the red seal(红印)-第31节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Rochester had written the letter； given it to his room…mate； Turnbull； and
the latter； thinking it genuine； had secured the McIntyre securities and
handed them over to Rochester？ The idea took Kent's breath away； and
yet； the more he contemplated it； the more feasible it appeared。
〃What's the date on those checks？〃 demanded Kent。
〃Tuesday of this week … the day Jimmie Turnbull died。〃 Clymer
turned them over。 〃They are drawn payable to cash； and bear no
endorsement； which shows Rochester must have presented them himself。〃
Harding and Taylor glanced significantly at each other； but neither
spoke。 Suddenly Kent pushed back his chair and rose without ceremony。
〃Don't go； Kent。〃 Clymer took up some papers。 〃There's a matter …
〃
〃It will keep。〃 Kent's mouth was set and determined。 〃I give you
my word of honor that all Rochester's honest debts will be paid by the firm
if necessary； I will obligate myself to that extent；〃 he paused。 〃As for
you fellows；〃 turning to Harding and Taylor who had also risen。 〃Give
me twenty…four hours …〃
〃What for？〃 they chorused。
〃To 1ocate Philip Rochester；〃 and waiting for no answer Kent bolted
out of the office。
115
… Page 116…
THE RED SEAL
CHAPTER XV
WHEN THE LIGHT FAILED
The city lights were springing up block T after block along
Pennsylvania Avenue as Detective Ferguson left that busy thoroughfare
and hurried to the Saratoga。 He stepped inside the lobby of the apartment
house a full minute before his appointment with its manager； and went at
once to look him up。 Before he could carry out his purpose he was
joined by Harry Kent。
〃Finley had to go out；〃 the latter explained。
〃I told him I would go up to Rochester's apartment with you。〃
Ferguson thoughtfully caressed his clean…shaven jaw for a second； then
came to a rapid decision。
〃Lead the way； sir；〃 he said。 〃I'll follow。〃 Kent found him a silent
companion while in the elevator and when walking down the corridor to
Rochester's apartment； but once inside the living room； with the outer door
tightly closed； Ferguson tossed down his hat and his whole demeanor
changed。
〃Sit down； Mr。 Kent。〃 He selected a chair near Rochester's desk for
himself； as Kent found another。 〃Let's thrash this thing out； are you
working with me or against me？〃
〃Why do you ask？〃 Kent's surprise at the question was evident。
〃Because every time I arrange to examine this apartment or inquire
into Rochester's whereabouts you show up。〃 Ferguson's small eyes were
trying to out…stare Kent； but the latter's clear gaze did not drop before his。
〃Are you aiding Philip Rochester in his efforts to elude arrest？〃
〃I am not；〃 declared Kent emphatically。 〃What prompts the
question？〃
〃The fact that you are Rochester's partner；〃 Ferguson pointed out； his
manner was still stiff。 〃It would be only natural for you to help him
disappear out of friendship； or〃 … with a sidelong glance … 〃from a desire
to hush up a scandal。〃
〃On the contrary I want Rochester found and every bit of evidence
against him sifted out and aired；〃 retorted Kent。 〃Two heads are better
116
… Page 117…
THE RED SEAL
than one； Ferguson； let us work together。 Rochester must be located
within the next twenty…four hours。〃
Ferguson debated a moment； but Kent's speech as well as his manner
indicated his sincerity； and the detective shook off his suspicions。 〃Have
you had any further news of your partner？〃 he asked。
〃No； that is〃 … recalling the scene in the bank early that afternoon …〃
nothing that relates to Rochester's present whereabouts。 Now； Ferguson；
to put your charges against Rochester in concrete form； you believe that he
was insanely jealous of Jimmie Turnbull； that he recognized him in the
Police Court in his burglar disguise； slipped a dose of aconitine in a glass
of water which Turnbull drank； and after declaring that his friend had died
from angina pectoris； disappeared。 Is that all the case you have against
him？〃
〃At present； yes；〃 admitted the detective cautiously。
〃All circumstantial evidence …〃
〃But it will hold in court …〃
〃Ah； will it？〃 questioned Kent。 〃There's one big flaw in your case；
Ferguson； the poison used to kill Turnbull。〃
〃Aconitine？〃
〃Exactly。 Your theory is that Rochester slipped the poison in the
glass of water on recognizing Turnbull in the police court； now； it is
stretching probability to suppose that Rochester； a strong healthy man； was
carrying that drug around in his vest pocket。〃
Ferguson sat forward in his chair； his eyes glittering。 〃Do you mean
to say that you think the murder of Turnbull was premeditated and not
committed on the spur of the moment？〃 he asked。
〃The fact that aconitine was used convinces me of that；〃 answered
Kent。
Ferguson thought a moment。 〃If that is the case；〃 he said； grudgingly；
〃it sort of squashes the charge against Philip Rochester。〃
〃It would seem to；〃 agreed Kent。 〃But every shred of evidence I find
points to Rochester as the guilty man。〃
Ferguson edged his chair forward。 〃What have you discovered？〃 he
demanded eagerly。
117
… Page 118…
THE RED SEAL
〃This；〃 Kent spoke with increased earnestness。 〃That Philip
Rochester is apparently a bankrupt； that he has over…drawn his private
account at the Metropolis Trust Company； and withdrawn our partnership
funds from the same bank。〃 〃Your partnership funds！〃 echoed the
detective； eyeing Kent sharply。 〃How did you come to let him do that？〃
〃I was not aware that he had done so until Mr。 Clymer told me of the
transaction this afternoon；〃 answered Kent。
〃You did not know〃 … Ferguson looked at him in dawning
comprehension。 〃You mean Rochester absconded with the funds？〃
〃Some one forged my name to checks drawn on the firm's account；〃
Kent continued。 〃I understood they were made payable to cash and
presented by Rochester on the day of Turnbull's death。〃
Ferguson whistled as a slight vent to his feelings。 〃So you suspect
Rochester of being a forger？〃 Kent made no reply； and he added； after a
moment's deliberation； 〃What bearing has this discovery on Turnbull's
death； aside from Rochester's need of funds to make a clean
disappearance？〃
〃If it is true that Rochester was financially embarrassed and forged
checks on the Metropolis Trust Company； it establishes another motive for
the killing of Turnbull；〃 argued Kent。 〃Turnbull was cashier of that
bank。〃
〃I see； he may have discovered the forgeries … but hold on。〃 Ferguson
checked his rapid speech。 〃When were these forged checks presented at
the bank？〃
〃Tuesday afternoon。〃
Ferguson's face fell。 〃Pshaw！ man； that was after Turnbull's death …
how could he detect the forgeries？〃
Kent did not reply at once； instead； he glanced keenly about the living
room。 The detective had only switched on one of the reading lamps and
the greater part was in shadow。 It was a pleasant and home…like room；
and Kent was conscious of a keener pang for the loss of Jimmie Turnbull
and the disappearance of Philip Rochester； as he gazed around。 The
lawyer and the bank cashier had been； until that winter； congenial
comrades； sharing their business success and their apartment in complete
118
… Page 119…
THE RED SEAL
accord； and now a shadow as black as
