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e drawers。 He had half completed his task; without finding any clew to the missing securities; when he was interrupted by the sound of the opening of the front door; and had but time to slam the drawers shut and pocket the keys when the night clerk of the hotel stepped inside the apartment and; closely followed by a sandy…haired man; walked into the living room。 He halted abruptly at sight of Kent。
〃Good evening; Mr。 Kent;〃 he exclaimed; and took in at a glance the orderly arrangement of the room。 〃Pardon my unceremonious entrance; but I had no idea you were here; sir; we received a telephone message that a burglar had broken in here。〃
〃You did!〃 Kent stared at him。 Was he right; after all; in his conjecture; had the man been Philip Rochester? It would seem so; for who else; after taking refuge elsewhere; would have telephoned a warning of burglars to the hotel office? 〃Have you any idea who sent the message; Mr。 Stuart?〃
〃I have not; it was an out…side call …〃 Stuart turned to his companion。 〃Sorry I brought you here on an idiotic chase; Mr。 Ferguson。〃
〃That's all right;〃 responded the detective good naturedly。 〃Would you like me to look through the apartment just to see if any one really is concealed on the premises; Mr。 Kent?〃 he asked; and added quickly; seeing Kent hesitate; 〃I am from the central office; Mr。 Stuart can vouch for me。〃
Kent's hesitation vanished。 〃I'd be obliged if you would; Ferguson。〃 As he spoke he led the way to Rochester's bedroom。 〃Come with us; Stuart;〃 as the clerk loitered behind。
〃Guess not; sir; I'm needed down at the desk; we are short…handed to…night。 Let me know how the hunt turns out;〃 and he stepped into the vestibule。 〃Good night。〃
〃Good night;〃 called Kent; and he accompanied Ferguson as far as the bathroom door; then returned to his inspection of Rochester's table。 He had just completed his task when the detective rejoined him。
〃No trace of any one;〃 the latter announced。 〃Some one put up a joke on Stuart; I imagine。 Find what you wished; sir?〃
Kent was distinctly annoyed by the question。 〃Yes;〃 he replied shortly。
Ferguson ignored his curt tone。 〃Will you spare me a few minutes of your time; Mr。 Kent?〃 he asked persuasively。 〃I won't detain you long。〃
〃Certainly。〃 Kent moved over to the chair in the window which he had occupied before and pointed to another; equally as comfortable。
〃What can I do for you?〃 he asked as Ferguson dropped back and stretched himself in the soft depths of the big chair。
〃Supply some information;〃 answered the detective promptly。 〃Just a minute;〃 as Kent started to interrupt。 〃You don't recall me; but I met you while working on the Chase case; you handled that trial in great shape;〃 Ferguson looked admiringly at his companion。 〃Lots of the praise went to your partner; Mr。 Rochester; but I know you did the work。 Now; please let me finish;〃 holding up a protesting hand。 〃I know you've carried Mr。 Rochester in your firm; he's dead wood。〃 Kent was silent。 What the detective said was only too true。 Rochester; realizing the talent and industry which characterized his younger partner; had withdrawn more and more from active practice; and had devoted himself to the social life of the National Capital。
〃This is rather a long…winded way of reaching my point;〃 finished the detective。 〃But; Mr。 Kent; I want your assistance in a puzzling case。〃
〃Go on; I'm listening。〃 As he spoke; Kent drew out his cigar case and handed it to Ferguson。 〃The matches are on the smoking stand at your elbow。 Now; what is it; Ferguson?〃
His companion did not reply at once; instead he puffed at his cigar。
〃Did you read in the paper about Mr。 Turnbull's death?〃 he asked when the cigar was drawing to his satisfaction; and as Kent nodded a silent affirmative in answer to his question; he asked another。 〃Did you know him well?〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Did he have an enemy?〃
〃Not to my knowledge。〃 Kent was watching the detective narrowly; what was he driving at? 〃On the contrary Turnbull was extremely popular。〃
〃With Colonel McIntyre?〃 Ferguson had hoped to surprise Kent with the question; but his companion's expression did not alter。
〃N…no; perhaps he was not over…popular with the colonel;〃 he admitted slowly。 〃What prompts the question; Ferguson?〃
The detective hitched his chair nearer。 〃I'm going to lay all my cards on the table;〃 he announced。 〃I need advice and you are the man to give it to me。 Listen; Mr。 Kent; this Jimmie Turnbull masquerades as a burglar night before last at the McIntyre house; is arrested; a charge brought against him for house…breaking by Miss Helen McIntyre; and shortly after he dies …〃
〃From angina pectoris;〃 finished Kent; as the detective paused。
〃So Mr。 Rochester contended;〃 admitted Ferguson。 〃We'll let that go for a minute。 Now; when Miss McIntyre saw Turnbull's body; she demanded an autopsy。 Why?〃
〃To discover the cause of death;〃 answered Kent quietly。 〃That is obvious; Ferguson。〃
〃Sure。 And why did she wish to discover it?〃 He waited a brief instant; then answered his own question。 〃Because Miss McIntyre did not agree with Rochester that Turnbull had died from angina pectoris … that is obvious; too。 Now; what made her think that?〃
〃I am sure I don't know〃 … Kent's air of candor was unmistakable and Ferguson showed his disappointment。
〃Hasn't Miss McIntyre been to see you?〃
〃No;〃 was Kent's truthful answer; Barbara was the younger twin and her sister was therefore; 〃Miss McIntyre。〃
〃You must recollect; Ferguson;〃 he added; 〃that had Miss McIntyre called to see me about poor Turnbull; I would not have discussed the interview with any one; under any conditions。〃
〃Certainly。 I am not asking you to break any confidences; in fact;〃 Ferguson smiled; 〃I must ask you to consider our conversation confidential。 Now; Mr。 Kent; does it not strike you as odd that apparently the only man in Washington who really disliked Turnbull was Colonel McIntyre; and it is his daughter who intimates that Turnbull's death was not due to natural causes?〃
〃Oh; pshaw!〃 Kent shrugged his shoulders。 〃You are taking an exaggerated view of the affair。 Colonel McIntyre is an honorable upright American; and Turnbull was the same。〃
〃People speak highly of both men;〃 acknowledged the detective。 I saw Mr。 Clymer; president of Turnbull's bank this afternoon; and he paid a fine tribute to his dead cashier。〃
Kent drew an inward sigh of relief。 Benjamin Clymer had proved true blue; he had not permitted Colonel McIntyre's desire for immediate publicity and belief in Turnbull's guilt to shake his faith in his friend。
〃You see; Ferguson; there is no motive for such a crime as you suggest;〃 he remarked。
〃Oh; for the motive;〃 … Ferguson rubbed his hands nervously together as he shot a look at his questioner; the latter's clear…cut features and manly bearing inspired confidence。 〃We know of no motive;〃 he corrected。
〃And we know of no crime having been perpetrated;〃 rapped out Kent。 〃Come; man; don't hunt a mare's nest。〃
〃Ah; but it isn't a mare's nest!〃 Ferguson remarked dryly。
Kent bent eagerly forward … 〃You have heard from the coroner …〃
〃Not yet;〃 Ferguson