the red seal-第7章

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Kent　gazed　at　her　in　astonishment。　　〃Please　explain；〃　he　suggested。　〃The　morning　paper　states　very　plainly　that　the　cause　of　death　was　an　attack　of　angina　pectoris。〃

〃Yes；　I　know；　and　that　is　what　Philip　Rochester　contends　also。〃　Barbara　paused　and　glanced　about　the　office；　they　had　the　room　to　themselves。　　〃B…but　Helen　believes　otherwise。〃

Kent　drew　back。　　〃What　do　you　mean；　Babs？〃　he　demanded。

〃Just　that；〃　Barbara　spoke　wearily；　and　Kent；　giving　her　close　attention；　grew　aware　of　dark　shadows　under　her　eyes　which　told　plainly　of　a　sleepless　night。　　〃I　want　to　engage　you　as　our　counsel　to　help　Helen　find　out　about　Jimmie's　death。〃

〃Find　out　what？〃　asked　Kent；　his　bewilderment　increasing。　　　〃Do　you　mean　that　Jimmie's　death　was　not　the　result　of　a　dangerous　heart　disease；　but　of　foul　play？〃

Barbara　nodded　her　head　vigorously。　　〃Yes。〃

Kent　sat　back　in　his　chair　and　regarded　her　in　silence　for　a　second。　〃How　could　that　be；　Babs；　in　an　open　police　court　with　dozens　of　spectators　all　about？〃　he　asked。　　〃The　slightest　attempt　to　kill　him　would　have　been　frustrated　by　the　police　officials；　remember；　a　prisoner　especially；　is　hedged　in　and　guarded。〃

〃Well；　he　wasn't　so　very　hedged　in；〃　retorted　Barbara。　　〃I　was　there　and　saw　how　closely　people　approached　Jimmie。〃

〃Did　you　observe　any　one　hand　him　anything？〃

〃N…no；〃　Barbara　drawled　the　word　as　she　strove　to　visualize　the　scene　in　the　court　room；　then　catching　Kent's　look　of　doubt　she　added　with　unmistakable　emphasis。　　〃Helen　and　I　do　not　believe　that　Jimmie　died　from　natural　causes；　we　think　the　tragedy　should　be　investigated。〃　　Her　soft　voice　deepened。　　〃I　must　know　the　truth；　Harry；　dear；　for　I　feel　that　perhaps　I　am　responsible　for　Jimmie's　death。〃

〃You！〃　Kent's　voice　rose　in　indignant　protest。　　〃Absurd！〃

〃No；　it　isn't　If　it　had　not　been　for　my　wager　with　Jimmie；　he　never　would　have　entered　our　house　disguised　as　a　burglar。〃

〃What　brought　about　the　wager？〃

〃Last　Sunday　Helen　was　boasting　of　her　two　new　police　dogs　which　Philip　Rochester　recently　gave　her；　and　said　how　safe　she　felt。　We've　had　several　burglaries　in　our　neighborhood；〃　Barbara　explained；　〃and　when　Jimmie　scoffed　at　the　dogs；　I　bet　him　that　he　could　not　break　into　the　house　without　the　dogs　arousing　the　household。　　I　never　once　thought　about　Jimmie's　heart　trouble；〃　she　confessed；　and　her　lips　quivered。　　〃I　feel　so　guilty。〃

〃You　are　inconsistent；　Babs；〃　chided　Kent　gently。　　〃One　moment　you　reproach　yourself　for　being　the　cause　of　bringing　on　Jimmie's　heart　attack；　and　the　next　you　declare　you　believe　he　died　through　foul　play。　　You；〃　looking　at　her　tenderly；　while　a　whimsical　smile　softened　his　stern　mouth；　〃don't　go　so　far　as　to　claim　you　murdered　him；　do　you？〃

〃Of　course　I　didn't！〃　Barbara　spoke　with　indignant　emphasis；　and　her　fingers　snapped　in　uncontrollable　nervousness。　　〃Jimmie　was　very　dear〃　…　she　hesitated　…　〃to　us。　　Neither　Helen　nor　I　can　leave　a　stone　unturned　until　we　know　without　a　shadow　of　a　doubt　what　killed　him。〃

〃That　is　easily　proven；〃　declared　Kent。　　〃An　autopsy　…〃

〃Helen　asked　the　coroner　to　hold　one。〃

Kent　stared　…　the　twins　were　certainly　in　earnest。

〃My　advice　to　you　is　to　wait　until　you　hear　the　result　of　the　post…mortem　from　Coroner　Penfield；〃　he　said　gravely。　　〃Until　we　know　definitely　what　killed　Jimmie；　speculation　is　idle。〃

Barbara　rose　at　once。　　〃I　thought　you　would　be　more　sympathetic；〃　she　remarked；　and　her　voice　was　a　bit　unsteady。　　〃I　am　sorry　to　have　troubled　you。〃

In　an　instant　Kent　was　by　her　side。　　〃Barbara；〃　he　entreated。　　〃I　promise　solemnly　to　aid　you　in　every　possible　way。　　My　only　happiness　is　in　serving　you；〃　his　voice　was　very　tender。　　〃I　slave　here　day　in　and　day　out　that　I　may　sometime　be　able　to　make　a　home　for　you。　　Don't　leave　me　in　anger。〃

〃I　was　not　angry；　only　deeply　hurt；〃　Barbara　confessed。　　〃I　have　so　longed　to　see　you。　　I　…　I　needed　you！　I　…〃　　The　rest　was　lost　as　she　bowed　her　head　against　Kent's　broad　shoulder；　and　his　impassioned　whispers　of　devotion　brought　solace　to　her　troubled　spirit。

〃I　must　go；〃　declared　Barbara　ten　minutes　later。　　〃Father　would　make　a　fearful　scene　if　he　knew　I　had　been　here　to　see　you。〃　　She　picked　up　her　hand…bag；　preparatory　to　leaving。　　〃Then　I　can　tell　Helen　that　you　will　aid　us？〃

〃Yes。〃　　Kent　stopped　on　his　way　to　the　door。　　〃I　will　try　and　see　the　coroner　this　afternoon。　　In　the　meantime；　Babs；　can't　you　tell　me　what　makes　you　suspect　that　Jimmie　might　have　been　killed？〃

〃I　have　nothing　tangible　to　go　on；〃　she　admitted。　　〃Only　a　woman's　instinct　…〃

Kent　did　not　smile。　　〃Instinct；〃　he　repeated　thoughtfully。　　〃Well；　does　your　instinct　hazard　a　guess　as　to　the　weapon；　the　opportunity；　and　the　motive　for　such　a　crime？　　Jimmie　Turnbull　hadn't　an　enemy　in　the　world。〃

Barbara　looked　at　him　oddly。　　〃Suppose　you　find　the　answer　to　those　conundrums；〃　she　suggested。　　〃Don't　come　to　the　elevator；　Margaret　Brewster　may　see　you　with　me；　and　she　would　tell　father　of　our　meeting。　　

〃Is　Mrs。　Brewster　still　with　you？〃　asked　Kent；　paying　no　attention　to　her　protests　as　he　accompanied　her　down　the　corridor。　　〃I　understood　she　planned　to　return　to　the　West　last　week。〃

〃She　did；　but　father　persuaded　her　to　prolong　her　visit；〃　Barbara　was　guilty　of　a　grimace；　then　hailing　the　descending　elevator　she　bolted　into　it　and　waved　her　good…by　to　Kent　as　the　cage　shot　downward。

When　Kent　reentered　his　office　he　found　Sylvester　hanging　up　the　telephone　receiver。

〃Mr。　Clymer　has　telephoned　to　ask　if　you　will　come　to　the　Metropolis　Trust　Company　at　once；〃　he　said；　and　before　Kent　could　frame　a　reply　he　had　darted　into　the　coat　closet　and　brought　out　his　hat　and　cane；　and　handed　them　to　him。

〃Don't　wait　for　me；　but　go　out　for　your　luncheon；〃　directed　Kent；　observing　the　hour。　　〃I　have　my　key　and　can　get　in　when　I　return　if　you　should　not　be　here；〃　and　not　waiting　to　hear　Sylvester's　thanks；　he　hurried　away。

The　clock　over　the　bank　had　just　struck　noon　when　Kent　reached　the　fine　office　building　which　housed　the　Metropolis　Trust　Company；　and　as　he　entered　the　bank；　a　messenger　stopped　him。

〃Mr。　Clymer　is　waiting　for　you　in　his　private　office；　sir；〃　he　said；　and　led　the　way　past　the　long　rows　of　mahogany　counters　and　plate　glass　windows　to　the　back　of　the　bank；　finally　stopping　before　a　door　bearing　the　name；　in　modest　lettering…　BENJAMIN　AUGUSTUS　CLYMER。　The　bank　president　was　sensitive　on　one　point；　he　never　permitted　initials　only　to　be　used　before　his　name。　　The　messenger's　deferential　knock　was　answered　by　a　gruff　command　to　enter。　　Clymer　welcomed　Kent　with　an　air　of　relief。

〃You　know　Colonel　McIntyre；〃　he　said　by　way　of　introduction；　and　Kent　became　aware　that　the　tall　man　lounging　with　his　back　to　him　in　one　of　the　leather　covered　chairs　was　Barbara's　father。　　Colonel　McIntyre　returned　Kent's　bow　with　a　curt　nod；　and　then　Clymer　pushed　forward　a　chair。

〃Sit　down；　Kent；〃　he　began。　　〃You　have　already　handled　several　confidential　affairs　for　the　bank　in　a　satisfactory　manner；　and　I　have　sent　for　you　to…day　to　ask　your　aid　in　an　urgent　matter。　Before　I　go　further　I　must　ask　you　to　treat　what　I　am　about　to　say　as　strictly　confidential。〃

〃Certainly；　Mr。　Clymer。〃

〃Good！　Then　draw　up　your　chair。〃　Clymer　waited　until　Kent　had　complied　with　his　request。　　〃You　have　heard　of　Jimmie　Turnbull's　sudden　and　tragic　death？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃As　you　know；　he　was　cashier　of　this　bank。〃　　Clymer　spoke　with　deliberation。　　〃Soon　after　word　reached　here　of　his　death；　the　vice…president　and　treasurer　of　the　bank　had　a　careful　examination　made　of　his　books　and　accounts。〃　　Clymer　paused　to　clear　his　throat；　he　was　troubled　with　an　irritating　cough。　　〃Turnbull's　accounts　were　found　in　first　class　order。〃

〃I　am　sure　they　would　be；　Mr。　Clymer；〃　exclaimed　Kent　warmly。　　〃Any　one　who　knew　Jimmie　would　never　doubt　his　honesty。〃

McIntyre　turned　in　his　chair　and　regarded　the　speaker　with　no　friendly　eye；　but　aside　from　that；　took　no　part　in　the　conversation。　Clymer　did　not　at　once　resume　speaking。

〃To…day；〃　he　commenced　finally；　〃Colonel　McIntyre　called　at　the　bank　and　asked　the　treasurer；　Mr。　Gilmore；　for　certain　valuable　negotiable　securities　which　he　left　in　the　bank's　care　a　mont