The Blue Sphinx by Maxwell Grant & Walter Gibson

Author:Maxwell Grant & Walter Gibson [Grant, Maxwell & Gibson, Walter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Espionage, Fiction, Thrillers
ISBN: 9781934943045
Amazon: 1934943045
Publisher: Street & Smith
Published: 1935-01-15T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XIII. WORD TO THE SHADOW

WHEN Malden's limousine pulled up in front of the Latuna Museum, the building showed light from its open front doorway. Two policemen arrived with flashlights; they recognized their chief as soon as Grewling stepped from Malden's car.

"We've got the watchmen inside, chief," informed one of the cops. "They're the fellows who found the bodies."

"Was the place lighted up like this?" inquired Grewling.

"It was when we got here," said another policeman. "But one of the watchmen said he switched on the lights."

"Let's go inside," suggested Grewling, turning abruptly to Rush and Malden.

The trio entered the museum. They followed the corridor on the right and came to the office. There they found a policeman outside the door, while, at the end of the corridor, stood two solemn-looking men. They were the watchmen.

The police chief stepped into the office. He saw the bodies lying on the floor. Joseph Rubal's upturned face was distorted from the dying agony that the curator had suffered. Hollis looked grim in death.

Strafford Malden and Quirby Rush viewed the bodies from the doorway. They stepped back as Grewling came from the room. They waited while the police chief quizzed the watchmen. The story that the two men told was simple and straightforward.

They had arrived at the accustomed hour of nine. When Hollis did not answer their prolonged ring, one of them had the inspiration of trying the door. It was found to be unlocked. The watchmen had naturally gone to the curator's office.

They had turned on lights all along the line. After discovering the dead bodies of the curator and the chief attendant, they had called police headquarters from the curator's telephone.

"There's not much mystery about the killing," announced Grewling, turning to Rush and Malden. "The museum closes up at eight. Somebody must have rung the bell; after that, Hollis let him in and he killed Rubal."

"What about the other attendants?" inquired Rush.

"They go out at eight o'clock, don't they?" retorted Grewling.

"I know that," replied Rush. "But it is possible that one of them could have been responsible for this crime."

"That's possible!" exclaimed Grewling. "Here, Toxter"–he turned to a policeman–"dig down to town and look up those other attendants. Bring them out here."

THE order given, Grewling paused to eye a stout man with a bag who was coming down the corridor. He recognized a local physician, who had arrived in response to a call from headquarters. He told the doctor to examine the bodies. While the physician was busy, the police chief resorted to his first theory.

"Somebody could have come in here," he declared. "Some special visitor, between eight o'clock and nine."

"Just whom would Hollis have admitted?" questioned Malden.

"Any one who might know the curator," replied the police chief. "That's a good lead, Mr. Malden. If some ordinary thug had showed up here, Hollis wouldn't have let him in."

"He might have forced his way in," observed Rush.

"He'd have had Hollis to deal with first," returned Grewling. "No, the thing's plain, mayor. Somebody got by the door and came in here.

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