New Britain Herald Newspaper, July 9, 1921, Page 5

- THE RED SEAL By Natalie Sumner Lincoln A Gripping, Baffling, Tantalizing Tale Of (Copyright, 1920, by Mystery D. Appleton & Co.) (Copyright 1919-20, by Irank A. Munsey Co.) (Continued from Yecsterday’'s Herald.) THE STORY S@FAR. Inquiries into the death of James Turnbullp wno had been arrested while trying to burglarize the home of the Misses Mclntyre, twins, on a bet with one of them, and who died just after being taken into custody, seem to point towards Rochester, a room-mate and the prosecuting at- torney, as a suspect. Rochester had disappeared and Kent, his law partner, was one of the investigators. A handkerchief with the letter “B” the initial of Barbara, one of the twins, had been found where Turn- bull dropped. Dr. Stone testitied that Turnbull had tried to stutter “Barbara” in his last moments. Ferguson, a detective, tells Clvmer, of-the bank which had delivered securities to Turnbull, who = was cashier, on a forged certificate of withdrawal and Kent that Rochester is to blame. An envelope which had been entrusted to Kent for safe keep- ing for Rochester was taken from the firm's safe by Ferguson, stolen by Mrs. Brewster and hidden in a piece of furniture in the MclIntyre home, where she was a guest. One of the McIntyres presents a check at the Metropolis Trust Co. for payment, a fact which arouses the cashier's interest for a moment. Kent appears at the bank and is rcld tha this partner is presumably a bankrupt and that all of the firm’s meoney had been withdrawn from the bank. The MclIntyre twins were busy searching, their library for a seal with the initial “B” when Mrs, Brewster came in and lured them away from the room. Grimes, the butler, tells Barbara -that he had bought a quantity of aconite, the poison which had killed Turnbull, and left it on the table in the hall. A letter comes for Mrs. Brewster which questions the genuineness of a check which was enclosed. Helen MeiIntyre is unable to sleep and, picking up a pistol, goes out of her room. Thé library was quiet for some time when a hand appeared in a streak of light, holding out a large enyelope with a.large red seal. = The envelope was plucked from the hand and a blow and a falling body told of an attempt at murder possibly. M#s. Brewster goes down stairs and was reaching to touch a trap door when she saw the blood and she awakened the household. The body of a man was found in the Venetian casket. It was Grimes. Mrs. Brewster goes to the bank about the check. It was presented by one of the MciIntyres, the clerk cdeld mot tell which, but it was made to Barbara and it seems gs if Barbara had forged Mrs. Brewst June. And, with the “Gl signature. The continues. “No.” The widow had under her rouge, but her ey falter in their direct gaze nature is genuine. T next instailment whitened did not . “Tha sig- I drew the check.” he two men exchanged glances. ‘Tha bank president was the first to break the silence. “In that case there is nothing more to be said,” he remarked, and picking up the check handed it to Mrs. Brew- ster. Without a glance at it, ske fold- ed the paper and placed it inside her gotd mesh bag. “I must not take up any more of your time,” she said. “I thank you— both.” i “Mrs. Brewster.” - Clymer = spoke impulsively. “I'd like to shake hands with you.” Coloring warmly, the widow slipped her small hand inside his, and with a friendly bow to McDonald, she walked through the bank, keeping up with Clymer's long strides as best she could. As they crossed the sidewalk to the waiting limousine they ran almost into the arms of Harry Kent. “I tried to reach you on the telephone this morning,” exclaimed Mrs. Brewster, after greeting him. “So my clerk intormed me when T saw him a few minutes ago.” Kent helped her inside the limousine. “Won't you come to my office now?" As -the limousine drew up at the curb in front of his office, a man darting down the steps of the build- ing caught sight of Kent and hurried to the car window. g “I was just trying to catch you at the bank, Mr. Kent,” he explained, and looking around Kent recognized Sylvester. “There’'s been three tele- phone calls for you in succession from Colonel Mclntyre to hurry to his home.{ “Thhnks, Sylvester.” Kent turned to Mrs. Brewster. “Would you mind driving me to the McIntyre's? Wao can talk on the way there.” P . CHAPTER VI The Fatal Period. When Kent walked into the Ii- brary of the McIntyre home he found the colonel. Detective Ferguson hard- 1y noted his arrival, his attention be- ing given wholly to the examination of the Venetian casket. The casket and its companion piece stood on eith- er side of the room near a window recess. Kent crossed the library and, after looking inside th& casket, examined the exterior with care. “Don’t touch that crest,”” cautioned Ferguson, observing Kent’s glance re- mained focussed on the blood-stained, raised letter “B’* and the carving back of it. “In fact, don't touch any part of the casket, I'm trying to get finger prints.”” Kent barely heard the warning a: he turned to McIntyre. THERE’S - A MILLER! GET! HiM! Quick! “Haven't I sign on your asked. “Barbara uses it,’”" wai the reply. “‘She fancied the antique lettering, and copied the ‘B’ for the engraver; she is handy with her pen, you know.” “Did ;she wish ‘B’ for a seal?” in- quired Kent. “Yes, she had a seal made like it also.”” Meclntyre moved closer to the casket. “Found anything, Fergu- son?” The detective withdrew his head from’ the opening at the end of the casket, and regarded the furniture vexedly. “Not a thing,” he acknowledged. “Except I am convinced that it re- quired dexterity to slip Grimes in- side the casket. The butler is small and slight, but he must have been unconscious from that tap on the iorehead and, therefore, a dead weight. Whoever picked him up must have been some athlete, and"'— running his eyes up and down Colohel McIntyre's well-knit erect frame— “‘pretty familiar with the workings of this casket.’ Terguson stepped forward briskly. “Mr. Kent, let me see if I can lift you inside the casket; make yourself 1ilmp —that's it!” as Kent, entering into the investigation heart and soul, re- laxed his muscles and fell .back inst the detective. A moment later he was s seen that letter ‘B’ de- stationery, Colonel?” he ng u Rock Bottom In Price The motor of our five passenger “Glenbrook” model has a whole- some respect for the dollar bill. It extracts the last atom of energy from a gallon of gasoline and delivers only care-free, untroubled mileage. Its first cost is ama‘zingly low—only $1635 since the reduction in is blessed with a constitution that defies the repair shop. ward and pushed head-first inside the casket and the door closed. The air, though close, was not unpleasant and Kent, his eyes growing accustomed to tho dark interior, gried to discover the trap door at the top of the box, but without success. Putting out his hands he felt along the top. Tha height of the casker did not permit him to sit up, so he was obliged to slide his body down toward his feet to feel along the sides of the casket. This maneuverssoon brought his knees in violent contact with the top, and at the sound Ferguson opened the door and assisted him out. s Entering Rochester's apartment a quarter “of an hour jater Kent sat down by the telephone and gave .a | number to central. “Is this Dr. Stone‘s asked a moment later, as a faint “hello,” came over the wire. “Oh, doctor, this is Kent. Please come over to Rochester’s apartment; I would like to consult you in regard to an important mhtter. You’ll come now? Thanks." The doctor kept Kent waiting less than five minutes.® Hardly waiting for him to select a seat Kent flung himself into a chaig in front of Ro- chester’s desk and laid the pill box vriting' pad. doctor,” manner gained in office?’” he he began, and his eriousness, lenbrook”, first cost is last cost because it It will pay you to adopt this stout-hearted light six. You can buy it with absolute confidence because it is at rock bottom in price and peak position in-quality. PAIGE-DETROIT MOTOR CAR CO., DETROIT. Michigan Manufacturers of Paige Motor Cars and Motor Trucks LASH MOTOR CO. Cor. West Main A REPUTABLE and Lincoln Sts. CONCERN in your opinion killed Jimmie Turn- bull?” “The post-mortem examination proved that he had swallowed aconi- tine in sufficient quantity, to cause death,’”” Stone replied. ‘“He undoubt- edly died from the effects of that poison.” Kent hitched his chair closer to ths physician. “Did you prescribe a dose of aco- nitine for Mrs. Brewster recently?" he asked. “I did, for an attack of rheumatic neuralgia.” Stone eyed him curious- ly. ‘“Wha‘ then, Kent?" “Ia this the box the medicine came in?” and Kent placed the cover in Stone's hand. - Stone turned the pasteboard over and studied the defaced label. *1 canno’ answer that question positive- 1y,”” he said. “The label bears my name and that of the druggist, but the directions arc missing.” “‘But the number's on it Kent swiftly. ‘“Come, Stone, call up *he druggist, repeat the number to him, and asix if it calls for your aco- nitina prescription.’ “That is the box which contained the aconitine pills for Mrs. Brewster,™ declared the doctor after having done this. Stgne picked up the small pills and, as he balanced them in his palm, his manner grew more alert. Suddenly he dropped two back in the box ana touched the third pill with the tip of his tongue; not content with that he crushed it in his fingers, sniffed the drug, and again tested it with his tongue. His expression was peculiar as he looked up at Kent. “They are not aconitine pills,”” he stated positively. “They are nitro- glycerine.” The physician's statement fell on deat ears. Raising his head after contemplating the pills, Kent had looked across the room and his glance had fallen on a wing chair, standing just inside the doorway of the living room. Bounding toward the chair, Kent saw that tho brown shape which had seemed a part of the tufted uphol- stery was the sleek brown hair of a man's well-shaped head. He halted abruptly on meeting the gaze of a pair of mocking eyes. “Rochester?” he gasped unbeliev- ingly. Rochester!" His partner laughed softly as Stone approached. “I have been an inter- ested lstener,” he said. “Let me complete the good doctor’s argument. Nitro-glycerine would have benefited Jimmie Turnbull and his feeble heart; whereas the missing aconitine pills killed him.” “Wheras hava you been?” demand- ed Kent, partly recovering from his astonishment. “l1 decided to take a vacation at a moment’s notice.” Rochester spoke with the same slow drawl which was characteristic of him. “You should be accustomed to my eccentricities by thii time, Harry.” “We are,” announced Detective Ferguson from the hallway, where he had been a silent witness of the scene. “And we’ll give you a chance to ex- plain them in tha police court.” “On what charge,” demanded Ro- chester. “Poisoning your roommate, Mr. Turnbull,’”” replied the detective, draw- ing c:t a pair of handcuffs. Kent stepped forward at sight of the handcuffs and laid a restraining hand on the detective’s shoulder. Ro- chester saw the movement, guessed Kent'a intention, and smiled. “We can settle the case here,”” ha said cheerfully. “No need ol trou- bling the police judge. Now, Mr. De- tective, how did I kill Jimmia Turn- bull 2" “Slipped the poison in the glass of water you handed him,”” answer Fer- guson promptly. “A nervy sleight- of-hand, but you'll swing for it.”’ Rochester's smila waa exasperating as he turned to Dr. Stone. *Judging from Stone's remarks about aconitine, which I overheard,” he interpolated, ‘I gather the doctor 1§ tolerably familiar with the action of the drug. Does aconitine kill in- stantly, doctor?” Stono cleared his speaki put In throat before g. the fatal perlod averages about four hours,” ha said, and Ro- chester’s evea sparkled as he looked up at tha detective. “Jimmie died almost Immediately after I handed him that drink of wa- ter.”” he declared. “If you wish to ! know who administered that aconitina poison, you'll have to find out who Jimmie was with at tha McIntyre house in the early hours of Tuesday n ~rning.” Here Is a Fine Laxative - For a Little Baby Millions of Mothers findDr. Caldwell’s Syrup Pepsin safe for infants WHAT young mother has not : often asked herself the ques- tion, “What is the best thing I can give my baby for constipation?” It is a very important question, as con- stipation is the basis of most ills of infancy and childhood. 3 Give half a teaspoonful of a com- bination of simple laxative herbs with pepsin. You can obtain it at any drug store under the name of Dr. Caldwell’s Syrup Pepsin. Itisa mild, gentle medicine thet children willingly take, and a bottle that costs only sixty cents is enough to last an average family several months. Dr. Caldwell’g Sryrup Pepsin has been used by millions of mothers, for the pre- scription has been sold in drug stores for thirty years. ‘It is the same prescription Dr. W.B. Caldwell, whois now in his82nd Kear, used in his extensive practice for alf a century. It is the largest uellin% liquidlaxative inthe world. Last year eigh million bottles were bought in drug stores, You can make no mistake in giving Dr. Caldwell’s Syrup Pepsin to your baby. Syrup Pepsin. Address me Dr. W. B. Caldwell, s13. onticello, it is well to know the best. WRITE ME TODAY. Harry Kert inserted his key in his office door ‘with more vigor than good judgment, and spent some sec- onds in readjusting it in the lock. Once inside the office he put up the latch and closed the door. A glanca around the empty office showed him that Sylvester had gone out to lunch- eon. As he passed the safe he saw the door was aiar. Kent paused abruptly. Who had opened tho safe? The pigeonholes and compartments appeared untouched, except tha door of one small compartment on Ro- chester's side. An envelope wan wedged in in such a manner that tha small door would not shut and that had preventdd the closing of the outer safe door. Kent, preparatory to shutting tho safe, drew out the envelopa intending to place it in another pigeonholo where therc was more room. Aa ho turned the eMvelope over hes was thinderstrucfi to recognize it as the one which Helen McIntyre had placed in the safe on Wednesday morning. He had last seen the envelope lying on tha tabls in the smoking porch of the Cluh d1 Vingt. It wai ths identical one, unaddress- ed, the samc red seal holding down the flap. Thc samo red seal, but with a difference—a corner was missing. Kent stared at the seal for a mo- ment in doubt, then his fingers sought hii vest pocket and fumbled about for a minute. Taking out Mrs. Brewster's check. he laid it on the desk along- side the envelope, unfolded it. ana picked out a pieco of red sealing wax which had slid inside the check. Kent placed “the red wax on the broken section of the seal—it fitted exactly, forming a perfect letter “B.” Kent sat in dumbfounded silence, regarding the red seal and the en- velope. The piece of wax broken oft from the seal had caught on his coat sleeve when he had been in the Ve- netian casket in the library at the Mclntyre house. Kent laid his hand on the envelope. It was time that he found out what it contained; but his finger, inserted under the flap, paused as his eyes fell on the check bearing Mrs. Brewster's Isignature. It was the check he had I picked up from the door of the Mec- lIntyre limousine that morning and in- advertently carried away with him. From her signature his glance wandered to Sylvester's memorandum pad: it was uncanny the way his eyes picked out the letter “B."" Slowly his hand dropped away from the envel. ope and he left it lying forgotten on the desk as he picked up piece after pleco of blotting paper, glancing Ins tently at each and finally, pulling open a drawer of his desk. he hunted in teverish haste for a hand mirror. Some ten. minutei later Kent rose, placed the papers he had been exam- ining ig the inside pocket of his coat and, using the private entrance from hia office into the corridor, he hurried away. When Helen McIntyre entered the office of Rochester & Kent for the second time that afternoon she found Sylvester transcribing stenographie notes on his typewriter. “Mr. Kent i7 expecting you, miss™ ha said, holding open the inner office door, and with a courteous word of thanks, Helen passed the clerk and the door closed behind her. Kent rose at her approach and bowed for- mally. 3 (Continued Next Monday.) Although it rained M. Irving Jester has sold several used carsat the $40,- 000 Used Car Sale at 183 Arch St —advt. Would It Be a Hupmobile If You Bought Another Car? Some local owners of the Hup- mobile are so highly satisfied with it that if they were to buy ancther car again they say it would be the Hupmobile. One of these satisfied owners has had a Hupmobile sedan for two years, and has driven it about 17,000 miles. High mileage he gets, too, with an average of 16 miles to the gal- lon—“high mileage for a sedan.” “The Hux;mobile is economical right through,” he says. “If I had to get another car again it would be the Hupmobile.” “Another Hupmobile” — what more convincing proof could you desire about the value of this faithful, reliable car? Could you ask for greater value at the new low price of $1,485? City Service Hartford Avenue and Station Stanley St. A. M. Paonressa, Proprietor.