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〃Neat； wasn't it？〃
Kent regarded the detective； his mind in a whirl。 His theory was
certainly plausible； but … 〃Have you other evidence to prove； your theory？〃
he asked。
〃Yes。〃 Ferguson checked off his points on his fingers。 〃Remember
how insistent Mr。 Rochester was that Turnbull had died from angina
pectoris？〃
〃I do；〃 acknowledged Clymer； deeply interested。 〃Continue；
Ferguson。〃
The detective needed no second bidding。
〃Another point；〃 he began。 〃There never would have been a post…
mortem examination if Miss Helen McIntyre hadn't asked for it。 She
knew of the ill…feeling between the men and suspected foul play on
Rochester's part。〃
〃Wait；〃 commanded Kent。 〃Has Miss McIntyre substantiated that
statement？〃
〃Not yet；〃 admitted Ferguson。 〃I stopped at her house； but the butler
said the young ladies had retired and could not see any one。〃 Kent； who
had called there on the way to keep his dinner engagement with Clymer；
had been met with the same statement； to his bitter disappointment。 He
most earnestly desired to see the twins and to see them together； to make
one more effort to induce them to confide in him； for that they had some
secret trouble he was convinced； he longed to be of aid； but his hands were
tied through lack of information。
〃Don't imply motives to Miss McIntyre's act until you have verified
them； Ferguson；〃 he cautioned。 〃Go on with your theories。〃
〃One moment；〃 Clymer broke into the conversation。 〃Did Rochester
tell you； Ferguson； that he had recognized Turnbull in his burglar
disguise？〃
〃No； sir； I never had an opportunity to ask him； for he disappeared
Tuesday night and has not been seen or heard of since；〃 Ferguson rejoined。
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THE RED SEAL
〃Hold on；〃 Kent checked him with an impatient gesture。 〃I had a
telegram from Rochester this morning； stating he was in Cleveland。〃
〃I didn't forget about the telegram；〃 retorted Ferguson。 〃It was to
consult you about that； that I hunted you up to…night。 That telegram was
bogus。〃
〃What！〃 Kent half rose from his chair。
〃Yes。 After the inquest I called Cleveland on the long distance；
talked with the City Club officials and with Police Headquarters； all
declared that Rochester was not there； and no trace could be found of his
having ever arrived in the city。〃
Clymer laid down his half smoked cigar and stared at the detective。
〃You think then that Rochester has bolted？〃 he asked。
〃It looks that way；〃 insisted Ferguson。 〃How about it； Mr。 Kent？〃
The question was put with a touch of arrogance。
Kent did not reply immediately。 Every fact that Ferguson had
brought out fitted the situation； and Rochester's disappearance added color
to the detective's charges。 Why was he hiding unless from guilty motives；
and where had he gone？ Kent shook a bewildered head。
〃It is plausible；〃 he conceded； 〃but； after all； only circumstantial
evidence。〃
〃Well； circumstantial evidence is good enough for me to work on；〃
retorted Ferguson。 〃On discovering that the telegram from Cleveland
was a hoax； I concluded Ferguson might be lurking around Washington
and so sent a description of him to the different precincts and secured a
search warrant。〃
〃You did？〃
〃Yes。 Armed with it I visited Mr。 Rochester's apartment； but
couldn't find a clew to his present whereabouts；〃 admitted Ferguson。 〃So
then I went to your office； Mr。 Kent； and ransacked the firm's safe。〃
〃Confound you！〃 Kent leaned forward in his wrath and shook his fist
at the detective。 〃What right had you to do such a thing？〃
〃The search warrant covered it；〃 explained Ferguson。 〃I could look
through your safe； Mr。 Kent； because Rochester was your senior partner
and you shared the office together； I was within the law。〃
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THE RED SEAL
〃Perhaps you were；〃 Kent controlled his anger with an effort。 〃But I
had told you I did not know Rochester's whereabouts before I showed you
the Cleveland telegram； which you claim is bogus。〃
〃It's bogus； all right；〃 insisted the detective。 〃I thought it just
possible I might find some paper which would give me a clew to
Rochester's hiding place； so I went through the safe。〃
〃How did you get it open？〃 asked Kent。
〃I found it open。〃
Kent leapt to his feet。 〃You … found … it open！ 〃… he stammered。 〃Why；
man； I locked that safe securely just before I left the office at six o'clock。〃
Sure？〃
Absolutely certain。〃
〃Were you alone？〃
〃Yes； all alone。 Sylvester left at five o'clock〃
〃Who knew the combination of the safe？〃
〃Only Rochester and I。〃
It was Ferguson's turn to spring up 〃By …！〃 he exclaimed。 〃I thought
the electric bulbs in the office felt warm； as if they had recently been
burning … Rochester must have been there just before me。〃
〃It would seem that Rochester is still in the city；〃 remarked Clymer。
〃Do you know； Kent； whether he had his office keys with him？〃
〃I presume so；〃 Kent slipped his hand inside his pocket and took out a
bunch of keys。 〃He left these duplicates in his desk at the office。〃
〃Sure they are duplicates？〃 questioned Ferguson； and Kent flushed。
〃I know they are；〃 he retorted。 〃Rochester had them made over a
year ago as a matter of convenience； for he was always forgetting his keys；
and kept these at our office。〃
〃He's a queer cuss；〃 was the detective's only comment and Clymer
broke into the conversation。
〃Did you find any address or paper in the safe which might prove a
clew； Ferguson？〃 he inquired。
〃Nothing； not even a scrap of paper；〃 and the detective's tone was
glum。
〃Did the safe look as if its contents had been tumbled about？〃 asked
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THE RE