the red seal-第6部分

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　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　month　ago。　Mr。　Gilmore　told　Colonel　McIntyre　that　these　securities　had　been　given　to　Jimmie　Turnbull　last　Saturday　on　his　presentation　of　a　letter　from　McIntyre　requesting　that　they　be　turned　over　to　the　bank's　cashier。　　McIntyre　expressed　his　surprise　and　asked　to　see　the　letter　〃　…　Clymer　paused　and　took　a　paper　from　his　desk。　　〃Here　is　the　letter。〃

Kent　took　the　paper　and　examined　it　closely。

〃This　is　perfectly　in　order；〃　he　said。　　〃A　clear　statement　in　Colonel　McIntyre's　handwriting　and　on　his　stationery。

For　the　first　time　Colonel　McIntyre　addressed　him。

〃The　letter　is　in　order；〃　he　acknowledged；　〃and　written　on　my　stationery；　but　it　was　not　written　by　me。　　The　letter　is　a　clever　forgery。〃


CHAPTER　V

THE　VANISHING　MAN

It　still　lacked　twenty　minutes　of　nine　o'clock　that　night　when　Harry　Kent　turned　into　the　Saratoga　apartment　hotel；　and　not　waiting　to　take　one　of　the　elevators；　ran　up　the　staircase　to　the　apartment　which　had　been　occupied　jointly　by　Jimmie　Turnbull　and　Philip　Rochester。　　Kent　had　already　selected　the　right　key　from　among　those　on　the　bunch　he　had　found　in　Rochester's　desk　at　the　office；　and　slipping　it　into　the　key…hole　of　the　outer　door；　he　turned　the　lock　and　walked　noiselessly　inside　the　dark　apartment。

The　soft　click　of　the　outer　door　as　it　swung　to　was　hardly　noticeable；　and　Kent；　pausing　only　long　enough　to　get　his　breath　from　his　run　up　the　staircase；　stepped　into　the　living　room　and　reached　for　the　electric　light　switch。　　Instead　of　encountering　the　cold　metal　of　the　switch　his　groping　fingers　closed　over　warm　flesh。　　

Startled　as　he　was；　Kent　retained　enough　presence　of　mind　to　grasp　the　hand　tightly；　the　next　second　a　man　hurled　himself　upon　him　and　he　gave　back。　　Furniture　in　the　path　of　the　struggling　men　was　overturned　as　they　fought　in　silent　desperation。　　Kent　would　have　given　much　for　light。　　He　strained　his　eyes　to　see　his　adversary；　but　the　pitch　darkness　concealed　all　but　the　vaguest　outline。　　As　Kent　got　his　second　wind；　confidence　in　his　strength　returned　and　he　redoubled　his　efforts；　suddenly　his　hands　shifted　their　grip　and　he　swung　his　adversary　backward；　pinning　him　against　the　wall。

A　faint；　sobbing　breath　escaped　the　man；　and　Kent　felt　the　whole　figure　against　which　he　pressed；　quiver　and　relax；　the　taut　muscles　of　chest　and　arms　grew　slack；　collapsed。

Kent　stood　in　wonderment；　peering　ahead；　his　hands　empty　…　the　man　had　vanished！

Drawing　a　long；　long　breath　Kent　felt　his　way　back　to　the　electric　switch　and　pressed　the　button；　lighting　both　the　wall　brackets　and　the　table　lamps。　　With　both　hands　on　his　throbbing　temples　he　gazed　at　the　over…turned　chairs；　they；　as　well　as　his　aching　throat；　testified　to　his　encounter　having　been　a　reality　and　not　a　fantastic　dream。　　His　glance　traveled　this　way　and　that　about　the　room　and　rested　longest　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　room　where　he　had　pinned　the　man　to　the　wall。　　Wall　…！　　Kent　leaned　against　a　tall　highboy　and　laughed　weakly；　immoderately。　　He　had　pushed　the　man　straight　against　the　door　leading　into　Rochester's　bedroom；　and　not；　as　he　had　supposed；　against　the　solid　wall。

The　man　had　been　quick…witted　enough　to　grasp　the　situation；　his　pretended　weakness　had　caused　Kent　to　relax　his　hold；　a　turn　of　the　knob　of　the　door；　which　swung　inward；　and　he　had　made　his　escape　into　the　bedroom；　leaving　Kent　staring　into　dark；　empty　space。

Gathering　his　wits　together　Kent　hurried　into　the　bedroom　…　it　was　empty；　so　also　was　the　bathroom　opening　from　it。　　From　there　Kent　made　the　rounds　of　the　apartment；　switching　on　the　light　until　the　place　was　ablaze；　but　in　spite　of　his　minute　search　of　closets　and　under　beds　and　behind　furniture　he　could　find　no　trace　of　his　late　adversary。　　Kent　stopped　long　enough　in　the　pantry　to　refresh　himself　with　a　glass　of　water；　then　he　returned　to　the　living　room　and　sat　down　in　an　arm　chair　by　the　window。　　He　wanted　time　to　think。

How　had　the　man　vanished　so　utterly；　leaving　no　trace　behind　in　the　apartment？　　The　window　in　Rochester's　room　was　locked　on　the　inside；　in　fact；　all　the　apartment　windows　were　securely　fastened；　he　had　found