Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 017 by Maxwel l Grant

Author:Maxwel,l Grant
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf

CHAPTER XIV. THE SHADOW LEARNS

ALTHOUGH the County National Bank had ended its career as an institution, there was still a great deal of necessary work going on at the main office. In fact, on this particular night, workers had been on hand until almost twelve o'clock.

Now, only the watchman remained, patrolling his rounds in his usual slow and methodical fashion. There was little chance that any one would attempt to enter this defunct banking house, and the sluggishness of the watchman indicated his tendency toward mere routine.

High above the floor was a balcony that extended around the outer edge of the main room. Here were

situated the clerks' working quarters. A row of adding machines bore testimony to the size of the staff that had once worked there. A heavy, grated door barred the top of the stairway at the balcony.

Hardly had the heavy tread of the watchman died away before a tiny light appeared upon the balcony.

The light shone near a corner, and it indicated that some one had entered one of the balcony windows that opened upon a narrow alleyway at the side of the bank.

The entire balcony was grated; and the top of the grating ran along a series of crossbeams. The light climbed upward along the grating. It went out as an invisible figure squeezed itself between two beams.

Then the unseen prowler descended the grating until he hung suspended above the floor of the banking room.

There was a dull plop as the invisible form dropped lightly from the balcony. The light reappeared for an instant; then vanished.

The Shadow was in the County National Bank!

The only token of the mysterious one's presence was the occasional flicker of the light, which appeared unexpectedly in various places. The keenest listener could not have trailed the progress of The Shadow.

His light showed in the little office where Hubert Salisbury had talked with Wellington. It beamed upon the huge vault, and The Shadow's black-gloved hand appeared before it. The entire floor was subjected to a thorough inspection.

The watchman, going on his rounds, heard nothing that attracted his attention. When he approached, the light went out, and all was still within the large room.

AT last, the light appeared downstairs. There, it showed on the floor - on the exact spot where Wellington had been found dead. The light swept along the walls.

When it again reappeared, it was upstairs once more, in Salisbury's little office. There, beneath a tiny circle of light, a hand - no longer gloved - appeared and began to write.

Hubert Salisbury - story correct.

Wellington suspected truth - but did not know.

Bank entered by careful plotters. Vault shows signs of expert work in opening it.

Drawer in Salisbury's desk has been opened by a special key.

Revolver removed evidently as a precaution for the future.

Only possible egress through room below. Man entered; listened to conversation between S. and W. Murder committed. Gun left.

The paper disappeared. The light went out. A slight swish told that The Shadow was leaving the office.

Again his torch illuminated the downstairs room.

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