the red seal-第27章

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　own　loss　…　his　savings　swept　away。　　Would　Barbara　wait　for　him　…　was　it　fair　to　ask　her？

Taylor　broke　the　prolonged　silence。

〃I　met　Detective　Ferguson　on　my　way　here；〃　he　stated。　　〃He　told　me　that　the　police　were　looking　for　Rochester。〃

〃What？〃　Harding　looked　up；　startled。　　〃Why　didn't　you　inform　me　of　that？〃

〃Well；　I　thought　we'd　better　hear　from　Mr。　Clymer　the　true　state　of　Rochester's　finances；〃　responded　Taylor。　　〃I　never　anticipated　such　facts　as　he　has　given　us。〃

〃But　if　you　knew　the　police　were　after　Rochester　…〃　objected　Harding。

Clymer　broke　into　the　conversation；　there　was　a　heavy　frown　on　his　usually　placid　countenance。　　〃I　judged　from　Detective　Ferguson's　confidences　to　us；　Kent；　at　the　Club　de　Vingt　that　he　was　wanted　by　the　police　in　connection　with　the　Turnbull　tragedy；　but　the　facts　brought　out　through　Harding's　action　to　attach　Rochester's　bank　account；　puts　a　different　construction　on　Rochester's　disappearance。〃

〃What　had　Rochester　to　do　with　Jimmie　Turnbull？〃　questioned　Harding；　before　Kent　could　answer　Clymer。

〃They　lived　together；〃　he　replied　shortly。

〃And　one　dies　and　the　other　disappears；〃　　Harding　whistled　dolefully。　〃Wasn't　Mr。　Turnbull　an　official　of　this　bank；　Mr。　Clymer？〃

〃Yes；　our　cashier。〃

〃Were　his　affairs　involved？〃

〃Not　in　the　least；〃　Clymer　spoke　with　emphasis。　　〃A　most　honorable　fellow；　Jimmie　Turnbull；　his　murder　was　a　shocking　affair。〃

〃Have　the　police　found　any　motive　for　the　crime；　Kent？〃　asked　Taylor。

〃I　believe　not。〃

Harding；　who　had　been　ruminating　in　silence；　leaned　forward；　his　expression　alight　with　a　sudden　idea。

〃Could　it　be　that　Turnbull　found　out　that　Rochester　was　passing　forged　checks；　and　Rochester　insured　his　silence　by　Poisoning　him？〃　he　asked。

Clymer　and　Kent　exchanged　glances；　as　Kent's　thoughts　reverted　to　the　forged　letter　presented　by　Turnbull　to　the　bank's　treasurer；　whereby　he　had　been　given　McIntyre's　valuable　negotiable　securities。　Could　it　be　that　Rochester　had　written　the　letter；　given　it　to　his　room…mate；　Turnbull；　and　the　latter；　thinking　it　genuine；　had　secured　the　McIntyre　securities　and　handed　them　over　to　Rochester？　　The　idea　took　Kent's　breath　away；　and　yet；　the　more　he　contemplated　it；　the　more　feasible　it　appeared。

〃What's　the　date　on　those　checks？〃　demanded　Kent。

〃Tuesday　of　this　week　…　the　day　Jimmie　Turnbull　died。〃　　Clymer　turned　them　over。　　〃They　are　drawn　payable　to　cash；　and　bear　no　endorsement；　which　shows　Rochester　must　have　presented　them　himself。〃

Harding　and　Taylor　glanced　significantly　at　each　other；　but　neither　spoke。　　Suddenly　Kent　pushed　back　his　chair　and　rose　without　ceremony。

〃Don't　go；　Kent。〃　　Clymer　took　up　some　papers。　　〃There's　a　matter　…〃

〃It　will　keep。〃　　Kent's　mouth　was　set　and　determined。　　〃I　give　you　my　word　of　honor　that　all　Rochester's　honest　debts　will　be　paid　by　the　firm　if　necessary；　I　will　obligate　myself　to　that　extent；〃　he　paused。　　〃As　for　you　fellows；〃　turning　to　Harding　and　Taylor　who　had　also　risen。　　〃Give　me　twenty…four　hours　…〃

〃What　for？〃　they　chorused。

〃To　1ocate　Philip　Rochester；〃　and　waiting　for　no　answer　Kent　bolted　out　of　the　office。


CHAPTER　XV

WHEN　THE　LIGHT　FAILED

The　city　lights　were　springing　up　block　T　after　block　along　Pennsylvania　Avenue　as　Detective　Ferguson　left　that　busy　thoroughfare　and　hurried　to　the　Saratoga。　　He　stepped　inside　the　lobby　of　the　apartment　house　a　full　minute　before　his　appointment　with　its　manager；　and　went　at　once　to　look　him　up。　　Before　he　could　carry　out　his　purpose　he　was　joined　by　Harry　Kent。

〃Finley　had　to　go　out；〃　the　latter　explained。

〃I　told　him　I　would　go　up　to　Rochester's　apartment　with　you。〃

Ferguson　thoughtfully　caressed　his　clean…shaven　jaw　for　a　second；　then　came　to　a　rapid　decision。

〃Lead　the　way；　sir；〃　he　said。　　〃I'll　follow。〃　　Kent　found　him　a　silent　companion　while　in　the　elevator　and　when　walking　down　the　corridor　to　Rochester's　apartment；　but　once　inside　the　living　room；　with　the　outer　door　tightly　closed；　Ferguson　tossed　down　his　hat　and　his　whole　demeanor　changed。

〃Sit　down；　Mr。　Kent。〃　　He　selected　a　chair　near　Rochester's　desk　for　himself；　as　Kent　found　another。　　〃Let's　thrash　this　thing　out；　are　you　working　with　me　or　against　me？〃

〃Why　do　you　ask？〃　　Kent's　surprise　at　the　question　was　evident。

〃Because　every　time　I　arrange　to　examine　this　apartment　or　inquire　into　Rochester's　whereabouts　you　show　up。〃　　Ferguson's　small　eyes　were　trying　to　out…stare　Kent；　but　the　latter's　clear　gaze　did　not　drop　before　his。　　〃Are　you　aiding　Philip　Rochester　in　his　efforts　to　elude　arrest？〃

〃I　am　not；〃　declared　Kent　emphatically。　　〃What　prompts　the　question？〃

〃The　fact　that　you　are　Rochester's　partner；〃　Ferguson　pointed　out；　his　manner　was　still　stiff。　　〃It　would　be　only　natural　for　you　to　help　him　disappear　out　of　friendship；　or〃　…　with　a　sidelong　glance　　…　〃from　a　desire　to　hush　up　a　scandal。〃

〃On　the　contrary　I　want　Rochester　found　and　every　bit　of　evidence　against　him　sifted　out　and　aired；〃　retorted　Kent。　　〃Two　heads　are　better　than　one；　Ferguson；　let　us　work　together。　　Rochester　must　be　located　within　the　next　twenty…four　hours。〃

Ferguson　debated　a　moment；　but　Kent's　speech　as　well　as　his　manner　indicated　his　sincerity；　and　the　detective　shook　off　his　suspicions。　〃Have　you　had　any　further　news　of　your　partner？〃　he　asked。

〃No；　that　is〃　…　recalling　the　scene　in　the　bank　early　that　afternoon　　…〃　nothing　that　relates　to　Rochester's　present　whereabouts。　　Now；　Ferguson；　to　put　your　charges　against　Rochester　in　concrete　form；　you　believe　that　he　was　insanely　jealous　of　Jimmie　Turnbull；　that　he　recognized　him　in　the　Police　Court　in　his　burglar　disguise；　slipped　a　dose　of　aconitine　in　a　glass　of　water　which　Turnbull　drank；　and　after　declaring　that　his　friend　had　died　from　angina　pectoris；　disappeared。　　Is　that　all　the　case　you　have　against　him？〃

〃At　present；　yes；〃　admitted　the　detective　cautiously。

〃All　circumstantial　evidence　…〃

〃But　it　will　hold　in　court　…〃

〃Ah；　will　it？〃　questioned　Kent。　　〃There's　one　big　flaw　in　your　case；　Ferguson；　the　poison　used　to　kill　Turnbull。〃

〃Aconitine？〃

〃Exactly。　　Your　theory　is　that　Rochester　slipped　the　poison　in　the　glass　of　water　on　recognizing　Turnbull　in　the　police　court；　now；　it　is　stretching　probability　to　suppose　that　Rochester；　a　strong　healthy　man；　was　carrying　that　drug　around　in　his　vest　pocket。〃

Ferguson　sat　forward　in　his　chair；　his　eyes　glittering。　　〃Do　you　mean　to　say　that　you　think　the　murder　of　Turnbull　was　premeditated　and　not　committed　on　the　spur　of　the　moment？〃　he　asked。

〃The　fact　that　aconitine　was　used　convinces　me　of　that；〃　answered　Kent。

Ferguson　thought　a　moment。　　〃If　that　is　the　case；〃　he　said；　grudgingly；　〃it　sort　of　squashes　the　charge　against　Philip　Rochester。〃

〃It　would　seem　to；〃　agreed　Kent。　　〃But　every　shred　of　evidence　I　find　points　to　Rochester　as　the　guilty　man。〃

Ferguson　edged　his　chair　forward。　　〃What　have　you　discovered？〃　he　demanded　eagerly。

〃This；〃　Kent　spoke　with　increased　earnestness。　　〃That　Philip　Rochester　is　apparently　a　bankrupt；　that　he　has　over…drawn　his　private　account　at　the　Metropolis　Trust　Company；　and　withdrawn　our　partnership　funds　from　the　same　bank。〃

〃Your　partnership　funds！〃　echoed　the　detective；　eyeing　Kent　sharply。　〃How　did　you　come　to　let　him　do　that？〃

〃I　was　not　aware　that　he　had　done　so　until　Mr。　Clymer　told　me　of　the　transaction　this　afternoon；〃　answered　Kent。

〃You　did　not　know〃　…　Ferguson　looked　at　him　in　dawning　comprehension。　〃You　mean　Rochester　absconded　with　the　funds？〃

〃Some　one　forged　my　name　to　checks　drawn　on　the　firm's　account；〃　Kent　continued。　　〃I　understood　they　were　made　payable　to　cash　and　presented　by　Rochester　on　the　day　of　Turnbull's　death。〃

Ferguson　whistled　as　a　slight　vent　to　his　feelings。　　〃So　you　suspect　Rochester　of　being　a　forger？〃　　Kent　made　no　reply；　and　he　added；　after　a　moment's　deliberation；　〃What　bearing　has　this　discovery　on　Turnbull's　death；　aside　from　Rochester's　need　of　funds　to　make　a　clean　disappearance？〃

〃If　it　is　true　that　Rochester　was　financially　embarrassed　and　forged　checks　on　the　Metropolis　Trust　Company；　it　establishes　another　motive　for　the　killing　of　Turnbull；〃　argued　Kent。