Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 096 by Maxwel l Grant

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

"Who has charge of it?"

"A pilot called Chris Ringler."

"What do you know about him?"

The Shadow heard Edna speak in an accusing tone. The girl seemed annoyed by Mundon's ceaseless quiz.

"Why these questions, Dale?" she asked. "When we talked last, you promised to tell me facts. Instead—"

"I'll come to facts, Edna." Mundon's interruption was apologetic. "Suppose you ask the questions. That will be better."

"Very well. First, just what did you hear about Harley? The time you overheard men at Red Cedar Rapids?"

"That's easily answered, Edna. I heard that he had paid ten thousand dollars for a mining property on this lake."

"Here on Lakimika? There is a mine, up above this point—"

"That's the one. It is worthless."

"Then Harley was duped. Who were the men who swindled him?"

"No one swindled him. He wanted that property. The men who talked were coming to Lakimika. They hoped for a bonus."

"Then the mine may pay?"

Mundon laughed lightly.

"You don't catch the thought, Edna," he stated. "Creeland wanted that property for some unknown purpose. I learned from other sources that strangers had been seen about the mine. They have used it as a base for some sort of crooked business."

"Where are they at present?"

"Frankly, I don't know. They must have a hide-out somewhere. I tried to question people up in Galena.

Failing in that, I decided to come down here and investigate matters for myself."

"That was how you happened to come back to the rapids and find my reply to your unposted letter?"

"Yes. When I learned that Creeland had come through to Lake Lakimika, I knew there could be but one answer. His purpose is to make contact with the men already hereabouts."

"But Harley has merely gone fishing—"

"Always at dawn and dusk—when he could not be watched."

"Pierre says those hours are best for fishing—"

"Yet Creeland has brought back only a few fish."

MUNDON'S rejoinder left Edna silent. The man continued his discourse in a low-toned voice.

"Yesterday," he stated, "two men camped at the mine site. One is a chap named Vincent; the other a French guide. I talked with them. They may be working with Creeland. I'm not quite sure."

Edna started to speak; then stopped. Mundon resumed:

"I also saw Beaver Luke, an Indian who travels hereabouts. I used that as a pretext to visit some forest rangers who are camping at the northwest portage. I learned something from the rangers."

"About Harley?"

"It appears so. A seaplane has landed on Lake Lakimika every Thursday for the past month. To-morrow is Thursday. The ship is due soon after dawn. At least, that is what the rangers think."

"And they are here to meet it?"

"They are going to watch for it. Like myself, they think that there is something wrong. That's why there are four of them. It is also why I asked if Creeland had a seaplane. I wanted to see if the facts fitted."

"But even if it should be Harley's plane; what wrong would that be?"

"It looks like a case of smuggling, Edna. Planes can cross the Border without being stopped. They can also carry large shipments.

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