ze, but fraught with dire
possibilities if, as Ferguson hinted, Turnbull had been put to death by
an over-dose of the drug. "B "--Barbara; Barbara--"B"--his mind rang the
changes; pshaw! other names than Barbara began with "B."

"Shall I transcribe your notes, Mr. Kent?" asked Sylvester, and Kent
awakened from his reverie, discovered that he had scrawled the name
Barbara and capital "Bs" on the writing pad. He tore off the sheet and
crumpled it into a small ball. "No, my notes are unimportant." Kent
unlocked his desk and took some manuscript from one of the drawers.
"Make four copies of this brief, then call up the printer and ask how
soon he will complete the work on hand. Has Mr. Clymer telephoned?"

"Not this morning." Sylvester rose, papers in hand. "There has been a
Mr. Parker of the Post who telephones regularly once an hour to ask
for Mr. Rochester's address and when he is expected at the office." He
paused and looked inquiringly at Kent. "What shall I say the next time
he calls?"

"Switch him on my phone," briefly. "That is all now, Sylvester. I must
be in court by noon, so have the brief copied by eleven."

"Yes, sir," and Sylvester departed, only to return a second later. "Miss
McIntyre to see you," he announced, and stood aside to allow the girl to
enter.

It was the first time Kent had seen Helen since the tragedy of Tuesday,
and as he advanced to greet her he noted with concern her air of
distress and the troubled look in her eyes. Her composed manner was
obviously only maintained by the exertion of self-control, for the hand
she offered him was unsteady.

"You are so kind," she murmured as he placed a chair for her. "Babs told
me you have promised your aid, and so I have come--" she pressed one
hand to her side as if she found breathing difficult and Kent, reaching
for his pitcher of ice water which stood near at hand, filled a tumbler
and gave it to her.

"Take a little," he coaxed as she moved as if to refuse the glass. "Why
didn't you telephone and I would have called on you; in fact, I planned
to run in and see you this afternoon.

"It is wiser to have our talk here," she replied. Setting down the empty
glass she gazed about the office and her face brightened at sight of
a safe standing in one corner. "Is that yours or Philip's?" she asked,
pointing to it.

"The safe? Oh, it's for our joint use, owned by the firm, you know,"
explained Kent, somewhat puzzled by her eagerness.

"Do you keep