the red seal-第5部分

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〃These　will　do　admirably；〃　he　announced。　　〃Sit　down　and　I　will　reply　to　the　other　letters。〃

At　the　end　of　an　hour　Sylvester　closed　his　stenographic　note　book　and　collected　the　correspondence；　by　that　time　scattered　over　Kent's　desk。

〃I'll　have　these　notes　ready　for　your　signature　before　lunch；〃　he　said　as　he　picked　up　a　newspaper　from　the　floor　where　it　had　tumbled　during　Kent's　search　for　some　particu1ar　letter　heads。　　〃I　brought　in　the　morning　paper；　sir；　thought　perhaps　you　had　not　seen　it。〃

〃Thanks。〃　Kent　swung　his　chair　nearer　the　window　and　opened　the　newspaper。　　He　had　purchased　a　copy　when　walking　through　Union　Station　on　his　arrival；　but　had　left　it　in　the　cafeteria　where　he　had　snatched　a　cup　of　coffee　and　hot　rolls　before　hurrying　to　his　office。

He　read　a　column　devoted　to　international　affairs；　scanned　an　account　of　a　senatorial　wrangle；　and　was　about　to　turn　to　the　second　page；　whistling　cheerily；　when　his　attention　was　arrested　by　the　headings：

　　　　　BANK　CASHIER　DIES　IN　POLICE　COURT　　　　　JAMES　TURNBULL；　MISTAKEN　FOR　BURGLAR；　　　　SUFFERS　FATAL　ATTACK　OF　ANGINA　PECTORIS

Kent's　whistle　stopped　abruptly；　and　clutching　the　paper　in　both　hands；　he　devoured　the　short　account　printed　under　the　scare　heads：

　　〃While　masquerading　as　a　burglar　on　a　wager；　　　　James　Turnbull；　cashier　of　the　Metropolis　Trust　　　　Company；　was　arrested　by　Officer　O'Ryan　at　an　　　　early　hour　yesterday　morning　in　the　residence　of　　　　Colonel　Charles　McIntyre。

　　〃Officer　O'Ryan　conducted　his　prisoner　to　the　　　　8th　Precinct　Police　Station；　and　later　he　was　　　　arraigned　in　the　police　court。　　The　Misses　　　　McIntyre　appeared　in　person　to　prefer　the　　　　charges　against　the　supposed　burglar；　who；　on　　　　being　sworn；　gave　the　name　of　John　Smith。

　　〃Philip　Rochester；　the　well　known　criminal　　　　lawyer；　was　assigned　by　the　court　to　defend　the　　　　prisoner。　　Upon　the　evidence　submitted　Judge　　　　Mackall　held　the　prisoner　for　trial　by　the　grand　　　　jury。

　　〃It　was　just　after　the　Judge's　announcement　　　　that　'John　Smith；'　then　sitting　in　the　prisoners　　　　cage；　was　seized　with　the　attack　of　angina　pectoris　　　　which　ended　so　fatally　a　few　minutes　later。　　　　It　was　not　until　after　he　had　expired　that　those　　　　rendering　him　medical　assistance　became　aware　　　　that　he　was　James　Turnbull　in　disguise。

　　〃James　Turnbull　was　a　native　of　Washington；　　　　his　father；　the　late　Hon　Josiah　Turnbull　of　　　　Connecticut；　having　made　this　city　his　permanent　　　　home　in　the　early　'90s。　　Mr。　Turnbull　was　looked　　　　upon　as　one　of　the　rising　young　men　in　banking　　　　circles；　he　was　also　prominent　socially；　was　a　　　　member　of　the　Alibi；　Metropolitan；　and　Country　　　　Clubs；　and　until　recently　was　active　in　all　forms　　　　of　athletics；　when　his　ill…health　precluded　active　　　　exercise。

　　〃Officer　O'Ryan；　who　was　greatly　shocked　by　　　　the　fatal　termination　to　Mr。　Turnbull's　rash　　　　wager；　stated　to　the　representatives　of　the　press　　　　that　Mr。　Turnbull　gave　no　hint　of　his　identity　　　　while　being　interrogated　at　the　8th　Precinct　　　　Station。　　Friends　attribute　Mr。　Turnbull's　　　　disinclination　to　reveal　himself　to　the　court；　to　　　　his　enjoyment　of　a　practical　joke；　not　realizing　　　　that　the　resultant　excitement　of　the　scene　would　　　　react　on　his　weak　heart。

　　〃Mr。　Turnbull　is　survived　by　a　great　aunt；　he　had　　　　no　nearer　relatives　living。　　It　is　a　singular　　　　coincidence　that　the　lawyer　appointed　by　the　　　　court　to　defend　Turnbull　was　his　intimate　friend；　　　　Philip　Rochester；　who　made　his　home　with　the　　　　deceased。〃

Kent　read　the　column　over　and　over；　then；　letting　the　paper　slip　to　the　floor；　sat　back　in　his　chair；　too　dumb…founded　for　words。　Jimmie　Turnbull　arrested　as　a　burglar　in　the　home　of　the　girl　he　loved　on　charges　preferred　by　her；　and　defended　in　court　by　his　intimate　friend；　both　of　whom　were　unaware　of　his　identity！　　Kent　rumpled　his　fair　hair　until　it　stood　upright。　　And　Jimmie's　death　had　followed　almost　immediately　as　the　result　of　over…excitement！

Kent's　eyes　grew　moist；　he　had　been　very　fond　of　the　eccentric；　lovable　bank　cashier；　whose　knack　of　performing　many　a　kindly　act；　unsolicited；　had　endeared　him　to　friends　and　acquaintances　alike。　Kent　had　seen　much　of　him　after　his　return　from　France；　for　Jimmie's　attention　to　Helen　McIntyre　had　been　only　second　to　Kent's　devotion　to　the　latter's　sister；　Barbara。　　The　two　men　had　one　bond　in　common。　Colonel　McIntyre　disliked　them　and　discouraged　their　calling；　to　the　secret　fury　of　both；　but　love　had　found　a　way　…　Kent's　eyes　kindled　at　the　recollection　of　Barbara's　half…shy；　wholly　tender　reception　of　his　ardent　pleading。

Turnbull's　courtship　had　met　with　a　set…back　where　he　had　least　expected　it　…　Philip　Rochester　had　fallen　deeply　in　love　with　Helen　and；　encouraged　by　her　father；　had　pressed　his　suit　with　ardor。　Frequent　quarrels　between　the　two　close　friends　had　been　the　outcome；　and　Jimmie　had　confided　to　Kent；　before　the　latter　left　on　the　business　trip　to　Chicago　from　which　he　had　returned　that　morning；　that　the　situation　had　become　intolerable　and　he　had　notified　Rochester　that　he　would　no　longer　share　his　apartment　with　him；　and　to　look　for　other　quarters　as　quickly　as　possible。

So　buried　was　Kent　in　his　thoughts　that　he　never　heard　Sylvester's　knock；　and　it　was　not　until　the　clerk　stood　at　his　elbow　that　he　awoke　from　his　absorption。

〃A　lady　to　see　you；　Mr。　Kent；〃　he　announced。　　〃Shall　I　show　her　in？〃

〃Certainly　…　her　name？〃

〃She　gave　none。〃　　Sylvester　paused　on　his　way　back　to　the　door。　〃It　is　one　of　the　Misses　McIntyre。〃

〃Good　Lord！〃　Kent　was　on　his　feet；　straightening　his　tie　and　brushing　his　rumpled　hair。　　〃Here；　wait　a　minute　〃…　clutching　a　whisk　broom　in　a　frantic　endeavor　to　remove　some　of　the　signs　of　travel　which　still　clung　to　him。　　But　he　had　only　opportunity　for　one　dab　at　his　left　shoulder　before　Barbara　entered　the　office。　All　else　forgotten；　Kent　tossed　down　the　whisk　broom　and　the　next　instant　he　had　clasped　her　hand　in　both　of　his；　his　eyes　telling　more　eloquently　than　his　stumbling　words；　his　joy　at　seeing　her　again。

〃This　is　a　business　call；〃　she　stated　demurely；　on　you　and　Mr。　Rochester。〃　　Her　lovely　eyes　held　a　glint　of　mischief　as　she　mentioned　Kent's　partner；　then　her　expression　grew　serious。　　〃I　want　legal　advice。〃

〃I　am　afraid　you　will　have　to　put　up　with　me；〃　Kent　moved　his　chair　closer　to　the　one　she　had　selected　by　the　desk。　　〃Rochester　is　out　of　town。〃

〃What！〃　Barbara　sat　bolt　upright。　　〃Where　…　where's　he　gone？〃

〃I　don't　know　〃…　Kent　pulled　Rochester's　letter　out　of　his　pocket　and　re…read　it。　　〃He　did　not　mention　where　he　was　going。〃

Barbara　stared　at　him；　she　had　paled。

〃When　did　Philip　leave？〃

〃Last　night；　I　presume。〃　　Kent　tipped　back　his　chair　and　pressed　a　buzzer；　a　second　later　Sylvester　appeared　in　the　doorway。

〃Did　Mr。　Rochester　tell　you　where　he　was　going？〃　he　asked　the　clerk。

〃No；　sir。　　Mr。　Rochester　stated　that　you　had　his　address。

〃I？〃　　Kent　concealed　his　growing　surprise。　　〃Did　he　leave　any　message　for　me；　other　than　the　letter？〃

〃No；　sir。

〃At　what　hour　did　he　leave　the　office？〃

〃I　can't　say；　sir；　he　was　still　here　when　I　went　away　at　five　o'clock。　　He　gave　me　a　key　to　the　office　so　that　I　could　get　in　this　morning。〃　　Kent　remained　silent；　and　he　added；　〃Is　that　all；　sir？〃

〃Yes；　thanks；〃　and　the　clerk　retired。

As　the　door　closed　Barbara　turned　to　Kent。　　〃Have　you　heard　about　Jimmie　Turnbull？〃

Her　voice　was　a　bit　breathless　as　she　put　the　question；　but　Kent；　puzzling　over　his　partner's　eccentric　conduct；　hardly　noted　her　agitation。

〃Yes。　　I　saw　the　account　just　now　in　the　morning　paper；〃　he　answered。　〃A　shocking　affair。　　Poor　Turnbull！　　He　was　a　good　fellow。〃

〃He　was！〃　　Barbara　spoke　with　unaccustomed　vehemence；　and　looking　at　her　Kent　saw　that　her　eyes　were　filled　with　tears。　　Impulsively　he　threw　his　arm　about　her；　holding　her　close。

〃My　heart's　dearest；〃　he　murmured　fondly。　　〃If　there　is　anything　…　anything　I　can　do　…〃

Barbara　straightened　up　and　winked　away　the　tears。　　〃There　is；〃　she　said　tersely。　　〃Investigate　Jimmie's　death。〃

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