Grant, Maxwell - The Shadow 114 - The Strange Disappearance of Joe Cardona 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

GRELL had paused in the lighted doorway. Sharp-eyed, he was studying a man who stepped from the cab. The newcomer turned into the light. He was tall and heavy of build; his face, though rugged, seemed that of a thinker rather than a man of action. The tall man was almost shabby in attire; his heavy coat was opened, his derby hat was tilted from a jolt that it had received in the cab.

The tilted hat displayed a shock of gray hair that showed no signs of recent brushing. The tall man’s face was unshaven, another indication that he cared nothing about his personal appearance. He was not bothered by the tilt of his hat. He left the derby canted. Deep in thought, he stepped toward the door of the apartment house, his ungloved fingers fumbling the change that he had received from the taxi driver.

Almost at the door, the tall arrival saw Grell and pulled up with a start. For the moment, The Shadow saw large eyes glare and study the sallow man with suspicion. Grell smiled; then queried affably:

“Are you Mr. Louis Lenger?”

Eyes hardened; then the tall man nodded. Grell held out his hand.

“My name is Courtney Grell,” he explained. “I happened to be in the neighborhood; stopped by to see if you were busy. I hoped that you would not mind the intrusion. I am a chess player like yourself.”

Lenger stroked his stubbly chin. He seemed torn between two sentiments: a natural dislike of strangers, and a feeling of friendliness toward a fellow chess enthusiast. At last he motioned toward the doorway and extended the gruff invitation:

“Come up to the apartment, Mr. Grell.”

Grell let Lenger go past to unlock the inner door of the entry. He was still chewing gum; his slow-moving lips formed a suave smile. Then his eyebrows arched as he saw Lenger open the door without unlocking it. Evidently any one could gain access to this apartment house.

The reason for the unlocked inner door was apparent to The Shadow when he approached. Though he did not enter, The Shadow made a careful study of the entry that the two men had vacated. He saw that the telephone receiver, used for conversation between visitors and tenants, was one that had no wire. On that account, the front door was open. People could go up and knock at the doors that they wanted.

The uselessness of the receiver indicated that the bells, too, were out of order. On the other side of the entry, above a row of mail boxes, The Shadow observed a square-cut block that indicated a space for a new telephone installation. Evidently new equipment had been planned but not completed.

Instead of going in by the front, The Shadow moved through darkness, skirted the double building and came to the expected rear entrance. He found a locked door, but opened it with little difficulty. He entered a long, dimly-lighted hallway. There, The Shadow saw the door of an automatic elevator. Its glass panel was dark.

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