EMPIRE OF DOOM by Unknown Author

Author:Unknown Author
Language: deu
Format: epub

CHAPTER THIRTEEN The Spider Is Crippled

WENTWORTH stared with gray doubting eyes at the headlines which heralded this latest coup of the Green Hand. Was it possible that he had been mistaken in Delaney, that the man actually was implicated in the maneuvers of the Green Hand?

With a start, Wentworth realized that the redheaded foreman was the same build and general stature of the George Scott whom he had battled in that cabin in the Michigan woods and who had filed charges against him with the police of Loveland. True, Delaney had been in jail at the time of the phone call to the police, but some one else could have phoned for him. And Delaney wouldn't have known Crosswell's secret identification to phone Love's guards on the first occasion when his arrest had been ordered.

He might easily have done it when informed that a “Mr. Wentworth" wished to see him, since apparently he knew the Spider's identity.

In addition to all this, Delaney had been away from Loveland, Wentworth had ascertained, at the time when Scott had been in the North Woods. Wentworth frowned. He found the idea incredible, yet the facts strongly pointed that way. He went to a telephone pay station nearby and called police, asking to be put in touch with George Scott in connection with the warrant against the Spider.

The sleepy desk sergeant growled at him, “Who the hell are you?”

“Crosswell,” said Wentworth, “Secretary of Jonathan Love.”

“I'm sorry, Mr. Crosswell, I didn't recognize your voice,” the Sergeant said. “But I can't tell you a thing about Scott. He phoned that message to the Chief, said he was coming in to swear out a warrant and the Chief shot right out to your place without waiting for him. And Scott never showed up.”

“I see,” said Wentworth. “Thank you very much.”

He hung up and went slowly to the street. That then, disposed of Scott. The man might not even be in town. If Delaney and Scott were the same man, Delaney's followers might easily have phoned the police.

That wrecking of the fan, during the gas attack, for which Wentworth had falsely assumed the responsibility in an effort to free Delaney, might easily have been part of the Green Hand's build-up for Love; part of the plot to make his men believe him invincible; to build the Messiah legend throughout the country. This escape from prison with guns and gas seemed to put the final conclusive touch upon the evidence.

Wentworth walked slowly along the cold street. He dared not return to the hotel unless he altered his disguise, in which case he could not enter his room.

An all night restaurant spilled its white light across his path and he entered, realizing abruptly that he had not eaten since noon the previous day. A newsboy was talking excitedly across the counter.

“Geez,” he said, “that's three extras in an hour and a half. And this last one.... Cripes! Look at de headlines.”

“Give me one,” Wentworth said, and rang a coin on the counter.

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