Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 159 by Maxwel l Grant

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

CHAPTER XII. THE PAST LINK

LATE the next afternoon, Professor Lawsham had another caller - a young man who alighted from a cab and promptly ascended the steps of the old house. As he stood there in the dusk, the young chap took a sidelong glance toward the street.

No prowlers were visible; nor did parked cars look suspicious. Nevertheless, the street was a gloomy one; the sort that could hold lurkers. Despite that, the young man showed no tenseness. He was quite calm when a servant opened the door to admit him.

The visitor tendered a card. He was ushered into a parlor. Soon, Lawsham arrived from the laboratory; the professor was still studying the card that had been brought to him.

That card bore the name: "Star Detective Agency", with street address and telephone number. In a lower corner were the small-printed words: "Harry Vincent, Representative."

Looking up from the card, the professor eyed Vincent. He saw a clean-cut young man, well-dressed and earnest of countenance. Lawsham was a trifle surprised. He had expected to meet a hard-boiled visitor.

Harry Vincent was much more presentable than Lawsham expected a private detective to be.

Politely, Lawsham asked: "May I inquire the reason for this call, Mr. Vincent?"

"Certainly," replied Harry. "That is why I came here - to tell you the details. It concerns Miss Delton."

Professor Lawsham showed self-annoyance.

"How stupid of me!" he exclaimed. "I promised Arlene that I would arrange for an investigator. I entirely forgot the matter. I must telephone her at once, to apologize."

Harry stopped the professor before he reached the hallway.

"Haven't you heard about Miss Delton?" inquired the visitor. "It was on the front page of the newspapers."

Lawsham displayed alarm. Then:

"I never read the newspapers. I am too busy. But, tell me" - his tone showed a tremor - "has something happened to Arlene?"

"She disappeared last night," replied Harry, "after a mob of raiders shot up her apartment. The police are baffled; they can find no reason for the attack."

Harry leaned forward, added confidentially:

"The police know nothing of Arlene's connection with Dick Remingwood."

Lawsham was impressed. He began to regard Harry Vincent as a very keen young chap. That was not surprising, for Harry played a much more important part than that of representative for a detective agency. Actually, Harry Vincent was an agent of The Shadow.

"Don't credit me with anything clever, professor," warned Harry, with a smile. "This afternoon, I was the last person in the office, when a telephone call came there. The girl who talked to me said that she was Arlene Delton."

"Ah!" Lawsham sighed relief. "Then Arlene is safe!"

"Very safe, apparently," declared Harry. "She even refused to tell me where she was, until after I talked with you. She said that I should wait here, for another telephone call."

"Wise of her," agreed Lawsham. "I suppose she wants you to find Dick Remingwood."

"Yes. As soon as possible. She thought that you might aid me in the search."

PROFESSOR LAWSHAM paced the floor. He paused, at last, to give his detailed version of the case, much as The Shadow had heard him tell it to Arlene, the night before.

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