the red seal-第24章

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〃Oh；　good　morning；　Sylvester；〃　McIntyre's　manner　was　brusque。　　〃When　do　you　expect　Mr。　Kent？〃

〃In　about　twenty　minutes；　Colonel。〃　　Sylvester　glanced　at　the　wall　clock。　　〃Won't　you　sit　down？〃

McIntyre　took　the　chair　and　planted　it　by　the　window。　　Never　a　very　patient　man；　he　waited　for　Kent　with　increasing　irritation；　and　at　the　end　of　half　an　hour　his　temper　was　uppermost。　　〃Give　me　something　to　write　with；〃　he　demanded　of　Sylvester。　　Accepting　the　clerk's　fountain　pen　without　thanks；　he　walked　over　to　the　center　table　and；　drawing　out　his　leather　wallet；　took　from　it　a　visiting　card　and；　stooping　over；　wrote

　　　　　　　　You　have　but　thirty…six　hours　remaining。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　McIntyre。

〃See　that　Mr。　Kent　gets　this　card；〃　he　directed。　　〃No；　don't　put　it　there；〃　irascibly；　as　the　clerk　laid　the　card　on　top　of　a　pile　of　letters。　　〃Take　it　into　Mr。　Kent's　office　and　put　it　on　his　desk。〃

There　was　that　about　Colonel　McIntyre　which　inspired　complete　obedience　to　his　wishes；　and　Sylvester　followed　his　directions　without　further　question。

As　the　clerk　stepped　into　Kent's　office　McIntyre　saw　a　woman　sitting　by　the　empty　desk。　　She　turned　her　head　on　hearing　footsteps　and　their　glances　met。　　A　faint　exclamation　broke　from　her。

〃Margaret！〃　McIntyre　strode　past　Sylvester。　　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃

Mrs。　Brewster's　ready　laugh　hid　all　sign　of　embarrassment。　　〃Must　you　know？〃　she　asked　archly。　　〃That　is　hardly　fair　to　Barbara。〃

〃So　Barbara　sent　you　here　with　a　message！〃　　Mrs。　Brewster　treated　his　remark　as　a　statement　and　not　a　question；　and　briskly　changed　the　subject。

〃I　can't　wait　any　longer；〃　she　pouted。　　〃Please　tell　Mr。　Kent　that　I　am　sorry　not　to　have　seen　him。〃

〃I　will；　madam。〃　Sylvester　placed　McIntyre's　card　in　the　center　of　Kent's　desk　and　flew　to　open　the　door　for　Mrs。　Brewster。

As　the　widow　stepped　into　the　corridor　she　brushed　by　an　over…dressed　woman；　whose　cheap　finery　gave　clear　indication　of　her　tastes。　　Hardly　noticing　another's　presence　she　turned　and　took　McIntyre's　arm　and　they　strolled　off　together；　her　soft　laugh　floating　back　to　where　Mrs。　Sylvester　stood　talking　to　her　husband。


CHAPTER　XIII

THE　FACE　AT　THE　WINDOW

Harry　Kent　rang　the　doorbell　at　the　McIntyre　residence　for　the　fifth　time；　and　wondered　what　had　become　of　the　faithful　Grimes；　the　butler　was　usually　the　soul　of　promptness；　and　to　keep　a　caller　waiting　on　the　doorstep　would；　in　his　category；　rank　as　the　height　of　impropriety。　　As　Kent　again　raised　his　hand　toward　the　bell；　the　door　swung　open　suddenly　and　Barbara　beckoned　to　him　to　come　inside。

〃The　bell　is　out　of　order；〃　she　explained。　　〃I　saw　you　from　the　window。　　Hurry；　and　Grimes　won't　know　that　you　are　here；〃　and　she　darted　ahead　of　him　into　the　reception　room。　　Kent　followed　more　slowly；　he　was　hurt　that　she　had　had　no　other　greeting　for　him。

〃Babs；　aren't　you　glad　to　see　me？〃　he　asked　wistfully。

For　an　instant　her　eyes　were　lighted　by　her　old　sunny　smile。

〃You　know　I　am；〃　she　whispered　softly。　　As　his　arms　closed　around　her　and　their　lips　met　in　a　tender　kiss　she　added　fervently；　〃Oh；　Harry；　why　didn't　you　make　me　marry　you　in　the　happy　bygone　days？〃

〃I　asked　you　often　enough；〃　he　declared。

〃Will　you　go　with　me　to　Rockville　at　once？〃　　Her　face　changed　and　she　drew　back　from　him。　　〃No；〃　she　said。　　〃It　is　selfish　of　me　to　think　of　my　own　happiness　now。〃

〃How　about　mine？〃　demanded　Kent　with　warmth。　　〃If　you　won't　consider　yourself；　consider　me。〃

〃I　do。〃　　She　looked　out　of　the　window　to　conceal　sudden　blinding　tears。　　There　was　a　hint　of　hidden　tragedy　in　her　lovely　face　which　went　to　Kent's　heart。

〃Sweetheart；〃　his　voice　was　very　tender；　〃is　there　nothing　I　can　do　for　you？〃

〃Nothing；〃　she　shook　her　head　drearily。　　〃This　family　must　'dree　its　weir。'

Kent　studied　her　in　silence；　that　she　was　in　deadly　earnest　he　recognized；　she　was　no　hysterical　fool　or　given　to　sentimental　twaddle。

〃You　came　to　me　on　Wednesday　to　ask　my　aid　in　solving　Jimmie　Turnbull's　death；〃　he　said。　　〃I　have　learned　certain　facts　…〃

Barbara　sprang　to　her　feet。　　〃Wait；〃　she　cautioned。　　〃Let　me　close　the　door。　　Now；　go　on　…〃　with　her　customary　impetuosity　she　reseated　herself。

〃Before　I　do　so；　I　must　tell　you；　Babs；　that　I　recognized　the　fraud　you　and　Helen　perpetrated　at　the　coroner's　inquest　yesterday　afternoon。〃

〃Fraud？〃

〃Yes；〃　quietly。　　〃I　am　aware　that　you　impersonated　Helen　on　the　witness　stand　and　vice　versa。　　You　took　a　frightful　risk。〃

〃I　don't　see　why；〃　she　protested。　　〃In　my　testimony　I　told　nothing　but　the　truth。〃

〃I　never　doubted　you　told　the　truth　regarding　the　events　of　Monday　night　as　you　saw　them；　but　the　coroner's　questions　were　put　to　you　under　the　impression　that　you　were　Helen。〃　　Kent　scrutinized　her　keenly。　　〃Would　Helen　have　been　able　to　give　the　same　answers　that　you　did　without　perjuring　herself？〃

Barbara　started　and　her　face　paled。　　〃Are　you　insinuating　that　Helen　killed　Jimmie？〃　she　cried。

〃No；〃　his　emphatic　denial　was　prompt。　　〃But　I　do　believe　that　she　knows　more　of　what　transpired　Monday　night　than　she　is　willing　to　admit。　　Is　that　not　so；　Barbara？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　acknowledged　reluctantly。

〃Does　she　know　who　poisoned　Jimmie？〃

〃No　…　no！〃　　Barbara　rested　a　firm　hand　on　his　shoulder。　　〃I　swear　Helen　does　not　know。　　You　must　believe　me；　Harry。〃

〃She　may　not　know；〃　Kent　spoke　slowly。　　〃But　are　you　sure　she　does　not　suspect　some　one？〃

〃Well；　what　if　I　do？〃　asked　Helen　quietly；　and　Kent；　looking　around；　found　her　standing　just　inside　the　door。　　Her　entrance　had　been　noiseless。

〃You　should　tell　the　authorities；　Helen。〃　　Kent　rose　as　she　passed　him　and　selected　a　seat　which　brought　her　face　somewhat　in　shadow。　〃If　you　do　not　you　may　retard　justice。〃

〃But　if　I　speak　I　may　involve　the　innocent；〃　she　retorted。　　〃I　…〃　her　eyes　shifted　from　him　to　Barbara　and　back　again。　　〃I　cannot　undertake　that　responsibility。〃

〃Better　that　than　let　the　guilty　escape　through　your　silence；〃　protested　Kent。　　〃Possibly　the　theories　of　the　police　may　coincide　with　yours。

〃What　are　they？〃　asked　Barbara　impetuously。

Kent　considered　before　replying。　　If　Detective　Ferguson　had　gone　so　far　as　to　secure　a　search　warrant　to　go　through　Rochester's　apartment　and　office　it　would　not　be　long　before　the　fact　of　his　being　a　〃suspect〃　would　be　common　property；　there　could；　therefore；　be　no　harm　in　his　repeating　Ferguson's　conversation　to　the　twins。　In　fact；　as　their　legal　representative；　they　were　entitled　to　know　the　latest　developments　from　him。

〃Detective　Ferguson　believes　that　the　poison　was　administered　by　Philip　Rochester；〃　he　said　finally；　and　watched　to　see　how　the　announcement　would　affect　them。　　Barbara's　eyes　opened　to　their　widest　extent；　and　back　in　her　corner；　into　which　she　had　gradually　edged　her　chair；　Helen　emitted　a　long；　long　breath　as　her　taut　muscles　relaxed。

〃What　makes　Ferguson　think　Philip　guilty？〃　demanded　Barbara。

〃It　is　known　that　he　and　Jimmie　were　not　on　good　terms；〃　replied　Kent。　　〃Then　Rochester's　disappearance　after　Jimmie's　death　lends　color　to　the　theory。〃

〃Has　Philip　really　disappeared？〃　asked　Helen。　　〃You　showed　me　a　telegram　…〃

〃Apparently　the　telegram　was　a　fake；〃　admitted　Kent。　　〃The　Cleveland　police　report　that　he　is　not　at　the　address　given　in　the　telegram。〃

〃But　who　could　have　an　object　in　sending　such　a　telegram？〃　asked　Barbara　slowly。

〃Rochester；　in　the　hope　of　throwing　the　police　off　his　track；　if　he　really　killed　Jimmie。〃　　Kent　looked　straight　at　Helen。　　〃It　was　while　searching　our　office　safe　for　trace　of　Rochester's　present　address　that　Ferguson　obtained　possession　of　your　sealed　envelope。〃

Helen　plucked　nervously　at　the　ribbon　on　her　gown。　　〃Did　the　detective　open　the　envelope〃　she　asked。

〃No。〃

〃Are　you　sure？〃

〃Positive；　the　red　seal　was　unbroken。〃

〃Tell　us　how　the　envelope　came　to　be　stolen　from　you；〃　coaxed　Barbara。

〃We　were　in　the　little　smoking　porch　off　the　dining　room　at　the　Club　de　Vingt。〃　　Barbara　smiled　her　remembrance　of　it；　and　motioned　Kent　to　continue。　　〃Ferguson　had　just　put　down　the　envelope　on　the　table　and　I　started　to　pick　it　up　when　cheering　in　the　dining　room　distracted　my　attention　and　I；　wi