the red seal(红印)-第27节
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〃Oh； that！〃 She turned to see what he was talking about。 〃That
rouge belongs to Margaret Brewster。〃
McIntyre promptly changed the conversation。 〃Have you had your
breakfast？〃 he asked。
〃Yes； Grimes took the tray down some time ago。〃 Helen watched her
father fidget with his watch fob for several minutes； then asked with
characteristic directness。 〃What do you wish？〃
〃To see that you have proper medical attention if you are ill；〃 he
returned promptly。 〃How would a week or ten days at Atlantic City suit
you and Barbara？〃
〃Not at all。〃 Helen sat up from her reclining position on the pillows。
〃You forget； father； that we have a house…guest； Margaret Brewster is not
leaving until May。〃
〃I had not forgotten；〃 curtly。 〃I propose that she go with us。〃
A faint 〃Oh！〃 escaped Helen； otherwise she made no comment； and
McIntyre； after contemplating her for a minute； looked away。
〃Either go to Atlantic City with us； Helen； or resume your normal；
everyday life；〃 he said shortly。 〃I am tired of heroics； Jimmie Turnbull
was hardly the man to inspire them。〃
〃Stop！〃 Helen's voice rang out imperiously。 〃I will not permit one
word said in disparagement of Jimmie； least of all from you； father。 Wait；〃
as he attempted to speak。 〃I do not know what traits of character I may
have inherited from you； but I have all mother's loyalty； and … that loyalty
belongs to Jimmie。〃
McIntyre's eyes shifted under her gaze。
〃I regret very much this obsession；〃 he said rising。 〃I will not attempt
to reason with you again； Helen； but 〃… he made no effort to lower his
voice； 〃the world … our world will soon know what manner of man James
Turnbull was； of that I am determined。〃
〃And I 〃… Helen faced her father proudly … 〃I will leave no stone
unturned to defend his memory。〃
Her father wheeled about。 〃In doing so； see that you do not
compromise yourself；〃 he remarked coldly； and before the infuriated girl
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could answer； he slammed the door shut and stalked downstairs。
Some half hour later he opened the door of Rochester and Kent's law
office and would have walked unceremoniously into Kent's private office
had not John Sylvester stepped forward from behind his desk in the corner。
〃Good morning； Colonel；〃 he said civilly。 〃Mr。 Kent is not here。 Do
you wish to leave any message？〃
〃Oh； good morning； Sylvester；〃 McIntyre's manner was brusque。
〃When do you expect Mr。 Kent？〃
〃In about twenty minutes； Colonel。〃 Sylvester glanced at the wall
clock。 〃Won't you sit down？〃
McIntyre took the chair and planted it by the window。 Never a very
patient man； he waited for Kent with increasing irritation； and at the end of
half an hour his temper was uppermost。 〃Give me something to write
with；〃 he demanded of Sylvester。 Accepting the clerk's fountain pen
without thanks； he walked over to the center table and； drawing out his
leather wallet； took from it a visiting card and； stooping over； wrote
You have but thirty…six hours remaining。
McIntyre。
〃See that Mr。 Kent gets this card；〃 he directed。 〃No； don't put it
there；〃 irascibly； as the clerk laid the card on top of a pile of letters。
〃Take it into Mr。 Kent's office and put it on his desk。〃
There was that about Colonel McIntyre which inspired complete
obedience to his wishes； and Sylvester followed his directions without
further question。
As the clerk stepped into Kent's office McIntyre saw a woman sitting
by the empty desk。 She turned her head on hearing footsteps and their
glances met。 A faint exclamation broke from her。
〃Margaret！〃 McIntyre strode past Sylvester。 〃What are you doing
here？〃
Mrs。 Brewster's ready laugh hid all sign of embarrassment。 〃Must
you know？〃 she asked archly。 〃That is hardly fair to Barbara。〃
〃So Barbara sent you here with a message！〃 Mrs。 Brewster treated
his remark as a statement and not a question； and briskly changed the
subject。
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〃I can't wait any longer；〃 she pouted。 〃Please tell Mr。 Kent that I am
sorry not to have seen him。〃
〃I will； madam。〃 Sylvester placed McIntyre's card in the center of
Kent's desk and flew to open the door for Mrs。 Brewster。
As the widow stepped into the corridor she brushed by an over…dressed
woman； whose cheap finery gave clear indication of her tastes。 Hardly
noticing another's presence she turned and took McIntyre's arm and they
strolled off together； her soft laugh floating back to where Mrs。 Sylvester
stood talking to her husband。
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CHAPTER XIII
THE FACE AT THE WINDOW
Harry Kent rang the doorbell at the McIntyre residence for the fifth
time； and wondered what had become of the faithful Grimes； the butler
was usually the soul of promptness； and to keep a caller waiting on the
doorstep would； in his category； rank as the height of impropriety。 As
Kent again raised his hand toward the bell； the door swung open suddenly
and Barbara beckoned to him to come inside。
〃The bell is out of order；〃 she explained。 〃I saw you from the
window。 Hurry； and Grimes won't know that you are here；〃 and she
darted ahead of him into the reception room。 Kent followed more slowly；
he was hurt that she had had no other greeting for him。
〃Babs； aren't you glad to see me？〃 he asked wistfully。
For an instant her eyes were lighted by her old sunny smile。
〃You know I am；〃 she whispered softly。 As his arms closed around
her and their lips met in a tender kiss she added fervently； 〃Oh； Harry； why
didn't you make me marry you in the happy bygone days？〃
〃I asked you often enough；〃 he declared。
〃Will you go with me to Rockville at once？〃 Her face changed and
she drew back from him。 〃No；〃 she said。 〃It is selfish of me to think of
my own happiness now。〃
〃How about mine？〃 demanded Kent with warmth。 〃If you won't
consider yourself； consider me。〃
〃I do。〃 She looked out of the window to conceal sudden blinding
tears。 There was a hint of hidden tragedy in her lovely face which went
to Kent's heart。
〃Sweetheart；〃 his voice was very tender； 〃is there nothing I can do for
you？〃
〃Nothing；〃 she shook her head drearily。 〃This family must 'dree its
weir。'
Kent studied her in silence； that she was in deadly earnest he
recognized； she was no hysterical fool or given to sentimental twaddle。
〃You came to me on Wednesday to ask my aid in solving Jimmie
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Turnbull's death；〃 he said。 〃I have learned certain facts …〃
Barbara sprang to her feet。 〃Wait；〃 she cautioned。 〃Let me close
the door。 Now； go on …〃 with her customary impetuosity she reseated
herself。
〃Before I do so； I must tell you； Babs； that I recognized the fraud you
and Helen perpetrated at the coroner's inquest yesterday afternoon。〃
〃Fraud？〃
〃Yes；〃 quietly。 〃I am aware that you impersonated Helen on the
witness stand and vice versa。 You took a frightful risk。〃
〃I don't see why；〃 she protested。 〃In my testimony I told nothing but
the truth。〃
〃I never doubted you told the truth regarding the events of Monday
night as you saw them； but th
