The Red Seal

kies and intermittent rain, refle

ad found there on his arrival, his interview with Detective Ferguson, and above all the handkerchief, saturated with amyl nitrite, and bearing the small embroidered letter "B"-the initial, insignificant in size, but

" on the writing pad. He tore off the sheet and crumpled it into a small ball. "No, my notes are unimportant." Kent unlocked his desk and took some manuscript f

telephones regularly once an hour to ask for Mr. Rochester's address and when he is expected at

s all now, Sylvester. I must be in court b

a second later. "Miss McIntyre to see you," he an

r he noted with concern her air of distress and the troubled look in her eyes. Her composed manner was

d, and so I have come-" she pressed one hand to her side as if she found breathing difficult and Kent

glass. "Why didn't you telephone and I would have called on

ss she gazed about the office and her face brightened at sight of a safe sta

owned by the firm, you know," explained

vate papers there, as

and threw open the massive door which he had unlocked on entering the offic

en crossed the room a

lip's section

t touched the s

e also the private door leading directly into the outside corridor, and the one opening into the closet. Conv

said, and as he hesitated, she added pleading

ntense excitement of some sort, which might at any moment break into hy

t the keys he had found so useful the night before, and selected one that resembled the key to his own compartment, and inserted it in the lock. To his surprise he discovered t

elen," he remarked, extending i

he stated. "That is all that i

rge red seal which bore the one letter "B." He dropped the envelope ins

not do for your sister Barbara," his manner grew earnest. "I-" he flushed; baring his feelings to another, no matter how sympathet

d her hand, and he held it in a firm clasp for a second

, was," he reminded her gently. "I cannot really

relief, which had lighted her face a moment before,

immie did not die from angina pec

es

oroner to make an investigation." She paused again, then added with mo

t understand him fully. "But to constitute a crime, it has to be proved first, that the act has been committed, and second, that a guilt

s so long in replying, and he was about to

rd from Coron

eiving an answer to his question showed in his manner. "I went to Penfield's house last night, but he had been called awa

denly she turned and looked full at Kent, her eyes burning feverishly. "I would give all I pos

sympathy and doubt.-What did h

m angina pectoris," he said, "a

u m

ici

dded, "While I have not seen Coroner Penfield I did hear last night what killed Jimmie." H

d that it is given for heart trouble. How"-she

was watching her closely. "The handkerchief Jimmie was seen to use

ch wracked her body. Kent laid a tender hand on her shoulder, then concluding it was better for her

d he offer Helen? If he encouraged her belief in his theory that Jimmie committed suicide he would have to establish a motive for suicide, and that motive might prove to be the theft of Colonel McIntyre's valuable securities

us! What more likely than that Jimmie, while in the McIntyre house before his arrest as a burglar, had picked up one of Barbara's handkerchiefs, stuffed it inside his pock

evidence, and he was convinced that he had found the solution to the problem, but how impart it to

o the instrument; when he hung up the receiver Helen

he next room," he said, k

were hard and dry. "Does

e outer office." Observing her indecision, Kent opened the door leading directly

dor to whisper feverishly in Kent's ear, "Promise me y

o walk away when a telegraph boy appeared around the corner of the corridor and t

ating the line on the receipt sl

t was from Cleveland and dated the night before. The messa

ld out the telegram so

looking at her Kent was astounded at the flash of terror which shone for an insta

lephone message to show Colonel McIntyre into Kent's office. Not only Colonel McIntyre followed the clerk into the room but Benj

he death of Turnbull as he had gleaned from Ferguson, and the events of the night be

artment last night as you spo

no trace of your s

as he smiled sarcastically. "

I don't know just w

Kent, I have allowed you until Saturday night to find the securities and either clear Turnbull's name or ad

ll's innocence before that

t brought but further proof of Jimmie's guilt? That McInty

nd Kent felt the blood mount to his temples, but he was determined not t

sphere was getting strained

n the present whereabouts of the securities. I found, on making inquiries, that they have not been of

k from one hand to the other in marked impatienc

" he remarked. "Does Rochest

waited a few minutes ago," explained Kent as he acco

k," McIntyre's manner grew more cordial. "Does Roc

fe." Kent was becoming restless under so man

nded him before stepping into the corridor. "We'l

ord of thanks the lawyer went over to his desk and, gathering such papers as he required at the court house, he thrust them

reason for her belief that Jimmie Turnbull had been the victim of foul play. And Colonel McIntyre had given h

ildly from the doorway. "I knocked

hich to reach the court house in time for his appointment. Not even waiting for the clerk's reply he snatched up his brief c

see you, Mr. Kent," the clerk was thrust aside and Dete

oroner Penfield has just called an inquest for this afternoon to inquire into Jimmie

ent, his appointment forgotten in the

," Ferguson smiled; then grew seriou

d picked up the telegram. "The

e," placing his hand on his companion, "came to serve Mr. Rochester with