the red seal-第22部分

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om…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。　　〃Turnbull　was　cashier　of　that　bank。〃

〃I　see；　he　may　have　discovered　the　forgeries　…　but　hold　on。〃　Ferguson　checked　his　rapid　speech。　　〃When　were　these　forged　checks　presented　at　the　bank？〃

〃Tuesday　afternoon。〃

Ferguson's　face　fell。　　〃Pshaw！　man；　that　was　after　Turnbull's　death　…　how　could　he　detect　the　forgeries？〃

Kent　did　not　reply　at　once；　instead；　he　glanced　keenly　about　the　living　room。　　The　detective　had　only　switched　on　one　of　the　reading　lamps　and　the　greater　part　was　in　shadow。　　It　was　a　pleasant　and　home…like　room；　and　Kent　was　conscious　of　a　keener　pang　for　the　loss　of　Jimmie　Turnbull　and　the　disappearance　of　Philip　Rochester；　as　he　gazed　around。　　The　lawyer　and　the　bank　cashier　had　been；　until　that　winter；　congenial　comrades；　sharing　their　business　success　and　their　apartment　in　complete　accord；　and　now　a　shadow　as　black　as　that　enveloping　the　unlighted　apartment　hung　over　their　good　names；　threatening　one　or　the　other　with　the　charge　of　forgery　and　of　murder。　　Kent　sighed　and　turned　back　to　the　silent　detective。

〃I　can　best　answer　your　question　by　telling　you　that　the　day　after　Jimmie　Turnbull　died　Mr。　Clymer　sent　for　me；〃　he　began。　　〃I　found　Colonel　McIntyre　with　him　and　was　told　that　the　Colonel　had　lost　valuable　securities　left　at　the　bank。　　These　securities　had　been　given　by　the　treasurer　of　the　bank　to　Jimmie　Turnbull　when　he　presented　a　letter　from　Colonel　McIntyre　instructing　the　bank　to　surrender　the　securities　to　Jimmie。〃

〃Well？〃　questioned　Ferguson。　　〃Go　on；　sir。〃

〃That　letter　was　a　forgery。〃　　Kent　sat　back　and　watched　the　detective's　rapidly　changing　expression。　　〃And　no　trace　has　been　found　of　the　Colonel's　securities；　last　known　to　be　in　the　possession　of　Turnbull。〃

〃Great　heavens！〃　ejaculated　Ferguson。

〃Which　was　the　forger　…　Turnbull　or　Rochester？〃

Kent　shook　a　puzzled　head。　　〃That　is　for　us　to　discover；〃　he　said　soberly。　　〃Colonel　McIntyre　contends　that　Turnbull　forged　the　letter　and　stole　the　securities；　then　fearing　his　guilt　would　become　known；　committed　still　another　crime　…　that　of　suicide；　he　could　have　swallowed　a　dose　of　aconitine　while　at　the　police　court。〃

〃Well；　I'll　be　…　blessed！〃　ejaculated　Ferguson。　　〃But　if　he　was　the　forger　how　does　that　square　with　Rochester's　peculiar　behavior？　The　checks　bearing　your　forged　signatures　were　presented；　mind　you；　by　Rochester　after　Turnbull's　death？〃

〃It　doesn't　square；〃　acknowledged　Kent　frankly。　　〃There　is　this　to　be　said　for　Turnbull：　he　was　the　soul　of　honor；　his　affairs　were　found　to　be　in　excellent　condition；　he　was　drawing　a　good　salary；　his　investments　paying　well　…　he　did　not　need　to　acquire　securities　or　money　by　resorting　to　forgery。〃

〃Whereas　Philip　Rochester　was　on　the　point　of　bankruptcy；〃　remarked　Ferguson。　　〃Do　you　suppose　he　forged　Colonel　McIntyre's　letter　and　gave　it　to　Turnbull；　and　the　latter　got　the　securities　from　the　bank　treasurer　and　handed　them　over　to　Rochester　in　good　faith；　supposing　his　room…mate　would　give　the　papers　to　Colonel　McIntyre？〃

Kent　nodded　in　agreement。　　〃It　looks　that　way　to　me；〃　he　said　gloomily。　　〃Philip　Rochester　stood　well　in　the　community；　his　law　　practice　is　large　and　lucrative；　and　if　it　had　not　been　for　his　periods　of　idleness　and　…　and〃　…　hesitating　…　〃passion　for　good　living；　he　would　never　have　run　into　debt。〃

〃But　he　got　there。〃　Ferguson's　laugh　was　contemptuous。　　〃A　desperate　man　will　do　anything；　Mr。　Kent。〃

〃I　know；〃　Kent　looked　dubious。　　〃I　would　believe　him　guilty　if　it　were　not　for　the　use　of　aconitine　…　that　shows　premeditation　on　the　part　of　the　murderer。〃

〃And　why　shouldn't　Rochester　plan　Turnbull's　murder　ahead　of　the　scene　in　the　police　court？〃　argued　Ferguson。　　〃Wasn't　he　living　in　deadly　fear　of　exposure？　　If　he　did　not　commit　the　murder；　why　did　he　run　away？　　And　if　he　is　innocent；　why　doesn't　he　come　forward　and　prove　it？〃

〃He　may　not　know　that　he　is　suspected　of　the　crime；〃　retorted　Kent；　rising。　　〃It　is　for　us　to　find　Rochester；　and　I　suggest　that　we　search　this　apartment　thoroughly。〃

〃I　have　already　done　so；〃　object