Grant, Maxwell - The Shadow 056 - The Crime Crypt by Maxwell Grant

Author:Maxwell Grant
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Detective, Mystery, Crime, Suspense, Adventure, Thriller
Publisher: Street & Smith Publications
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

AS Fingers headed for the door of the curio room, he saw Croaker Mannick moving inward. The killer shoved the muzzle of his revolver close to Brisbane Calbot’s body. Fingers, at the door, peered nervously about. He remembered the sensation of some strange presence in the house. He wanted to be sure that no intruder was around.

“Better give him the bump,” urged Fingers, nudging his free thumb toward Brisbane Calbot. “Wait until I’m up the stairs though. You’ll have to hurry to get out before the mob piles in. I’ll open the side door, Croaker. That’ll leave two ways.”

“Yeah?” Croaker growled. “How’s the mob going to hear it if I fire down here?”

“Give them another signal upstairs.”

“And suppose they might happen to hear the first one? Listen, Fingers - I’m coming right after you - get that? I’m not sticking down here in this trap. Say - could anybody ever open that vault in shorter time than it took you?”

“There’s not another guy could do it in less than an hour.”

“Well, that settles it. This mug is going in his own vault. He won’t last a half an hour.”

Croaker’s gun jabbed against Calbot’s ribs. The curio collector backed away. Fingers Keefel grinned fiendishly as he watched from the cellar. He saw Croaker back Calbot into the vault while the curio collector gasped his protests.

“My scroll!” blurted Calbot. “You thieves! Stealing - my greatest treasure. You - you murderers!”

The last word came in a hoarse scream as the collector tumbled backward into the vault. As Calbot sprawled upon the pedestal which had held the golden scroll, the vault door swung shut. Fingers saw Croaker twirl the knob. Without another word, the safecracker started for the stairs, leaving his companion to follow.

Fingers reached the side door and opened it. He left the barrier ajar. With the fake scroll of pretended gold, Fingers slipped out into the darkness of the alleyway. He headed toward the back; he quickened his pace as he heard the blast of Croaker’s .38 from within the side door of the house.

Croaker, like Fingers, was clear. Thief and murderer were scurrying away to safety - each to his own hide-out. The third job had been accomplished.

Gloating, Fingers Keefel chuckled over the thought of Brisbane Calbot, interred alive in his own vault. The last of three whom Duke Larrin had marked for death was buried in a spot where doom was certain!

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