the red seal-第9章

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uppose？〃

〃I　haven't　the　faintest　idea；〃　answered　Barbara　truthfully。　　〃I　was　at　his　office　this　…〃　she　stopped　abruptly　on　finding　that　Mrs。　Brewster　was　standing　just　behind　her。　　Had　the　widow　by　chance　overheard　her　remark？　　If　so；　her　father　would　probably　learn　of　her　visit　to　the　office　of　Rochester　and　Kent　that　morning。

〃Do　I　understand　that　Philip　Rochester　is　out　of　town？〃　inquired　Mrs。　Brewster。　　〃Why；　I　had　an　appointment　with　him　to…morrow。〃

〃He's　gone　and　left　no　address　that　I　can　find；〃　explained　Parker。　〃Thank　you；　Miss　McIntyre；　good　evening；〃　and　the　busy　reporter　hurried　away。

There　was　a　curious　expression　in　Mrs。　Brewster's　eyes；　but　she　dropped　her　gaze　on　her　finger　bowl　too　quickly　for　Clymer　to　analyze　its　meaning。

〃What　can　have　taken　Mr。　Rochester　out　of　town？〃　she　asked。　The　question　was　not　addressed　to　any　one　in　particular；　but　Colonel　McIntyre　answered　it；　as　he　did　most　of　the　widow's　remarks。

〃Dry　Washington；〃　he　explained。　　〃It　isn't　the　first　trip　Philip　has　made　to　Baltimore　since　the　'dry'　law　has　been　in　force；　eh；　Clymer？〃

〃No；　and　it　won't　be　his　last；〃　was　the　banker's　response。　　〃What's　the　matter；　Miss　McIntyre？〃　as　Barbara　pushed　back　her　chair。

〃I　feel　a　little　faint；〃　she　stammered。　　〃The　air　here　is　…　is　stifling。　　If　you　don't　mind；　father；　I'll　take　the　car　and　drive　home。〃

〃I'll　come　with　you；〃　announced　Mrs。　Brewster；　rising　hurriedly；　and　as　she　turned　solicitously　to　aid　Barbara　she　caught　Colonel　McIntyre's　admiring　glance　and　his　whispered　thanks。

Outside　the　caf　　Clymer　discovered　that　the　McIntyre　limousine　was　not　to　be　found；　and；　cautioning　Barbara　and　the　widow　to　remain　where　they　were；　he　went　back　into　the　caf　　in　search　of　Colonel　McIntyre；　who　had　stayed　behind　to　pay　his　bill。

A　sudden　exodus　from　the　caf　　as　other　diners　came　out　to　get　their　cars；　separated　Barbara　from　Mrs。　Brewster　just　as　the　former　caught　sight　of　her　father's　limousine　coming　around　McPherson　Square。　　Not　waiting　to　see　what　had　become　of　her　companion；　Barbara　started　up　the　sidewalk　intent　on　catching　their　chauffeur's　attention。　　As　she　　stood　by　the　curb；　a　figure　brushed　by　her　and　a　paper　was　deftly　slipped　inside　her　hand。

Barbara　wheeled　about　abruptly。　　She　stood　alone；　except　for　several　elaborately　dressed　women　and　their　companions　some　yards　away　who　were　indulging　in　noisy　talk　as　they　hurried　along。　　At　that　moment　the　McIntyre　limousine　stopped　at　the　curb　and　the　chauffeur　opened　the　door。

〃Take　me　home；　Harris；〃　she　ordered。　　〃And　then　come　back　for　Mrs。　Brewster　and　father。　　I　don't　feel　well　…　hurry。〃

〃Very　good；　miss；〃　and　touching　his　cap　the　chauffeur　swung　his　car　up　Fifteenth　Street。

The　limousine　had　turned　into　Massachusetts　Avenue　before　Barbara　switched　on　the　electric　lamp　in　the　car　and　opened　the　note　so　mysteriously　given　to　her。　　She　read　feverishly　the　few　lines　it　contained

　　Dear　Helen：　　　The　coroner　will　call　an　inquest。　Secrete　letter　〃B。〃

The　note　was　unsigned　but　it　was　in　the　handwriting　of　Philip　Rochester。


CHAPTER　VII

THE　RED　SEAL

The　gloomy　morning；　with　leaden　skies　and　intermittent　rain；　reflected　Harry　Kent's　state　of　mind。　　He　could　not　fix　his　attention　on　the　business　letters　which　Sylvester　placed　before　him；　instead；　his　thoughts　reverted　to　the　scene　in　Rochester's　and　Turnbull's　apartment　the　night　before；　the　elusive　visitor　he　had　found　there　on　his　arrival；　his　interview　with　Detective　Ferguson；　and　above　all　the　handkerchief；　saturated　with　amyl　nitrite；　and　bearing　the　small　embroidered　letter　〃B〃　…　the　initial；　insignificant　in　size；　but　fraught　with　dire　possibilities　if；　as　Ferguson　hinted；　Turnbull　had　been　put　to　death　by　an　over…dose　of　the　drug。　　〃B　〃　…　Barbara；　Barbara　…　〃B〃　…　his　mind　rang　the　changes；　pshaw！　other　names　than　Barbara　began　with　〃B。〃

〃Shall　I　transcribe　your　notes；　Mr。　Kent？〃　asked　Sylvester；　and　Kent　awakened　from　his　reverie；　discovered　that　he　had　scrawled　the　name　Barbara　and　capital　〃Bs〃　on　the　writing　pad。　　He　tore　off　the　sheet　and　crumpled　it　into　a　small　ball。　　〃No；　my　notes　are　unimportant　〃　Kent　unlocked　his　desk　and　took　some　manuscript　from　one　of　the　drawers。　　〃Make　four　copies　of　this　brief；　then　call　up　the　printer　and　ask　how　soon　he　will　complete　the　work　on　hand。　　Has　Mr。　Clymer　telephoned？

〃Not　this　morning。〃　　Sylvester　rose；　papers　in　hand。　　〃There　has　been　a　Mr。　Parker　of　the　Post　who　telephones　regularly　once　an　hour　to　ask　for　Mr。　Rochester's　address　and　when　he　is　expected　at　the　office。〃　He　paused　and　looked　inquiringly　at　Kent。　　〃What　shall　I　say　the　next　time　he　calls？〃

〃Switch　him　on　my　phone；〃　briefly。　　〃That　is　all　now；　Sylvester。　I　must　be　in　court　by　noon；　so　have　the　brief　copied　by　eleven。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　and　Sylvester　departed；　only　to　return　a　second　later。　〃Miss　McIntyre　to　see　you；〃　he　announced；　and　stood　aside　to　allow　the　girl　to　enter。

It　was　the　first　time　Kent　had　seen　Helen　since　the　tragedy　of　Tuesday；　and　as　he　advanced　to　greet　her　he　noted　with　concern　her　air　of　distress　and　the　troubled　look　in　her　eyes。　　Her　composed　manner　was　obviously　only　maintained　by　the　exertion　of　self…control；　for　the　hand　she　offered　him　was　unsteady。

〃You　are　so　kind；〃　she　murmured　as　he　placed　a　chair　for　her。　　〃Babs　told　me　you　have　promised　your　aid；　and　so　I　have　come　…〃　she　pressed　one　hand　to　her　side　as　if　she　found　breathing　difficult　and　Kent；　reaching　for　his　pitcher　of　ice　water　which　stood　near　at　hand；　filled　a　tumbler　and　gave　it　to　her。

〃Take　a　little；〃　he　coaxed　as　she　moved　as　if　to　refuse　the　glass。　〃Why　didn't　you　telephone　and　I　would　have　called　on　you；　in　fact；　I　planned　to　run　in　and　see　you　this　afternoon。

〃It　is　wiser　to　have　our　talk　here；〃　she　replied。　　Setting　down　the　empty　glass　she　gazed　about　the　office　and　her　face　brightened　at　sight　of　a　safe　standing　in　one　corner。　　〃Is　that　yours　or　Philip's？〃　she　asked；　pointing　to　it。

〃The　safe？　　Oh；　it's　for　our　joint　use；　owned　by　the　firm；　you　know；〃　explained　Kent；　somewhat　puzzled　by　her　eagerness。

〃Do　you　keep　your　private　papers　there；　as　well　as　the　firm's？〃　'

〃Oh；　yes；　Philip　has　retained　one　section　and　I　the　other。〃　　Kent　walked　over　and　threw　open　the　massive　door　which　he　had　unlocked　on　entering　the　office　and　left　ajar。　　〃Would　you　like　to　see　the　arrangements　of　the　compartments？〃

Without　answering　Helen　crossed　the　room　and　stood　by　his　side。

〃Which　is　Philip's　section？〃　she　asked。

〃This；〃　and　Kent　touched　the　side　of　the　safe。

Helen　turned　around　and　inspected　the　office；　the　outer　door　through　which　she　had　entered　was　closed；　as　were　also　the　private　door　leading　directly　into　the　outside　corridor；　and　the　one　opening　into　the　closet。　　Convinced　that　they　were　really　alone；　she　took　from　her　leather　hand…bag　a　white　envelope　and　handed　it　to　Kent。

〃Please　put　this　in　Philip's　compartment；〃　she　said；　and　as　he　hesitated；　she　added　pleadingly；　〃Please　do　it；　Harry；　and　ask　no　questions。〃

Kent　looked　at　her　wonderingly；　the　girl　was　obviously　laboring　under　intense　excitement　of　some　sort；　which　might　at　any　moment　break　into　hysteria。　　Bottling　up　his　curiosity；　he　stooped　down　in　front　of　the　safe。

〃Certainly　I　will　put　the　envelope　away　for　you；〃　he　agreed　cheerily。　〃Wait；　though；　I　must　find　if　Philip　left　the　key　of　the　compartment　on　his　bunch。〃　　He　took　from　his　pocket　the　keys　he　had　found　so　useful　the　night　before；　and　selected　one　that　resembled　the　key　to　his　own　compartment；　and　inserted　it　in　the　lock。　　To　his　surprise　he　discovered　the　compartment　was　already　unlocked。　　Without　comment　he　pulled　open　the　inside　drawer　and　started　to　lay　the　white　envelope　on　top　of　the　papers　already　there；　when　he　hesitated。

〃The　envelope　is　unaddressed；　Helen；〃　he　remarked；　extending　it　toward　her。　She　waved　it　back。

〃It　is　sealed　with　red　wax；〃　she　stated。　　〃That　is　all　that　is　necessary　for　identification。〃

Kent　turned　over　the　envelope　…　the　flap　was　held　down　securely　with　a　large　red　seal　which　bore　the　one　letter　〃B。〃　　He　dropped　the　envelope　inside　the　drawer；　locked　the　compartment；　and　closed　the　door　of　the　safe。

〃Let　us　talk；〃　he　suggested　and　led　the　way　back　to　their　chairs。　〃Helen；〃　he　began；　after　she　was　seated。　　〃There　is　nothing　I　will　not　do　for　your　sister　Barbara；〃　his　manner　grew　earnest。　　〃I　…〃　he　flushed；　baring　his　feelings　to　another；　no　matter　how　sympathetic　that　other　was；　was　foreign　to　his　reserved　nature。　　〃I　love　her　beyond　words　to　express。　　I　tell　you　this　to　…　to　…　gain　your　trust。〃

〃You　already　have　it；　Harry！〃　　Impulsively　Helen　extended　her　hand；　and　he　held　it　in　a　firm　clasp　for　a　second。　　〃Babs　and　I　have　come　at　once　to　you　in　our　trouble。〃

〃Yes；　but　you　have　only　hinted　what　that　trouble；　was；〃　he　reminded　her　gently。　　〃I　cannot　really　aid　you　until　you　give　me　your　full　confidence。〃

Helen　looked　away　from　him　and　out　of　the　window。　　The　relief；　which　had　lighted　her　face　a　moment　before；　had　vanished。　　It　was　some　minutes　before　she　answered。

〃Babs　told　you　that　I　suspected　Jimmie　did　not　die　from　angina　pectoris　…〃　　She　spoke　with　an　effort。

〃Yes。〃

She　waited　a　second　before　continuing　her　remarks。　　〃I　have　asked　the　coroner　to　make　an　investigation。〃　　She　paused　again；　then　added　with　more　animation；　〃He　is　the　one　to　tell　us　if　a　crime　has　been　committed。〃

〃He　can　tell　if　death　has　been　accelerated　by　a　weapon；　or　a　drug；〃　responded　Kent；　he　was　weighing　his　words　carefully　so　that　she　might　understand　him　fully。　　〃But　to　constitute　a　crime；　it　has　to　be　proved　first；　that　the　act　has　been　committed；　and　second；　that　a　guilty　mind　or　malice　prompted　it。　　Can　you　furnish　a　clew　to　establish　either　of　the　last　mentioned　facts　in　connection　with　Jimmie's　death？〃

Kent　wondered　if　she　had　heard　him；　she　was　so　long　in　replying；　and　he　was　about　to　repeat　his　question　when　she　addressed　him。

〃Have　you　heard　from　Coroner　Penfield？〃

〃No。　　I　tried　several　times　to　get　him　on　the　telephone；　but　without　success；〃　replied　Kent；　his　disappointment　at　not　receiving　an　answer　to　his　question　showed　in　his　manner。　　〃I　went　to　Penfield's　house　last　night；　but　he　had　been　called　away　on　a　case　and；　although　I　waited　until　nearly　ten　o'clock；　he　had　not　returned　when　I　left。　　Have　you　had　word　from　him？〃

〃Not　…　not　directly。〃　　She　had　been　nervously　twisting　her　handkerchief　about　in　her　fingers；　suddenly　she　turned　and　looked　full　at　Kent；　her　eyes　burning　feverishly。　　〃I　would　give　all　I　possess；　my　hope　of　future　happiness　even；　if　I　could　prove　that　Jimmie　died　from　angina　pectoris。〃

Kent　looked　at　her　in　mingled　sympathy　and　doubt。　…　What　did　her　words　imply　…　further　tragedy？

〃Jimmie　might　not　have　died　from　angina　pectoris；〃　he　said；　〃and　still　not　have　been　poisoned　…〃

〃You　mean　…〃

〃Suicide。〃

Slowly　Helen　took　in　his　meaning；　but　she　volunteered　no　remark；　and　Kent　after　a　pause；　added；　〃While　I　have　not　seen　Coroner　Penfield　I　did　hear　last　night　what　killed　Jimmie。〃　　Helen　straightened　up；　one　hand　pressed　to　her　heart。　　〃It　was　a　lethal　dose　of　amyl　nitrite。〃

〃Amyl　nitrite；〃　she　repeated。　　〃Yes；　I　have　heard　that　it　is　given　for　heart　trouble。　　How〃　…　she　looked　at　him　queerly。　　〃How　is　it　ad