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！
〃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 accord； and now a shadow as black as that enveloping the unlighted apartment hung over their good names； threatening one or the other with the charge of forgery and of murder。 Kent sighed and turned back to the silent detective。
〃I can best answer your question by telling you that the day after Jimmie Turnbull died Mr。 Clymer sent for me；〃 he began。 〃I found Colonel McIntyre with him and was told that the Colonel had lost valuable securities left at the bank。 These securities had been given by the treasurer of the bank to Jimmie Turnbull when he presented a letter from Colonel McIntyre instructing the bank to surrender the securities to Jimmie。〃
〃Well？〃 questioned Ferguson。 〃Go on； sir。〃
〃That letter was a forgery。〃 Kent sat back and watched the detective's rapidly changing expression。 〃And no trace has been found of the Colonel's securities； last known to be in the possession of Turnbull。〃
〃Great heavens！〃 ejaculated Ferguson。
〃Which was the forger … Turnbull or Rochester？〃
Kent shook a puzzled head。 〃That is for us to discover；〃 he said soberly。 〃Colonel McIntyre contends that Turnbull forged the letter and stole the securities； then fearing his guilt would become known； committed still another crime … that of suicide； he could have swallowed a dose of aconitine while at the police court。〃
〃Well； I'll be … blessed！〃 ejaculated Ferguson。 〃But if he was the forger how does that square with Rochester's peculiar behavior？ The checks bearing your forged signatures were presented； mind you； by Rochester after Turnbull's death？〃
〃It doesn't square；〃 acknowledged Kent frankly。 〃There is this to be said for Turnbull： he was the soul of honor； his affairs were found to be in excellent condition； he was drawing a good salary； his investments paying well … he did not need to acquire securities or money by resorting to forgery。〃
〃Whereas Philip Rochester was on the point of bankruptcy；〃 remarked Ferguson。 〃Do you suppose he forged Colonel McIntyre's letter and gave it to Turnbull； and the latter got the securities from the bank treasurer and handed them over to Rochester in good faith； supposing his room…mate would give the papers to Colonel McIntyre？〃
Kent nodded in agreement。 〃It looks that way to me；〃 he said gloomily。 〃Philip Rochester stood well in the community； his law practice is large and lucrative； and if it had not been for his periods of idleness and … and〃 … hesitating … 〃passion for good living； he would never have run into debt。〃
〃But he got there。〃 Ferguson's laugh was contemptuous。 〃A desperate man will do anything； Mr。 Kent。〃
〃I know；〃 Kent looked dubious。 〃I would believe him guilty if it were not for the use of aconitine … that shows premeditation on the part of the murderer。〃
〃And why shouldn't Rochester plan Turnbull's murder ahead of the scene in the police court？〃 argued Ferguson。 〃Wasn't he living in deadly fear of exposure？ If he did not commit the murder； why did he run away？ And if he is innocent； why doesn't he come forward and prove it？〃
〃He may not know that he is suspected of the crime；〃 retorted Kent； rising。 〃It is for us to find Rochester； and I suggest that we search this apartment thoroughly。〃
〃I have already done so；〃 objected Ferguson。 〃And there wasn't the faintest clew to his hiding place。〃
〃For all that I am not satisfied。〃 Kent walked over and switched on another light。 〃When I came here on Wednesday night I had a tussle with some man； but he escaped in the dark without my seeing him。 I believe he was Rochester。〃
〃You are probably right。〃 Ferguson crossed the room。 〃And if he came back once； he may return again。 Come ahead；〃 and he plunged into the first bedroom。 The two men subjected each room to an exhaustive search； but their labors were their only reward； except for an accumulation of dust； the apartment was undisturbed。 They had reached the kitchenette…pantry when the gong over their heads sounded loudly； and Kent； with a muttered exclamation hastened toward the front door of the apartment。 Ferguson； intent on studying the 〃L〃 of the building as seen from the window； was hardly conscious of his departure； and some seconds elapsed before he turned toward the door。 As he gained it； he saw a dark shape dart down the hall。 With a bound Ferguson started in pursuit； and the next second grappled with the flying man just as the electric lights went out and they were plunged in darkness。
Suddenly Kent's voice echoed down the hall。 〃Come here quick； Ferguson！〃
There was a note of urgency about his appeal； and Ferguson straining his muscles until the blood pounded in his temples； threw the struggling man into a tufted arm…chair which stood by the entrance to the small dining room； and drawing out his handcuffs； slipped them on securely。 〃Stay there；〃 Ferguson admonished his prisoner。 〃Or there will be worse coming to you；〃 and he thrust the muzzle of his revolver against the man's heaving chest to illustrate his meaning； then as Kent called again； he sped down the hall and brought up breathless at the front door。 The light was still burning in the corridor； though not very brightly； and he saw Kent hand the grinning messenger boy a shiny quarter。 Touching his battered cap the boy went whistling away。 〃Tell the elevator boy to report that a fuse has burned out in Mr。 Rochester's apartment；〃 Ferguson called after him； and the lad waved his hand as he dashed into the elevator。
Paying no attention to the detective's call； Kent showed him a white envelope which bore the simple address：
PHILIP ROCHESTER； ESQ。 THE SARATOGA
〃It's the identical envelope I found in your safe；〃 declared Ferguson。
〃And which disappeared last night at the Club de Vingt。〃 Kent turned over the envelope。 〃See； the red seal。〃
For a minute the men contemplated the seal with the large distinctive letter 〃B〃 in the center。
〃Open the letter； sir；〃 Ferguson urged and Kent； his fingers fairly trembling； jerked and tore at the linen incased envelope； the flap ripped away and he opened the envelope … it was empty。
Instinctively the two men glanced down at the parquetry flooring； nothing but a thin coating of dust lay there； and Kent looked up and down the corridor； it was deserted。
〃Do you recognize the handwriting？〃 asked Ferguson。
〃No。〃 Kent regarded the envelope in bewilderment。 〃What shall we do？〃
〃Do？ Call up the Dime Messenger Service and see where the envelope came from； but first come and see my prisoner。
〃Your prisoner？〃 in profound astonishment。
〃Yes。 I caught him chasing up the hall after you；〃 explained Ferguson as they hurriedly retraced their steps。 〃I put handcuffs on him and then went to you。 Ah； here's the light！〃
〃The light； yes； but where's your prisoner？〃 and Kent； who was a trifle in advance of his companion in reaching the dining room； stood aside to let Ferguson pass him。
The detective halted abruptly。 The chair into which he had thrust his prisoner was vacant。 The man had disappeared。
With one accord Ferguson and Kent advanced close to the chair； and an oath broke from。 the detective。 On the cushion of the chair； still bearing the impress of a human body； lay a pair of shining new handcuffs。
Dazedly Ferguson stooped over and examined them。 They were still securely locked。 Wheeling around Kent dashed through the door to his right and Ferguson； collecting his wits； searched the rest of the apartment with minute care。 Five minutes later he came face to face with Kent in the living room。 〃Not a trace of any kind；〃 declared Kent。 〃It's the same as the other night； the man's gone。 It's … it's positively uncanny。〃
Ferguson's face was red from mortification and his exertions combined。
〃The fellow must have slipped from the room by that other door and out through the living room as we came down the hail；〃 he said。 〃Did you shut the door of the apartment； Mr。 Kent； before coming down here to look at the prisoner？〃
〃Yes。〃 Kent led the way back to the dining room。 〃Did you recognize the man； Ferguson？〃
〃No。〃 The detective swore softly as he stared about the room。 〃The lights went out just as I tackled him。〃
〃It was beastly luck that the fuse