The Shadow - 127 - Brothers of Doom by Maxwell Grant

Author:Maxwell Grant
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Street & Smith
Published: 1937-05-31T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XI

DESPITE THE LAW

AT the Starview Hotel, Inspector Joe Cardona was watching an assemblage of

business men in the living room of Suite 1610. Two of these men were Joe’s greatest concern. One was Richard Rotherwelt, who had been here when Cardona came. The other was George Deprew, who had just arrived.

Rotherwelt was an elderly, ponderous man, who slouched heavily in his armchair. His face was broad and baggy, ashen in color. His downturned lips were tired; so were his listless eyes. It was only occasionally that Rotherwelt

managed a smile or showed interest in his gaze.

Deprew, a considerably younger man, showed more life. The round-faced junior partner shook hands with the visitors, all of whom looked prosperous.

No

mention was made of Cardona’s telephone call to the office, for it was unnecessary. Deprew had brought the books that Rotherwelt wanted.

Cardona summed the circumstances surrounding this occasion.

Richard Rotherwelt, a semi-invalid, had been in Europe for the past year, taking the medicinal baths at Carlsbad. During his absence, the affairs of his business had rested with George Deprew. This morning, Rotherwelt had arrived aboard the Normandie. Deprew had met him when the liner docked; and Rotherwelt had come directly to this reserved suite at the Starview.

During his year in Europe, Rotherwelt had picked up one hundred thousand dollars’ worth of uncut diamonds. He had notified Deprew, who had mentioned the

gems to a few de luxe customers. Those possible purchasers were the men who had

come to this suite. Both Rotherwelt and Deprew had vouched for every one of them.

Nevertheless, Deprew had worried about Rotherwelt’s possession of the unguarded gems. Uncut diamonds were the very sort of swag that criminals might seek. Once stolen, such gems could be cut in secret, fashioned into finished jewels. They could be offered on the market at more than their original value, with identification impossible. That was why Deprew had called headquarters, to

arrange for police protection.

Cardona had undertaken the assignment because of its size. Rotherwelt had received him cordially. Joe had dined with the elderly man, here in the suite.

All the while, the chamois bag with the diamonds was resting safely in Rotherwelt’s pocket.

Then, like a voice from the void, The Shadow had spoken.

JOE could not forget that surprise response that had come when he called Deprew. Joe knew from past experience that when The Shadow foresaw crime, it was actually due. Some time during this very evening, a criminal thrust would occur within this very suite.

Rotherwelt’s diamonds were the logical stake.

Fine swag for a master thief, those diamonds. The set-up made Cardona think of recent thrusts; ones that had failed and would therefore spur their perpetrator to greater effort.

Joe was remembering the foiled attempt to steal Lason’s paintings; the broken effort to steal the contents of Froyd’s vault. The law still considered those attacks as unsuccessful tries at robbery. In recollecting them, Cardona also pictured the descriptions of the masked Brothers; but he thought in terms of one, not more.

Nevertheless, Cardona pictured others besides a lone attacker. He remembered the cover-up crew that had figured in previous crimes.

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