The Red Seal | Page 4

entrance had
attracted, drew closer to Dr. Amos Stone, their family physician, who
had accompanied them at her particular request. Except for Mrs.
Sylvester, she and her sister were the only white women in the room.
Before they could take the seats to which they had been ushered, the
clerk's stentorian tones sent the girls' names echoing down the court
room and Barbara, much perturbed, found herself standing with Helen

before the clerk's desk. There was a moment's wait and the deputy
marshal, who had motioned to one of the prisoners sitting in the "cage"
to step outside, emphasized his order with a muttered imprecation to
hurry. A slouching figure finally shambled past him and stopped some
little distance from the group in front of the Judge's bench.
"House-breaking," announced the clerk. "Charge brought by -" He
looked up at the two girls.
"Miss Helen McIntyre," answered one of the twins composedly.
"Daughter of Colonel Charles McIntyre of this city."
"Charge brought by Miss Helen McIntyre," continued the clerk,
"against -" and his pointed finger indicated the seedy looking man
slouching before them.
"Smith," said the latter, and his husky voice was barely audible.
"Smith," repeated the clerk. "First name -?"
"John," was the answer, given after a slight pause.
"John Smith, you are charged by Miss Helen McIntyre with
house-breaking. What say you - guilty or not guilty?"
The man shifted his weight from one foot to the other and shot an
uneasy look about him.
"Not guilty," he responded.
At that instant Helen caught sight of Benjamin Clymer and his
companion, Philip Rochester, and her pale cheeks flushed faintly at the
lawyer's approach. He had time but for a hasty handshake before the
clerk administered the oath to the prisoner and the witnesses in the
case.
Rochester walked back and resumed his seat by Clymer. Propping
himself in the corner made by the bench and the cage, inside of which
sat the prisoners, he opened his right hand and unfolded a small paper.

He read the brief penciled message it contained not once but a dozen
times. Folding the paper into minute dimensions he tucked it carefully
inside his vest pocket and glanced sideways at Clymer. The banker
hardly noticed his uneasy movements as he sat regarding Helen
McIntyre standing in the witness box. Although paler than usual, the
girl's manner was quiet, but Clymer, a close student of human nature,
decided she was keeping her composure by will power alone, and his
interest grew.
The Judge, from the Bench, was also regarding the handsome witness
and the burglar with close attention. Colonel Charles McIntyre, a
wealthy manufacturer, had, upon his retirement from active business,
made the National Capital his home, and his name had become a
household word for philanthropy, while his twin daughters were both
popular in Washington's gay younger set. Several reporters of local
papers, attracted by the mention of the McIntyre name, as well as by
the twins' appearance, watched the scene with keen expectancy, eager
for 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,"
acknowledged