The Shadow 139 The Sealed Box by Maxwell Grant

Author:Maxwell Grant [Grant, Maxwell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Street & Smith
Published: 1937-11-30T23:00:00+00:00

The Shadow gave brief instructions to Clyde. The reporter was to remain, and learn what followed.

When another car slued around the corner five seconds later, its lights swung at an angle that revealed the wall where Clyde stood. With a quick glance, Clyde looked for The Shadow. He saw nothing but the blank wall.

Keeping his presence still unknown, The Shadow had disappeared in further darkness.

CHAPTER XII

LARRY FINDS TROUBLE

THEDA thought that her game was working with Larry. During the ten minutes

spent in that upstairs dining room, she had begun to discuss the past. Not with

open threat; but with subtle, friendly pretense, of which Theda was quite capable.

She had chosen the best light in the room; her reddened lips showed to perfection. So did the sparkle of her gray eyes. Theda’s drawl was indolent; her pose dreamy. All that she needed was the soft music of an orchestra to complete her act.

“So it’s all ended, Larry,” toned Theda. “I haven’t forgotten five years ago, though.” Her hand crept across the table toward Larry’s; her voice finished with a sigh: “I couldn’t forget. Ever!”

Larry was noncommittal. Theda was confident that the build-up had worked.

“There was a lot we talked about in those days.” Theda’s lips showed a regretful smile. “What we were going to do, when you were in the money -“

“I was in the money,” reminded Larry, the instant that Theda paused. “You saw that you grabbed your share of it. I was only able to repay Mr. Whilton half of the fifty thousand that I took.”

Theda looked incredulous for the moment; then, her smooth pretense returned. Her hand reached Larry’s; it rested there.

“Clever boy, Larry,” complimented Theda. “You covered it by making Whilton

think that you had reclaimed half the stolen cash. You passed over twenty-five grand; so he left you twice that, in his will -“

“You’ve got it wrong, Theda -“

“Wait, Larry. Twenty-five and fifty - that’s seventy-five. I’ve taken twenty-five, so you take the same. That leaves us another twenty-five, to split.”

Larry was on his feet, starting toward the door. He turned to drive home his final words.

“I paid my debt to Whilton,” declared Larry. “The money he left me has no strings to it. Your game won’t work, Theda!”

“Fifty-fifty was our bargain -“

“And we finished it! If you think you can shake me down for twelve and a half thousand dollars, you’re on the wrong track!”

Theda’s pretense ended. She was tigerish, as she sprang toward the door.

Her long-nailed finger tips dug deep into Larry’s arm. Her hiss was a vicious threat.

“Listen, sap,” she snarled. “You can’t shove me around, on that Whilton dame’s account! Not without paying for it! I’ll get more than twelve five, before I’ve finished. I’ll snag half of that fifty grand that’s come your way

-

maybe all of it!”

Larry thrust Theda to one side. He yanked the door open, without observing

the blonde’s hard smile. There was a surprise waiting for Larry, thought Theda.

She had posted the thugs to make sure he, Larry, didn’t walk out before she was

through with him.

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