The Shadow 267 by Maxwell Grant

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

THE afternoon moved swiftly. When dinner was ready, Sheila summoned Fred and Durand from the workshop, where they were still trying to rearrange the body machines so that all five would fit inside of Thronzo. Zarratt was at the house for dinner and he monopolized Sheila, while Durand kept drawing diagrams all over the tablecloth, for Fred’s benefit.

It was becoming more and more apparent that Durand was satisfied with his new assistant, and taking full account of Fred’s suggestions. But when dinner was over, the professor decided that they had talked machinery long enough. He suggested that they look at the music boxes. When Sheila started an objection, Durand smilingly promised that he would play them one by one.

The professor kept his promise and Fred found real relaxation in listening to the tinkly tunes. But there was something in the room that intrigued him more than music boxes. In a corner, Fred saw a strong box, built like an old-fashioned safe.

Already well acquainted with the premises, Fred was quite sure that the safe was the only place where Durand could keep the mechanism that formed the brain of Thronzo. And with the chime of the music boxes, words kept repeating themselves through Fred’s own brain.

They were the words of the voice that he had heard over the telephone, demanding that he complete the unfinished work of Talman, or take full blame for the traitor’s death!

Being a strong box, the safe in the corner had a lock instead of a combination. Well acquainted with locks, Fred was sure that he could open it, if provided with the proper tools. Such tools were available in the workshop, which was at present deserted.

A bold idea flashed home to Fred. Knowing nothing of Durand’s radio control, Fred was actually helpless in the present situation. But if he knew the real secret of the apparatus, he would be in a position to thwart Durand’s enemies. Also, such a deed would be the stepping stone toward a move that would eventually trick the man whose voice had delivered an ultimatum that Fred could not ignore.

All that Fred needed was an opportunity, and it came.

Durand was about to wind another music box, when Zarratt suggested that they end the concert. Zarratt wanted to talk over some financial matters that couldn’t wait, if Durand really hoped to beat Moyne in the robot race.

While Durand was locking the music parlor, Fred asked Sheila if she would mind forgoing his company for the evening. He wanted to return to the workshop and try out some of the ideas that Durand had mentioned at dinner. As Fred expected, Sheila rallied nobly to the suggestion, since it might prove helpful to her father.

Before Durand could argue that his new assistant had worked long enough for one day, Sheila decided that she was tired and ought to go to bed early. She waved good night from the stairs, and Fred was left with Durand and Zarratt. Since Zarratt had business to discuss, Durand handed Fred the key to the workshop as a matter of course.

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