent。

〃Why；　you　admit　yourself　that　the　woman　was　so　swathed　in　veils　that　you　could　not　see　her　face。〃

〃No；　but　I　heard　her　laugh　in　court；〃　Mrs。　Sylvester　spoke　in　deep　earnestness　and　Kent　placed　faith　in　her　statement　in　spite　of　his　outward　skepticism。　　〃And　I　heard　her　laugh　in　this　corridor　this　morning　and　I　placed　her　as　the　same　woman。　　I　asked　Mr。　Sylvester　who　she　was；　and　he　told　me。　　I'd　been　reading　this　account　of　the　Turnbull　inquest；　and　I　recollected　seeing　Mrs。　Brewster's　name；　and　my　husband　and　I　were　just　reading　the　account　over　when　you　came　in。〃

Kent　gazed　in　perplexity　at　Mrs。　Sylvester。　　〃Why　did　Mrs。　Brewster　laugh　in　the　police　court？〃　he　asked。

〃When　Dr。　Stone　exclaimed　to　the　deputy　marshal　…　'Your　prisoner　appears　ill！'〃　declared　Mrs。　Sylvester；　she　enjoyed　the　dramatic；　and　that　Kent　was　hanging　on　her　words　she　was　fully　aware；　in　spite　of　his　expressionless　face。　　〃Dr。　Stone　lifted　the　burglar　in　his　arms　and　then　Mrs。　Brewster　laughed　as　she　laughed　in　the　corridor　to…day　…　a　soft　gurgling　laugh。〃


CHAPTER　XIV

PAY　CASH

It　was　the　rush　hour　at　the　Metropolis　Trust　Company　and　the　busy　paying　teller　counted　out　silver　and　gold　and　treasury　notes　of　varying　denominations　with　the　mechanical　precision　and　exactness　which　experience　gives。　　Suddenly　his　hand　stopped　midway　toward　the　money　drawer；　his　attention　arrested　by　the　signature　on　a　check。　A　swift　glance　upward　showed　him　a　girl's　face　at　the　grille　of　the　window。　　There　was　an　instant's　pause；　then　she　addressed　him。

〃Do　hurry；　Mr。　McDonald；　father　is　waiting　for　me。〃

〃Pardon　me；　Miss　McIntyre。〃　　He　stamped　the　check　and　laid　it　to　one　side。　　〃how　do　you　want　the　money？〃

〃Oh；　I　forgot。〃　She　glanced　at　a　memorandum　on　the　back　of　an　envelope。　　〃Mrs。　Brewster　wishes　ten　tens；　five　twenties；　and　ten　ones。

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　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　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。

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　repli