the red seal-第28章

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〃Jimmie　was　talking　with　Grimes；〃　Mrs。　Brewster　stated　slowly。　〃From　what　I　overheard；　he　paid　Grimes　to　let　him　inside　the　house。〃

Kent　looked　perplexed　as　he　gazed　first　at　the　widow　and　then　at　Helen；　who　had　sunk　back　in　her　chair。

〃Mrs。　Brewster；〃　he　began　after　a　pause。　〃Who　gave　Jimmie　your　aconitine　pills　which　Grimes　left　on　the　hall　table？〃

〃The　murderer。〃

〃Yes；　of　course。〃　Kent　was　watching　her　closely　and　he　detected　the　tiny　beads　of　perspiration　which　were　gathering　on　her　upper　lip。　〃And　who；　in　your　opinion；　was　the　murderer？〃

Mrs。　Brewster's　expression　changed　…　she　looked　hunted；　and　her　eyes　fell　before　Kent's；　abruptly　she　turned　her　back　on　him；　to　find　Colonel　McIntyre　at　her　elbow　and　Barbara　just　entering　the　room。　　Her　eyes　traveled　past　the　girl　until　they　rested　on　Philip　Rochester　and　Detective　Ferguson　hovering　behind　him。　　Her　face　altered。

〃I　saw　Philip　Rochester；〃　pointing　dramatically　toward　him；　〃crawl　out　of　the　reception　room　window　and　dart　into　the　street　just　as　O'Ryan　came　in　the　front　door　with　Helen。〃

Detective　Ferguson　could　not　restrain　a　joyful　exclamation。　　〃So　that　was　it！〃　he　cried。　　〃You　were　at　the　McIntyre　house；　and　gave　the　poison　to　Turnbull　there　…　and　not　in　the　court　room　…　four　hours　before　he　died。　　You'll　swing　for　that　crime；　my　buck；　in　　spite　of　your　glib　tongue　and　slippery　ways。〃

As　he　ceased　speaking　Ferguson's　ever　ready　handcuffs　swung　suggestively　from　his　hand；　but　Helen's　agonized　cry　checked　his　approach　toward　Rochester；　who　stood　stolidly　waiting　for　him。

〃Father！　　You　cannot　permit　this　monstrous　injustice；　Philip　shall　not　suffer　for　another。　　No；　Barbara；〃　as　her　sister　strove　to　quiet　her；　we　must　tell　the　truth。〃

〃Suppose　I　tell　it　for　Colonel　McIntyre；〃　Rochester　advanced　as　the　door　opened　and　Sylvester　ushered　in　Benjamin　Clymer。　　〃You　have　come　in　time；　Clymer；〃　his　voice　deepened；　the　voice　of　a　man　accustomed　to　present　a　case　and　sway　a　court。　　〃Wait；　Sylvester；　sit　at　that　table　and　take　down　these　charges　…〃

〃Charges？〃　questioned　Kent；　watching　his　partner　narrowly；　he　tossed　a　stenographic　pad　to　Sylvester　and　made　a　place　for　him　at　his　desk。　　〃Go　on；　Rochester；　charges　against　whom？〃

〃Charges　against　the　man　who；　occupying　a　position　of　trust；　planned　to　swindle　the　Metropolis　Trust　Company　through　forged　notes　and　checks；〃　Rochester　stated　with　slow　emphasis。　　〃Jimmie　Turnbull　learned　that　you；　Clymer；　were　to　visit　Colonel　McIntyre　on　Monday　night；　and　he　went　there　in　disguise　to　find　out　if　his　suspicions　were　correct。　　The　investigation　cost　him　his　life。〃

Clymer；　who　had　followed　Rochester's　statement；　first　with　bewilderment　and　then　with　rising　wrath；　found　his　voice。

〃You　drunken　scoundrel！〃　he　roared。　　〃How　dare　you！〃

〃Dare！〃　Rochester　laughed　recklessly。　　〃Jimmie　kept　his　wits　to　the　last；　his　mind　was　clear；　he　recognized　you　in　the　prisoner's　pen　and　he　tried　to　call　you；　but　his　palsied　tongue　could　not　say　Ben；　but　stuttered　…　B　…　b　…　b。〃

〃And　what　did　he　wish　to　tell　me？〃　gasped　Clymer；　down　whose　colorless　face　perspiration　trickled。

〃Aye；　what？〃　broke　in　Kent　significantly。

〃Jimmie　may　not　have　gotten　the　information　he　wished　at　your　house；　Colonel　McIntyre；　but　his　presence　there　on　Monday　night　showed　the　forger　he　was　in　danger；　and　like　the　human　snake　he　is；　he　poisoned　without　warning。　　Don't　move　…　Sylvester！〃

With　a　backward　spring　Kent　caught　his　clerk　as　he　sped　for　the　door。

〃Don't　make　any　mistake　in　putting　on　the　handcuffs　this　time；　Ferguson；〃　he　shouted。　　〃A　forger　and　a　contortionist　make　a　bad　customer　to　reckon　with。〃


CHAPTER　XXI

THE　RIDDLE　ANSWERED

There　was　absolute　stillness　in　the　room；　then　a　babble　of　exclamations　broke　out　as　Sylvester；　his　expression　of　dumb　surprise　giving　place　to　one　of　fury；　struggled　to　free　himself　from　the　detective's　firm　grip。

〃You　cannot　escape；　Sylvester；〃　declared　Kent；　observing　his　efforts。　〃Your　carelessness　in　using　your　peculiar　gift　of　penmanship　in　copying　Barbara　McIntyre's　signature　in　this　memorandum　of　her　visit　here〃　…　　Kent　held　up　a　sheet　torn　from　his　pad；　〃gave　me　the　first　clew。　　These；　the　second；〃　he　showed　several　pieces　of　blotting　paper　freshly　used。　　〃See；　in　the　mirror　here　is　reflected　the　impression　from　your　clever　imitations　of　the　handwritings　of　Barbara；　Colonel　McIntyre；　and　Mrs。　Brewster。〃

They　crowded　about　Kent；　all　but　Ferguson　and　his　prisoner；　who　had　subsided　in　his　chair　with　what　the　detective　concluded　was　dangerous　quietude。

〃My　next　step；　now　that　suspicion　was　directed　against　Sylvester；　was　to　make　personal　inquiries　regarding　him；〃　went　on　Kent。　　〃Judge　Hildebrand；　who　had　just　returned　to　Washington；　said　that　he　first　met　Sylvester　at　a　circus　sideshow　where　he　gave　exhibitions　as　a　contortionist。　　One　of　his　special　stunts　was　to　slip　out　of　handcuffs　and　ropes。〃

〃So　that　explains　last　night；〃　Ferguson　grinned。　　〃You'll　not　do　it　again；　Sylvester；〃　and　he　shook　an　admonitory　finger　at　the　erstwhile　clerk。

〃Judge　Hildebrand　became　interested　in　Sylvester；　found　he　was　handy　with　his　pen　and　tired　of　the　show　business；　and　gave　him　an　opening　by　engaging　him　as　confidential　clerk；〃　continued　Kent。　　〃You　will　recall；　Colonel　McIntyre；　that　you　sent　business　papers　in　your　handwriting　and　that　of　your　daughters　to　Judge　Hildebrand's　office　to　be　typed　by　his　staff。　　That　is　how　Sylvester　became　so　well　acquainted　with　your　writing　and　was　able　to　forge　a　letter　to　the　bank　treasurer　directing　him　to　turn　over　your　negotiable　securities　to　Jimmie　Turnbull。〃

〃But　how　in　the　world　did　Sylvester　induce　Jimmie　to　present　the　forged　letter？〃　asked　Colonel　McIntyre。

Kent　turned　to　the　sullen　prisoner。　　〃Answer　that　question；　Sylvester；〃　he　commanded；　and　the　man　roused　himself　from　his　dejected　attitude。

〃Anything　in　it　for　me　if　I　do？〃　he　asked　with　a　cunning　leer。

〃That's　for　the　courts　to　decide；〃　declared　Kent。

The　man　thought　a　minute。　　〃I'll　take　a　chance；〃　he　said　finally。　〃But　that　I　waited　for　an　opportunity　to　get　my　swag　out　of　this　safe；　I　wouldn't　have　been　caught　…　curse　you！〃　and　he　scowled　at　Kent。

〃Cut　that　out；〃　admonished　Ferguson　with　a　none　too　gentle　dig　in　the　ribs；　and　Sylvester　continued　his　statement。

〃I　overheard　Colonel　McIntyre　tell　Judge　Hildebrand　about　his　securities　and　their　present　value；　and　the　next　day　he　came　to　consult　the　judge　about　engaging　a　secretary。　　I　fixed　up　credentials　and　went　to　Mr。　Turnbull；　he　believed　my　story　that　I　was　the　colonel's　new　secretary　and　got　the　securities。〃　Sylvester　paused。　　〃If　I'd　rested　content　with　that　success　I'd　been　all　right；〃　he　added。　　〃But　I　was　in　too　great　a　hurry　and　forged　Mr。　Clymer's　signature　to　a　check　for　five　thousand　dollars　and　presented　it　at　the　Metropolis　Trust　Company。　　As　luck　would　have　it　Mr。　Turnbull　cashed　it　for　me　himself。〃

〃But　didn't　he　suspect　you？〃　exclaimed　Clymer。　　He　had　gradually　recovered　from　the　shock　of　Rochester's　charges　on　his　arrival；　and　was　listening　with　keen　attention　to　Sylvester's　confession。

〃No。　　I　made　the　check　payable　to　Colonel　McIntyre　and　forged　his　endorsement；〃　Sylvester　spoke　with　an　air　of　pride；　and　he　smiled　in　malicious　enjoyment　as；　catching　his　eye；　Barbara　shrank　back　and　sheltered　herself　behind　Kent。　　〃Mr。　Turnbull　accepted　the　check；　later　something　must　have　aroused　his　suspicions；　and　I　found　when　he　questioned　me　that　he　believed　Colonel　McIntyre　had　forged　the　check。〃

〃Good　heavens！　　You　let　him　think　that？〃　gasped　McIntyre；　then　wrath　gained　the　mastery。　　〃You　scoundrel！〃

〃Oh；　I　encouraged　him　to　think　it；〃　Sylvester　grinned　again。　　〃You　must　have　handed　Mr。　Turnbull　a　raw　deal；　he　was　so　ready　to　think　evil　of　you。〃

〃That　is　a　lie！〃　exclaimed　Helen　hotly。　　〃When　I　went　downstairs　to　investigate　the　noise　I　heard　in　the　library；　father；　Jimmie　told　me　who　he　was　to　quiet　my　fright。　　He　showed　me　a　letter；　which　he　had　just　found　on　your　desk　in　the　library；　confessing　that　you　had　forged　Mr。　Clymer's　name　on　the　check；　and　begging　Jimmie　to　conceal　your　crime　and　save　Barbara　and　me　from　the　shame　of　having　you　exposed　as　a　forger　and　a　thief。〃

〃I　never　wrote　such　a　letter！〃　shouted　McIntyre；　deeply　incensed。

〃No；　it　was　a　clever　plan；〃　acknowledged　Sylvester。　　〃On　one　of　my　trips　to　your　house；　Colonel　McIntyre；　I　secured　wax　impressions　of　your　front　door　lock。　　I　went　to　your　house　Monday　night　and　put　the　letter　among　your　papers　just　before　Turnbull　was　admitted　by　your　fool　of　a　butler。〃

〃And　you　gave　Jimmie　Turnbull　a　dose　of　poison　…　charged　Kent；　but　Sylvester；　his　lips　gone　dry；　raised　his　manacled　hands　in　protest。

〃I　did　not　poison　him；〃　he　cried。　　〃I　waited　just　to　see　if　Turnbull　got　the　letter　and　to　find　out　what　he'd　do　with　the　securities；　which　he　had　refused　to　turn　over　to　me。　　After　he　had　read　the　forged　letter　Mr。　Turnbull　acted　sort　of　faint　and　went　out　in　the　hall。　　I　could　just　see　him　put　down　a　box　on　the　hall　table　and　lean　against　the　wall。　　Then　he　went　into　the　dining　room　and　came　back　a　second　later　carrying　a　glass　of　water；　and　I　saw　him　take　up　and　open　a　small　box　and　toss　some　white　pills　into　his　mouth；　then　he　took　a　good　drink；　and；　picking　up　a　handkerchief　lying　on　the　table；　he　went　back　into　the　library。〃

There　was　silence　as　Sylvester's　callous　recital　of　the　tragedy　ended。　　Helen；　her　eyes　tearless　and　dark　with　suffering；　sank　slowly　back　in　her　chair　and　rested　her　head　against　Barbara's　sympathetic　shoulder。

〃So　Turnbull's　death　was　accidental　after　all；〃　exclaimed　Ferguson。　〃Or　was　it　suicide？〃

〃Accident；〃　answered　Kent。　　〃I　found　some　nitro…glycerine　pills　in　the　umbrella　stand　by　the　hall　table。〃　Colonel　McIntyre　nodded。　〃Evidently　Turnbull　put　down　his　pill　box　before　getting　a　glass　of　water；　and　in　his　attack　of　giddiness　accidentally　opened　your　box　of　aconitine　pills；　Mrs。　Brewster；　instead　of　his　own；　and　swallowed　a　fatal　dose；　thinking　they　were　nitroglycerine。〃

Mrs。　Brewster　bowed　her　head　in　agreement。　　That　must　have　been　it；〃　she　said。　　〃However；　I　saw　Colonel　McIntyre　tear　off　the　paper　wrapping　and　open　my　package　of　pills　just　before　dinner；　and　when　I　heard　that　Jimmie　had　died　from　aconitine　I　…　I　…〃　she　stammered　and　stopped　short。

〃You　suspected　I　had　murdered　him？〃　asked　McIntyre　softly。

〃Yes；〃　she　looked　appealingly　at　him。　　〃Forgive　me；　I　should　never　have　suspected　you；　but　the　pills；　box　and　all；　were　missing　the　next　morning　from　the　hall　table。〃

〃Turnbull　must　have　thrown　the　box　into　the　umbrella　stand；〃　explained　Kent。　　〃That　was　where　I　found　it。　　Did　you　get　the　securities；　Sylvester？〃　turning　to　the　prisoner。

〃No；〃　sullenly。　　〃She　did；〃　and　a　jerk　of　his　thumb　indicated　Helen　McIntyre。

Helen　raised　her　head　and　addressed　them　slowly。

〃Jimmie　and　I　expected　Barbara　to　come　in　at　any　moment；　and　he　started　to　leave　when　we　saw　you　coming　downstairs；〃　she　turned　to　Mrs。　Brewster。　　〃Jimmie　declared　that　if　we　were　found　together　I　might　be　compromised。　　He　couldn't　explain　his　presence　without　exposing　father　…　we　both　thought　you　a　forger；　father；〃　she　interpolated；　as　McIntyre　took　her　hand　and　pressed　it　understandingly。　　〃So　he　insisted　that　I　s