The Shadow 239 by Maxwell Grant

Author:Maxwell Grant
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

INVERTING the other castles, Breckett unscrewed them and drew out the necklaces, turquoise and topaz. As the topaz string uncoiled, its motion reminded Quelby of a snake; its glitter, too, had the semblance of a reptile’s eyes. Sunk in a chair, Quelby began a hoarse-voiced plea.

“Nobody can make me talk, Tony. I even bluffed Andrews. I had him playing chess with the set, and he didn’t know the difference. He even wanted to buy these chessmen.”

“Good!” returned Breckett. “Sell them to him. But don’t give him the phony castles.” As he spoke, Breckett was dropping the hollow pieces in his pocket. “He can have these with the set.”

Producing four solid castles from his other pocket, Breckett put them in the box. He was sweeping the jewels into a chamois bag. As he finished, he held a few of the opals into the light, noting their oval shape and translucent whiteness. He gave a glance at Quelby.

“These remind me of those pills you take,” said Breckett. “For your heart, aren’t they?”

Quelby nodded.

“Better take some,” advised Breckett. “You need bucking up.”

“I’ve already taken two,” began Quelby. Then, horrified because Breckett had observed his weak-kneed manner: “Yes, Tony, another dose will do me good. The doctor said to take four on occasion. It’s just my heart that worries me, that’s all.”

He was getting from the chair, but Tony pushed him back. He didn’t want Quelby to exert himself.

“I’ll get the pills,” said Breckett. “Four, you say?”

Considering the pills he’d taken earlier, Quelby felt that four would be a heavy dose, but he felt it policy not to refuse. Breckett returned bringing the pill bottle and a glass of water.

While Quelby was swallowing four of the medicinal pellets, Breckett produced another type of pill, one that attracted Quelby’s eyes more than the opals had.

It was a diamond, sizable and brilliant, mounted in a stickpin. Breckett gave Quelby a brief sight of it, then placed the pin in the chess player’s necktie.

“Kind of old-fashioned,” remarked Breckett, “but you’re old-fashioned, too, Quelby. So I thought you’d like the sparkler mounted this way. Wear it for luck, and sit tight. You’ll be surprised, when you hock that baby, how much you’ll get for it. Only, don’t unload it around Lakedale.”

Up from his chair, Quelby began to admire the diamond in a mirror. He didn’t notice that Breckett was keeping the pill bottle. Slapping Quelby on the back, Breckett went down through the bookshop, pocketing the bottle on the way.

Locking the door behind him with a key of his own, Breckett took a look along the short building block. Seeing the way clear, he skirted around to the other side.

Upstairs, Quelby had finished admiring the diamond. He suddenly clutched it with his hand and darted a look away from the mirror. He was thinking of his chessmen, noting them in their box, and a sudden idea struck him.

He hurried down to the bookshop, found a telephone in the dark. He needed a light to consult the directory, so he turned on a small one.

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