the red seal-第8部分

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〃Ah；　but　it　isn't　a　mare's　nest！〃　Ferguson　remarked　dryly。

Kent　bent　eagerly　forward　…　〃You　have　heard　from　the　coroner　…〃

〃Not　yet；〃　　Ferguson　jerked　forward　his　chair　until　his　knees　touched　Kent。

Had　either　man　looked　toward　the　window　near　which　they　were　sitting；　he　would　have　seen　a　black　shadow　squatting　ape…like　on　the　window　ledge。　　As　Kent　leaned　over　to　relight　his　cigar；　the　face　at　the　window　vanished；　to　cautiously　reappear　a　second　later。

〃The　case　piqued　my　interest；〃　continued　the　detective　after　a　pause。　〃And　I　made　an　investigation　on　my　own　hook。　　After　the　departure　of　the　McIntyre　twins　and　Coroner　Penfield；　I　went　back　to　the　court　room　and　poked　around　the　prisoners'　cage。　　There　I　found　this。〃　He　took　out　of　his　pocket　a　small　bundle　and　carefully　unwrapped　the　oil…skin　cover。

〃A　handkerchief？〃　questioned　Kent　as　the　detective　did　not　unfold　the　white　muslin；　but　held　it　with　care。

〃Yes。　　One　of　the　prisoners　in　the　cage　told　me　Turnbull　dropped　it　as　Dr。　Stone　and　the　deputy　marshal　carried　him　into　the　ante…room。　Smell　anything？〃　holding　up　the　handkerchief。

〃Yes。〃　　Kent　wrinkled　his　nose　and　sniffed　several　times。　　〃　Smells　like　fruit。〃

Ferguson　nodded。　　〃Good　guess；　I　noticed　the　odor　and　went　at　once　to　Dr。　McLane。　　He　told　me　the　handkerchief　was　saturated　with　amyl　nitrite。〃

〃Amyl　nitrite；〃　repeated　Kent　reflectively。　　〃It　is　given　for　angina　pectoris。〃

〃Yes。　　Well；　in　this　case　it　was　the　remedy　and　not　the　disease　which　killed　Turnbull；〃　announced　Ferguson　triumphantly。

〃Nonsense！〃　ejaculated　Kent。　　〃I　happen　to　know　that　the　capsules　contain　only　three　minims　…　I　once　heard　Turnbull　say　so。〃

〃True；　but　Turnbull　got　a　lethal　dose；　all　right；　and　he　thought　he　was　taking　only　the　regular　one。　　Devilishly　ingenious　on　the　part　of　the　criminal；　wasn't　it？

〃Yes。　　Have　you　detected　the　criminal？〃　　Kent　put　the　question　with　unmoved　countenance；　but　with　inward　foreboding；　the　detective's　mysterious　manner　was　puzzling。

〃Not　yet；　but　I　will；〃　Ferguson　hesitated。　　〃The　first　thing　was　to　establish　that　a　crime　had　really　been　committed。〃

Kent　bent　down　and　sniffed　again　at　the　handkerchief　to　which　a　faint　fruity　aroma　still　clung。

〃How　did　you　discover　that？〃　he　asked。

〃Dr。　McLane　and　I　took　the　handkerchief　to　a　laboratory　and　the　chemist　found　from　the　number　of　particles　of　capsules　in　the　handkerchief；　that　at　least　two　capsules　…　or　double　the　usual　dose　…　had　been　crushed　by　Turnbull　and　the　fumes　inhaled　by　him；　with　fatal　results。〃

〃Hold　on；〃　cautioned　Kent。　　〃In　the　flurry　of　the　moment；　Turnbull　may　have　accidentally　put　two　capsules　in　the　handkerchief；　meaning　only　to　use　one。〃

〃Mr。　Kent；〃　the　detective　spoke　impressively；　〃that　wasn't　Turnbull's　handkerchief。〃

〃Not　his　own　handkerchief！〃　exclaimed　Kent。　　〃Then；　are　you　sure　that　Turnbull　used　it？〃

〃Yes；　that　fact　is　established　by　reputable　witnesses；　Dr。　Stone；　Mr。　Clymer；　and　the　deputy　marshal；〃　　Ferguson　spoke　with　increasing　earnestness。　　〃That　is　a　woman's　handkerchief　…　look　at　it。〃

Ferguson　laid　the　little　bundle　on　the　broad　arm　of　Kent's　chair　and　with　infinite　care　folded　back　the　edges　of　the　handkerchief；　revealing　as　he　did　so；　the　small　particles　of　capsules　still　clinging　to　the　linen。　　But　Kent　hardly　observed　the　capsules；　his　entire　attention　being　centered　on　one　corner　of　the　handkerchief；　which　had　neatly　embroidered　on　it　the　letter　〃B。〃


CHAPTER　VI

STRAIGHT　QUESTIONS　AND　CROOKED　ANSWERS

Colonel　McIntyre；　with　an　angry　gesture；　threw　down　the　newspaper　he　had　been　reading。

〃Do　you　mean　to　say；　Helen；　that　you　decline　to　go　to　the　supper　to…night　on　account　of　the　death　of　Jimmie　'Turnbull？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；　father。〃

McIntyre　flushed　a　dark　red；　he　was　not　accustomed　to　scenes　with　either　of　his　daughters；　and　here　was　Helen　flouting　his　authority　and　Barbara　backing　her　up。

〃It　is　quite　time　this　pretense　is　dropped；〃　he　remarked　stiffly。　〃You　were　not　engaged　to　Jimmie　…　wait；〃　as　she　attempted　to　interrupt　him。　　〃You　told　me　the　night　of　the　burglary　that　he　was　nothing　to　you。'〃

〃I　was　mistaken；〃　Helen's　voice　shook；　she　was　very　near　to　tears。　〃When　I　saw　Jimmie　lying　there；　dead〃　…　she　faltered；　and　her　shoulders　drooped　forlornly　…〃　the　world　stopped　for　me。〃

〃Hysterical　nonsense！〃　McIntyre　was　careful　to　avoid　Barbara's　eyes；　her　indignant　snort　had　been　indicative　of　her　feelings。　　〃Keep　to　your　room；　Helen；　until　you　regain　some　common　sense。　　It　is　as　well　our　friends　should　not　see　you　in　your　present　frame　of　mind。〃

Helen　regarded　her　father　under　lowered　lids。　　〃Very　well；〃　she　said　submissively　and　walked　toward　the　door；　on　reaching　it　she　paused；　and　spoke　over　her　shoulder。　　〃Don't　try　me　too　far；　father。〃

McIntyre　stared　for　a　full　minute　at　the　doorway　through　which　Helen　took　her　departure。

〃Well；　what　the　…〃　　He　pulled　himself　up　short　in　the　middle　of　the　ejaculation　and　turned　to　Barbara。　　〃Go　and　get　dressed；〃　he　directed。　〃We　must　leave　here　in　twenty　minutes。〃

〃I　am　not　going；〃　she　announced。

〃Not　going！〃　McIntyre　frowned；　then　laughed　abruptly。　　〃Now；　don't　tell　me　you　were　engaged　to　Jimmie　Turnbull；　also。〃

〃I　think　you　are　horrid！〃　Barbara's　small　foot　came　down　with　a　vigorous　stamp。

〃Well；　perhaps　I　am；〃　her　father　admitted　rather　wearily。　　〃Don't　keep　us　waiting；　Babs；　the　car　will　be　here　in　less　than　twenty　minutes。〃

〃But；　father；　I　prefer　to　stay　at　home。〃

And　I　prefer　to　have　you　accompany　us；〃　retorted　McIntyre。　　〃Come；　Barbara；　we　cannot　be　discourteous　to　Mrs。　Brewster；　she　is　our　guest；　and　this　supper　is　for　her　entertainment。〃

〃Well；　take　her。〃　Barbara　was　openly　rebellious。

〃Barbara！〃　　His　tone　caused　her　to　look　at　him　in　wonder；　instead　of　the　stern　rebuke　she　expected；　his　voice　was　almost　wheedling。　〃I　cannot　very　well　take　Mrs。　Brewster　to　a　caf　　at　this　hour　without　causing　gossip。〃

〃Oh；　fiddle…sticks！〃　exclaimed　Barbara。　　〃I　don't　have　to　play　chaperon　for　you　two。　　Every　one　knows　she　is　visiting　us；　what's　there　improper　in　your　taking　her　out　to　supper？　　Why〃　…　regarding　him　critically　…〃　she's　young　enough　to　be　your　daughter！〃

〃Go　to　your　room！〃　　There　was　nothing　wheedling　about　McIntyre　at　that　instant；　he　was　thoroughly　incensed。

As　Barbara　sped　out　happy　in　having　gained　her　way；　she　announced；　as　a　parting　shot；　〃If　you　can　be　nasty　to　Helen；　father；　I　can　be　nasty；　too。〃

Colonel　McIntyre　brought　his　fist　down　on　a　smoking　table　with　such　force　that　he　scattered　its　contents　over　the　floor。　　When　he　rose　from　picking　up　the　debris；　he　found　Mrs。　Brewster　at　his　elbow。

〃Can　I　help？〃　she　asked。

〃No；　thanks；　everything　is　back　in　place。〃　　He　pulled　forward　a　chair　for　her。　　〃If　agreeable　to　you　I　will　telephone　Ben　Clymer　that　we　will　stop　for　him　and　take　him　with　us　to　the　Caf　　St。　Marks；　or　would　you　prefer　some　other　man？〃

〃Oh；　no。〃　She　threw　her　evening　wrap　across　the　sofa　and　sat　down。　〃Are　the　girls　ready？〃

〃They　…　they　are　indisposed；　and　won't　be　able　to　go　to…night。〃

〃What！　Both　girls？〃

〃Yes；　both〃　…　firmly；　not；　however；　meeting　her　eyes。

〃Hadn't　I　better　stay　with　them？〃　she　asked。　　〃Have　you　telephoned　　or　Dr。　Stone？〃

〃There　is　no　necessity　for　giving　up　our　little　spree；〃　he　declared　cheerily。　　〃The　girls　don't　need　a　physician。　　They〃　…　with　meaning；　〃need　a　mother's　care。〃　　He　picked　up　her　coronation　scarf　from　the　floor　where　it　had　slipped　and　laid　it　across　her　bare　shoulders；　the　action　was　almost　a　caress。　　She　made　a　lovely　picture　as　she　sat　in　the　high…backed　carved　chair　in　her　chic　evening　gown；　and　as　her　soft　dark　eyes　met　his　ardent　look；　McIntyre　felt　the　hot　blood　surge　to　his　temples；　and　with　quickened　pulse　he　went　to　the　telephone　stand　and　gave　Central　a　number。

Back　in　her　chair　Mrs。　Brewster　sat　thoughtfully　watching　him。　She　had　been　an　unobserved　witness　of　the　scene　with　Barbara；　having　entered　the　library　in　time　to　hear　the　girl's　last　remarks。　It　was　not　the　first　inkling　that　she　had　had　of　their　disapproval　of　Colonel　McIntyre's　attentions　to　her；　but　it　had　hurt。

The　widow　had　become　acquainted　with　the　twins　when；　traveling　in　Europe　just　before　the　outbreak　of　the　World　War；　and　had　made　the　hasty　trip　back　to　this　country　in　their　company。　　Colonel　McIntyre　had　planned　to　bring　the　twins；　then　at　school　in　Paris；　home　himself；　but　business　had　kept　him　in　the　West　and　he　had　cabled　to　a　spinster　cousin　to　chaperon　them　on　the　trip　across　the　Atlantic　Ocean。　Nor　had　he　reached　New　York　in　time　to　see　them　disembark；　and　thus　had　missed　meeting　Mrs。　Brewster；　then　in　her　first　year　of　widowhood。

The　friendship　between　the　twins　and　Mrs。　Brewster　had　been　kept　up　through　much　correspondence；　and　the　widow　had　finally　promised；　to　come　to　Washington　for　their　debut；　visiting　her　cousins；　Dr。　and　Mrs。　Stone。　The　meeting　had　but　cemented　the　friendship　between　them；　and　at　the　twins'　urgent　request；　seconded　with　warmth　by　Colonel　McIntyre；　she　had　promised　to　spend　the　month　of　April　at　the　McIntyre　home。

The　visit　was　nearly　over。　　Mrs。　Brewster　sighed　faintly。　　There　were　two　courses　open　to　her；　immediate　departure；　or　to　continue　to　ignore　the　twins'　strangely　antagonistic　behavior　…　the　first　course　did　not　suit　Mrs。　Brewster's　plans。

Barbara；　who　had　left　the　library　through　one　of　its　seven　doors；　had　failed　to　see　Mrs。　Brewster　by　the　slightest　margin；　she　was　intent　only　on　being　with　Helen。　The　affection　between　the　twins　was　very　close；　but　while　their　facial　resemblance　was　remarkable；　their　natures　were　totally　dissimilar。　Helen；　the　elder　by　twenty　minutes；　was　studious；　shy；　and　too　much　given　to　introspection；　Barbara；　on　the　contrary；　was　whimsical　and　practical　by　turns；　with　a　great　capacity　for　enjoyment。　The　twins　had　made　their　debut　jointly　on　their　eighteenth　birthday；　and　while　both　were　popular；　Barbara　had　received　the　greater　amount　of　attention。

Barbara　tip…toed　into　the　suite　of　rooms　which　the　girls　occupied　over　the　library；　expecting　to　find　Helen　lying　on　the　lounge；　instead；　she　found　her　writing　busily　at　her　desk。　She　tossed　down　her　pen　as　her　sister　entered；　and；　taking　up　a　blotter；　carefully　laid　it　across　th