The Shadow 234 Temple of Crime by Maxwell Grant

Author:Maxwell Grant [Grant, Maxwell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Street & Smith
Published: 1941-10-31T23:00:00+00:00

“I thought we’d eliminated Ravion,” said Margo, with a puzzled frown. “But even if we haven’t, he didn’t need an alibi; not while Gorth was so soundly accusing Monak.”

“Ravion wasn’t concerned with an alibi, Margo. He might have been thinking of the men in the grove.”

“You mean -“

“I mean that Ravion could have known that Gorth had men at hand, and also known why they had come.

By starting a rush outside to look for an imaginary assassin, Ravion had his chance to scatter Gorth’s crew. They did scatter, Margo - as I remember it.”

There was a whimsical touch to the final words: Cranston’s reference to the part he had played as The Shadow. But Margo didn’t notice it. She had another query, a very serious one:

“Where does this all lead us, Lamont?”

The answer was as prompt as the query.

“To the temple,” Cranston declared. “It is the source of all the trouble. We must delve into its mysteries and the details of its past. There is no need, however, to visit the temple at present. We shall begin our investigation right here.”

HE stepped into an alcove, reached to a high shelf, and brought down a book that lay there. It was bound in heavy leather, and its pages, when Cranston opened them, proved to be parchment, much like vellum. But Margo was chiefly intrigued by the leather cover and the gold decorations that adorned it.

The huge book was bordered with the pattern of an Egyptian frieze; stamped in its very center was the figure of a creature human of body, but with the long-billed face of a bird.

Recalling the happenings in the temple, Margo felt a bit of horror when she recognized the man-bird as one of the very gods that had turned from stone to life. She was wondering who the creature was, when Cranston named him in mentioning the volume.

“This is the Book of Thoth,” Cranston declared calmly. “It contains the hidden secrets of the past. It is death for anyone uninitiated in the ancient rituals to read its esoteric pages. Therein lie keys to things unknown, provided one has the knowledge to use them. Horrible things have happened to those who violate the Book of Thoth.”

So solemn, so impressive, was Cranston’s speech, that Margo felt new perturbation. Then, in the same tone, he added:

“Close the door. Margo. I am about to take the risk. I should like to have something horrible come my way.”

It was as though Cranston had defied all the powers of the past, yet Margo’s fear vanished when he spoke. Not because of his words, but the tone that followed them.

Cranston’s final sentence ended with the whispered laugh of The Shadow!

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