the red seal-第11章

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　taking　up　a　blotter；　carefully　laid　it　across　the　page　she　had　been　writing。

〃Thank　heaven；　I　don't　have　to　go　to　that　supper　party；〃　Barbara　announced；　throwing　herself　full　length　on　the　lounge。

〃So　father　gave　it　up；〃　commented　Helen。　　〃I　am　glad。〃

〃Gave　up　nothing；〃　retorted　her　sister。　〃He　　and　Margaret　Brewster　are　going。〃

〃What！〃　　Helen　was　on　her　feet。　〃You　let　them　go　out　alone　together？〃

〃They　can't　be　alone　if　they　are　together；〃　answered　Barbara　practically。　〃Don't　be　silly；　Helen。〃

Helen　did　not　answer　at　once；　she　had　grown　singularly　pale。　Walking　over　to　the　window　she　glanced　into　the　street。　〃The　car　hasn't　come；〃　she　exclaimed；　and　consulted　her　wrist　watch。　　〃Hurry；　Babs；　you　have　just；　time　to　dress　and　go　with　them。〃

〃B…b…but　I　said　I　wouldn't　go；〃　stuttered　Barbara；　completely　taken　by　surprise。

〃No　matter；　tell　father　you　have　changed　your　mind。〃　Helen　held　out　her　hand。　〃Come；　to　please　me；〃　and　there　was　a　world　of　wistful　appeal　in　her　hazel　eyes　which　Barbara　was　unable　to　resist。

It　was　not　until　Barbara　had　completed　her　hasty　toilet　and　a　frantic　dash　downstairs　in　time　to　spring　into　the　waiting　limousine　after　Margaret　Brewster；　that　she　realized　she　had　put　on　one　of　Helen's　evening　gowns　and　not　her　own。

Benjamin　Clymer　was　standing　in　the　vestibule　of　the　Saratoga；　where　he　made　his　home；　when　the　McIntyre　limousine　drew　up；　and　he　did　not　keep　them　waiting；　as　Colonel　McIntyre　had　predicted　he　would　on　the　drive　to　Clymer's　apartment　house。

〃The　clerk　gave　me　your　message　when　I　came　in；　McIntyre；〃　he　explained　as　the　car　drove　off。　　I　called　up　your　residence　and　Grimes　said　you　were　on　the　way　here。〃

Barbara；　tucked　away　in　her　corner　of　the　limousine；　listened　to　Mrs。　Brewster's　animated　chatter　with　utter　lack　of　interest；　she　wished　most　heartily　that　she　had　not　been　over…persuaded　by　her　sister；　and　had　remained　at　home。　　That　her　father　had　accepted　her　lame　explanation　and　her　presence　in　the　party　with　unaffected　pleasure　had　been　plain。　　Mrs。　Brewster；　after　a　quiet　inquiry　regarding　her　health；　had　been　less　enthusiastic　in　her　welcome。　Barbara　was　just　stifling　a　yawn　when　the　limousine　stopped　at　the　entrance　to　the　Caf　　St。　Marks。

Inside　the　caf　　all　was　light　and　gaiety；　and　Barbara　brightened　perceptibly　as　the　attentive　head　waiter　ushered　them　to　the　table　Colonel　McIntyre　had　reserved　earlier　in　the　evening。

〃It's　a　novel　idea　turning　the　old　church　into　a　caf　；〃　Barbara　remarked　to　Benjamin　Clymer。　　〃A　sort　of　casting　bread　upon　the　waters　of　famished　Washington。　I　wonder　if　they　ever　turn　water　into　wine？〃

〃No　such　luck；〃　groaned　Clymer　dismally；　looking　with　distaste　at　the　sparkling　grape　juice　being　poured　into　the　erstwhile　champagne　goblet　by　his　plate。　〃The　caf　　is　crowded　to…night；〃　and　he　gazed　with　interest　about　the　room。　　Colonel　McIntyre；　who　had　loitered　behind　to　speak　to　several　friends　at　an　adjacent　table；　took　the　unoccupied　seat　by　Mrs。　Brewster　and　was　soon　in　animated　conversation　with　the　widow　and　Clymer；　Barbara；　her　healthy　appetite　asserting　itself；　devoted　her　entire　attention　to　the　delicious　delicacies　placed　before　her。　　The　arrival　of　the　after…the…theater　crowd　awoke　her　from　her　abstraction；　and　she　accepted　Clymer's　invitation　to　dance　with　alacrity。　　When　they　returned　to　the　table　she　discovered　that　Margaret　Brewster　and　her　father　had　also　joined　the　dancers。

Barbara　watched　them　while　keeping　up　a　disjointed　conversation　with　Clymer；　whose　absentminded　remarks　finally　drew　Barbara's　attention；　and　she　wondered　what　had　come　over　the　generally　entertaining　banker。　　It　was　on　the　tip　of　her　tongue　to　ask　him　the　reason　for　his　distrait　manner　when　her　thoughts　were　diverted　by　his　next　remark。

〃Your　father　and　Mrs。　Brewster　make　a　fine　couple；〃　he　said。　〃Colonel　McIntyre　is　the　most　distinguished　looking　man　in　the　caf　　and　Mrs。　Brewster　is　a　regular　beauty。〃

Instead　of　replying　Barbara　turned　in　her　seat　and　scanned　her　father　as　he　and　Mrs。　Brewster　passed　them　in　the　dance。　　Colonel　McIntyre　did　not　look　his　age　of　forty…seven　years。　　His　hair；　prematurely　gray；　had　a　most　attractive　wave　to　it；　and　his　erect　and　finely　proportioned　figure　showed　to　advantage　in　his　well…cut　dress　suit。　　Barbara's　heart　swelled　with　pride　…　her　dear　and　handsome　father！　　Then　she　transferred　her　regard　to　Margaret　Brewster；　she　had　been　such　a　satisfactory　friend　…　why　oh；　why　did　she　wish　to　become　her　step…mother？　　The　twins；　with　the　unerring　instinct　of　womanhood；　had　decided　ten　days　before　that　Weller's　warning　to　his　son　was　timely　…　Mrs。　Brewster　was　a　most　dangerous　widow。

〃How　is　your　sister？〃　inquired　Clymer；　breaking　the　silence　which　had　lasted　nearly　five　minutes。　He　was　never　quite　certain　which　twin　he　was　talking　to；　and　generally　solved　the　problem　by　familiarizing　himself　with　their　mode　of　dress。　　The　plan　had　not　always　worked　as　the　twins　had　a　bewildering　habit　of　exchanging　clothes；　to　the　enjoyment　of　Barbara's　mischief　loving　soul；　and　the　mystification　of　their　numerous　admirers。

〃She　is　rather　blue　and　depressed；〃　answered　Barbara。　　〃We　are　both　feeling　the　reaction　from　the　shock　of　Jimmie　Turnbull's　tragic　death。　　You　must　forgive　me　if　I　am　a　bore；　I　am　not　good　company　to…night。〃

The　arrival　of　the　head　waiter　at　their　table　interrupted　Clymer's　reply。

〃This　gentleman　desires　to　speak　to　you　a　moment；　Miss　McIntyre；〃　he　said；　and　indicated　a　young　man　in　a　sack　suit　standing　just　back　of　him。

〃I'm　Parker　of　the　Post；〃　the　reporter　introduced　himself　with　a　bow　which　included　Clymer。　　〃May　I　sit　down？〃　laying　his　hand　on　the　back　of　Mrs。　Brewster's　vacant　chair。

〃Surely；　and　won't　you　have　an　ice？〃　　Barbara's　hospitable　instincts　were　aroused。　〃Here；　waiter　…〃

〃No；　thanks；　I　haven't　time；〃　protested　Parker；　slipping　into　the　chair。　　〃I　just　came　from　your　house；　Miss　McIntyre；　the　butler　said　I　might　find　you　here；　and　as　it　was　rather　important；　I　took　the　liberty　of　introducing　myself。　　We　plan　to　run　a　story；　featuring　the　dangers　of　masquerading　in　society；　and　of　course　it　hinges　on　the　death　of　Mr。　Turnbull。　　I'm　sorry〃　…　he　apologized　as　he　saw　Barbara　wince。　　〃I　realize　the　topic　is　one　to　make　you　feel　badly；　but　I　promise　to　ask　only　few　questions。〃　　His　smile　was　very　engaging　and　Barbara's　resentment　receded　somewhat。

〃What　are　they？〃　she　asked。

〃Did　you　recognize　Mr。　Turnbull　in　his　burglar's　make…up　when　you　confronted　him　in　the　police　court？〃　　Parker　drew　out　copy　paper　and　a　pencil；　and　waited　for　her　reply。　　There　was　a　pause。

〃I　did　not　recognize　Mr。　Turnbull　in　court；〃　she　stated　finally。　〃His　death　was　a　frightful　shock。〃

〃Sure。　It　was　to　everybody；〃　agreed　Parker。　　〃How　about　your　sister；　Miss　Barbara；　did　she　recognize　him？〃

〃No。〃　faintly。

Parker　showed　his　disappointment；　he　was　not　eliciting　much　information。　　Abruptly　he　turned　to　Clymer；　whose　prominent　position　in　the　financial　world　made　him　a　familiar　figure　to　all　Washingtonians。

〃Weren't　you　present　in　the　police　court　on　Tuesday　morning　also？〃　Parker　asked。

〃Yes；〃　Clymer　modified　the　curt　monosyllable　by　adding；　〃I　helped　Dr。　Stone　carry　Turnbull　out　of　the　prisoners'　cage　and　into　the　anteroom。〃

〃And　did　you　recognize　your　cashier？〃　demanded　Parker。　　At　the　question　Barbara　set　down　her　goblet　of　water　without　care　for　its　perishable　quality　and　looked　with　quick　intentness　at　the　banker。

〃I　recognized　Mr。　Turnbull　when　his　wig　was　removed；〃　answered　Clymer；　raising　his　head　in　time　to　catch　Barbara's　eyes　gazing　steadfastly　at　him。　　With　a　faint　flush　she　turned　her　attention　to　the　reporter。

〃Mr。　Turnbull's　make…up　must　have　been　superfine；〃　Parker　remarked。　〃Just　one　more　question。　　Can　you　tell　me　if　Mr。　Philip　Rochester　recognized　his　room…mate　when　he　was　defending　him　in　court？〃

〃No；　I　cannot；〃　and　observing　Parker's　blank　expression；　she　added；　〃why　don't　you　ask　Mr。　Rochester？〃

〃Because　I　can't　locate　him；　he　seems　to　have　vanished　off　the　face　of　the　globe。〃　　The　reporter　rose。　　〃You　can't　tell　me　where's　he's　gone；　I　suppose？〃

〃I　haven't　the　faintest　idea；〃　answered　Barbara　truthfully。　　〃I　was　at　his　office　this　…