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〃No； but you can call and warn me if she is on her way down； and that
will give me time to … to straighten father's papers；〃 going over to a large
carved table littered with magazines； letters； and silver ornaments。 Her
sister did not move； and she glanced at her with an irritated air； very
foreign to her customary manner。 〃Go； Barbara。〃
The curt command brought a stare from Barbara； but it did not
accelerate her halting footsteps； instead she moved with even greater
slowness toward the hall door； her active brain tormented with an
unspoken and unanswered question。 Why was Helen so anxious for her
departure？ She had accepted her offer of assistance in her search of the
library with such marked reluctance that Barbara had marveled at the time；
and now。。。
〃Are you quite sure； Helen； that father had the envelope in his pocket
this morning？〃 she asked for the third time since the search began。
〃He had an envelope … I caught a glimpse of the red seal；〃 answered
Helen。 〃Then； just before dinner he was putting some papers in the safe。
Oh； if Grimes had only come in a moment sooner to announce dinner； I
might have had a chance to look in the safe before father closed the door。〃
Whatever reply Barbara intended making was checked by the rattling
of the knob of the hall door； it turned slowly； the door opened and； pushing
aside the portieres drawn across the entrance； Margaret Brewster glided in。
〃So glad to find you；〃 she cooed。 〃But why have you closed up the room
and turned on all the lights？〃
〃To see better；〃 retorted Barbara promptly as the widow's eyes roved
around the large room； taking silent note of the drawn curtains and
portieres； and the somewhat disarranged furniture。 〃Come inside；
Margaret； and help us in our search。〃
〃For what？〃 The widow tried to keep her tone natural； but a certain
shrill alertness crept into it and Barbara； who was watching her closely；
was quick to detect the change。 Helen's color altered at the question； and
she observed the widow's entrance with veiled hostility。
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THE RED SEAL
〃For my seal；〃 Barbara answered。 〃The one with the big letter 'B。'
Have you seen it？〃
〃I？ … No。〃 The widow took a chair uninvited near Helen。 〃You look
tired； Helen dear； why don't you go to bed？〃
〃I could not sleep if I did。〃 Helen passed a nervous finger across her
eyes。 〃But don't let me keep you and Babs up； it won't take me long to
arrange to…morrow's market order for Grimes。〃
Under pretense of searching for pencil and paper Helen contrived to
see the address of every letter lying on the table； but the envelope she
sought； with its red seal； was not among them。 When she looked up
again； pencil and paper in hand； she found Mrs。 Brewster leaning lazily
back and regarding her from under half…closed lids。 〃You are very like
your father； Helen；〃 she commented softly。
The girl stiffened。 〃Am I？ Babs and I are generally thought to
resemble our mother。〃
〃In appearance； yes； but I mean mannerisms … for instance； the way of
holding your pencil； your handwriting； even； closely resembles your
father's。〃 Mrs。 Brewster pointed to the notes Helen was scribbling on the
paper and to an open letter bearing Colonel McIntyre's signature at the
bottom of the sheet lying beside the pad to illustrate her meaning。
〃These are almost identical。〃
〃You are a close observer。〃 Helen completed her memorandum and
laid it aside。 〃What became of father？〃
〃He went to a stag supper at the Willard；〃 chimed in Barbara； stopping
her aimless walk about the library。 〃He said we were not to wait up for
him。〃
Helen pushed back her chair and rose with some abruptness。
〃I am more tired than I realized；〃 she remarked and involuntarily
stretched her weary muscles。 〃Come； Margaret；〃 laying a persuasive
hand on the widow's shoulder。 〃Be a trump and rub my forehead with
cologne as you used to do abroad when I had a headache。 It always put
me to sleep then； and； oh； how I long for sleep now！〃
There was infinite pathos in her voice and Mrs。 Brewster sprang up
and threw her arm about her in ready sympathy。
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THE RED SEAL
〃You poor darling！〃 she exclaimed。 〃Let me put you to bed； Mammy
taught me the art of soothing frayed nerves。 Come with us； Babs；〃
holding out her left hand to Barbara。 But the latter； with a dexterous
twist； slipped away from her touch。
〃I must stay and straighten the library；〃 she announced。
Mrs。 Brewster's delicate color had deepened。 〃It would be as well to
open some of the doors；〃 she agreed coldly。 〃The library looks odd； not
to say funereal；〃 she glanced down the spacious room and shivered ever so
slightly。 〃Do； Babs； put out some of the lights； they are blinding。〃
〃Oh； I'll turn them all out 〃… Barbara sought the electric switch。
〃But your father …〃
〃No need to worry about father； he can find his way about in the dark
like a cat；〃 responded Barbara with unabated cheerfulness。 〃Seems to me；
Margaret； you and father are getting mighty chummy these days。〃
The sudden darkness into which Barbara's impatient fingers； pressing
against the electric light buttons； plunged the library and its occupants；
prevented her seeing the curious glance which Mrs。 Brewster shot at her。
Helen； who had listened to their chatter with growing impatience； looked
back over her shoulder。
〃Hurry； Barbara； and come upstairs。 Now； Margaret；〃 and she piloted
the widow along the hall toward the staircase without giving her an
opportunity to answer Barbara's last remark。 Barbara； pausing only long
enough to pull back the portieres of the hall door and arrange them as they
hung customarily； turned to go upstairs just as Grimes came down the hall
from the dining room carrying a large tray with pitchers of ice water and
glasses。
〃I thought you had gone to your room； Grimes；〃 she