The Golden Masks by Maxwell Grant & Walter Gibson

Author:Maxwell Grant & Walter Gibson [Grant, Maxwell & Gibson, Walter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Espionage, Fiction, Thrillers
ISBN: 9781932806977
Amazon: 1932806970
Publisher: Street & Smith
Published: 1936-09-15T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XIV. CHANCE SERVES THE SHADOW

THE day passed slowly to Jericho, after his arrival at Tallam's. But the passage of time upstairs in Tallam's house was rapid compared to the slow monotony of life in a cell below. To The Shadow, the lingering hours spoke of futility.

Though The Shadow had no way to learn whether or not his agents had received his message, he believed that they had actually gained it. He was sure that steps had been taken to put Jericho into Tallam's household; but there was a chance that some hitch had delayed that game.

The Shadow realized also that Jericho might already be inside; but in no position to reach the cell rooms below. Though The Shadow was confident that he could eventually escape through Jericho's aid, he hoped for an earlier opportunity.

For a while, no plan occurred to The Shadow. Retaining his fixed position on the couch, he watched the occasional opening of the steel door. At those times, spaced a few hours apart, either Bronden or Lothkal looked in to make sure that The Shadow was still powerless.

It was when Lothkal made another such inspection that The Shadow learned a new fact. As he held his fixed gaze, he saw through the glass outer door; there he observed an Ashanti servant standing outside of Lengerton's cell. While The Shadow watched, the native pressed a switch. The glass door of Lengerton's cell slid open; but the inner steel one did not. The Ashanti stooped and picked up a tray of dishes.

The Shadow's view was suddenly ended as Lothkal pressed the switch that closed the inner door of The Shadow's cell. In that glimpse, however, The Shadow had viewed enough to gain a plan.

Since Lengerton had recovered from his gas treatment, he was receiving food. The system appeared simple. An Ashanti opened the glass door and placed a tray there, then closed the glass door and slid back the steel so that the prisoner could pick up the tray. Later, the steel door was opened, to let the prisoner put the tray outside it. That done, the steel door would be closed.

The Shadow saw possibilities through this. He had two hours to wait; for he could not try his plan until after the next inspection. Looking at his watch, The Shadow saw that it was six o'clock.

That fact spurred him to his purpose. He was sure that the Golden Masks plotted new moves. Night was the time when they would act. It would be wise for The Shadow to move by eight o'clock.

TWO hours moved slowly. Promptly at eight, The Shadow saw the steel door slide back. For the first time, he let Lothkal see that he was no longer under the influence of the gas. Slowly, with pretended weakness, The Shadow came up from his cot. Lothkal flattened his nose against the glass and watched.

The Shadow staggered toward the door, stopped suddenly and clapped his hands to his eyes, as though the dazzle of the cell light troubled him.

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