The Shadow - 181 - The Crime Ray by Maxwell Grant

Author:Maxwell Grant
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Street & Smith
Published: 1939-08-31T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER X. THE DEMONSTRATION

NEXT noon, a specially made chart lay on Police Commissioner Weston’s desk. It showed the location of the old Stuyvesant Bridge and all highways leading to it. Over the same gorge that the old bridge crossed was a newer, higher span of concrete, which had been opened for traffic a few weeks before.

“The old bridge has been closed to traffic,” stated Weston, to the group that surrounded him. “The new one is made of concrete, and therefore cannot be harmed. We have learned enough from Clyde Burke’s testimony, and old notebooks belonging to Zurm, to know that the intensified ray harms only steel.”

With that Weston began to mark out special details on the map. He had arranged everything with the governor, and the State police were to handle the situation. Weston, however, had been given special duties, and he was talking with the manner of a field marshal, as he showed how the forces would be placed.

The State police would not be too greatly in evidence. There would be just enough of them to keep away the curious, and handle whatever witnesses the law intended to allow. Reserves, however, were to be posted at strategic spots near the Stuyvesant Bridge.

“Somehow, the news has leaked out,” declared Weston, planting his hand on a stack of morning newspapers that carried big black headlines. “Probably the crooks themselves arranged for it to get into print. They know nothing, however, regarding the fake organization that calls itself the General Protective Association.

“The public has learned only that criminals intend to demolish an old bridge that is no longer needed, and that we are presumably intending to let them go ahead with it. Which is exactly what we shall do until afterward. Then the criminals will find themselves in a trap!”

The telephone bell was ringing merrily. The commissioner answered it, spoke for a few moments in a disgruntled tone, then announced:

“All right, let them have a permit. We can’t refuse any reasonable requests.”

Hanging up, he turned to his visitors.

“That was a committee of bridge workers,” said the commissioner. “They want to be there to see it happen. So I’m letting them have a permit, along with newspaper reporters, cameramen, and a lot of others.

“Inspector Cardona has a hunch that Shag Korman is counting on that. Your hunches have been good lately, inspector” - Weston turned with an approving smile - “and I hope this one proves right. You believe that Shag is counting on safety through numbers. Very well. Let him. We shall have him where we want him!”

“O.K., commissioner,” grunted Cardona. “I’ve got another hunch, too.”

“What is it?”

“That I ought to go along with you,” expressed Joe, “instead of being detailed to sit around with Philip Tormeon all afternoon. What good will it do to have me up at his place holding his hand? Tormeon is too smart to give himself away.”

“Something may slip,” returned Weston. “Shag might call Tormeon, in the emergency. My order still stands, inspector.”

TURNING to the others present, Weston stated that they were to join him at three o’clock, to ride in his car.

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