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he told me。 I'd been reading this account of the Turnbull inquest； and I
recollected seeing Mrs。 Brewster's name； and my husband and I were just
reading the account over when you came in。〃
Kent gazed in perplexity at Mrs。 Sylvester。 〃Why did Mrs。 Brewster
laugh in the police court？〃 he asked。
〃When Dr。 Stone exclaimed to the deputy marshal … 'Your prisoner
appears ill！'〃 declared Mrs。 Sylvester； she enjoyed the dramatic； and that
Kent was hanging on her words she was fully aware； in spite of his
expressionless face。 〃Dr。 Stone lifted the burglar in his arms and then
Mrs。 Brewster laughed as she laughed in the corridor to…day … a soft
gurgling laugh。〃
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CHAPTER XIV
PAY CASH
It was the rush hour at the Metropolis Trust Company and the busy
paying teller counted out silver and gold and treasury notes of varying
denominations with the mechanical precision and exactness which
experience gives。 Suddenly his hand stopped midway toward the money
drawer； his attention arrested by the signature on a check。 A swift glance
upward showed him a girl's face at the grille of the window。 There was
an instant's pause； then she addressed him。
〃Do hurry； Mr。 McDonald； father is waiting for me。〃
〃Pardon me； Miss McIntyre。〃 He stamped the check and laid it to
one side。 〃how do you want the money？〃
〃Oh； I forgot。〃 She glanced at a memorandum on the back of an
envelope。 〃Mrs。 Brewster wishes ten tens； five twenties； and ten ones。
Thank you； good afternoon；〃 and counting over the money she thrust it
inside her bag and hurried away。
She had been gone a bare five minutes when Kent reached the window
and pushed several checks toward the teller。
〃Is Mr。 Clymer in his office； McDonald？〃 he asked； placing the bank
notes given； him in his wallet。
〃I'm not sure。〃 The teller glanced around at the clock； the hands stood
at ten minutes of three。 〃It's pretty near closing time； Kent； still； he may
be there。〃
〃I'll go and see；〃 and with a nod of farewell Kent turned on his heel
and walked off in the direction of the office of the bank president。 On
reaching there he saw； through the glass partition of the door； Clymer
seated in earnest conclave with two men。
Happening to glance up Clymer recognized Kent and beckoned to him
to come inside。 〃You know Taylor；〃 he said by way of introduction。
〃And this is Mr。 Harding of New York … Mr。 Kent；〃 he turned around in his
swivel chair to face the three men。 〃Draw up a chair； Kent； we were just
going over to see you。
〃Yes？〃 Kent looked inquiringly at the bank president； the gravity of his
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manner betokened serious tidings。 〃 What is it； Mr。 Clymer？〃
Clymer did not reply at once。 〃It's this；〃 he said finally； with blunt
directness。 〃Your partner； Philip Rochester； appears to be a bankrupt。
Harding and Taylor came in here to attach his private bank account to
cover indebtedness to their business firms。〃
An exclamation broke from Kent。 〃Impossible！〃 he gasped。
〃I would have said the same this morning；〃 declared Clymer。 〃But on
investigation I find that Rochester has over…drawn his account here for a
large amount and borrowed heavily。 The further I look into his financial
affairs the more involved I find them。〃
〃But〃 … Kent was white…lipped。 〃I know for an absolute fact that
Rochester was paid some exceedingly large fees last week； totaling over
fifty thousand dollars。〃
〃He has never deposited such a sum； or anywhere like that amount in
this bank either last week or this；〃 stated Clymer； running his eyes down a
bank statement which； with several pass books； lay on his desk。
〃Does he carry accounts at other banks？〃 inquired Harding。
〃Not that I can discover；〃 responded Taylor。 〃I have been to every
national and private banking house in Washington； but all deny having
him as a depositor。 Did Rochester ever bank out of town； Kent？〃
〃Not to my knowledge。〃 Kent drew out a bank book。 〃Here is the
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
K