The Shadow 136 The Keeper's Gold by Maxwell Grant

Author:Maxwell Grant [Grant, Maxwell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Street & Smith
Published: 1937-09-30T22:00:00+00:00

“Maybe Hacker’s right,” began Chet, in sudden statement. “Maybe we ought to croak—”

He stopped, without adding The Shadow’s name. Chet saw the fallacy of the suggestion. Instead of having The Shadow’s fate in his own grasp, Chet was actually dependent upon the prisoner.

The Shadow did not fear death. As for torture, The Shadow could avoid it by a single statement. Slick would believe him if he put the burden back on Chet.

How much did The Shadow know?

Not a great deal, perhaps; but certainly enough to convince Slick that Chet had not ended his double-crossing tactics. If The Shadow talked in that fashion, he would be signing his death order; but Chet’s curtain would also fall.

Chet was smart enough to see that there was only one way out. That was to work temporarily in The Shadow’s behalf.

“Take it easy, Slick,” insisted Chet, changing his tone. “We can find a way to make this bozo talk.”

“Of course we can,” gibed Slick. “We know the way, and we’re going to use it! Get started, Hacker.”

Gleefully, Hacker prepared to prod The Shadow with the knife point. The process alarmed Chet; particularly as The Shadow, indifferent to Hacker’s moves, was keeping his eyes steadily in Chet’s direction.

“Hold it, Slick!” Chet fairly blurted the words. “Make Hacker lay off! That stuff won’t get anywhere with The Shadow!”

“No? Then what will?”

WHILE Hacker paused, his knife pressing the flesh under The Shadow’s jaw, Slick crossed the room with Chet. They held a low-voiced discussion, punctuated at first by Slick’s head shakes. At last, Slick became partially impressed.

“All right, Chet,” he decided. “I’ll give you a half hour. Put away that dirk of yours, Hacker. We’re going to the movies.”

Hacker gawked. Slick snapped:

“Come along! You heard me!”

“What’s the big idea, Slick? What’s Chet been sellin’ you?”

“He says he can make The Shadow talk. We’re giving him his chance. If it doesn’t work, we’ll use the heat later.”

“Yeah?” Hacker showed shrewdness that was unusual. “Maybe Chet’s figurin’ on makin’ a deal with The Shadow?”

“That’s just it, Hacker,” purred Chet, serenely. “I’m going to make a deal with The Shadow.”

Slick grinned. He dragged Hacker out into the corridor. The blocky killer was still muttering. Slick gave him an elbow poke as they walked toward the elevators.

“Don’t you get it, Hacker?” he whispered. “Chet’s going to try some smooth stuff on The Shadow. He thinks it will work; and maybe he’s right.”

“Maybe it’ll be too smooth,” grumbled Hacker. “It may be a real double cross, this time.”

“There’d be no percentage in it, Hacker. Chet could have fixed things easier with The Shadow before we showed up, if that was his idea. It isn’t, though. Nobody can fix a crooked deal with The Shadow. Chet’s going to play foxy.

They were at the elevator. As Slick pressed the button, he added:

“Chet’s going to act like he wants to go straight. That’s the only way to reach The Shadow.”

Hacker had one last objection. He offered it just before the lift arrived.

“The Shadow’s got a better chance with only Chet watchin’ him—”

“No chance at all,” interrupted Slick.

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