the red seal-第3章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ferred　charges？〃

〃The　Misses　McIntyre；〃　answered　the　deputy　marshal；　to　whom　the　question　was　addressed。　　〃Like　to　interview　them？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃No；　no！〃　　Rochester　was　on　his　feet　instantly。　　〃There　is　no　necessity　to　bring　the　twins　out　here　…　it's　too　tragic！〃

〃Tragic？〃　echoed　Ferguson。　　〃Why？〃

〃Why　…　why　…　Turnbull　was　arrested　in　their　house；〃　Rochester　was　commencing　to　stutter。　　〃He　was　their　friend　…〃

〃Caught　burglarizing；　heh？〃　Ferguson's　eyes　glowed；　the　case　already　whetted　his　remarkably　keen　inquisitorial　instinct　which　had　gained　him　place　and　certain　fame　in　the　Washington　police　force。　〃Are　the　Misses　McIntyre　still　in　the　building？〃

〃They　were　in　the　court　room　just　before　we　brought　Turnbull's　body　here；〃　responded　the　deputy　marshal。　　〃I　guess　they　are　still　waiting；　eh；　doctor？〃

Stone；　thus　appealed　to；　nodded。　　〃I　agree　with　Mr。　Rochester；〃　he　said；　and　the　gravity　of　his　manner　impressed　Ferguson。　　〃It　is　better　for　me　to　break　the　news　of　Mr。　Turnbull's　death　to　the　young　ladies　before　bringing　them　here。　　Therefore；　with　your　permission；　Ferguson　…　　He　got　no　further。

Through　the　outer　entrance　of　the　room　came　Helen　McIntyre　and　her　sister　Barbara；　conducted　by　the　same　bowing　patrolman　who　had　ushered　them　into　the　court　room　an　hour　before。

〃My　God！　　Too　late！〃　stammered　Rochester　under　his　breath；　and　he　turned　in　desperation　to　Benjamin　Clymer。　　The　bank　president's　state　of　mind　at　the　extraordinary　masquerade　and　sudden　death　of　his　popular　and　trusted　cashier　bordered　on　shocked　horror；　which　had　made　him　a　passive　witness　of　the　rapidly　shifting　scene。　Rochester　clutched　his　arm　in　his　agitation。　　〃Get　the　twins　out　of　here　…　do　something；　man！　　Don't　you　know　that　Turnbull　was　in　love　with　…〃

His　fervid　whisper　penetrated　further　than　he　realized　and　one　of　the　McIntyre　twins　looked　inquiringly　in　their　direction。　　Clymer；　more　startled　than　his　demeanor　indicated；　wondered　if　she　had　overheard　Rochester's　ejaculations；　but　whatever　action　the　banker　contemplated　in　response　to　the　lawyer's　appeal　was　checked　by　a　scream　from　the　girl　on　his　right。　　With　ashen　face　and　trembling　finger　she　pointed　to　Turnbull's　body　which　suddenly　confronted　her　as　she　walked　forward。

〃Who　is　it？〃　she　gasped。　　〃Babs；　tell　me！〃　　And　she　held　out　her　hand　imploringly。

Her　sister　stepped　to　her　side　and　bent　over　Turnbull。　　When　she　looked　up　her　lips　alone　retained　their　color。

〃Hush！〃　she　implored；　giving　her　sister　a　slight　shake。　　〃Hush！　It　is　Jimmie　Turnbull。　　Can　you　not　see　for　yourself；　dear？〃

It　seemed　doubtful　if　Helen　heard　her；　with　attention　wholly　centered　on　the　dead　man　she　swayed　on　her　feet；　and　Dr。　Stone；　thinking　she　was　about　to　fall；　placed　a　supporting　arm　about　her。

〃Do　you　not　know　Jimmie？〃　asked　her　sister。　　〃Don't　stare　so；　dearest。〃　　Her　tone　was　pleading。

〃Perhaps　the　young　lady　has　some　difficulty　in　recognizing　Mr。　Turnbull　in　his　disguise；〃　suggested　Ferguson；　who　stood　somewhat　in　the　background　but　closely　observing　the　scene。

〃Disguise！〃　　Helen　raised　her　eyes　and　Ferguson；　hardened　as　he　had　become　to　tragic　scenes；　felt　a　throb　of　pity　as　he　caught　the　pent…up　agony　in　her　mute　appeal。

〃Yes；　Miss；〃　he　said　awkwardly。　　〃The　burglar　you　caught　in　your　house　was　Mr。　Turnbull　in　disguise。

Barbara　McIntyre　released　her　grasp　of　her　sister's　arm　and　collapsed　on　a　chair。　　Stone；　still　supporting　Helen；　felt　her　muscles　grow　taut　and　an　instant　later　she　stepped　back　from　his　side　and　stood　by　her　sister。　　As　the　two　girls　faced　the　circle　of　men；　the　likeness　between　them　was　extraordinary。　　Each　had　the　same　slight　graceful　figure；　equal　height；　and　feature　for　feature；　coloring　matching　coloring；　they　were　identical；　their　gowns；　even；　were　cut　on　similar　lines；　only　their　hats　varied　in　shape　and　color。

〃Do　I　understand；　gentlemen；〃　Helen　began；　and　her　voice　gained　steadiness　as　she　proceeded；　〃that　the　burglar　whom　Officer　O'Ryan　and　I　caught　lurking　in　our　house　was　James　Turnbull？〃

〃He　was；〃　answered　Ferguson；　and　Stone；　as　the　twins　looked　dumbly　at　him；　confirmed　the　detective's　statement　with　a　brief；　〃Yes。〃

The　silence　that　ensued　was　broken　by　Barbara　rising　to　her　feet。

〃Jimmie　won　his　wager；〃　she　announced。　　Her　gaze　did　not　waver　before　the　concentrated　regard　of　the　men　facing　her。　　〃He　broke　into　our　house　…　but；　oh；　how　can　I　pay　my　debt　to　him　now　that　he　is　dead！〃

〃Hush！〃　Helen　laid　a　cautioning　hand　on　her　sister's　arm　as　the　latter's　voice　gained　in　shrillness；　the　shrillness　of　approaching　hysteria。

〃I　am　all　right；　Helen。〃　　Barbara　waved　her　away　impatiently。　〃What　caused　Jimmie's　death？〃

〃Angina　pectoris；〃　declared　Rochester。　　〃Too　much　excitement　brought　on　a　fatal　attack。〃　　Barbara　nodded　dazedly。　　〃I　knew　he　had　heart　trouble；　but　…〃　　She　stepped　toward　Turnbull　and　her　voice　quivered　with　feeling。　　〃Don't　leave　Jimmie　lying　there；　take　him　to　his　room；　doctor；〃　turning　entreatingly　to　Stone。

The　physician　looked　at　her　compassionately。　　〃I　will；　just　as　soon　as　the　coroner　views　the　body；〃　he　promised。　　〃But　come　away　now；　Babs；　this　is　no　place　for　you　and　Helen。〃　He　signed　to　the　deputy　marshal　to　open　the　door　as　he　walked　across　the　room；　Barbara　keeping　step　with　him；　and　her　sister　following　in　their　wake。　At　the　door　Barbara　paused　and　looked　back。

〃Will　there　be　an　inquest？〃　she　asked。

〃That's　for　the　coroner　to　decide；〃　responded　Ferguson。　　〃As　long　as　Mr。　Turnbull　entered　your　house　on　a　wager　and　died　from　an　attack　of　angina　pectoris　the　inquest　is　likely　to　be　a　mere　formality。　　Ah；　here　is　the　coroner　now；〃　as　a　man　paused　in　the　doorway。

Helen　McIntyre　moved　back　from　the　door　to　make　room　for　Coroner　Penfield。　　Having　had　occasion　to　attend　court　that　morning；　he　was　passing　the　door　when　attracted　by　the　group　just　inside　the　room。　　Courteously　acknowledging　Helen's　act；　Penfield　stepped　briskly　across　the　threshold　and　stopped　abruptly　on　catching　sight　of　the　lonely　figure　on　the　floor。

〃Won't　you　hold　an　autopsy；　Ferguson？〃　asked　Clymer；　breaking　his　long　silence。

〃No；　sir；　we　never　do　when　the　cause　of　death　is　apparent；〃　the　detective　bowed　to　Coroner　Penfield。　　〃Isn't　that　so；　Coroner？〃

Penfield　nodded。　　〃Unless　the　condition　of　the　body　indicates　foul　play　or　the　relatives　specially　request　it；　we　do　not　perform　autopsies；〃　he　answered。　　〃What　has　happened　here？〃　and　he　gazed　about　with　quickened　interest。

〃Mr。　Turnbull；　who　masqueraded　as　a　burglar　on　a　wager　with　Miss　McIntyre　died　suddenly　from　angina　pectoris；〃　explained　the　deputy　marshal。

〃Just　a　case　of　death　from　natural　causes；〃　broke　in　Rochester。　〃Please　write　out　a　permit　for　me　to　remove　Turnbull's　body；　Dr。　Penfield。〃

Helen　McIntyre　took　a　step　forward。　　Her　eyes；　twice　their　accustomed　size；　shone　brightly；　in　contrast　to　her　dead　white　face。　　Carefully　avoiding　her　sister's　glance　she　addressed　the　coroner。

〃I　must　insist；〃　she　began　and　stopped　to　control　her　voice。　　〃As　Mr。　Turnbull's　fiancee；　I　…〃　she　faltered　again。　　〃I　demand　that　an　autopsy　be　held　to　determine　the　cause　of　his　death。〃


CHAPTER　III

THE　ROOM　WITH　THE　SEVEN　DOORS

Mrs。　Brewster　regarded　her　surroundings　with　inward　satisfaction。　It　would　have　taken　a　far　more　captious　critic　than　the　pretty　widow　to　find　fault　with　the　large；　high…ceilinged　room　in　which　she　sat。　　The　handsome　carved　Venetian　furniture；　the　rich　hangings　and　valuable　paintings　on　the　walls　gave　evidence　of　Colonel　McIntyre's　artistic　taste　and　appreciation　of　the　beautiful。　　Mrs。　Brewster　had　never　failed；　during　her　visit　to　the　McIntyre　twins；　to　examine　the　rare　curios　in　the　carved　cabinets　and　the　tapestries　on　the　walls；　but　that　afternoon；　with　one　eye　on　the　clock　and　the　other　on　her　embroidery；　she　sat　waiting　in　growing　impatience　for　the　interruption　she　anticipated。

The　hands　of　the　clock　had　passed　the　hour　of　five　before　the　buzz　of　a　distant　bell　brought　her　to　her　feet。　　Hurrying　to　the　window　she　peeped　between　the　curtains　in　time　to　see　a　stylish　roadster　electric　glide　down　the　driveway　leading　from　the　McIntyre　residence　and　stop　at　the　curb。　　As　she　turned　to　go　back　to　her　chair　Dr。　Stone　was