第11章

"My heart's dearest," he murmured fondly."If there is anything - anything I can do -"Barbara straightened up and winked away the tears."There is," she said tersely."Investigate Jimmie's death."Kent gazed at her in astonishment."Please explain," he suggested.

"The morning paper states very plainly that the cause of death was an attack of angina pectoris.""Yes, I know, and that is what Philip Rochester contends also."Barbara paused and glanced about the office; they had the room to themselves."B-but Helen believes otherwise."Kent drew back."What do you mean, Babs?" he demanded.

"Just that," Barbara spoke wearily, and Kent, giving her close attention, grew aware of dark shadows under her eyes which told plainly of a sleepless night."I want to engage you as our counsel to help Helen find out about Jimmie's death.""Find out what?" asked Kent, his bewilderment increasing."Do you mean that Jimmie's death was not the result of a dangerous heart disease, but of foul play?"Barbara nodded her head vigorously."Yes."Kent sat back in his chair and regarded her in silence for a second.

"How could that be, Babs, in an open police court with dozens of spectators all about?" he asked."The slightest attempt to kill him would have been frustrated by the police officials; remember, a prisoner especially, is hedged in and guarded.""Well, he wasn't so very hedged in," retorted Barbara."I was there and saw how closely people approached Jimmie.""Did you observe any one hand him anything?""N-no," Barbara drawled the word as she strove to visualize the scene in the court room; then catching Kent's look of doubt she added with unmistakable emphasis."Helen and I do not believe that Jimmie died from natural causes; we think the tragedy should be investigated." Her soft voice deepened."I must know the truth, Harry, dear; for I feel that perhaps I am responsible for Jimmie's death.""You!" Kent's voice rose in indignant protest."Absurd!""No, it isn't If it had not been for my wager with Jimmie, he never would have entered our house disguised as a burglar.""What brought about the wager?"

"Last Sunday Helen was boasting of her two new police dogs which Philip Rochester recently gave her, and said how safe she felt.

We've had several burglaries in our neighborhood," Barbara explained, "and when Jimmie scoffed at the dogs, I bet him that he could not break into the house without the dogs arousing the household.Inever once thought about Jimmie's heart trouble," she confessed, and her lips quivered."I feel so guilty.""You are inconsistent, Babs," chided Kent gently."One moment you reproach yourself for being the cause of bringing on Jimmie's heart attack, and the next you declare you believe he died through foul play.You," looking at her tenderly, while a whimsical smile softened his stern mouth, "don't go so far as to claim you murdered him, do you?""Of course I didn't!" Barbara spoke with indignant emphasis, and her fingers snapped in uncontrollable nervousness."Jimmie was very dear" - she hesitated - "to us.Neither Helen nor I can leave a stone unturned until we know without a shadow of a doubt what killed him.""That is easily proven," declared Kent."An autopsy -""Helen asked the coroner to hold one."

Kent stared - the twins were certainly in earnest.

"My advice to you is to wait until you hear the result of the post-mortem from Coroner Penfield," he said gravely."Until we know definitely what killed Jimmie, speculation is idle."Barbara rose at once."I thought you would be more sympathetic,"she remarked, and her voice was a bit unsteady."I am sorry to have troubled you."In an instant Kent was by her side."Barbara," he entreated."Ipromise solemnly to aid you in every possible way.My only happiness is in serving you," his voice was very tender."I slave here day in and day out that I may sometime be able to make a home for you.Don't leave me in anger.""I was not angry, only deeply hurt," Barbara confessed."I have so longed to see you.I - I needed you! I -" The rest was lost as she bowed her head against Kent's broad shoulder, and his impassioned whispers of devotion brought solace to her troubled spirit.