Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 089 by Maxwel l Grant

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

CHAPTER XIII. AT THE MUSEUM

MARK ELDRETH came to his feet. Advancing, he extended his hand to Dave Kelroy. Today, Mark's clasp was more spontaneous. His moonish face showed a smile that was one of genuine pleasure.

Turning, Mark introduced Dave to Dryer. The lawyer, in turn, made a brief introduction of Durling, without reference to the private investigator's calling.

"Where have you been, Kelroy?" queried Mark. "We have been greatly concerned about your disappearance. Both Mr. Dryer and myself have read of the trouble in Chinatown. We were afraid that you might have met with foul play."

"I did have trouble," smiled Dave, "but all of it came before our meeting of two nights ago."

"But you said nothing to me when you visited my house. Nothing, I mean, that indicated serious difficulties. You did act oddly; but -"

"You were busy. I was a bit dazed. Suppose I tell my story from the start."

Nods of agreement. Dave spoke slowly and carefully. He told of his arrival in San Francisco and his visit to Ku Luan. Vividly he described the death of Ku Luan. He repeated the ancient Chinaman's admonition regarding the teakwood box with the silver dragon. He added the statements wherein Ku Luan had told him to visit some relative of Tobias Eldreth.

Dave recounted the details of Wong Soy's treachery; the attack made by thugs; the intervention of a mysterious fighter who had effected Dave's own rescue. He explained that he had looked up Mark's residence in the telephone book. So far, his story had been accurate.

Then, remembering Colin's injunction, Dave began to deviate from the truth. He described his departure from Mark's, but carefully avoided mention of Colin's chance arrival. Instead, Dave spoke of wandering vaguely through the fog.

"I found a small hotel," he stated. "I registered there under another name than my own. I slept late -

almost all day, yesterday. When evening came, I realized that it was no time to call here, at Mr. Dryer's office. So I remained in the hotel all evening.

"I was worried; for a while, I lacked courage to leave my hotel. At last, I decided to come here. That completes my story; but I come without the teakwood box. All that I have are the keys that Ku Luan gave me."

MARK was the first to respond.

"I wish, Kelroy," he stated, "that you had started to tell me your story two nights ago. I had no idea that you had been in such serious difficulty."

"It wasn't so bad," rejoined Dave, with a smile. "The real misfortune was my failure to gain the teakwood box. Its contents must surely be vital to my future."

"You have no idea what it could contain?" queried Dryer.

"I can only guess," replied Dave. "You see, I lifted a few of the teakwood boxes, without finding the one I wanted. They were light; they were large enough to have contained some silk. Ku Luan sent me a little token of silk. That made me think that the boxes might hold silk also."

Weldon Dryer was stroking his chin.

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