the red seal-第26章

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〃You　have　just　stated　that　aconitine　is　not　usually　administered　to　murder　a　person；〃　Kent　spoke　seriously；　choosing　his　words　with　care。　〃Do　you　wonder　then；　that　I　consider　it　more　than　a　coincidence　that　Jimmie　Turnbull　should　have　died　from　a　dose　of　that　poison；　and　that　the　drug　should　have　been　prescribed　for　one　of　the　inmates　of　the　house　he　visited　shortly　before　his　death？〃

The　physician　sat　upright；　his　face　had　grown　gray。　　〃Mr。　Kent；〃　he　commenced　indignantly；　〃are　you　aware　what　you　are　insinuating？　　Are　you；　also；　aware　that　Mrs。　Brewster　is　my　cousin；　a　charming；　honorable　woman；　without　a　stain　on　her　character？〃

Kent　set　the　bottom　of　the　box　containing　the　pills　in　front　of　the　doctor。

〃I　have　found　out　that　this　box；　with　its　dangerous　drug；　was　left　on　the　hall　table　in　the　McIntyre　house；　apparently　any　one　had　access　to　its　contents；　therefore　my　remarks　are　not　directed　against　Mrs。　Brewster　any　more　than　against　any　person　in　the　McIntyre　household；　from　the　Colonel　to　the　servants。　　I　found　these　three　pills　at　the　McIntyre　house　this　morning；　how　many　did　your　prescription　call　for？〃

Stone　picked　up　the　small　pills　and；　as　he　balanced　them　in　his　palm；　his　manner　grew　more　alert。　　Suddenly　he　dropped　two　back　in　the　box　and　touched　the　third　pill　with　the　tip　of　his　tongue；　not　content　with　that　he　crushed　it　in　his　fingers；　sniffed　the　drug；　and　again　tested　it　with　his　tongue。　　His　expression　was　peculiar　as　he　looked　up　at　Kent。

〃These　are　not　aconitine　pills；〃　he　stated　positively。　　〃They　are　nitro…glycerine。　　How　did　they　get　in　this　box？〃

Kent　rubbed　his　chin　in　bewilderment。　　The　box　bearing　the　aconitine　label　and　the　pills　had　all　rolled　out　of　the　china　umbrella　stand；　and　he　had　taken　it　for　granted　that　the　pills　belonged　in　the　box。

〃I　found　them　loose　in　the　same　receptacle；〃　he　explained。　　〃And　concluded　they　were　what　remained　of　the　aconitine　pills　which　Grimes；　the　McIntyre　butler；　said　he　left　on　the　hall　table　Sunday　afternoon。〃

Stone　smiled　with　what　Kent；　who　was　watching　him　closely；　judged　to　be　an　odd　mixture　of　relief　and　apprehension。

〃You　could　not　have　found　more　dissimilar　medicine　to　go　in　this　pill　box；　although　the　two　kinds　of　pills　are　identical　in　color　and　size；〃　he　said。　　〃Aconitine　depresses　the　heart　action　while　the　other　stimulates　it。〃

The　physician's　statement　fell　on　deaf　ears。　　Raising　his　head　after　contemplating　the　pills；　Kent　had　looked　across　the　room　and　his　glance　had　fallen　on　a　wing　chair；　standing　just　inside　the　doorway　of　the　living　room；　and　thrown　partly　in　shadow　by　the　portieres。　The　wing　of　the　chair　appeared　to　move。　　Kent　rubbed　his　eyes　and　looking　again；　caught　the　same　slight　movement。

Bounding　toward　the　chair　Kent　saw　that　the　brown　shape　which　he　had　mistaken　for　part　of　the　tufted　upholstery　was　the　sleek　brown　hair　of　a　man's　well…shaped　head。　　He　halted　abruptly　on　meeting　the　gaze　of　a　pair　of　mocking　eyes。

〃Rochester？〃　he　gasped　unbelievingly。　　〃Rochester！〃

His　partner　laughed　softly　as　Stone　approached。　　〃I　have　been　an　interested　listener；〃　he　said。　　〃Let　me　complete　the　good　doctor's　argument。　　Nitro…glycerine　would　have　benefitted　Jimmie　Turnbull　and　his　feeble　heart；　whereas　the　missing　aconitine　pills　killed　him。〃

Stone　regarded　him　with　severity。　　〃How　did　you　get　in　this　apartment？〃　he　demanded；　declining　the　challenge　Rochester　had　　offered　in　addressing　his　opinion　of　Turnbull's　death　directly　to　him。

Rochester　dangled　his　bunch　of　keys　in　the　physician's　face　and　smiled　at　his　excited　partner。　　〃If　you　two　hadn't　been　so　absorbed　in　your　conversation　you　would　have　heard　me　walk　in；〃　he　remarked。

〃Where　have　you　been？〃　demanded　Kent；　partly　recovering　from　his　astonishment　which　had　deprived　him　of　speech。

〃I　decided　to　take　a　vacation　at　a　moment's　notice。〃　Rochester　spoke　with　the　same　slow　drawl　which　was　characteristic　of　him。　　〃You　should　be　accustomed　to　my　eccentricities　by　this　time；　Harry。〃

〃We　are；〃　announced　Detective　Ferguson　from　the　hallway；　where　he　and　Nelson　had　been　silent　witnesses　of　the　scene。　　〃And　we'll　give　you　a　chance　to　explain　them　in　the　police　court。〃

〃On　what　charge？〃　demanded　Rochester。

〃Poisoning　your　room…mate；　Mr。　Turnbull；〃　replied　the　detective；　drawing　out　a　pair　of　handcuffs。　　〃You　are　mighty　clever；　Mr。　Rochester。　　I've　got　to　hand　it　to　you　for　your　mysterious　disappearances　in　and　out　of　this　apartment；　and　for　murdering　Mr。　Turnbull　right　in　the　police　court　in　the　presence　of　the　judge；　police　officials；　and　spectators。〃

Kent　stepped　forward　at　sight　of　the　handcuffs　and　laid　a　restraining　hand　on　the　detective's　shoulder。　　Rochester　saw　the　movement；　guessed　Kent's　intention；　and　smiled。

〃We　can　settle　the　case　here；〃　he　said　cheerfully。　　〃No　need　of　troubling　the　police　judge。　　Now；　Mr。　　Detective；　how　did　I　kill　Jimmie　Turnbull　before　all　those　people　without　any　one　becoming　aware　of　the　fact？〃

〃Slipped　the　poison　in　the　glass　of　water　you　handed　him；〃　answered　Ferguson　promptly。　　〃A　nervy　sleight…of…hand；　but　you'll　swing　for　it。〃

Rochester's　smile　was　exasperating　as　he　turned　to　Dr。　Stone。

〃Judging　from　Stone's　remarks　about　aconitine　…　which　I　overheard；〃　he　interpolated。　　〃I　gather　the　doctor　is　tolerably　familiar　with　the　action　of　the　drug。　　Does　aconitine　kill　instantly；　doctor？〃

Stone　cleared　his　throat　before　speaking。　　〃No；　the　fatal　period　averages　about　four　hours；〃　he　said；　and　Rochester's　eyes　sparkled　as　he　looked　up　at　the　detective。

〃Jimmie　died　almost　immediately　after　I　handed　him　that　drink　of　water；〃　he　declared。　　〃If　you　wish　to　know　who　administered　that　aconitine　poison；　you　will　have　to　find　out　who　Jimmie　was　with　at　the　McIntyre　house　in　the　early　hours　of　Tuesday　morning。〃

The　sharp　imperative　ring　of　the　telephone　bell　cut　the　silence　which　followed。　　Kent；　standing　nearest　the　instrument；　picked　it　up；　and　recognized　Sylvester's　voice　over　the　wire。

〃A　message　has　just　come；　Mr。　Kent；〃　he　called；　〃from　Mrs。　Brewster　saying　that　she　will　be　in　your　office　at　four　o'clock。〃


CHAPTER　XIX

THE　RED　SEAL　AGAIN

Harry　Kent　inserted　his　key　in　his　office　door　with　more　vigor　than　good　judgment；　and　spent　some　seconds　in　re…adjusting　it　in　the　lock。　　Once　inside　the　office　he　put　up　the　latch　and　closed　the　door。　　A　glance　around　the　empty　office　showed　him　that　Sylvester　had　obeyed　his　telephone　instructions　and　gone　out　to　luncheon。

Kent　noted　with　satisfaction　as　he　put　his　hat　and　cane　in　the　coat　closet　that　he　had　over　two　hours　before　Mrs。　Brewster's　expected　arrival；　ample　time　in　which　to　consider　in　quietude　the　events　of　the　past　few　days；　and　plan　for　his　interview　with　the　pretty　widow。　He　had　spent　the　time　between　Rochester's　sudden　reappearance　and　a　hastily　swallowed　lunch　at　a　downtown　caf　；　in　arranging　bail　for　Rochester。　　Ferguson　had　proved　obdurate　and　had　persisted　in　taking　the　lawyer　to　Police　Headquarters。

Dr。　Stone　had　accompanied　the　trio；　and　his　testimony；　supported　by　two　chemists；　regarding　the　time　required　for　aconitine　poison　to　act；　had　gone　far　to　weaken　the　detective's　case　against　Rochester。

Rochester；　to　Kent's　unbounded　astonishment；　had　appeared　indifferent　to　the　whole　proceedings；　and　to　his　partner's　urgent　inquiries　as　to　where　he　had　spent　the　past　four　days；　and　why　he　had　disappeared；　he　had　returned　one　invariable　answer。

〃I'll　explain　in　good　time；　Harry；〃　and　it　was　not　until　they　were　leaving　Police　Headquarters　that　his　apathy　vanished。

〃When　are　you　to　see　Mrs。　Brewster？〃　he　asked。

〃She　will　be　at　our　office　at　four　o'clock。　　Say；　Phil〃　…　but　Rochester；　shaking　off　his　detaining　hand；　darted　across　the　street　and　sprang　into　a　passing　taxi　bearing　the　sign；　〃For　Hire；〃　and　that　was　the　last　Kent　had　seen　of　his　elusive　partner。

Kent　dropped　into　his　chair　and　glanced　askance　at　the　mail　piled　in　neat　array　on　his　desk；　he　was　not　in　a　frame　of　mind　to　handle　routine　office　business。　　Other　clients　would　have　to　wait　until　later　in　the　day。　　A　memorandum　pad；　bearing　a　message　in　Sylvester's　precise　penmanship　attracted　his　wandering　attention　and　he　picked　it　up。

〃Mr。　Kent：〃　he　read。　　〃Colonel　McIntyre　called　just　after　I　talked　with　you　on　the　'phone；　he　waited　in　your　office　for　half　an　hour；　then　left；　stating　he　would　come　back。　　Miss　Barbara　McIntyre　called　immediately　afterwards；　but　would　not　wait　more　than　five　minutes。　Mr。　Clymer　came　as　she　was　going　out　and　left　a　note　on　your　desk。　I　will　return　soon。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃SYLVESTER。〃

Kent　laid　down　the　pad　and　picked　up　a　twisted　three…cornered　note　bearing　his　name　in　pencil。　　Unfolding　it；　he　scanned　the　hurriedly　written　lines：

〃Dear　Kent　…　McIntyre　telephoned　there　were　new　developments　in　the　Turnbull　affair。　　Will　be　back　later。〃Yours　…　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃B。　A。　CLYMER。〃

Kent　judged　from　the　use　of　his　initials　that　Clymer　was　stirred　out　of　his　ordinary　calm；　nothing　else　explained　his　failure　to　sign　his　full　name；　and　he　wondered　what　confidences　McIntyre　had　made　to　the　bank　president。

Tossing　down　the　note；　Kent　lighted　his　pipe；　tilted　back　in　his　swivel　chair；　and　reviewed　the　facts　which　implicated　Rochester　in　Jimmie　Turnbull's　murder。　　Rochester's　quarrels　with　Jimmie；　his　persistent　assertion　that　his　friend　had　died　from　angina　pectoris；　his　unexplained　disappearance　on　Tuesday　night；　the　fake　telegram　from　Cleveland　stating　he　was　there；　the　withdrawal　of　his　bank　deposits；　the　forged　checks；　his　mysterious　visits　to　his　own　apartment；　when　considered　together；　presented　a　chain　of　circumstantial　evidence　connecting　him　with　the　crime。　　But　in　the　light　of　Dr。　Stone's　testimony；　the　poison　〃could　not　have　been　administered　in　the　glass　of　water　Rochester　had　given　Jimmie　in　the　police　court。

Four　hours　at　least　had　to　elapse　before　the　fatal　dose　of　aconitine　could　take　effect　…　four　hours！　　Kent　told　them　off　on　his　fingers；　it　placed　the　crime　in　the　McIntyre　house。　　Which　one　of　its　inmates　administered　the　poison　to　Jimmie　and　how　had　it　been　done？　　What　motive　had　prompted　the　cashier's　murder？

It　was　preposterous　to　think　that　either　of　the　twins　was　guilty　of　the　crime。　　Helen's　devotion　to　Jimmie；　her　insistence　upon　an　autopsy　being　held　indicated　her　innocence。　　She　had　stated　at　the　inquest　that　she　had　not　known　the　burglar's　identity；　Kent　paused　as　the　thought　occurred　to　him　…　the　twins　had　swapped　identities　on　the　witness　stand；　and　therefore　Helen　had　not　been　called　upon　to　answer　that　question！　　To　the　best　of　his　recollection　she　had　only　been　asked　if　she　had　recognized　Jimmie　in　the　court　room　and　not　at　her　home。　　But　Helen　it　was　who　had　summoned　Officer　O'Ryan　on　discovering　the　burglar　and　had　him　arrested。　　She　surely　would　never　have　done　so　had　she　guessed　his　identity。

As　for　Barbara　McIntyre　…　Kent's　heart　beat　faster　at　thought　of　the　girl　he　loved　so　well。　　Circumstantial　evidence　had　seemed　for　a　time　to　involve　her　in　the　crime。　　Grimes'　outrageous　insinuation　that　he　had　been　assaulted　on　account　of　confiding　to　her　that　the　box　of　aconitine　pills　had　been　left　on　the　hall　table　where　any　one　could　ge