the red seal-第25部分

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dden　decision　she　left　the　bed　and　dressed　rapidly。　　It　was　not　until　she　had　put　on　her　rubber…heeled　shoes　that　she　paused。　Her　hesitation；　however；　was　but　brief。　　Stepping　to　the　bureau；　she　pulled　out　a　lower　drawer　and　running　her　hand　inside；　touched　a　concealed　spring。　　From　the　cavity　thus　exposed　she　took　a　small　automatic　pistol；　and　with　a　stealthy　glance　about　her；　crept　from　the　room。

The　library　had　been　vacant　fully　an　hour　when　a　mouse；　intent　on　making　a　raid　on　the　candy　which　Barbara　had　carelessly　left　lying　loose　on　one　of　the　tables；　paused　as　a　faint　creaking　sound　broke　the　stillness；　then　as　the　noise　increased；　the　mouse　scurried　back　to　its　hole。　　The　noise　resembled　the　turning　of　rusty　hinges　and　the　soft　thud　of　one　piece　of　wood　striking　another。　　There　was　a　strained　silence；　then；　from　out　of　the　darkness　appeared　a　tiny　stream　of　light　directed　full　on　a　white　envelope　bearing　a　large　red　seal。

The　next　instant　the　envelope　was　plucked　from　the　hand　holding　it；　and　a　figure　lay　crumpled　on　the　floor　from　the　blow　of　a　descending　weapon。

It　was　closely　approaching　one　o'clock　in　the　morning　before　Mrs。　Brewster　stirred　from　her　comfortable　bedroom　chair。　　Taking　up　her　electric　torch；　which　she　kept　always　by　the　side　of　her　bed；　she　walked　quickly　down　the　staircase　and　into　the　pitch　dark　library。　Directing　her　torch…light　so　that　she　steered　a　safe　course　among　the　chairs　and　tables；　she　approached　one　of　the　pieces　of　carved　Venetian　furniture　and　reached　out　her　hand　to　touch　a　trap…door。　As　she　looked　for　the　spring　she　was　horrified　to　see　a　thin　stream　of　blood　oozing　through　the　carving　until；　reaching　the　letter　〃B；〃　it　outlined　that　initial　in　sinister　red。

Scream　after　scream　broke　from　Mrs。　Brewster。　　She　was　swaying　upon　her　feet　by　the　time　Colonel　McIntyre　and　his　daughter　Helen　reached　the　library。

〃Margaret！　　What　is　it？〃　　McIntyre　demanded。　　〃Calm　yourself；　my　darling。〃

The　frenzied　woman　shook　off　his　soothing　hand。

〃See；　see！〃　she　cried　and　pointed　with　her　torch。

〃She　means　the　Venetian　casket；〃　explained　Helen；　who　had　paused　before　joining　them　to　switch　on　the　light。

Colonel　McIntyre　gazed　in　amazement　at　the　piece　of　furniture；　then　catching　sight　of　the　blood…stain；　he　raised　the　small　trap…door　or　peep　hole；　in　the　top　of　the　oblong　box　which　stood　breast　high；　supported　on　a　beautifully　carved　base。

There　was　a　breathless　pause；　then　McIntyre　unceremoniously　jerked　the　electric　torch　from　Mrs。　Brewster's　nervous　fingers　and　turned　its　rays　of　the　interior　of　the　casket。　　Stretched　at　full　length　lay　the　figure　of　a　man；　and　from　a　wound　in　his　temple　flowed　a　steady　stream　of　blood。

〃Good　God！〃　McIntyre　staggered　back　against　Helen。　　〃Grimes！〃


CHAPTER　XVII

A　QUESTION　OF　H0USE…BREAKING

The　genial　president　of　the　Metropolis　Trust　Company　was　late。　Mrs。　Brewster；　waiting　in　his　well…appointed　office；　restrained　her　ill…temper　only　by　an　exertion　of　will…power。　　She　detested　being　kept　waiting；　and　that　morning　she　had　many　errands　to　attend　to　before　the　luncheon　hour。

〃May　I　use　your　telephone？〃　she　asked　Mr。　Clymer's　secretary；　and　the　young　man　rose　with　alacrity　from　his　desk。　　Mrs。　Brewster　never　knew　what　it　was　to　lack　attention；　even　her　own　sex　were　known　on　occasions　to　give　her　gowns　and；　（what　captious　critics　termed　her　〃frivolous　conduct〃）　undivided　attention。

〃Can　I　look　up　the　number　for　you？〃　the　secretary　asked　as　Mrs。　Brewster　took　up　the　telephone　book　and　fumbled　for　the　gold　chain　of　her　lorgnette。

〃Oh；　thank　you；〃　her　smile　showed　each　pretty　dimple。　　〃I　wish　to　speak　to　Mr。　Kent；　of　the　firm　of　Rochester　and　Kent。〃

〃Harry　Kent？〃　　The　young　secretary　dropped　the　book　without　looking　at　it；　and　gave　a　number　to　the　operator；　and　then　handed　the　instrument　to　Mrs。　Brewster。

〃Mr。　Kent　not　in；　did　you　say？〃　asked　the　widow。　　〃　Who　is　speaking？　Ah；　Mr。　Sylvester　…　has　Mr。　　Rochester　returned？　　…　Both　partners　away〃　。　。　。　　she　paused　。　。　。　　〃I'll　call　later　…　Mrs。　Brewster；　good　morning。〃

Mrs。　Brewster　hung　up　the　receiver　and　turned　to　the　secretary。

〃I　don't　believe　I　can　wait　any　longer；〃　she　began；　and　paused；　as　Benjamin　Clymer　appeared　in　the　doorway。

〃So　sorry　to　be　late；〃　he　exclaimed；　shaking　her　hand　warmly。　　〃And　I　am　sorry；　also；　to　have　called　you　here　on　such　an　errand。〃

Mrs。　Brewster　waited　until　the　young　secretary　had　withdrawn　out　of　earshot　before　replying；　then　taking　the　chair　Clymer　placed　for　her　near　his　own；　she　opened　her　gold　mesh　bag　and　took　out　a　canceled　check　and　laid　it　on　the　desk　in　front　of　the　bank　president。

〃Your　bank　honored　this　check？〃　she　asked　Yes。〃

〃Who　presented　it？〃

Clymer　pressed　the　buzzer　and　his　secretary　came　at　once。

〃Ask　Mr。　McDonald　to　step　here；〃　and　as　the　man　vanished　on　his　errand；　he　addressed　Mrs。　Brewster。　　〃How　is　Colonel　McIntyre　this　morning？〃

Mrs。　Brewster's　eyes　opened　at　the　question。　　〃Quite　well；〃　she　replied；　and　prompted　by　her　curiosity　added：　〃What　made　you　think　him　ill？〃

〃I　stopped　at　Dr。　Stone's　office　on　the　way　down　town；　and　his　boy　told　me　the　doctor　had　been　sent　for　by　Colonel　McIntyre；〃　Clymer　explained。　　〃I　hope　neither　of　the　twins　is　ill。〃

〃No。　　Colonel　McIntyre　sent　for　Dr。　Stone　to　attend　Grimes　…〃

〃The　butler！　　Too　bad　he　is　ill；　Grimes　is　an　institution　in　the　McIntyre　household。〃　　Clymer　spoke　with　sincere　regret；　and　Mrs。　Brewster　eyed　him　approvingly；　she　liked　good…looking　men　of　his　stamp。　　〃Come　in；　McDonald；〃　as　the　bank　teller　appeared。　　〃You　know　Mrs。　Brewster？〃

〃Mr。　McDonald　was　one　of　my　first　acquaintances　in　Washington；〃　and　Mrs。　Brewster　smiled　as　she　held　out　her　hand。

〃About　this　check；　McDonald；〃　Clymer　handed　it　to　the　teller　as　he　spoke。　　〃Who　presented　it？〃

〃Miss　McIntyre。〃

〃Which　Miss　McIntyre？〃　　Mrs。　Brewster　put　the　question　with　swift　intentness。

〃I　can't　tell　one　twin　from　the　other；〃　confessed　McDonald。　　〃But；　as　you　see；　the　check　is　made　payable　to　Barbara　McIntyre。〃

〃The　inference　being　that　Barbara　McIntyre　presented　the　check　for　payment；〃　commented　Clymer；　and　McDonald　bowed。　　〃It　would　seem；　therefore；　that　Barbara　wrote　your　signature　on　the　check；　Mrs。　Brewster。〃

〃No。〃　The　widow　had　whitened　under　her　rouge；　but　her　eyes　did　not　falter　in　their　direct　gaze。　　〃The　signature　is　genuine。　　I　drew　the　check。〃

The　two　men　exchanged　glances。　　The　bank　president　was　the　first　to　break　the　short　silence。　　〃In　that　case　there　is　nothing　more　to　be　said；〃　he　remarked；　and　picking　up　the　check　handed　it　to　Mrs。　Brewster。　　Without　a　glance　at　it；　she　folded　the　paper　and　placed　it　inside　her　gold　mesh　bag。

〃I　must　not　take　up　any　more　of　your　time；〃　she　said。　　〃I　thank　you　…　both。〃

〃Mrs。　Brewster。〃　Clymer　spoke　impulsively。　　〃I'd　like　to　shake　hands　with　you。〃

Coloring　warmly；　the　widow　slipped　her　small　hand　inside　his；　and　with　a　friendly　bow　to　McDonald；　she　walked　through　the　bank；　keeping　up　with　Clymer's　long　strides　as　best　she　could。　　As　they　crossed　the　sidewalk　to　the　waiting　limousine　they　ran　almost　into　the　arms　of　Harry　Kent；　whose　rapid　gait　did　not　suit　the　congested　condition　of　the　〃Wall　Street〃　of　Washington。　　〃I　tried　to　reach　you　on　the　telephone　this　morning；〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Brewster；　after　greeting　him。

〃So　my　clerk　informed　me　when　I　saw　him　a　few　minutes　ago。〃　Kent　helped　her　inside　the　limousine。　　〃Won't　you　come　to　my　office　now？〃

〃But　that　will　be　taking　you　from　Mr。　Clymer；〃　remonstrated　Mrs。　Brewster。　　〃Weren't　you　on　the　way　to　the　bank？〃

〃I　was；〃　admitted　Kent。　　〃But　I　can　see　Mr。　Clymer　later　in　the　day。〃

〃And　I'll　be　less　occupied　then；〃　added　Clymer。　　〃　Go　with　Mrs。　Brewster；　Kent；　good　morning；　madam；〃　and　with　a　courtly　bow　Clymer　withdrew。

Kent's　office　was　only　around　the　corner；　and　as　Mrs。　Brewster　kept　up　a　running　fire　of　impersonal　gossip；　Kent　had　no　opportunity　to　satisfy　his　curiosity　regarding　her　reasons　for　wanting　to　interview　him。　　As　the　limousine　drew　up　at　the　curb　in　front　of　his　office；　a　man　darting　down　the　steps　of　the　building；　caught　sight　of　Kent　and　hurried　to　the　car　window。

〃I　was　just　trying　to　catch　you　at　the　bank；　Mr。　Kent；〃　he　explained；　and　looking　around　Kent　recognized　Sylvester。　　〃There's　been　three　telephone　calls　for　you　in　succession　from　Colonel　McIntyre　to　hurry　to　his　home。〃

〃Thanks；　Sylvester。〃　　Kent　turned　to　Mrs。　Brewster。　　〃Would　you　mind　driving　me　to　the　McIntyre？　　We　can　talk　on　the　way　there。〃

Mrs。　Brewster　picked　up　the　speaking　tube。　　〃Home；　；　Harris；〃　she　directed；　as　the　chauffeur　listened　for　the　order。

Neither　spoke　as　the　big　car　started　up　the　street　but　as　they　swung　past　old　St。　John's　Church；　Mrs。　Brewster　broke　her　silence。

〃Mr。　Kent；〃　she　drew　further　back　in　her　corner。　　〃I　claim　a　woman's　privilege　…　to　change　my　mind。　　Forget　that　I　ever　expressed　a　wish　to　consult　you　professionally；　and　remember；　I　am　always　glad　to　meet　you　as　a　friend。〃

〃Certainly；　Mrs。　Brewster；　as　you　wish。〃　　Kent's　tone；　expressing　polite　acquiescence；　covered　mixed　feelings。　　What　had　caused　the　widow　to　change　her　mind　so　suddenly；　and　above　all；　what　had　she　wished　to　consult　him　about？　　He　faced　her　more　directly。　　She　was　charmingly　gowned；　and　in　spite　of　his　perplexities；　he　could　not　but　admire　her　air　of　quiet　elegance　and　the　soft　dark　eyes　regarding　him　in　friendly　good…fellowship。　　Suddenly　realizing　that　his　glance　had　become　a　fixed　stare；　he　hastily　averted　his　eyes　from　her　face；　catching　sight；　as　he　did　so；　of　the　gold　mesh　bag　lying　in　her　lap。　　The　glint　of　sunlight　brought　into　prominence　the　handsomely　engraved　letter　〃B〃　on　its　surface。　　An　unexpected　swerve　of　the　limousine；　as　the　chauffeur　turned　short　to　avoid　a　speeding　army　truck；　caused　both　Kent　and　Mrs。　Brewster　to　sway　forward　and　the　gold　mesh　bag　slid　to　the　floor；　carrying　with　it　the　widow's　handkerchief　and　gold　vanity　box。　　Kent　stooped　over　and　picked　up　the　articles　as　well　as　the　contents　of　the　mesh　bag；　which　had　opened　in　its　descent　and　spilled　her　money　and　papers　over　the　floor　of　the　limousine。

〃Oh；　thank　you；〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Brewster；　as　he　handed　her　the　bag；　box；　and　bank　notes。　　〃Don't　bother　to　look　for　that　quarte