June 10, 2025 • 16 mins
Dive into a world where nothing is as it seems, as the thrilling mystery of Red Seal, penned by Natalie Sumner Lincoln, unfolds. Overflowing with red seals and red herrings, this enthralling narrative will keep you on the edge of your seat, guessing and second-guessing until the very last chapter! (summary by J. M. Smallheer)
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter sixteen of The Red Seal by Natalie Sumner Lincoln.
This LibriVox recording is in the public domain The Crimson Outline.
Barbara MacIntyre made the round of the library for the
fifth time, testing each of the seven doors opening into
it to see that they were close behind their portieres.
(00:21):
Then she turned back to her sister, who sat cross
legged before a small safe, Any luck, she asked. Instead
of replying, Helen removed the key from the lock of
the steel door and regarded it attentively. The safe was
of an obsolete pattern, and in place of the customary
combination lock was opened by means of a key unique
(00:42):
in appearance. It is certainly the key which father mislaid
six months ago, she declared. Grimes found it just after
father had a new key made and gave it to me.
And yet I can't get the door open. Let me try.
Barbara crouched down by her sister and inserted the key
again in the lock, but her efforts met with no results,
(01:02):
and after five minutes steady manipulation, she gave up the attempt.
I am afraid it is impossible, she admitted. Seems to me,
I have heard that the lost key will not open
a safe after a new key has been supplied. Helen
rose slowly to her feet, stretched her cramped limbs carefully
as she did so, and sank down in the nearest chair.
(01:23):
Her attitude indicated dejection. Then we can't find the envelope,
she muttered. Hurry, Babs and close the outer door. Father
may return at any moment. Barbara obeyed the injunction with
such alacrity that the door concealing the space in the
wall were stood. The safe flew to with a bang,
and the twins jumped nervously. Take care, exclaimed Helen, sharply,
(01:46):
do you wish to arouse the household? No danger of that,
but Barbara glanced apprehensively about the library. In spite of
her reassuring statement. The servants are either out or upstairs,
and Margaret Brewster is writing letters in our sitting room.
Hadn't you better go upstairs and join her, Helen suggested,
do Babs, as her sister hesitated. I cannot feel sure
(02:06):
that she will not interrupt us, but my joining her
won't keep Margaret upstairs, objected Barbara. 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
(02:27):
glanced at her with an irritated air very foreign to
her customary manner. Go Barbara. The kirk command brought a
stare from Barbara, but it did not accelerate her halting footsteps. Instead,
she moved with even greater slowness toward the whole door.
Her active brain tormented with an unspoken and unanswered question.
Why was Helen so anxious for her departure? She had
(02:50):
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
(03:13):
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
(03:37):
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
(03:58):
tried to keep her tone new 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. For my seal, Barbara answered, the one
with the big letter B Have you seen it? I know?
(04:19):
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 Bab's up. It
won't take me long to arrange tomorrow's market order for grimes.
Under pretense of searching for pencil and paper, Helen contrived
(04:40):
to see the address of every letter lying on the table,
but the envelope she saw it, with its red seal,
was not among them. When she looked up again, pencil
and paper in hand, she found Missus Brewster leaning lazily
back and regarding her from under half closed lids. You
are very like your father, Helen, she commented softly. The
girls stiff am I, Babs and I are gently thought
(05:02):
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. Missus 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.
(05:24):
These are almost identical. You are a close observer. Helen
completed her memorandum and laid it aside. What became a 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
(05:44):
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 Missus Brewster sprang up
(06:07):
and threw her arm about her in ready sympathy. 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.
Missus Brewster's delicate color had deepened. It would be as
(06:30):
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
(06:51):
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 muddy 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 Missus Brewster shot at her. Helen,
(07:13):
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
(07:34):
turned to go upstairs. Just as Grimes came down the
hall from the dining room carrying a large tray with
pictures of ice, water and glasses. I thought you had
gone to your room, Grimes, she remarked, as the butler
waited respectfully for her to pass him. I've just come in, miss,
and found Murray had left the tray in the dining room,
explained Grimes hurriedly. I hope, miss, I'll not disturb the
(07:56):
ladies by knocking at their doors now with this ice water. Oh,
missus Brewster and Miss Helen have only just gone upstairs.
Barbara paused in front of the butler and poured out
a glass of water. I can't wait, Grimes, I am
too thirsty. Certainly, Miss, that's all right. Grimes craned his
head around and looked up and down the hall. Then,
leaning over, he placed the tray on a convenient table
(08:19):
and stepped close to Barbara. I've been reading the newspapers
very carefully, Miss, he began, taking care to keep his
voice lower, especially that part of mister Turnerble's inquest, which
tells about the post mortem. Well what, then, asked Barbara quickly,
as the butler paused and again glanced up and down
the hall. Just this, Miss. He spoke, almost in a whisper.
(08:41):
The doctors do say, poor mister Turnbull was poisoned by
acca aconitine, stumbling over the word. It's a curious thing, Miss,
that I brought some of that very drug into this
house last Sunday. You did. Barbara's fresh, young voice rose
in astonishment. Hush, Miss. The butler raised both hands. Hush.
(09:01):
He glanced cautiously around, then continued. Colonel McIntyre sent me
to the druggist with a prescription from doctor Stone for
missus Brewster when she had romantic neuralgia. Had what Barbara
looked puzzled, then giggled, but her mirth quickly altered to
seriousness at the sight of the butler's expression. Missus Brewster
had a touch of rheumatic neuralgia the first of the month.
(09:23):
Do you refer to that? Yes, Miss Grimes spoke more rapidly,
but kept his voice lowered. The druggist told me what
the pills were, when I exclaimed at their sighs, regular
little pellets, no bigger than that. He demonstrated the size
with the tip of his little finger, and would have
added more, but the gong over the front door rang
out with such suddenness that both he and Barbara started violently.
(09:46):
Just a moment, Miss, and he hurried to the front
bell to return after a brief colloquy with a messenger
boy bearing a letter. It's for missus brewster, Miss, he explained,
as Barbara held out her hand, I'll give it to her,
and this also. Barbara took the envelope and a small
ice pitcher and glass. Good night, grimes. Oh. She stopped
(10:06):
midway up the staircase and waited for the butler to
overtake her. Grimes to whom did you give the econoteine
on Sunday? I didn't give it to nobody. Miss. The
butler was a trifle short of breath. His years did
not permit him to keep pace with the twins. I
was in a great hurry as the druggist kept me waiting,
and I had to serve tea at once. But what
(10:27):
did you do with the econoateine pills? Demanded Barbara. I
left the box on the hall table, Miss, great heavens.
Barbara stared at the butler, then, without a word, she
raced up the staircase and disappeared through the open door
of Missus Brewster's bedroom. The light from the hall shone
through the transom and doorway in sufficient volume to clearly
(10:48):
indicate the different pieces of furniture, and Barbara put the
pitcher and glass on the bed stand and laid the
letter which Grimes had given her on the dressing table,
then went slowly into her own bedroom. She could hear
void which she recognized as those of her sister and
Missus Brewster, coming from Helen's bedroom, but absorbed in her
own thoughts, she undressed in the dark and crept into
(11:09):
bed just as Missus Brewster passed down the hallway and
entered her own room. The widow had taken off her
evening gown and slippers and donned a becoming wrapper before
she discovered the letter lying on the dresser. Drawing up
a chair, she dropped into it, let down her long,
dark hair, and settled back in luxuriant comfort against the
tufted upholstery. Before she ran her well manicured finger under
(11:33):
the flap of the envelope. A slip of paper fell
into her lap as she took out the contents of
the envelope, and she let it rest there while scanning
the closely typewritten lines on the Metropolis Trust Company stationery.
Dear Missus Brewster, she read our bank teller, mister mc
donald has questioned the genuineness of the signature on the
enclosed check. An important business engagement prevents my calling to night,
(11:56):
but please stop at the bank early tomorrow morning. I
feel that you would to have a personal investigation made
rather than have us place the matter in the hands
of the police. Yours faithfully, Benjamin A Climber. The widow
read the note a number of times, then, bethinking herself,
she picked up the canceled check, still lying in her lap,
and turned it over. Long and intently. She studied the signature.
(12:20):
The peculiarly characteristic formation of the letter B caught and
held her attention. As the seconds ticked themselves into minutes.
She sat immovable, her face as white as the hand
on which she had bowed her head across the hall.
Helen MacIntyre tossed from one side to the other in
her soft bed. Her restless longing to get up was
(12:41):
growing stronger and stronger, while Missus Brewster's deft fingers and
the cooling cologne had stopped the throbbing in her temples.
They had brought only temporary relief in their train, and
not the sleep which Helen craved. She strained her ears
to discover the time, but the ticking of her clock,
but either it was between ian the half or quarters
of an hour, or it had stopped for no chimes sounded.
(13:05):
With a gasp of exasperation, Helen flung back the bed
clothes and sat up. Switching on the light by the
side of her bed, she hunted for a book, but
not finding any, she contemplated for a short space of
time a pair of rubber heeled shoes, just showing themselves
under the edge of a chair. With sudden decision, she
left the bed and dressed rapidly. It was not until
(13:25):
she had put on her rubber heeled shoes that she paused.
Her hesitation, however, was but brief. Stepping to the bureau,
she pulled out a lower drawer, and running her hand inside,
touched a concealed spring from the cavity. Thus exposed, she
took a small automatic pistol, and, with a stealthy glance
about her, crept from the room. The library had been
(13:48):
vacant fully an hour when a mouse intent on making
a raid on the candy, which Barbara had carelessly left
lying loose on one of the tables, paused as a faint,
creaking sound broke the stillness. Then, as the noise increased,
the mouse scurried back to its hole. The noise resembled
the turning of rusty hinges and the soft thud of
one piece of wood striking another. There was a strained silence,
(14:12):
Then from out of the darkness appeared a tiny stream
of light directed full on a white envelope bearing a
large red seal. The next instant, the envelope was plucked
from the hand holding it, and a figure lay crumpled
on the floor from the blow of a descending weapon.
It was closely approaching one o'clock in the morning before
(14:33):
Missus Brewster stirred from her comfortable bedroom chair. Taking up
her electric torch, which she kept always by the side
of her bed, she walked quickly down the staircase and
into the pitch dark library, directing her torch light so
that she steered a safe course among the chairs and tables.
She approached one of the pieces of carved Venetian furniture
and reached at her hand to touch a trap door.
(14:56):
As she looked for the spring, she was horrified to
see a thin stream of blood oozing through the carving
until reaching the letter B. It outlined that initial in
sinister read Scream after scream broke from Missus Brewster. She
was swaying upon her feet by the time Colonel McIntyre
and his daughter Helen reached the library. Margaret, what is it?
(15:19):
MacIntyre demanded, Calm yourself, my darling. The frenzied woman shook
off his soothing hand. See see, she cried, and pointed
with her torch. She means the Venetian casket, explained Helen,
who had paused before joining them to switch on the light.
Colonel McIntyre gazed in amazement at the piece of furniture, Then,
(15:40):
catching sight of the blood stain, he raised the small
trap door or peep hole in the top of the
oblong box, which stood breast high, supported on a beautifully
carved base. There was a breathless pause. Then MacIntyre unceremoniously
jerked the electric torch from Missus Brewster's nervous fingers and
turned its rays on the interior of the casket. Stretched
(16:01):
at full length, lay the figure of a man, and
from a wound in his temple flowed a steady stream
of blood. Good God. McIntyre staggered back against Helen Grimes,
end of Chapter sixteen,
Chapter sixteen of The Red Seal by Natalie Sumner Lincoln.
This LibriVox recording is in the public domain The Crimson Outline.
Barbara MacIntyre made the round of the library for the
fifth time, testing each of the seven doors opening into
it to see that they were close behind their portieres.
(00:21):
Then she turned back to her sister, who sat cross
legged before a small safe, Any luck, she asked. Instead
of replying, Helen removed the key from the lock of
the steel door and regarded it attentively. The safe was
of an obsolete pattern, and in place of the customary
combination lock was opened by means of a key unique
(00:42):
in appearance. It is certainly the key which father mislaid
six months ago, she declared. Grimes found it just after
father had a new key made and gave it to me.
And yet I can't get the door open. Let me try.
Barbara crouched down by her sister and inserted the key
again in the lock, but her efforts met with no results,
(01:02):
and after five minutes steady manipulation, she gave up the attempt.
I am afraid it is impossible, she admitted. Seems to me,
I have heard that the lost key will not open
a safe after a new key has been supplied. Helen
rose slowly to her feet, stretched her cramped limbs carefully
as she did so, and sank down in the nearest chair.
(01:23):
Her attitude indicated dejection. Then we can't find the envelope,
she muttered. Hurry, Babs and close the outer door. Father
may return at any moment. Barbara obeyed the injunction with
such alacrity that the door concealing the space in the
wall were stood. The safe flew to with a bang,
and the twins jumped nervously. Take care, exclaimed Helen, sharply,
(01:46):
do you wish to arouse the household? No danger of that,
but Barbara glanced apprehensively about the library. In spite of
her reassuring statement. The servants are either out or upstairs,
and Margaret Brewster is writing letters in our sitting room.
Hadn't you better go upstairs and join her, Helen suggested,
do Babs, as her sister hesitated. I cannot feel sure
(02:06):
that she will not interrupt us, but my joining her
won't keep Margaret upstairs, objected Barbara. 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
(02:27):
glanced at her with an irritated air very foreign to
her customary manner. Go Barbara. The kirk command brought a
stare from Barbara, but it did not accelerate her halting footsteps. Instead,
she moved with even greater slowness toward the whole door.
Her active brain tormented with an unspoken and unanswered question.
Why was Helen so anxious for her departure? She had
(02:50):
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
(03:13):
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
(03:37):
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
(03:58):
tried to keep her tone new 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. For my seal, Barbara answered, the one
with the big letter B Have you seen it? I know?
(04:19):
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 Bab's up. It
won't take me long to arrange tomorrow's market order for grimes.
Under pretense of searching for pencil and paper, Helen contrived
(04:40):
to see the address of every letter lying on the table,
but the envelope she saw it, with its red seal,
was not among them. When she looked up again, pencil
and paper in hand, she found Missus Brewster leaning lazily
back and regarding her from under half closed lids. You
are very like your father, Helen, she commented softly. The
girls stiff am I, Babs and I are gently thought
(05:02):
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. Missus 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.
(05:24):
These are almost identical. You are a close observer. Helen
completed her memorandum and laid it aside. What became a 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
(05:44):
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 Missus Brewster sprang up
(06:07):
and threw her arm about her in ready sympathy. 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.
Missus Brewster's delicate color had deepened. It would be as
(06:30):
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
(06:51):
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 muddy 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 Missus Brewster shot at her. Helen,
(07:13):
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
(07:34):
turned to go upstairs. Just as Grimes came down the
hall from the dining room carrying a large tray with
pictures of ice, water and glasses. I thought you had
gone to your room, Grimes, she remarked, as the butler
waited respectfully for her to pass him. I've just come in, miss,
and found Murray had left the tray in the dining room,
explained Grimes hurriedly. I hope, miss, I'll not disturb the
(07:56):
ladies by knocking at their doors now with this ice water. Oh,
missus Brewster and Miss Helen have only just gone upstairs.
Barbara paused in front of the butler and poured out
a glass of water. I can't wait, Grimes, I am
too thirsty. Certainly, Miss, that's all right. Grimes craned his
head around and looked up and down the hall. Then,
leaning over, he placed the tray on a convenient table
(08:19):
and stepped close to Barbara. I've been reading the newspapers
very carefully, Miss, he began, taking care to keep his
voice lower, especially that part of mister Turnerble's inquest, which
tells about the post mortem. Well what, then, asked Barbara quickly,
as the butler paused and again glanced up and down
the hall. Just this, Miss. He spoke, almost in a whisper.
(08:41):
The doctors do say, poor mister Turnbull was poisoned by
acca aconitine, stumbling over the word. It's a curious thing, Miss,
that I brought some of that very drug into this
house last Sunday. You did. Barbara's fresh, young voice rose
in astonishment. Hush, Miss. The butler raised both hands. Hush.
(09:01):
He glanced cautiously around, then continued. Colonel McIntyre sent me
to the druggist with a prescription from doctor Stone for
missus Brewster when she had romantic neuralgia. Had what Barbara
looked puzzled, then giggled, but her mirth quickly altered to
seriousness at the sight of the butler's expression. Missus Brewster
had a touch of rheumatic neuralgia the first of the month.
(09:23):
Do you refer to that? Yes, Miss Grimes spoke more rapidly,
but kept his voice lowered. The druggist told me what
the pills were, when I exclaimed at their sighs, regular
little pellets, no bigger than that. He demonstrated the size
with the tip of his little finger, and would have
added more, but the gong over the front door rang
out with such suddenness that both he and Barbara started violently.
(09:46):
Just a moment, Miss, and he hurried to the front
bell to return after a brief colloquy with a messenger
boy bearing a letter. It's for missus brewster, Miss, he explained,
as Barbara held out her hand, I'll give it to her,
and this also. Barbara took the envelope and a small
ice pitcher and glass. Good night, grimes. Oh. She stopped
(10:06):
midway up the staircase and waited for the butler to
overtake her. Grimes to whom did you give the econoteine
on Sunday? I didn't give it to nobody. Miss. The
butler was a trifle short of breath. His years did
not permit him to keep pace with the twins. I
was in a great hurry as the druggist kept me waiting,
and I had to serve tea at once. But what
(10:27):
did you do with the econoateine pills? Demanded Barbara. I
left the box on the hall table, Miss, great heavens.
Barbara stared at the butler, then, without a word, she
raced up the staircase and disappeared through the open door
of Missus Brewster's bedroom. The light from the hall shone
through the transom and doorway in sufficient volume to clearly
(10:48):
indicate the different pieces of furniture, and Barbara put the
pitcher and glass on the bed stand and laid the
letter which Grimes had given her on the dressing table,
then went slowly into her own bedroom. She could hear
void which she recognized as those of her sister and
Missus Brewster, coming from Helen's bedroom, but absorbed in her
own thoughts, she undressed in the dark and crept into
(11:09):
bed just as Missus Brewster passed down the hallway and
entered her own room. The widow had taken off her
evening gown and slippers and donned a becoming wrapper before
she discovered the letter lying on the dresser. Drawing up
a chair, she dropped into it, let down her long,
dark hair, and settled back in luxuriant comfort against the
tufted upholstery. Before she ran her well manicured finger under
(11:33):
the flap of the envelope. A slip of paper fell
into her lap as she took out the contents of
the envelope, and she let it rest there while scanning
the closely typewritten lines on the Metropolis Trust Company stationery.
Dear Missus Brewster, she read our bank teller, mister mc
donald has questioned the genuineness of the signature on the
enclosed check. An important business engagement prevents my calling to night,
(11:56):
but please stop at the bank early tomorrow morning. I
feel that you would to have a personal investigation made
rather than have us place the matter in the hands
of the police. Yours faithfully, Benjamin A Climber. The widow
read the note a number of times, then, bethinking herself,
she picked up the canceled check, still lying in her lap,
and turned it over. Long and intently. She studied the signature.
(12:20):
The peculiarly characteristic formation of the letter B caught and
held her attention. As the seconds ticked themselves into minutes.
She sat immovable, her face as white as the hand
on which she had bowed her head across the hall.
Helen MacIntyre tossed from one side to the other in
her soft bed. Her restless longing to get up was
(12:41):
growing stronger and stronger, while Missus Brewster's deft fingers and
the cooling cologne had stopped the throbbing in her temples.
They had brought only temporary relief in their train, and
not the sleep which Helen craved. She strained her ears
to discover the time, but the ticking of her clock,
but either it was between ian the half or quarters
of an hour, or it had stopped for no chimes sounded.
(13:05):
With a gasp of exasperation, Helen flung back the bed
clothes and sat up. Switching on the light by the
side of her bed, she hunted for a book, but
not finding any, she contemplated for a short space of
time a pair of rubber heeled shoes, just showing themselves
under the edge of a chair. With sudden decision, she
left the bed and dressed rapidly. It was not until
(13:25):
she had put on her rubber heeled shoes that she paused.
Her hesitation, however, was but brief. Stepping to the bureau,
she pulled out a lower drawer, and running her hand inside,
touched a concealed spring from the cavity. Thus exposed, she
took a small automatic pistol, and, with a stealthy glance
about her, crept from the room. The library had been
(13:48):
vacant fully an hour when a mouse intent on making
a raid on the candy, which Barbara had carelessly left
lying loose on one of the tables, paused as a faint,
creaking sound broke the stillness. Then, as the noise increased,
the mouse scurried back to its hole. The noise resembled
the turning of rusty hinges and the soft thud of
one piece of wood striking another. There was a strained silence,
(14:12):
Then from out of the darkness appeared a tiny stream
of light directed full on a white envelope bearing a
large red seal. The next instant, the envelope was plucked
from the hand holding it, and a figure lay crumpled
on the floor from the blow of a descending weapon.
It was closely approaching one o'clock in the morning before
(14:33):
Missus Brewster stirred from her comfortable bedroom chair. Taking up
her electric torch, which she kept always by the side
of her bed, she walked quickly down the staircase and
into the pitch dark library, directing her torch light so
that she steered a safe course among the chairs and tables.
She approached one of the pieces of carved Venetian furniture
and reached at her hand to touch a trap door.
(14:56):
As she looked for the spring, she was horrified to
see a thin stream of blood oozing through the carving
until reaching the letter B. It outlined that initial in
sinister read Scream after scream broke from Missus Brewster. She
was swaying upon her feet by the time Colonel McIntyre
and his daughter Helen reached the library. Margaret, what is it?
(15:19):
MacIntyre demanded, Calm yourself, my darling. The frenzied woman shook
off his soothing hand. See see, she cried, and pointed
with her torch. She means the Venetian casket, explained Helen,
who had paused before joining them to switch on the light.
Colonel McIntyre gazed in amazement at the piece of furniture, Then,
(15:40):
catching sight of the blood stain, he raised the small
trap door or peep hole in the top of the
oblong box, which stood breast high, supported on a beautifully
carved base. There was a breathless pause. Then MacIntyre unceremoniously
jerked the electric torch from Missus Brewster's nervous fingers and
turned its rays on the interior of the casket. Stretched
(16:01):
at full length, lay the figure of a man, and
from a wound in his temple flowed a steady stream
of blood. Good God. McIntyre staggered back against Helen Grimes,
end of Chapter sixteen,
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