the red seal(红印)-第25章
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firm's balance； Mr。 Clymer； we bank here； you know。〃
〃Yes。〃 Clymer's look of anxiety deepened。
〃Did you see McDonald as you came in？〃
〃Yes； he cashed some checks for me。〃
〃Your personal checks？〃
〃Yes。〃 Kent looked questioningly at Clymer。 What do you mean？〃
〃Only this； that all moneys deposited here in the firm name of
Rochester and Kent have been drawn out。〃
〃That's not possible！〃 Kent started up。
〃Checks on that account must bear both Rochester's signature and
mine。〃
〃Checks bearing both signatures have been presented for the total sum
deposited to your credit；〃 stated Clymer and he picked up four canceled
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checks。 〃See for yourself。〃
Kent stared at the checks in dumbfounded silence； then carrying them
to the light he examined them with minute care before bringing them back
to the bank president。
〃This is the first I have heard of these transactions；〃 he said。
〃You mean …〃
〃That the signatures are clever forgeries。〃 His statement was heard
with gravity。 Taylor exchanged a meaning look with the New Yorker。
〃You mean your signature is a forgery；〃 he suggested。 〃Rochester
had a peculiar gift of penmanship。〃
Kent sprang up。 〃Do you accuse Philip Rochester of signing these
checks and inserting my name to them？〃
〃I do；〃 calmly。 〃I am not familiar with your signature； Kent； but that
Rochester wrote the body of those four checks and put his own signature
at the bottom I will swear to in any court of law。 To make them valid he
had to add your name。〃
〃But； d…mn it； man！〃 Kent stared in bewilderment at his three
companions。 〃Rochester was honorable and straight…forward …〃
〃And addicted to drink；〃 put in Harding。 〃But not a forger；〃 retorted
Kent firmly。 Harding's only rejoinder was a skeptical smile as he turned
to address Clymer。
〃So Rochester not only has taken his own money； but withdrawn that
belonging to the firm of Rochester and Kent without the knowledge of his
junior partner； it looks black； Mr。 Clymer；〃 he remarked。 〃Especially when
taken in consideration with his other involved financial transactions。〃
〃Where will we find Rochester； Kent？〃 asked Taylor； before the bank
president could answer the New Yorker。
Kent paused in indecision。 What reply could he make without further
involving Rochester in trouble？ He had not the faintest idea where
Rochester was； but to state that he was missing could not but add to the
belief that he had made away with all the money he could lay his hands on。
The noon edition of the Times had hinted at Rochester's disappearance but
had stated they could not get the statement confirmed from Police
Headquarters； obviously Harding and Taylor had not seen the newspaper。
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Was it just to the men before him to keep them in the dark？ If their
claims were true； and Kent never doubted that they were； they had already
lost money through Rochester's extraordinary behavior。 Kent turned sick
at the thought of his own loss … his savings swept away。 Would Barbara
wait for him … was it fair to ask her？
Taylor broke the prolonged silence。
〃I met Detective Ferguson on my way here；〃 he stated。 〃He told me
that the police were looking for Rochester。〃
〃What？〃 Harding looked up； startled。 〃Why didn't you inform me of
that？〃
〃Well； I thought we'd better hear from Mr。 Clymer the true state of
Rochester's finances；〃 responded Taylor。 〃I never anticipated such facts
as he has given us。〃
〃But if you knew the police were after Rochester …〃 objected Harding。
Clymer broke into the conversation； there was a heavy frown on his
usually placid countenance。 〃I judged from Detective Ferguson's
confidences to us； Kent； at the Club de Vingt that he was wanted by the
police in connection with the Turnbull tragedy； but the facts brought out
through Harding's action to attach Rochester's bank account； puts a
different construction on Rochester's disappearance。〃
〃What had Rochester to do with Jimmie Turnbull？〃 questioned
Harding； before Kent could answer Clymer。
〃They lived together；〃 he replied shortly。
〃And one dies and the other disappears；〃 Harding whistled dolefully。
〃Wasn't Mr。 Turnbull an official of this bank； Mr。 Clymer？〃
〃Yes； our cashier。〃
〃Were his affairs involved？〃
〃Not in the least；〃 Clymer spoke with emphasis。 〃A most honorable
fellow； Jimmie Turnbull； his murder was a shocking affair。〃
〃Have the police found any motive for the crime； Kent？〃 asked Taylor。
〃I believe not。〃
Harding； who had been ruminating in silence； leaned forward； his
expression alight with a sudden idea。
〃Could it be that Turnbull found out that Rochester was passing forged
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checks； and Rochester insured his silence by Poisoning him？〃 he asked。
Clymer and Kent exchanged glances； as Kent's thoughts reverted to the
forged letter presented by Turnbull to the bank's treasurer； whereby he had
been given McIntyre's valuable negotiable securities。 Could it be that
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。
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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
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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。
