The Shadow 197 Death in the Stars by Maxwell Grant

Author:Maxwell Grant [Grant, Maxwell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Street & Smith
Published: 1940-04-30T22:00:00+00:00

“He is quite safe,” interposed Cranston, calmly. “As safe as Howard Carradon.”

“Do you mean that they abducted Niles, too?”

“Yes. Instead of you.”

Lois shuddered. Cranston’s calm gaze steadied her. Oddly, worries seemed to end with Cranston; perhaps because Lois still recalled the amazing finish of the airplane trip. She wanted to question him further; but, by then, Denwood and Grendale had returned.

“We’ve checked on Rufus,” declared Grendale. “The fellow skipped. But Paula is giving the horoscope to the sheriff. We’ll meet him at Scorpio’s.”

The bearded professor received them very cordially in his reception room at the Castle. Adversity seemed to add to Scorpio’s suavity. He seemed quite intrigued with the horoscope that the sheriff brought. He tested its secret ink over the heat of an electric toaster.

“Quite cute of Rufus and his friend,” said Scorpio; “to intercept my notes to Paula Lodi and fix them up as secret messages. Didn’t you say that Rufus had a pal with him”-the professor turned to Lois-“when he fired at you from my dock?”

Lois nodded.

“Thank you,” bowed Scorpio. “Sheriff, I shall drop all charges against Miss Melvin for stealing my speedboat. Considering her predicament, I am glad that the boat was available.”

It was the sheriff’s turn to storm, along with Grendale. Even Denwood looked annoyed; but Cranston seemed to take the situation rather lightly.

“You have no proof,” reminded Scorpio, “that I marked the message on the horoscope. Speaking of horoscopes, I have one for you, Miss Melvin. A more complete one than I gave you before. Your birthday is September 10th. Am I right?”

“You knew that before.”

“I suppose I did.” Scorpio dismissed the fact with a shrug. “But this horoscope”-he passed a folded paper to Lois-“deals particularly with marriage. As you probably know, your sign is Virgo.”

Lois nodded.

“No one born under Virgo,” warned Scorpio, “should ever marry a person in Gemini; and it happens”-he stroked his black beard-“that Gemini is Niles Rundon’s sign.”

WITH all his fakery, Scorpio had moments when he seemed thoroughly sincere. This was one of them.

His words impressed Lois. She had wondered sometimes about Niles-whether or not she was actually in love with him. Despite herself, the girl had doubts.

But the others weren’t thinking of Rundon in emotional terms. Scorpio’s mention of the missing man roused Hugo Grendale to new anger.

“I see your intimation,” began Grendale. “Something has happened to Rundon since his abduction: He is dead-“

“No, no,” interrupted Scorpio. “Both he and Carradon are alive and well. Chandra”-he leaned forward to call the servant-“bring me those notes that we found here.”

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