the red seal-第30章

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e　rage。　　〃I　heard　Turnbull　tell　you　to　take　the　envelope　to　Rochester；　and　I　banked　on　your　bringing　it　here　or　to　his　apartment。　　D…mn　you！　You've　thwarted　me　at　every　turn。〃

Rochester's　powerful　hand　was　clapped　across　his　mouth　with　such　force　that　the　clerk　staggered　against　Ferguson。

〃Here　you；　out　you　go。〃　　The　detective　shoved　the　struggling　man　toward　the　door　leading　into　the　corridor　and　Clymer　sprang　to　his　assistance；　a　second　later　Rochester　closed　the　door　on　their　receding　figures　and　found　Helen　standing　by　his　elbow。

〃I　must　go；〃　she　said；　turning　back　to　look　at　her　father　and　his　bride。

〃Wait　a　minute。〃　Kent　held　up　an　envelope　with　its　fateful　red　seal。　〃This　was　delivered　empty　at　Rochester's　apartment　last　night　…　it　is　addressed　to　him。　　Who　wrote　it？〃

〃I　did；〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　McIntyre。　　〃I　felt　I　must　consult　either　you；　Mr。　Kent；　or　Mr。　Rochester；　so　I　sent　the　note　to　his　apartment；　but　the　messenger　boy　hurried　me；　and　it　was　not　until　hours　later　that　I　found　the　note　lying　on　the　desk　in　the　reception　room　and　realized　I　had　sent　an　empty　envelope。〃

〃I　see。〃　Kent　held　up　another　envelope；　the　red　seal　broken　at　the　corner。　　〃This　is　yours；　Helen。〃

Helen　hesitated　perceptibly　before　taking　the　envelope　and　tearing　it　open。　　She　handed　the　securities　to　her　father。

〃Here　is　father's　forged　confession；〃　she　said　as　she　took　the　remaining　paper　from　the　envelope。

〃It　is　a　marvelous　imitation　of　my　handwriting；〃　declared　McIntyre；　looking　at　it　carefully；　then　tearing　it　into　tiny　bits　he　flung　them　into　the　scrap…basket　and　pocketed　the　securities。

〃And　to　think　that　I　aided　Sylvester's　plot　to　gain　the　securities　by　engaging　him　as　our　clerk；〃　groaned　Rochester。

〃It　was　clever　of　him　to　seek　employment　here；〃　agreed　Kent。　　〃But　like　many　crooks　he　over…reached　himself　through　over…confidence。　Must　you　go；　Colonel　McIntyre？〃

〃Yes。〃　McIntyre　walked　over　to　Helen。

〃My　dear　little　girl；〃　he　began　and　his　voice　was　husky　with　feeling。　　〃How　can　I　show　my　appreciation　of　your　loyalty　to　me？〃

〃By　being　kind　to　Harry　and　Barbara。〃　　Helen　smiled　bravely；　although　her　lips　were　trembling　and　for　a　moment　she　could　not　trust　herself　to　speak。　　〃My　romance　is　over；　Barbara's　is　just　beginning。　　And；　father；　will　you　and　Margaret　come　home　with　me　…　I　am　so　lonely；〃　then　turning　blindly　away　she　fairly　ran　out　of　the　office。

〃Go　with　her；〃　said　Rochester；　a　trifle　unsteadily。　　〃It　has　been　a　terrible　ordeal；　God　help　her　to　forget！〃　　His　voice　failed　and　he　swept　his　hand　across　his　eyes　as　he　held　open　the　door　into　the　corridor　and　followed　McIntyre　and　his　wife　outside。

Kent　turned　impulsively　to　Barbara；　and　his　arms　closed　around　her　as　she　raised　her　eyes　to　meet　his；　for　she　knew　that　the　promise　they　spoke　would　be　loyally　fulfilled；　and　that　her　haven　of　love　and　happiness　was　reached　at　last。







End