The Red Seal

aze with light and Benjamin Clymer, sitting at a small table in one corner of the dining-room, wished most heartily that it had been less crowded. Many dinner-parties were being g

lent, not to say morose, during dinner. Clymer heaved a sigh of relie

he said, looking at the gay diners who surrounded them. "And I

their waiter, and he stopp

m," he suggested. "I passed there but a moment ago and it was

s. It was much cooler than the over-heated dining room, and Kent was grateful for the subdued light given out by the artistically shaded lamps with which it was furnished. Ther

dly removed for the dance which followed dinners on Thursday nights. Clymer selected a cigar with care and, leaning back in his chair

he commented. "A week ago I would have swo

nce given at the coroner's inquest this afternoon is to be believ

s. "'Killed by a dose of aconitine by a person or persons unknown,' was

ou

sible thing." Kent's tone was grim. "And Colonel McI

s lost securities; judging from his comments after the inques

hat the forged letter, with the subsequent disappearance of McIntyre's securit

raised eyebrows in

just as surely if swallowed with suicidal int

s to break, then Kent turned to the banker, and

mmie Turnbull never forged that letter or stole McIntyre's securiti

w s

f exposure and imprisonment," argued Kent. "But there is no motive, so far as

idal mania," su

men and it is up to us to find out if Jimmie died by

irection the better to talk to Clymer, whirled around and found Detective Ferguson regarding him

nded Clymer and K

p Roch

ent. "Oh, get out!" he exclaimed incredulously. "W

quarrel led to another and then Rochester did for him. Oh, it dove-tails nicely; motive, jealous anger; opportunity, recognition in court of T

s throat. "Cut out your abominable insinua

r. Kent. I'm only telling you what that half crazy partner of yours,

wn, Kent," he said sternly. "Ferguson meant no offense

e the detective had collected suffi

s chair again. "Rochester knew his friend had heart disease and that his sudden death would

t done?" a

anded to Turnbull in the court room," explained Fergu

His theory was certainly plausible, but-"Have yo

ingers. "Remember how insistent Mr. Rochester w

ymer, deeply interested

needed no se

xamination if Miss Helen McIntyre hadn't asked for it. She knew of the

"Has Miss McIntyre subst

s dinner engagement with Clymer, had been met with the same statement, to his bitter disappointment. He most earnestly desired to see the twins and to see them together, to make on

t until you have verified them, Ferguson,"

n. "Did Rochester tell you, Ferguson, that he h

, for he disappeared Tuesday night and has not

nt gesture. "I had a telegram from Rocheste

rguson. "It was to consult you about that, that I

half rose f

City Club officials and with Police Headquarters; all declared that Rochester w

alf smoked cigar and s

hat Rochester has

n. "How about it, Mr. Kent?" The ques

uation, and Rochester's disappearance added color to the detective's charges. Why was h

eded, "but, after all, onl

ing that the telegram from Cleveland was a hoax, I concluded Ferguson might be lurking around Was

u d

't find a clew to his present whereabouts," admitted Ferguson. "So

wrath and shook his fist at the detective

k through your safe, Mr. Kent, because Rochester was your senior

But I had told you I did not know Rochester's whereabouts befor

t just possible I might find some paper which would give me a

get it open

nd it

stammered. "Why, man, I locked that safe securel

ur

tely ce

you

Sylvester left

combination

ocheste

ht the electric bulbs in the office felt warm, as if they had rec

he city," remarked Clymer. "Do you know, Ke

is pocket and took out a bunch of keys. "He le

tes?" questioned Fergu

over a year ago as a matter of convenience, for he was

tective's only comment and Clym

er in the safe which might prove

ap of paper," and the de

its contents had been t

is hand inside his coat pocket. "There was one enve

ompartment also unl

to you, Mr. Kent, to ask if it was your personal property"-he drew out the white envelope which Helen McIntyre had

rty," asserted

d opening it?"

inly; it relates to

"Would you mind telling me its conte

e had placed it in his safe-keeping-no, confound it, she had left it in the safe for Rochester-and Rochester was appa

nt spoke with deliberation. "The

tective still held, the red seal making a distin

mor is right in predicting your engageme

he moment, came a soft laugh and Mrs. Brewster looked in at them. McIntyre, st

retreat! It's much too nice to be occupied by men, only." She incli

te and scanned the Oriental hangings and lamps, and lastly, the white envelope whic

room and the rush of many feet. On common impulse Kent and the others turned toward the doorway and looked inside the dining room. Two officers of the French High

in the center of the room, Kent turned back to pick up t

, behind the draperies, and even under the rugs which covered the floor of the porch, and th

branches swayed this way and that as a figure climbed swiftly down from the porch until, reaching the fence separating the club property from its neighbor's, the man