Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 175 by Maxwel l Grant

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

CHAPTER XII. CRIME FORESEEN

DURING the days that followed, Commissioner Weston kept in close touch with his friend, Lamont Cranston. His habit of taking everything seriously, caused Weston great anxiety; for the commissioner had not forgotten that he had technically placed Cranston under suspicion.

Those get-togethers with Weston were very helpful to The Shadow. They kept him posted on all new developments that concerned the smuggling ring. The New York authorities, like the government operatives, had lifted the clamps from Amos Marle. They intended to tighten them again, though, if occasion demanded.

Such occasion would arise when news of more jewel sales arrived from abroad. Meanwhile, of course, the law was keeping a lookout for any of the gems that Waybrock had tried to smuggle; but it was conceded that there would be little chance of tracing the source of such gems, even if they did appear.

Privately, The Shadow was following a campaign of his own. He was trying to find Frenchy Brenn, or Leona Dubray, for the two were so well teamed that discovery of one would lead to the other. He had assigned Harry Vincent to that task, and Myrna Elvin was giving her assistance. But Frenchy and Leona had vanished completely since that night on the Connecticut shore.

As for Amos Marle, The Shadow decided to leave the jeweler strictly alone, until the time came when there would be good reason to watch him. That time came at last, thanks to a meeting that occurred between Lamont Cranston and Commissioner Weston.

The two were together at the exclusive Cobalt Club, when Weston, very importantly, displayed his trust in Cranston. From a large brief case, the commissioner extracted a sheaf of reports and announced:

"The ring is at work again, Cranston. We have learned, on reliable information, that the famous Lamballe necklace has just disappeared in Paris. It was purchased at a low figure by some anonymous buyer; hence we believe that it is on its way to this country."

Cranston, it seemed, had never heard of the Lamballe necklace. Weston began to discuss its value; and to the commissioner's credit, he did not exaggerate. The necklace, composed entirely of diamonds, had been bought for a mere fifty thousand dollars; but it was worth ten times that amount.

"These diamonds," declared Weston, "could be recut and sold in America for half a million dollars. I've talked to Raymond Kendler and he is highly reliable. In fact, he believes that the recut stones would be the easiest to market.

"We are confident that if the gems are smuggled, they will be brought to New York by someone on the French liner Corse, due here the day after tomorrow. This time"-Weston was grimly hopeful-"we hope that the customs officers will do their part. If not-"

Weston ended with a shrug. He didn't want to promise anything. He remembered, only too well, how everything had vanished, crooks as well as jewels, when the smuggling ring had staged its previous triumph.

Apparently, Cranston's interest was aroused. He wanted to know more about the Lamballe necklace.

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