Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 067 by Maxwel l Grant

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

The commissioner stationed detectives—one in the bedroom, one in the side hall; a third at the rear. He then dispatched a pair of dicks to the third floor. Speaking to the men about Warlock's study, he warned them not to block the doorways.

Leaving Cardona in charge, Barth ushered the other persons to the ground floor. They assembled in Warlock's gloomy living room. Barth stationed detectives at the door. Then he delivered an order.

"I shall go up and down at times," said the commissioner. "The rest of you must remain here—with the exception of Cranston. I want him to do as he pleases. Perhaps he may be here when I am upstairs and vice versa. He and I can maintain contact with those above."

So saying, the commissioner departed.

A CLOCK on the mantel struck the half hour. From then on, minutes were monotonously slow. Findlay Warlock paced about in front of the fireplace, pausing at times to glance suspiciously at Norgan and Amboy.

Those two were seated in large chairs, saying very little. At times, they resorted to whispered conversation. That was their only form of conversation.

Marryat Darring was less serious than the others. The black-haired man was smoking a panetela. At times, he strolled about, examining pictures on the wall. At other intervals, he rested his tall frame against the wall and blew huge rings from his cigar smoke.

Barth came downstairs at quarter of nine. He found Cranston seated quietly in the corner. He suggested that his friend go up and look about. Cranston complied. The dicks were on duty just as Barth had posted them. Cranston returned shortly afterward. Barth went upstairs again.

Nine o'clock. Lamont Cranston was standing in the doorway of the living room, between the hanging curtains of the broad portal. The clock was chiming the hour. From upstairs came the sound of closing doors. Then Barth arrived to announce that the study had been closed.

Nine fifteen. Barth had gone back. He came down to say that the doors were opened. Detectives on guard. No one had been seen; nor had any unusual sound been heard. Cranston went up; then came down. Barth ascended the stairs.

Nine thirty. A call from the commissioner. Detectives stepped aside. Following Lamont Cranston, the other four ascended. Joe Cardona motioned them into the study; then followed. The group clustered about the commissioner. But as Barth advanced toward the wall safe, he paused to motion the others back.

"I remember the combination," he said. "I shall open the safe; the rest of you can watch. I think that we shall find everything intact. This begins to appear as a hoax."

"One moment, commissioner"—the quiet words came from the steady lips of Lamont Cranston. "It might be best to remove the envelope before you open the safe. Suppose I do that."

"Very well," decided Barth. "Take a look at the paper, just to make sure that it is the same as before."

As soon as Lamont Cranston's deft fingers had removed the envelope, Barth began to work on the combination.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.