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！
ant comfort against the tufted upholstery before she ran her well…manicured finger under the flap of the envelope。 A slip of paper fell into her lap as she took out the contents of the envelope and she let it rest there while scanning the closely typewritten lines on the Metropolis Trust Company stationery。
Dear Mrs。 Brewster； she read。 Our bank teller； Mr。 McDonald； has questioned the genuineness of the signature on the inclosed check。 An important business engagement prevents my calling to…night； but please stop at the bank early to…morrow morning。
I feel that you would prefer to have a personal investigation made rather than have us place the matter in the hands of the police。
Yours faithfully； BENJAMIN A。 CLYMER。
The widow read the note a number of times； then bethinking herself； she picked up the canceled check still lying in her lap； and turned it over。 Long and intently she studied the signature … the peculiarly characteristic formation of the letter 〃B〃 caught and held her attention。 As the seconds ticked themselves into minutes she sat immovable； her face as white as the hand on which she had bowed her head。
Across the hall Helen McIntyre tossed from one side to the other in her soft bed； her restless longing to get up was growing stronger and stronger。 While Mrs。 Brewster's deft fingers and the cooling cologne had stopped the throbbing in her temples； they had brought only temporary relief in their train and not the sleep which Helen craved。 She strained her ears to discover the time by the ticking of her clock； but either it was between the half or quarters of an hour； or it had stopped； for no chimes sounded。 With a gasp of exasperation； Helen flung back the bed clothes and sat up。 Switching on the light by the side of her bed she hunted for a book； but not finding any； she contemplated for a short space of time a pair of rubber…heeled shoes just showing themselves under the edge of a chair。 With sudden decision she left the bed and dressed rapidly。 It was not until she had put on her rubber…heeled shoes that she paused。 Her hesitation； however； was but brief。 Stepping to the bureau； she pulled out a lower drawer and running her hand inside； touched a concealed spring。 From the cavity thus exposed she took a small automatic pistol； and with a stealthy glance about her； crept from the room。
The library had been vacant fully an hour when a mouse； intent on making a raid on the candy which Barbara had carelessly left lying loose on one of the tables； paused as a faint creaking sound broke the stillness； then as the noise increased； the mouse scurried back to its hole。 The noise resembled the turning of rusty hinges and the soft thud of one piece of wood striking another。 There was a strained silence； then； from out of the darkness appeared a tiny stream of light directed full on a white envelope bearing a large red seal。
The next instant the envelope was plucked from the hand holding it； and a figure lay crumpled on the floor from the blow of a descending weapon。
It was closely approaching one o'clock in the morning before Mrs。 Brewster stirred from her comfortable bedroom chair。 Taking up her electric torch； which she kept always by the side of her bed； she walked quickly down the staircase and into the pitch dark library。 Directing her torch…light so that she steered a safe course among the chairs and tables； she approached one of the pieces of carved Venetian furniture and reached out her hand to touch a trap…door。 As she looked for the spring she was horrified to see a thin stream of blood oozing through the carving until； reaching the letter 〃B；〃 it outlined that initial in sinister red。
Scream after scream broke from Mrs。 Brewster。 She was swaying upon her feet by the time Colonel McIntyre and his daughter Helen reached the library。
〃Margaret！ What is it？〃 McIntyre demanded。 〃Calm yourself； my darling。〃
The frenzied woman shook off his soothing hand。
〃See； see！〃 she cried and pointed with her torch。
〃She means the Venetian casket；〃 explained Helen； who had paused before joining them to switch on the light。
Colonel McIntyre gazed in amazement at the piece of furniture； then catching sight of the blood…stain； he raised the small trap…door or peep hole； in the top of the oblong box which stood breast high； supported on a beautifully carved base。
There was a breathless pause； then McIntyre unceremoniously jerked the electric torch from Mrs。 Brewster's nervous fingers and turned its rays of the interior of the casket。 Stretched at full length lay the figure of a man； and from a wound in his temple flowed a steady stream of blood。
〃Good God！〃 McIntyre staggered back against Helen。 〃Grimes！〃
CHAPTER XVII
A QUESTION OF H0USE…BREAKING
The genial president of the Metropolis Trust Company was late。 Mrs。 Brewster； waiting in his well…appointed office； restrained her ill…temper only by an exertion of will…power。 She detested being kept waiting； and that morning she had many errands to attend to before the luncheon hour。
〃May I use your telephone？〃 she asked Mr。 Clymer's secretary； and the young man rose with alacrity from his desk。 Mrs。 Brewster never knew what it was to lack attention； even her own sex were known on occasions to give her gowns and； （what captious critics termed her 〃frivolous conduct〃） undivided attention。
〃Can I look up the number for you？〃 the secretary asked as Mrs。 Brewster took up the telephone book and fumbled for the gold chain of her lorgnette。
〃Oh； thank you；〃 her smile showed each pretty dimple。 〃I wish to speak to Mr。 Kent； of the firm of Rochester and Kent。〃
〃Harry Kent？〃 The young secretary dropped the book without looking at it； and gave a number to the operator； and then handed the instrument to Mrs。 Brewster。
〃Mr。 Kent not in； did you say？〃 asked the widow。 〃 Who is speaking？ Ah； Mr。 Sylvester … has Mr。 Rochester returned？ … Both partners away〃 。 。 。 she paused 。 。 。 〃I'll call later … Mrs。 Brewster； good morning。〃
Mrs。 Brewster hung up the receiver and turned to the secretary。
〃I don't believe I can wait any longer；〃 she began； and paused； as Benjamin Clymer appeared in the doorway。
〃So sorry to be late；〃 he exclaimed； shaking her hand warmly。 〃And I am sorry； also； to have called you here on such an errand。〃
Mrs。 Brewster waited until the young secretary had withdrawn out of earshot before replying； then taking the chair Clymer placed for her near his own； she opened her gold mesh bag and took out a canceled check and laid it on the desk in front of the bank president。
〃Your bank honored this check？〃 she asked Yes。〃
〃Who presented it？〃
Clymer pressed the buzzer and his secretary came at once。
〃Ask Mr。 McDonald to step here；〃 and as the man vanished on his errand； he addressed Mrs。 Brewster。 〃How is Colonel McIntyre this morning？〃
Mrs。 Brewster's eyes opened at the question。 〃Quite well；〃 she replied； and prompted by her curiosity added： 〃What made you think him ill？〃
〃I stopped at Dr。 Stone's office on the way down town； and his boy told me the doctor had been sent for by Colonel