the red seal(红印)-第2章
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THE RED SEAL
early morning 〃copy。〃
As the Assistant District Attorney rose to question Helen McIntyre； the
Judge addressed him。
〃Is the prisoner represented by counsel？〃 he asked。
For reply the burglar shook his head。 Rising slowly to his feet； Philip
Rochester advanced to the man's side。
〃If it please the court；〃 he began； 〃I will take the case for the prisoner。〃
His offer received a quick acceptance from the Bench； but the scowl
with which the burglar favored him was not pleasant。 Hitching at his
frayed flannel collar； the man partly turned his back on the lawyer and
listened with a heavy frown to Helen's quick answers to the questions put
to her。
〃While waiting for my sister to return from a dance early this
morning；〃 she stated； 〃I went downstairs into the library； and as I entered it
I saw a man slip across the room and into a coat closet。 I retained
enough presence of mind to steal across to the closet and turn the key in
the door； then I ran to the window and fortunately saw Officer O'Ryan
standing under the arc light across the street。 I called him and he arrested
the prisoner。〃
Her simple statement evoked a nod of approval from the Assistant
District Attorney； and Rochester frowned as he waived his right to cross…
examine her。 The next witness was Officer O'Ryan； and his testimony
confirmed Helen's。
〃The prisoner was standing back among the coats in the closet；〃 he
said。 〃My automatic against his ribs brought him out。〃
〃Did you search your prisoner？〃 asked Rochester； as he took the
witness。
〃Yes； sir。
〃Find any concealed weapons？〃
〃No； sir。〃
〃A burglar's kit？〃
〃No； sir。〃
〃Did the prisoner make a statement after his arrest？〃
〃No； sir； he came along peaceably enough； hardly a word out of him；〃
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THE RED SEAL
acknowledged O'Ryan regretfully。 He enjoyed a reputation on the force
as a 〃scrapper；〃 and a willing prisoner was a disappointment to his
naturally pugnacious disposition。
〃Did you search the house？〃
〃Sure； and haven't I been telling you I did？〃 answered O'Ryan； his
pride in his achievement in arresting a burglar in so fashionable a
neighborhood as Sheridan Circle was giving place to resentment at
Rochester's manner of addressing him。 At a sign from the lawyer； he left
the witness stand； and Rochester addressed the Judge。
〃I ask the indulgence of the court for more time；〃 he commenced； 〃that
I may consult my client and find if he desires to call witnesses。〃
〃The court finds；〃 responded the Judge； 〃that a clear case of house…
breaking has been proven against the prisoner by reputable witnesses。
He will have to stand trial。〃
For the first time the prisoner raised his eyes from contemplation of
the floor。
〃I demand trial by jury；〃 he announced。
〃It is your right；〃 acknowledged the Judge； and turned to consult his
calendar。
Stepping forward； the deputy marshal laid his hand on the burglar's
shoulder。
〃Go inside；〃 he directed and held open the cage door； which
immediately swung back into place； and Rochester； following closely at
the prisoner's heels； halted abruptly。 A fit of coughing shook the burglar
and he paused by the iron railing； gasping for breath。
〃Water；〃 he pleaded； and a court attendant handed a cup to Rochester；
standing just outside the cage； and he passed it over the iron railing to the
burglar。 Then turning on his heel the lawyer rejoined Clymer； his
discontent plainly discernible。
〃A clear case against your client；〃 remarked Clymer； reading his
thoughts。 〃Don't take the affair to heart； man； you did your best under
difficulties。〃
Rochester shook his head gloomily。 〃I might have … Jove！ why
didn't I ask for bail？〃
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THE RED SEAL
〃Bail！〃 The banker suppressed a chuckle as he eyed the threadbare
suit and tattered appearance of the burglar； who had resumed his seat in
the prisoner's cage。 〃Who would have stood surety for that scarecrow？〃
〃I would have。〃 Rochester spoke with some vehemence； but his
words were partly drowned by the violent fit of coughing which again
shook the burglar； and before he could finish his sentence； Helen McIntyre
stood at his elbow。 She bowed gravely to Clymer who rose at her
approach； and laid a persuasive hand on Rochester's sleeve。
〃Will you come with us？〃 she asked。 〃Barbara and Dr。 Stone are
ready to leave。 The doctor wishes to …〃 As she spoke she looked across
at Stone； who stood opposite her in the little group。 He failed to catch
both her word and her eye； his gaze； passing over her shoulder； was
riveted on the burglar。
〃Something is wrong；〃 he announced and pushed past Barbara。 〃Let
me inside the cage；〃 he directed as the deputy marshal kept the gate closed
at his approach。 〃Your prisoner appears ill。〃
One glance at the burglar proved the truth of the physician's statement
and the gate was hastily opened。 Stone bent over the man； whose
spasmodic breathing could be heard distinctly through the court room；
then his gaze shifted to the other occupants of the cage。
〃The man must have air；〃 he declared。 〃Your aid here。〃 Looking up
his eyes met Clymer's； and the latter came swiftly into the cage； followed
by Rochester； and the deputy marshal slammed the door shut behind them。
〃Step out this way；〃 he said； as Clymer aided the physician in lifting
the burglar； and he led them into the ante…room whence prisoners were
taken into the cage。
Stretching his burden on the floor； Stone tore open the man's shirt and
felt his heart； while Clymer； spying a water cooler； sped across the room
and returned immediately with a brimming glass。
〃Here's water；〃 he said； but Stone refused the proffered glass。
〃No use；〃 he announced。 〃The man is dead。〃
〃Dead！〃 echoed the deputy marshal。 〃Well； I'll be … say； doctor；〃 but
Stone had darted out of the room； and he turned open…mouthed to Clymer。
〃If it wasn't Doctor Stone I would say he was crazy；〃 he declared。
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〃Tut！ Feel the man's heart and convince yourself；〃 suggested Clymer
tartly； and the deputy marshal； dropping on one knee； did so。 Detecting no
heart…beat； the officer passed his hand over the dead man's unshaven chin
and across his forehead； brushing back the unkempt hair。 Under his none
too gentle touch the wig slipped back； revealing to his astonished gaze a
head of short cropped； red hair。
Clymer； who had followed the deputy marshal's movements with
interest； gave a shout which was echoed by Rochester and
