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A heavy paper knife； nicely balanced between McIntyre's well
manicured fingers； dropped to the floor as a step sounded behind him and
the butler； Grimes； stopped by his side。
〃Mr。 Rochester just telephoned that his partner； Mr。 Harry Kent； is out
of town； Miss〃 … bowing to the silent girl。 Grimes always contented
himself with addressing his 〃young ladies〃 by the simple prefix 〃Miss；〃
and never added their given names； because； as he expressed it； 〃them
twins are alike as two peas； and which is which； I dunno。〃 Considering
himself one of the family from his long service with Colonel McIntyre； he
kept a watchful eye on the twins； but their pranks in childhood had often
exasperated him into giving notice； which he generally found it convenient
to forget when the first of a new month came around。
〃Mr。 Kent will be back to…morrow；〃 added the butler； as silence
followed the delivery of his message。 〃Mr。 Rochester wishes to know if
he can transact any business for you。〃
〃Please thank him and say no。〃 The girl's color rose as she caught
her father's disapproving look。 The colonel waited until the butler had
disappeared before addressing her。
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〃Why did you send for Harry Kent？〃 he questioned。 〃You know I do
not approve of his attentions to Barbara。 Rochester is well enough …〃
〃Speaking of Rochester 〃… Mrs。 Brewster saw the gathering storm
clouds in the girl's expressive eyes； and broke hastily into the conversation。
〃I see by the paper； Cousin Amos〃 … she turned so as to face Dr。 Stone …〃
that Mr。 Rochester declared positively that Jimmie Turnbull died from
angina pectoris。〃
〃What's Philip's opinion worth？〃 The young girl smiled disdainfully。
〃Philip seems to think that having shared an apartment with Jimmie； gives
him intimate knowledge of Jimmie's health。 Philip is not a medical
man。〃
〃No；〃 acknowledged her father。 〃But here is a medical man who was
on the spot when Jimmie died。 What's your opinion； Stone？〃
Stone； suddenly conscious of the keen attention of his companions；
spoke slowly as was his wont when making a serious statement。
〃Rochester's contention that Jimmie died from angina pectoris would
seem borne out by what transpired；〃 he said。 〃Undoubtedly Jimmie felt
an attack coming on and used the customary remedy to relieve it …〃
〃And what was that remedy？〃 questioned Mrs。 Brewster swiftly。
〃Amy1 nitrite。〃 Stone spoke with decision。 〃I could detect its
presence by the fruity； pleasant odor which always accompanies the drug's
use。〃
〃Ah！〃 The exclamation slipped from Mrs。 Brewster。 〃Is the drug
administered in water？〃
〃No； it is inhaled … take care； you have dropped your handkerchief。〃
Stone pulled himself up short in his speech； and bent over but the young
girl was too quick for him； and stooped first to pick up her handkerchief。
As she raised her head Stone caught sight of the tiny mole under the
lobe of her left ear。 It was the one mark which distinguished Barbara
from her twin sister。 Colonel McIntyre had addressed his daughter as
Helen； and she had not undeceived him … Why？ The perplexed physician
gave up the problem。
〃The drug；〃 he went on to explain； 〃amyl nitrite comes in pearl
capsules and is crushed in a handkerchief and the fumes inhaled。〃
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Mrs。 Brewster leaned forward suddenly。 〃Would that cause death？〃
she asked。
Stone shook his head in denial。 〃Not the customary dose of three
minims；〃 he answered； and turning； found that Barbara had stolen from the
room。
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CHAPTER IV
BARBARA ENGAGES COUNSEL
Bidding a hasty good morning to the elevator girl； Harry Kent； suit…
case in hand； entered the cage and was carried up to the fourth floor of the
Wilkins Building。 Several business acquaintances stopped to chat with
him as he walked down the corridor to his office； and it was fully fifteen
minutes before he turned the knob of the door bearing the firm name …
ROCHESTER AND KENT； ATTORNEYS … on its glass panel。 As he
stepped inside the anteroom which separated the two offices occupied
respectively by him and his senior partner； Philip Rochester； a stranger
rose from the clerk's desk。
〃Yes； sir？〃 he asked interrogatively。
Kent eyed him in surprise。 〃Mr。 Rochester here？ 〃 he inquired。
〃No； sir。 It am in charge of the office。〃
〃You are！〃 Kent's surprise increased。 〃I happen to be Mr。 Kent；
junior partner in this firm。〃
〃I beg your pardon； sir。〃 The dapper clerk bowed and hurrying to his
desk took up a letter。 〃Mr。 Rochester left this for you； Mr。 Kent； before
his departure last night。〃
〃His departure！〃 Kent deposited his suit…case on one of the chairs
and tore open the envelope。 The note was a scrawl； which he had some
difficulty in deciphering。
〃Dear Kent；〃 it ran。 〃Am called out of town； will be back Saturday。
Saunders gave me some of his cheek this afternoon； so I fired him。 I
engaged John Sylvester to fill his place； who comes highly recommended。
He will report for work to…morrow。 Ta…ta … PHIL。〃
Kent thrust the note into his pocket and picked up his suit…case。
〃Mr。 Rochester states that he has engaged you；〃 he said。 〃Your
references …？〃
〃Here； sir。〃 The clerk handed him a folded paper； and Kent ran his eyes
down the sheet from the sentence： 〃To whom it may concern〃 to the
signature； Clark Hildebrand。 The statement spoke in high terms of John
Sylvester； confidential clerk。
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〃I can refer you to my other employers； Mr。 Kent；〃 Sylvester
volunteered as the young