The Shadow 150 The Hand by Maxwell Grant

Author:Maxwell Grant [Grant, Maxwell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Street & Smith
Published: 1938-04-30T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XII

CHANGED TRAILS

THE SHADOW’S first inkling that something had gone wrong came when the lights went blank in Bron’s office. That was curious, since Bron was supposed to be here until midnight. It couldn’t mean that plotters were on the move, because there was only one entrance to the office building and Bugs Hopton hadn’t arrived to use it. Furthermore, another incident furnished The Shadow with proof that crime’s plans had been balked. Half a minute after Bron’s lights were out, the side office went dark. Pinkey Findlen had evidently learned that Bron had gone out of the building.

Very soon, a man came from the front of the building. He was tall; his long legs made awkward strides toward the corner. The Shadow caught a glimpse of a tight-skinned face beneath a derby hat. Those features answered the slight

description that The Shadow had gained concerning Lewis Bron. Wherever Bron was

going, he was in a hurry, for The Shadow saw him hail a cab. Blinking a flashlight toward the next corner, The Shadow waited until his own cab came along. Boarding it, he took up Bron’s trail.

Turning the corner, The Shadow looked back. He saw Pinkey come out of the office building. There wasn’t another cab in sight. That left the big-shot stranded. The fact pleased The Shadow; but it was to prove another of the grim jests that fate was supplying tonight.

Unsuspecting that The Shadow was on Bron’s trail, Pinkey strode away in the opposite direction, and reached a subway station. Huddled in the corner of a half-filled car, he rode a few stations northward, muttering all the while.

It didn’t take him long to arrive at the house adjoining the Bubble Club.

The elevator was on the top floor when Pinkey reached there. He stepped into the car; before he had time to push the button, someone pulled the switch at the bottom of the shaft. When the car reached the ground floor, Pinkey came face to face with Slick Thurley.

For once, amazement showed on the features of the fake Bill Quaine. Slick couldn’t figure what had brought the big-shot here, until Pinkey broke the news

that Lewis Bron had made an unexpected exit from his office.

“We should have met earlier,” rasped Pinky. “I didn’t have a chance to tail the guy. Where he’s gone, I can’t even guess. But it looks like the deal is off for tonight; and that” - Pinkey’s lower lip thrust forward - “may ruin the works tomorrow.”

Claude Ondrey, seated behind his desk, put in a sudden theory regarding Bron.

“Maybe Parrington called him!” exclaimed Ondrey. “And if Parrington squawked -“

Ondrey caught himself. He didn’t know just how to break the news to Pinkey.

“Squawked about what?” demanded the big-shot. “Say, you mugs” - he swung from Ondrey to Slick - “what’s been going on here?”

GRUFFLY, Slick gave the details, stating the facts in brief. When Slick had finished, Pinkey raged.

“And you helped him with that screwy idea!” ranted the big-shot. “Pulled a

small-change shakedown, didn’t you, on a guy that was supposed to know nothing?”

“How could I know what was up?” demanded Slick.

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