the red seal-第15部分

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ease；　and　Mr。　Clymer；　who　was　present；　also　knew　it。〃

〃And　what　is　your　opinion；　doctor？〃　questioned　Penfield。

Stone　hesitated。　　〃There　was　a　distinct　odor　of　amyl　nitrite　noticeable　when　I　went　to　Turnbull's　aid；　and　I　concluded　then　that　he　had　some　heart　trouble　and　had　inhaled　the　drug　to　ward　off　an　attack。　　It　bears　out　Mr。　Rochester's　theory　of　death　from　angina　pectoris。〃

〃I　see。　　Thank　you；　doctor。　　Please　wait　with　the　other　witnesses；　we　may　call　you　again；〃　and　with　a　sigh　the　busy　physician　resigned　himself　to　spending　another　hour　in　the　room　reserved　for　the　witnesses。

The　next　to　take　the　witness　stand　was　Deputy　Marshal　Grant。　　His　testimony　was　short　and　concise；　…　and　his　description　of　the　scene　in　the　police　court　preceding　Turnbull's　death　was　listened　to　with　deep　attention　by　every　one。

〃Did　the　prisoner　show　any　symptoms　of　illness　before　his　heart　attack？〃　asked　Penfield。

〃Not　exactly　illness；〃　replied　Grant　slowly。　　〃I　noticed　he　didn't　move　very　quickly；　sort　of　shambled；　as　if　he　was　weak　in　his　legs。　I've　seen　'drunk　and　disorderlies'　act　just　that　way；　and　paid　no　particular　attention　to　him。　　He　did　ask　for　a　drink　of　water　just　after　he　returned　to　the　cage。〃

〃Did　you　give　it　to　him？〃

〃No；　an　attendant　gave　the　glass　to　Mr。　Rochester　who　handed　it　to　Mr。　Turnbull。〃

Penfield　regarded　Grant　in　silence　for　a　minute。　　〃That　is　all；〃　he　announced；　and　with　a　polite　bow　the　deputy　marshal　withdrew。

Detective　Ferguson　recognized　Kent　as　he　passed　up　the　room　to　the　platform　and　gave　him　a　slight　bow　and　smile；　but　the　smile　had　disappeared　when；　at　the　coroner's　request；　he　told　of　his　arrival　just　after　the　discovery　of　the　burglar's　identity。

〃I　searched　the　cage　where　the　prisoner　had　been　seated　and　found　this　handkerchief；〃　he　went　on　to　say。　　〃It　had　been　dropped　by　Turnbull　and　was　saturated　with　amyl　nitrite。　　I　had　it　examined　by　a　chemist；　who　said　that　this　amyl　nitrite　was　given　to　patients　with　heart　trouble　in　little　pearl　capsules　to　be　crushed　in　handkerchiefs　and　the　fumes　inhaled。

〃The　chemist　also　told　me　that〃　…　the　detective　spoke　with　impressive　seriousness；　〃judging　from　the　number　of　particles　of　capsules　adhering　to　the　linen；　more　than　one　capsule　had　been　crushed　by　Turnbull。　　Here　is　the　handkerchief；〃　and　he　laid　it　on　the　table　with　great　care。

Kent's　heart　sank；　the　moment　he　had　dreaded　all　that　long　afternoon　had　come。　　Penfield　inspected　the　handkerchief　with　interest；　and　then　passed　it　to　the　jurors；　cautioning　them　to　handle　it　carefully。

〃I　note；〃　he　stated；　turning　again　to　Detective　Ferguson；　〃that　it　is　a　woman's　handkerchief。〃

〃It　is；〃　replied　Ferguson。　　〃And　embroidered　in　one　corner　is　the　initial　'B。'〃

Penfield　ran　his　fingers　through　his　gray　hair。　　〃You　may　go；　Ferguson；〃　he　said；　and　beckoned　to　the　morgue　master。　　〃Ask　Miss　Barbara　McIntyre　to　return。〃

The　girl　was　quick　in　answering　the　summons。　　Kent；　more　and　more　worried；　was　watching　the　scene　with　painful　attention。

〃Did　Mr。　Turnbull　have　one　of　your　handkerchiefs？〃　asked　Penfield。

Her　surprise　at　the　question　was　manifest　in　her　manner。

〃He　might　have；〃　she　said。　　〃I　have　a　dreadful　habit　of　dropping　my　handkerchiefs　around。〃

〃Did　you　miss　one　after　his　visit　to　your　house　on　Monday　night？〃

〃Miss　McIntyre；〃　Penfield　took　up　the　handkerchief　which　the　foreman　replaced　on　his　desk　a　moment　before；　and　holding　it　with　care　extended　it　toward　the　girl。　　〃Is　this　your　handkerchief？〃

She　inspected　the　handkerchief　and　the　initial　with　curiosity；　but　with　nothing　more；　Kent　was　convinced；　and　in　his　relief　was　almost　guilty　of　disturbing　the　decorum　of　the　inquest　with　a　shout　of　joy。

〃It　is　not　my　handkerchief；〃　she　stated　clearly。

Penfield　replaced　the　handkerchief　on　the　table　with　the　same　care　he　had　picked　it　up；　and　turned　again　to　her。

〃Thank　you；　Miss　McIntyre；　I　won't　detain　you　longer。　　Logan；〃　to　the　morgue　master；　〃ask　Dr。　Stone　to　step　here。〃

Almost　immediately　Stone　reentered　the　room　and　hurried　to　the　platform。

〃Would　two　or　more　capsules　of　amyl　nitrite　constitute　a　lethal　dose？〃　asked　Penfield。

〃They　would　be　very　apt　to　finish　a　feeble　heart；〃　replied　Stone。　〃Three　capsules；　if　inhaled　deeply　would　certainly　kill　a　healthy　person。〃

Penfield　showed　the　handkerchief　to　the　physician。　　〃Can　a　chemist　tell；　from　the　particles　clinging　to　this　handkerchief；　how　many　capsules　have　been　used？〃

〃I　should　say　he　could。〃　　Stone　looked　grave　as　he　inspected　the　linen；　taking　careful　note　of　the　letter　〃B〃　in　one　corner　of　the　handkerchief。　　〃But　there　is　this　to　be　considered　…　Turnbull　may　not　have　crushed　those　capsules　all　at　the　same　time。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃He　may　have　felt　an　attack　coming　on　earlier　in　the　evening　and　used　a　capsule；　and　in　the　police　court　used　the　same　handkerchief　in　the　same　manner。〃

〃I　see；〃　Penfield　nodded。　　〃The　point　is　cleverly　taken。〃

Kent　silently　agreed　with　the　coroner。　　The　next　instant　Stone　was　excused；　and　after　a　slight　pause　the　deputy　coroner；　Dr。　Mayo；　left　his　table　and　his　notes　and　occupied　the　witness　chair；　after　first　being　sworn。　　The　preliminaries　did　not　consume　much　time；　and　Penfield's　manner　was　brisk　as　he　addressed　his　assistant。

〃Did　you　make　a　post…mortem　examination　of　Turnbull？〃　he　asked。

〃I　did；　sir；　in　the　presence　of　the　morgue　master　and　Dr。　McLane。〃　Dr。　Mayo　displayed　an　anatomical　chart；　drawing　his　pencil　down　it　as　he　talked。　　〃We　found　from　the　condition　of　the　heart　that　the　deceased　had　suffered　from　angina　pectoris〃　…　he　paused　and　spoke　more　slowly　…　〃in　examining　the　gastric　contents　we　found　the　presence　of　aconitine。〃

〃Aconitine？〃　questioned　Penfield；　and　the　reporters；　scenting　the　sensational；　leaned　forward　eagerly　so　as　not　to　miss　the　deputy　coroner's　answer。

〃Aconitine；　an　active　poison；〃　he　explained。　　〃It　is　the　alkaloid　of　aconite；　and　generally　fatal　in　its　results。〃


CHAPTER　X

AT　THE　CLUB　DE　VINGT

The　large　building　of　the　popular　Club　de　Vingt；　or　as　one　Washingtonian　put　it；　the　〃Club　De　Vin；〃　which　had　sprung　into　existence　in　the　National　Capital　during　the　war；　was　ablaze　with　light　and　Benjamin　Clymer；　sitting　at　a　small　table　in　one　corner　of　the　dining…room；　wished　most　heartily　that　it　had　been　less　crowded。　　Many　dinner…parties　were　being　given　that　night；　and　it　was　only　by　dint　of　perseverance　and　a　Treasury　note　that　he　had　finally　induced　the　head　waiter　to　put　in　an　extra　table　for　him　and　his　guest；　Harry　Kent。　　Kent　had　been　very　late　and；　to　add　to　his　short…comings；　had　been　silent；　not　to　say　morose；　during　dinner。　　Clymer　heaved　a　sigh　of　relief　when　the　table　was　cleared　and　coffee　and　cigars　placed　before　them。

Kent　roused　himself　from　his　abstraction。　　〃We　cannot　talk　here；〃　he　said；　looking　at　the　gay　diners　who　surrounded　them。　　〃And　I　have　several　important　matters　to　discuss　with　you；　Mr。　Clymer。〃

His　remark　was　overheard　by　their　waiter；　and　he　stopped　pouring　out　Kent's　coffee。

〃There　is　a　small　smoking　room　to　the　right　of　the　dining　room；〃　he　suggested。　　〃I　passed　there　but　a　moment　ago　and　it　was　not　occupied。　　If　you　desire；　sir；　I　will　serve　coffee　there。〃

〃An　excellent　idea。〃　Clymer　rose　quickly　and　he　and　Kent　followed　the　waiter　to　the　inclosed　porch　which　had　been　converted　into　an　attractive　lounging　room　for　the　club　members。　　It　was　much　cooler　than　the　over…heated　dining　room；　and　Kent　was　grateful　for　the　subdued　light　given　out　by　the　artistically　shaded　lamps　with　which　it　was　furnished。　　There　was　silence　while　the　waiter　with　deft　fingers　arranged　the　coffee　and　cigars　on　a　wicker　table；　then　receiving　Clymer's　generous　tip　with　a　word　of　thanks；　the　man　departed。

Kent　wheeled　his　chair　around　so　as　to　face　his　companion　and　still　have　a　side　view　of　the　dining　room；　where　tables　were　being　rapidly　removed　for　the　dance　which　followed　dinners　on　Thursday　nights。　　Clymer　selected　a　cigar　with　care　and；　leaning　back　in　his　chair　until　the　wicker　creaked　under　his　weight；　he　waited　patiently　for　Kent　to　speak。　　It　was　fully　five　minutes　before　Kent　addressed　him。

〃So　James　Turnbull　was　poisoned　after　all；〃　he　commented。　　〃A　week　ago　I　would　have　sworn　that　Jimmie　hadn't　an　enemy　in　the　world。〃

〃Ah；　but　he　had；　and　a　very　bitter　vindictive　enemy；　if　the　evidence　given　at　the　coroner's　inquest　this　afternoon　is　to　be　believed；〃　replied　Clymer　seriously。　　〃The　case　is　remarkably　puzzling。〃

〃It　is。〃　　Kent　bit　savagely　at　his　cigar　as　a　slight　vent　to　his　feelings。　　〃'Killed　by　a　dose　of　aconitine　by　a　person　or　persons　unknown；'　was　the　jury's　verdict；　and　a　nice　tangle　they　have　left　me　to　ferret　out。''

〃You？〃

〃Yes。　　I'm　going　to　solve　this　mystery　if　it　is　a　possible　thing。〃　Kent's　tone　was　grim。　　〃And　Colonel　McIntyre　only　gave　me　until　Saturday　night　to　work　in。〃

Clymer　eyed　him　in　surprise。　　〃McIntyre　desires　to　get　back　his　lost　securities；　judging　from　his　comments　after　the　inquest；　he　is　not　particularly　interested　in　who　killed　Turnbull。〃

〃But　I　am；〃　exclaimed　Kent。　　〃The　more　I　think　of　it；　the　more　convinced　I　am　that　the　forged　letter；　with　the　subsequent　disappearance　of　McIntyre's　securities　has　some　connection　with　Jimmie's　untimely　death；　be　it　murder　or　suicide。〃

〃Suicide？〃　　Clymer'　s　raised　eyebrows　indicated　his　surprise。

〃Yes；〃　shortly。　　〃Aconitine　would　have　killed　just　as　surely　if　swallowed　with　suicidal　intent　as　if　administered　with　murderous　design。〃

A　pause　followed　which　neither　man　seemed　anxious　to　break；　then　Kent　turned　to　the　banker；　and　the　latter　noticed　the　haggard　lines　in　his　face。

〃Listen　to　me；　Mr。　Clymer；〃　he　began。　　〃My　instinct　tells　me　that　Jimmie　Turnbull　never　forged　that　letter　or　stole　McIntyre's　securities；　but　I　admit　that　everything　points　to　his　guilt；　even　his　death。〃

〃How　so？〃

〃Because　the　theft　of　the　securities　supplies　a　motive　for　his　suicide　…　fear　of　exposure　and　imprisonment；〃　argued　Kent。　　〃But　there　is　no　motive；　so　far　as　I　can　see；　for　Jimmie's　murder。　Men　don't　kill　each　other　without　a　motive。　　〃There　is　homicidal　mania；〃　suggested　Clymer。

〃But　not　in　this　case；〃　retorted　Kent。　　〃We　are　sane　men　and　it　is　up　to　us　to　find　out　if　Ji