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The Red Seal

Chapter 8 THE INQUEST

Word Count: 3109    |    Released on: 28/11/2017

ing, and the coroner decided that, while some had come from a personal interest in the dead man, the majority had been attracted by morbid curiosity. There was a stir amo

wed the body?

," and the m

yan to the witness stand. The policeman stood, cap in hand, while being sworn by the morgu

me, residence in Washington, and length of service in the cit

bout five o'clock?" asked Penfield, fir

plained O'Ryan. "My

take in the McIn

oes,

n the vicinity of the residence prio

he lady called to me that I

te what was

nd to come and get him, and I did so," and O'Ryan expanded his c

urglar res

ry peaceably and not

hat the burglar was

glar looked the part he was masquerading, and his make-up was perfect," ended O'Ryan

inward foreboding as to its result. On what developed there, he was convinced, hung Jimmie Turnbull's good name. After his interview with Detective Ferguson that morning, he had wired Philip Roche

he McIntyre house?" th

pt the burglar an

ny doors or win

never look

y n

oked anxiously at the coroner. Would he make him out derelict in his duty? It would seriously affect his s

iss McInty

n her blue wrapper and her hair down h

t fully dre

, s

?" asked Penfield. It was one of the questions which Kent had expe

strate his meaning. "She kept begging me to hurry and get the burglar out of the house, and after telling h

in the house?" qu

dly made any light at all," explained O'Ryan; he was particular as to details. "I used handcuffs on the

ou on the way to

et, only answered the questions the desk sergea

. He was followed by the police sergeant who had been on desk duty at the Eighth Precinct on Tuesday morning. His testimony simply corrob

ce water; the weather had turned unseasonably hot, and the room in which inque

e door leading to the room where sat the witnesses. There was instant craning of necks to ca

ich had been so marked at their interview that morning. She was dressed with fastidious taste, and as she mounted the platform after

nnounced clearly. "Daughter

John Smith, in your house on Tuesday morning, Miss McIntyre," directed th

of the window recesses and watch for her arrival. As I entered the library I saw a figure steal across the room and disappear inside a closet. I was very frighte

ng under a lamp-post. It took but a minute to call him. The policeman o

ion. At its end he threw down his pencil and spoke briefly to the deputy coroner, wh

und before enter

about the hous

. "I lay down on my bed soon after dinner, not feeling v

our did yo

'clock, or a

before you discovered the sup

ation was faint. "Abou

nusual sounds in th

ant and Kent's heart sank; if he had only thou

you during

afraid I would drop off to sl

lted his notes before

se beside you and your

plied. "Grimes, the butler; Martha, our maid; Jane, the chambermaid; Hope, our cook; and Thomas,

yourself on Monday night

rvants were in also, except Thomas, who had as

question in an impressive manner. "On discoveri

ow, saw the policeman, and called him in." She shot a keen look at the coroner, and added softly, "Th

Miss McIntyre, why did the prisoner so obligingly walk

e explained. "There are seven doors opening from our library; the prisoner may

glar," agreed Penfield. "But was not Mr. Turnbull acqua

with dignity. "As to his power of observation and his bump

slowly. "Were you aware of the

" she responded. "He said or did nothing after his ar

hot a look at the deputy coroner b

imately, and yet you did n

ardly she longed for the glass of ice water which she saw standing on the reporters' ta

moment before continuing his questions

m you examined the windows of your house," he said

the little reception r

or is the

round

ttance through the window without attracting atte

es

ut to you. Why did Mr. Turnbull come to your house-a house where he wa

the spectators bent for

a," she explained. "She bet him that he could no

her answer before

ll you who he was when you

ion, for I do not know his reason. If he had only confide

ield shot the

citement of his trip to the police station and the scene

ed her for a mo

the platform." Turning back to his table and the papers thereon he failed to see the twins pass each other in the aisle. The

yre, I desire your sister

attention, and he leaned eagerly forward, his eyes following each mov

ce court on Tuesday morning for a second only, and then his attention had been entirely centered on Helen.

his throat and commenced his examinat

by Mr. and Mrs.

our did yo

f past five or a fe

let y

sist

see the

sister told me of her adventure a

s, and ran his eyes down it. "Your sister has testified that James Turnbull went to you

ing detected by our new police dogs," exclaimed Barbara slowly. She had stopped twi

scover his prese

he household," she said. "I cannot answer tha

re the d

rage in th

ight?" he

ted, "or sleep in the boudoir, which i

in the house on

hem on my return

n, Miss McIntyre," the coroner point

r, Grimes, say that he found the dogs in the cellar. Mr. Turnbull's shoc

over the dogs which brought about the wh

d at his tone,

Father sent them out to our country place Tuesday a

what

-'they are

. Turnbull broke into the house"-Coroner Penfield

d it with the same convulsive strength that she clung to the

llar they could not possibly hear Mr. Turnbull moving about the house; if they were roaming ab

amiliar with his

em for an hour, and later in the afterno

r told you of finding the burglar and his arrest, did you not, in

n proper person; it never dawned on me that he would resort to disguise. Besides," as the coroner started to make a remark, "we have

writing with feverish haste, had picked up a fre

o the police court," he said.

es

his identity in

-she closed her eyes for a second, for the room and the rows of faces confronting her were mixed in a maddenin

the witness room, I may call you again," and he

watched her departure. H

aced stranger, and Kent gave a mumbled "N

ness was a grave criminal offense. He, alone, among all the spectators, had re

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