Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 025 by Maxwel l Grant

Author:Maxwel,l Grant
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf

CHAPTER XII. THE CONFERENCE

"YOU'RE wrong about it, Grady. Forget the idea."

Safety Director Julius Selwick was speaking from behind his desk in the Holmsford city hall. Howard Grady, chief of detectives, stood before him.

"I can't forget it, director!" protested Grady. "I agree with you that Maurice Pettigrew was a suicide. But this accidental death in Arthur Preston's case leaves other possibilities."

"There were people in the house!" objected Selwick impatiently. "This case is more obvious than Pettigrew's death!"

"Maybe I'm wrong," admitted Grady. "Maybe it was all that nut stuff up in the curio room that made me think of murder. Suits of armor - harpoons - all that sort of junk."

Julius Selwick smiled indulgently. The chief detective left the office. As soon as he was gone, the director's brow furrowed.

"Murder," Julius Selwick mumbled. "Grady's nearer to the truth than he thinks. One - two - three. Well

-"

He shrugged his shoulders, and looked up as a man entered, bringing the late afternoon mail. Local deliveries were prompt in Holmsford. Selwick noted that several envelopes bore a noon postmark.

"Got to keep Grady off the trail," muttered Selwick. "It's tough enough as is, without him finding out anything. And if there's any squealing. Well -"

With the indefinite remark, Selwick began to open his letters. An envelope ripped in his hands. Out came a folded paper. From it dropped a plain red card.

Julius Selwick examined the card. He laid it on the desk, and stared at the wall.

The wrinkles deepened in his forehead. He knew the meaning of this message. It was a summons that he had awaited for years; yet which he had not expected quite so soon.

The safety director glanced at a newspaper upon his desk. On the front page was a photograph of the old City Bank building, a landmark for twenty years, now about to be torn down. Work would commence before the end of the week.

Again, Selwick examined the card. He laughed gruffly. He tore it into fragments, and threw the pieces into the empty wastebasket. The torn envelope followed. Selwick laid the rest of his mail aside. He did not care to open it.

A PROMINENT figure in Holmsford business for many years, Julius Selwick had recently been appointed safety director because of his firm, unyielding personality. He had proven himself capable at cleaning up crime. He had laughed at the threats of racketeers who had tried to install themselves in Holmsford.

To-day, however, Julius Selwick appeared perturbed. In fact, his mental attitude had not been at its best for the past week. Howard Grady had noticed it; so had others; but none had made direct comment.

The safety director's office opened on a much-used corridor, and as Julius Selwick rose to leave the office, an old gentleman hobbled in on a cane. He paused in front of the desk and offered a query.

"Is this the health director's office?" he questioned. "I am from -"

"Two doors down the corridor," informed Selwick.

"Pardon me, sir," acknowledged the old man, with a bow.

The action was not noticed by Selwick, who was walking from the desk.

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