the red seal(红印)-第6部分
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took out his brief bag and laid it on the desk in front of him together with
the package of letters。 Instead of opening the letters immediately； he
tilted back in his chair and regarded the opposite wall in deep thought。
Philip Rochester could not have selected a worse time to absent himself；
three important cases were on the calendar for immediate trial and much
depended on the firm's successful handling of them。 Kent swore softly
under his breath； his last warning to Rochester； that he would dissolve
their partnership if the older man continued to neglect his practice； had
been given only a month before and upon Kent's return from eight months'
service in the Judge Advocate General's Department in France。 Apparently
his warning had fallen on deaf ears and Rochester was indulging in
another periodic spree； for so Kent concluded； recalling the unsteady
penmanship of the note handed to him by the new clerk； John Sylvester。
Kent was still frowning at the opposite wall when a faint knock
sounded； and at his call Sylvester entered。
〃Here are the letters received this morning； sir； and type…written copies
of the answers to yesterday's correspondence which Mr。 Rochester
dictated before leaving；〃 Sylvester explained as he placed the papers on
Kent's desk。 〃If you will o。k。 them； I will mail them at once。〃
Kent went through the letters with care； and the new clerk rose in his
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THE RED SEAL
estimation as he read the excellent dictation of the clearly typed answers。
〃These will do admirably；〃 he announced。 〃Sit down and I will reply
to the other letters。〃
At the end of an hour Sylvester closed his stenographic note book and
collected the correspondence； by that time scattered over Kent's desk。
〃I'll have these notes ready for your signature before lunch；〃 he said as
he picked up a newspaper from the floor where it had tumbled during
Kent's search for some particu1ar letter heads。 〃I brought in the morning
paper； sir； thought perhaps you had not seen it。〃
〃Thanks。〃 Kent swung his chair nearer the window and opened the
newspaper。 He had purchased a copy when walking through Union
Station on his arrival； but had left it in the cafeteria where he had snatched
a cup of coffee and hot rolls before hurrying to his office。
He read a column devoted to international affairs； scanned an account
of a senatorial wrangle； and was about to turn to the second page；
whistling cheerily； when his attention was arrested by the headings：
BANK CASHIER DIES IN POLICE COURT JAMES
TURNBULL； MISTAKEN FOR BURGLAR； SUFFERS FATAL
ATTACK OF ANGINA PECTORIS
Kent's whistle stopped abruptly； and clutching the paper in both hands；
he devoured the short account printed under the scare heads：
〃While masquerading as a burglar on a wager； James Turnbull；
cashier of the Metropolis Trust Company； was arrested by Officer
O'Ryan at an early hour yesterday morning in the residence of
Colonel Charles McIntyre。
〃Officer O'Ryan conducted his prisoner to the 8th Precinct
Police Station； and later he was arraigned in the police court。 The
Misses McIntyre appeared in person to prefer the charges against
the supposed burglar； who； on being sworn； gave the name of John
Smith。
〃Philip Rochester； the well known criminal lawyer； was
assigned by the court to defend the prisoner。 Upon the evidence
submitted Judge Mackall held the prisoner for trial by the grand
jury。
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THE RED SEAL
〃It was just after the Judge's announcement that 'John Smith；'
then sitting in the prisoners cage； was seized with the attack of angina
pectoris which ended so fatally a few minutes later。 It was not
until after he had expired that those rendering him medical assistance
became aware that he was James Turnbull in disguise。
〃James Turnbull was a native of Washington； his father； the late
Hon Josiah Turnbull of Connecticut； having made this city his
permanent home in the early '90s。 Mr。 Turnbull was looked
upon as one of the rising young men in banking circles； he was also
prominent socially； was a member of the Alibi； Metropolitan； and
Country Clubs； and until recently was active in all forms of
athletics； when his ill…health precluded active exercise。
〃Officer O'Ryan； who was greatly shocked by the fatal
termination to Mr。 Turnbull's rash wager； stated to the representatives
of the press that Mr。 Turnbull gave no hint of his identity while
being interrogated at the 8th Precinct Station。 Friends attribute Mr。
Turnbull's disinclination to reveal himself to the court； to his
enjoyment of a practical joke； not realizing that the resultant
excitement of the scene would react on his weak heart。
〃Mr。 Turnbull is survived by a great aunt； he had no nearer
relatives living。 It is a singular coincidence that the lawyer
appointed by the court to defend Turnbull was his intimate friend；
Philip Rochester； who made his home with the deceased。〃
Kent read the column over and over； then； letting the paper slip to the
floor； sat back in his chair； too dumb…founded for words。 Jimmie Turnbull
arrested as a burglar in the home of the girl he loved on charges preferred
by her； and defended in court by his intimate friend； both of whom were
unaware of his identity！ Kent rumpled his fair hair until it stood upright。
And Jimmie's death had followed almost immediately as the result of
over…excitement！
Kent's eyes grew moist； he had been very fond of the eccentric；
lovable bank cashier； whose knack of performing many a kindly act；
unsolicited； had endeared him to friends and acquaintances alike。 Kent had
seen much of him after his return from France； for Jimmie's attention to
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THE RED SEAL
Helen McIntyre had been only second to Kent's devotion to the latter's
sister； Barbara。 The two men had one bond in common。 Colonel
McIntyre disliked them and discouraged their calling； to the secret fury of
both； but love had found a way … Kent's eyes kindled at the recollection of
Barbara's half…shy； wholly tender reception of his ardent pleading。
Turnbull's courtship had met with a set…back where he had least
expected it … Philip Rochester had fallen deeply in love with Helen and；
encouraged by her father； had pressed his suit with ardor。 Frequent
quarrels between the two close friends had been the outcome； and Jimmie
had confided to Kent； before the latter left on the business trip to Chicago
from which he had returned that morning； that the situation had become
intolerable and he had notified Rochester that he would no longer share his
apartment with him； and to look for other quarters as quickly as possible。
So buried was Kent in his thoughts that he never heard Sylvester's
knock； and it was not until the clerk stood at his elbow that he awoke from
his absorption。
〃A lady to see you； Mr。 Kent；〃 he announced。 〃Shall I show her in？〃
〃Certainly … her name？〃
〃She gave none。〃 Sylvester paused on his way back to the door。 〃It is
one of the Misses McIntyre。〃
〃Good Lord！〃 Kent was on his feet； straightening his tie and brushing
his rumpled hair。 〃Here； wait a minute 〃… clutching a whisk broom in a
frantic endeavor to remove some of the signs of travel which still clung to
him。 But he had only opportunity for one dab at his left shoulder before
Barbara entered the office。 All else forgotten； Kent tossed down the whisk
broom and the next instant he had clasped her hand in both of his； his eyes
telling more eloquently than his stumbling words； his joy at seeing her
again。
〃This is a business call；〃 she stated demurely； on you and Mr。
Rochester。〃 Her lovely eyes held a glint of mischief as she mentioned
Kent's partner； then her expression grew serious。 〃I want legal advice。〃
〃I am afraid you will have to put up with me；〃 Kent moved his chair
closer to the one she had selected by the desk。 〃Rochester is out of
town。〃
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