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had left our marriage certificate lying around so carelessly。〃
〃Your what？〃 Barbara sprang up； astounded。
〃Our marriage certificate；〃 repeated McIntyre firmly。 〃Margaret and
I were married last week in Baltimore。 We would have told you； Helen；
but your peculiar conduct and Barbara's； so angered me that I forbade
Margaret to take you into our confidence。〃
〃Father！〃 Barbara got no further； for Helen had risen。 She spoke
with quiet dignity。
〃You forget； father； that since Monday night we have thought you a
forger and； worse； a murderer；〃 her voice faltered。 〃In our effort to guard
you we have become estranged。 Margaret〃… she held out her hand with
an affectionate gesture and with a sob her step…mother kissed her。
〃How did this envelope get back inside our safe？〃 asked Kent a
moment later； picking it up and displaying the red seal； intact save for the
broken corner。
〃I went downstairs about midnight or a little later and into the library；〃
confessed Helen。 〃What was my surprise and terror to see Grimes
holding the envelope。 To me it meant father's exposure as a forger。 I
had a revolver in my hand and struck before I thought。 Then I must
temporarily have lost my reason。 It was only my thought to save father
that lent me courage and strength to thrust Grimes inside the casket where
Babs and I used to hide。 I then returned to my room； and was just
coming downstairs again after secreting the envelope； to release Grimes
and get medical assistance if need be； when Margaret's screams aroused
the household。〃
McIntyre interrupted his daughter with a hasty gesture； and addressed
his wife。 〃When Detective Ferguson questioned me as to your reason for
being in the library； Margaret； I stated you had gone down to get a book
left lying on the Venetian casket；〃 he said。 〃I waited for you to volunteer
an explanation of your presence there； but you never made any。〃
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〃I went down to get our marriage certificate。〃 Margaret forgot the
presence of others and spoke only to him； the love…light in her eyes
pleading against the censure she dreaded； as she made her brief confession。
〃Mr。 Clymer sent me a note； inclosing a canceled check； stating the bank
officials had decided my signature was a forgery。 The check was drawn to
Barbara； and on examining it I noticed the peculiar formation of the letter
'B'； it is characteristic of your handwriting and Helen's。〃 She paused； and
added：
〃I was at a loss what to think。 I knew you and Helen wrote alike；
Helen's extraordinary behavior to me led me to believe that perhaps she
had been short of funds； and forged my name to a check in desperation。
Then I remembered seeing you； Charles； open the box containing my
aconitine pills； the box's disappearance； and Jimmie's death from that
poison〃 … she raised her hands in an expressive gesture。 〃Although my
reason told me that you might be guilty； my loyalty and love refuted the
accusation。〃
〃Margaret！〃 McIntyre's voice shook with emotion； then controlling
himself he turned to Sylvester。 〃I presume this check was some more of
your deviltry？〃
Helen answered for the clerk。 Removing a soiled paper from her bag
she laid it on Kent's desk。 〃This note was handed to me by Grimes；〃 she
explained。 〃It reads： 'Helen； please cash this check and give money to
Mrs。 Brewster's dressmaker。 Father。' I followed the instructions。〃
〃And gave the money to my sister；〃 Sylvester chuckled at their
surprise。 〃My sister was taught in a French convent； and she is an
excellent seamstress； when she isn't drunk； as Mrs。 McIntyre knows。〃
〃See here； Sylvester；〃 Clymer broke his long silence。 〃You were in
the police court on a charge of assault and battery brought by your wife on
Tuesday morning； and you were in the prisoner's cage at the moment
Turnbull died。 How then was it possible for you to be at the McIntyre's
at midnight on Monday？〃
〃I was out on bail and appeared in the courtroom just in time for my
trial；〃 Sylvester explained。 〃I did not have to sit in the cage； but
recognizing Turnbull I went there to be with him。〃
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Kent placed the forged check bearing Margaret Brewster's signature on
the desk。 〃I take it this check is your work； Sylvester；〃 he said。 〃You
reaped the benefit by having the money paid to your sister。 Did you also
have the fake telegram delivered to me stating Mr。 Rochester was in
Cleveland？〃
〃I faked that；〃 broke in Rochester； before the clerk could make a
disclaimer。 〃I thought it best to disappear for a few days down in
Virginia； where I could think things over in peace。〃
〃So it was you； Sylvester； and not Mr。 Rochester whom I encountered
in his apartment；〃 exclaimed Kent。 〃How did you get in the apartment？〃
〃From the fire…escape and along the window ledge to the bathroom
window。〃 Sylvester hitched his shoulders。 〃It was nothing for a man of
my agility。〃
Ferguson eyed him with doubtful respect。
〃You have courage；〃 he admitted grudgingly。 〃Come； we must get to
Headquarters；〃 and he aided Sylvester to his feet； but once standing；
Sylvester refused to move。 Instead he turned to Helen。
〃What was that you passed to Mr。 Rochester in the police court and he
later gave to Mr。 Turnbull？〃 he asked。 〃Oh； don't deny it； I saw you palm
a note； Mr。 Rochester； from the young lady。〃
〃There is nothing now to conceal；〃 declared Helen。 〃After O'Ryan
and Jimmie left the house for the police station I grew fearful that Jimmie
might over…tax his strength in carrying out the farce of his arrest。 So as
soon as I could I telephoned to Philip to meet me at the police court and to
bring some amyl nitrite capsules with him。〃
〃And the note； Sylvester； which you saw Miss McIntyre give me in
court；〃 concluded Rochester； as Helen paused； 〃told me to hand the
capsules to the burglar and to defend him in court。 I did both； although
badly puzzled by the request。〃 Rochester hesitated。 〃I carried out your
wishes； Helen； without question； but when the burglar's identity was
revealed； I jumped to the conclusion that you had used me as an
instrument to kill him； for I knew something of the effects of amyl nitrite。〃
〃Great Heavens！〃 exclaimed Helen； aghast。
Rochester looked at her and bit his lip； he knew of her affection for
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Jimmie and her attachment to his memory； but he could not kill the hope
that when Time had healed the loss； his devotion might some day win her
for his own。
〃I did you great injustice；〃 he admitted humbly。