The Crystal Buddha by Maxwell Grant & Walter Gibson

Author:Maxwell Grant & Walter Gibson [Grant, Maxwell & Gibson, Walter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Espionage, Fiction, Thrillers
Publisher: Street & Smith
Published: 1938-01-18T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XI. REJECTED TERMS.

MORNING brought worry to Sidney Brellen, when he looked from the window of his Fifty-fifth Street apartment. On the sidewalk below, he saw a uniformed policeman, with a companion who looked like a headquarters dick. They were quizzing the janitor of the apartment house.

It was eleven o'clock, Sidney's usual breakfast hour. It took him a while, though, to make up his mind about going out. When he finally went to the street, the officer and the detective had left.

On the way to a little restaurant, Sidney bought the early edition of an evening newspaper, hoping that he might find some explanation of the police visit.

The headlines gave the answer.

The police had linked last night's fracas with the Central Park battle of the previous evening. Again, a taxicab had figured; the one that had taken Sidney to his apartment. Police had located the driver of that cab and had quizzed him.

The driver, fortunately, hadn't remembered the exact address. He had simply dropped a passenger on Fifty-fifth Street; and he swore that his fare was a customer who had hurried out of the Starlight Club.

Apparently, the police had accepted the cabby's story. As he swallowed his coffee, Sidney let worriment disappear. His shrewd lips indulged in a wide grin. Events had turned the way he wanted them.

The presence of police had sent Bela Singh to cover. He and his Hindus would not be back on vigil until tonight, when darkness would give them cover. That offered Sidney a clear day ahead, to negotiate with Rex regarding the Crystal Buddha.

It wasn't difficult for a schemer like Sidney to analyze most of the important facts.

Bela Singh was sure that Sidney owned the Buddha and had put it safely away. Therefore, Bela Singh, protecting Sidney, was suspicious of any persons who approached. That applied to Rex Lancott. Last night, Bela Singh had tried to capture Rex, the real owner of the Buddha, to protect Sidney, the alleged owner!

Knowing nothing about The Shadow, Sidney simply assumed that Bela Singh had been overly suspicious. Anyway, the thing had worked well. The chance intervention of crooks had resulted in Rex's escape. Bela Singh would be doubly suspicious of Rex if he met him in the future. He would never believe the real facts if Rex tried to tell them.

Meanwhile, Sidney could meet Rex without Bela Singh's knowledge, and deny the whole thing afterward.

MID-AFTERNOON gave Sidney his opportunity. After several pay-station calls to his old apartment, he finally reached Rex instead of Harry Vincent. Rex was going to be home a while; so Sidney took a cab to Greenwich Village.

All during the ride, he made sure that no one was on his trail. Outside the old apartment house, he peered about before alighting from his cab. Confident that he was clear of Bela Singh's well-meant protection, Sidney rode up in the elevator to his old abode.

Rex was alone in the apartment, with the Buddha gleaming from the mantel. He received Sidney casually; and the visitor took the same tack.

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