Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 170 by Maxwel l Grant

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

CHAPTER XIII. DUEL OF DARKNESS

NOT until Dana Brye spoke did Margaret grasp the simple truth, that her father was still alive. His voice, firm but modulated, dispelled the girl's illusions of a ghost. Brye was using a familiar tone, kindly, paternal

- one that Margaret had often heard. It was quite unlike the piping pitch that Brye employed when excited.

The gleam of Brye's eyes betrayed something that Margaret should have noticed but failed to detect. Her father was calm only because she, of all persons in the mansion, had been the one to discover him. A bulge of one pocket, with Brye's fingers just above it, signified that he carried a gun. His other hand, resting upon a dark-gray topcoat that he had placed across a chair, showed that he had been ready to begin a rapid flight.

The floor lamp, too, was close. Had he heard Margaret's approach a few seconds sooner, Brye could have yanked the cord and produced darkness throughout the room.

"There is nothing to fear," spoke Brye. "I am alive. You may be quite sure of that!"

Margaret nodded. She was sure. She watched Brye remove his hat, lay it carefully upon the coat while he stroked back his shaggy hair. His face, which had momentarily displayed distortion, became benign.

Whether or not his expression was a mask, Margaret accepted it as a true index.

Never had the girl seen her father in any mood but a kindly one. He could be querulous, she knew, for there were times when she had heard his piping voice rise in argument when she was in another room. In her presence, however, he had never displayed anger, nor shown himself unreasonable.

Brye noticed that Margaret was staring past him, toward the safe. He didn't realize that she had been testing her own eyes, wondering whether, if this figure of her father proved to be a specter, she could see through the shape, like a cloud of mist. Brye thought that she was troubled because she had seen him working at the dials.

"I am not here to commit burglary," announced Brye, his mild tone carrying a touch of rebuke. "You may safely say that you did not see me opening this safe. Actually, I was closing it. Nor have I taken anything from it. Instead, I have placed something within."

Margaret's eyes showed belief. She didn't ask why Brye had still been thumbing the dials when she first saw him. Turning to the safe, Brye resumed his manipulation; his lips, away from Margaret's sight, took on a tight smile.

Boldly, Brye was completing his work with the combination. He reached for the handle of the safe door, drew the front partly open, then turned to Margaret.

"You see?" he spoke with a note of triumph. "I already knew the combination!"

"Because Mr. Marquin gave it to you?"

Brye was on the point of nodding, in response to Margaret's trustful question. Then deciding that the truth would be more impressive, he shook his head. Brye saw that he would need props of truth to support his previous falsehood and others to come.

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