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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。〃
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〃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and industry which characterized his younger partner； had withdrawn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？〃
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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
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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 jerked forward his chair until his knees touched
Kent。
Had either man looked toward the window near which they were
sitting； he would have seen a black shadow squ