The Shadow 174 The Three Brothers by Maxwell Grant

Author:Maxwell Grant [Grant, Maxwell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Street & Smith
Published: 1939-04-30T22:00:00+00:00

than coincidence.

If, however, Lamont Cranston had expected to meet Irene Selwood in this mansion, neither the girl nor Howard Caxter suspected it. Nor did they guess that his masklike features were restraining all expression of the elation that he felt.

The three dined in a large room, where wavering candlelight added a shimmer to Irene’s silvery attire and brought occasional sparkles to her attractive brown eyes. Howard Caxter was a courteous host, and he did not forget Irene in the course of his conversation.

“Miss Selwood is a very old friend of mine,” he told Cranston. “Not in years, of course, because she is delightfully young, but in my recollection.

Her father” - his tone became serious - “is a man to whom I owe a debt that can

never be repaid. He was my tutor, and my confidant, through the days of my troubled youth.

“As for Irene” - he beamed happily, as he looked at the girl - “if she would tell you her age, I could state the precise number of years that I have known her. I remember her as a baby, as a child, and now” - Howard drew a deep sigh - “I see her as a lovely woman, a credit to the man I most admire, her father!”

Howard Caxter raised his wineglass, as in a personal toast to Norman Selwood. Irene lowered her eyes, managed to smile away her momentary embarrassment. Then:

“I had a letter from father today,” she said. “He said that he will be here soon; perhaps within a week.”

Howard nodded. After a short pause, he questioned: “Has Philip written you?”

“No.” Irene pursed her lips. “I don’t think he will. I’ve rather decided to forget Philip” - her tone lost its slightly formal trace - “until I have seen dad.”

“That might be wise,” agreed Howard, with an approving nod. “Of all the men I know, none is better qualified to give advice than your father.”

There was a lull in the conversation, which Howard ended when he turned to

The Shadow.

“Miss Selwood refers to my brother Philip,” he said. “You will probably meet him later. He is full of youth, romance, and all the happy-go-lucky thoughts that go with it.”

“But wise enough,” suggested The Shadow, casually, “to abide by the decisions of his eldest brother.”

Howard chuckled.

“You must have talked a lot with Gregg,” he said. “It annoys him because Philip sides with me. But why not? Philip and I have no desire to amass more wealth, or power. At least, I have none; and Philip has never shown that inclination.

“We are proud of the Caxter name, of course. But should it ever evolve upon us to carry on, in place of Gregg, I would intrust all that in Philip’s hands. Though he has ideals, Philip is closer to the world than I am.”

DINNER ended amid a parade of quiet, well-trained servants. Irene excused herself and retired to the library. Howard invited The Shadow to the study. A servant followed them, bringing the box and suitcase that the visitor had carried with him.

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