Death's Masquerade by Maxwell Grant & Walter Gibson

Author:Maxwell Grant & Walter Gibson [Grant, Maxwell & Gibson, Walter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Espionage, Fiction, Thrillers
Publisher: Street & Smith
Published: 1943-01-20T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XI. MURDER UNMASKED

THE royal float had reached the reviewing stand, located in a large square near the hotel. In the stand were the judges, passing on the merits of the various floats, but they laid their notebooks aside and rose to salute the royal float.

The judges were not in costume, unless evening clothes could be termed such. Nor were they masked, these elderly and respected citizens of Industria. They formed a dignified group, though one important face was missing - that of old Ellery Gault.

Absence of the town's most prominent citizen was almost as serious as a rainstorm, where the success of the pageant was concerned; but the human element was something that could be altered at will. Of a sudden, a murmur sounded among the masked throng that watched the parade from across the square. It carried to the reviewing stand, to be picked up by the masqueraders who were banked in tiers above the judges.

The stand quivered as people came to their feet, craning forward, even removing their masks to see better what was happening below. A loud cheer suddenly roared throughout the square. Pushing his way among the judges was old Ellery Gault himself!

His white hair flowing, Gault received the handclasps of the judges; scanning their faces, he saw their surprised expressions. Shouting in their ears, Gault told them how he happened to be here. Amid the tumult, only snatches of his shouted statement were audible.

He was saying something about doctors. "Fool doctors," Gault termed them, though he used a few adjectives to embellish the word "fool." They'd told him to stay home and count his pennies, instead of attending the parade. But when two of the specialists had been summoned on an emergency case, Gault had given the rest the slip.

He wanted to see the parade. He wanted to be with his friends, the judges. He hadn't forgotten them; as proof, he handed each a nice bright penny. Thanking Gault for his liberality, the judges gestured toward the royal float. With a nod, Gault forgot his pennies and beamed happily at the gorgeous tableau that approached.

King Progress, in his thickly pleated robe and ermine mask, was seated proudly on a throne that matched the gilded crown that topped his ample wig. Beside him, Queen Industry occupied a similar throne; her costume, too, was purple trimmed with ermine, but her mask was daintier, her crown smaller.

People knew King Progress as Ferris Dane only because the program called for Dane to play the part. But Queen Industry was obviously Diana Gault, because much of her face was visible and she hadn't hidden her gorgeous red hair under an old-fashioned wig.

Grouped about the king and queen were courtiers and ladies in waiting. Among the latter was Margo Lane, in suitable costume. She was a late addition to the float, but there was another passenger who had almost missed it. He was an extra courtier, perched on a lookout pedestal behind the throne.

Ferris Dane had delegated George Traymer to that post as a last-minute novelty.

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