Grant, Maxwell - The Shadow 196 - Prince of Evil by Maxwell Grant

Author:Maxwell Grant
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Detective, Mystery, Crime, Suspense, Adventure, Thriller
Publisher: Street & Smith Publications
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

THE SHADOW tensed inwardly. But he managed to keep his lips curved in a careless smile. Kent Allard was a famous American aviator. It was natural for Benedict Stark to desire to meet so famous a celebrity. And yet…

Kent Allard was the Shadow!

Where the name of Allard was a household word, few, if any, persons knew he was The Shadow.

The Shadow himself was a creature of darkness. When a public appearance became necessary that information on pending crime might be obtained, The Shadow sometimes assumed the name and social position of Lamont Cranston.

Was Benedict Stark suspicious of this state of affairs? Cranston tested Stark with a vague reply.

“I’ll be very glad to tell my friend Kent Allard how anxious you are to meet him.”

“I’m extremely interested in aviation,” Stark continued. “Allard has enjoyed the romance and adventure that I’ve missed by being chained to a business man’s desk. I’d like to talk with him and ask him technical questions about flying that only a genius of aviation like Allard could properly answer.”

“I’m sure I can arrange a meeting,” Cranston replied. “At present, Allard is in Washington. But he’s flying to New York in the next day or so, for a brief stop before he goes on to Boston. It will be a delight to tell him you wish to meet him. I’ll send him over to your home for a brief visit.”

Stark shook his head to that. Something like a monkeyish grin twisted his pouting lips.

“That won’t do,” he murmured in a silky voice. “It would be only half a pleasure. I want both of you to come! I’m arranging a small party at my home. You’re entirely too modest, Mr. Cranston. As a world traveler and big-game hunger, you’re quite a celebrity yourself. We’ll call it a date, eh? You shall bring Kent Allard and introduce him yourself to me and my guests.”

“I shall be very glad to,” Cranston murmured.

He could see he was being drawn into a trap. But there was nothing to do but accept the ugly situation.

He knew now why Benedict Stark had sent for him. If Stark’s suspicions about The Shadow were correct, he was forcing an impossible showdown. The Shadow would have to appear at the same time, in the same place in the role of two entirely different human beings!

Could such magic be accomplished? The Shadow realized he had been placed in a grim situation. And yet he had to go through with it, if he were to continue to play the role of Lamont Cranston in public with impunity.

He rose to his feet and excused himself. Stark rose, too. But he detained his guest for a moment longer. Waddling on his short legs, he led Cranston to a sunlit window that overlooked the busy turmoil of New York harbor.

It was a magnificent view. But Benedict Stark drew attention to something closer. With a smile, he pointed to the shadow of Cranston’s arm in the warm sunlight on the window sill.

“Are you interested in shadows?”

“Not particularly,” Cranston murmured.

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