Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 039 by Maxwel l Grant

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

CHAPTER XIII. THE ROBBERY

HEAVY winds were sweeping the deserted Southwark street as Graham Wellerton made stealthy progress away from Ralph Delkin's home. Storm clouds had gathered overhead; these added to the blackness of the faintly lighted byway chosen by Graham.

During his stay at Delkin's, Graham had left the house only on rare occasions, but his few excursions had been sufficient to refresh his memory regarding the streets of Southwark. Sidling through the night, Graham reached a road which led him toward Ralph Delkin's factory; a short distance farther on, he took a lane to the right.

Through the black night loomed a ghostly mass of gray. Graham had reached the cliffs of an old quarry -

a spot which he had long remembered. They had been blasting at the quarry during the past week.

Graham felt sure that he would find what he had come to seek.

The young man drew forth a flashlight which he had picked up in Delkin's home. Using it discreetly, he found a huge red box which bore two words in white:

DANGER

DYNAMITE

The box was fastened with a large padlock. Graham picked up two large stones. He let the padlock dangle upon the piece of rock which he held in his left hand. He used the other stone to deliver a series of sharp blows.

The padlock broke. Graham opened the box, played the flashlight within and removed a stick of dynamite from the mass within.

Closing the box, he retraced his steps. He turned this time toward Delkin's factory which lay farther down the side road. Graham used his flashlight intermittently and soon arrived in the vicinity of the plant.

A few lights from factory windows enabled the stealthy man to approach with ease.

Graham had been here with Ralph Delkin. He had made mental notes of the place. He knew that a watchman was on duty, but he did not expect to encounter the guardian. Delkin's plant turned out metal castings and it offered no spoils of value for prowlers. The watchman's duties were no more than mere routine.

Graham forced a basement window and entered the lower portion of the factory. He found an unlocked storeroom. He went in and turned on a light. The room was windowless. Moreover, it contained the very supplies which Graham required.

The young man crumpled his dynamite into a small pail. He found some cakes of soap and began a mixture. All the ingredients that he needed were here. The room contained all sorts of odd equipment, even to a pair of small electric stoves.

Cautious at times, Graham paused to listen. He heard nothing of the watchman. Probably the man did not intend to visit this obscure portion of the factory. Graham applied himself to the task before him. He was mixing "soup" - the compound used by safe crackers.

When the job was done, Graham took his supply of explosive and left the storeroom. He made his way through the window and started back along the road. He had fuses in his pocket - he had obtained these from the dynamite box.

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