Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 174 by Maxwel l Grant

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

CHAPTER XII

THE SECRET VISIT

SO far as his mission concerned Gregg Caxter, The Shadow had completed it.

He had spent several hours with Howard Caxter and everything had gone with the greatest smoothness. That was not surprising, considering that Howard had been approached by persons previously - Tyburn and Wydell, for example - who had offered increasing concessions from Gregg.

In Lamont Cranston, Howard had met an emissary who talked his own language; one who was not under Gregg's rule. That, too, could have played a strong part in influencing Howard. But it did not fully satisfy The Shadow.

He, on his own part, had delved into certain matters that intrigued him.

One, especially, was why Irene Selwood had gone to Howard's mansion, to await her father there.

Reaching the landing field, The Shadow let Howard's helpful chauffeur load

the box and suitcase into the waiting plane, an autogiro. Stepping off into the

darkness, The Shadow adjusted an aviator's helmet on his head. At the same time, he delivered a low, clear whisper that brought a man instantly to his side.

The waiting man was Miles Crofton, a pilot who worked for The Shadow. He had come here by car, after The Shadow had started his plane trip. Crofton also

wore a goggled helmet; in the darkness, The Shadow gave him brief instructions.

It was Crofton, not The Shadow, who climbed aboard the ship. Just before he took off, the pilot opened the suitcase, removed a few boxes, then let the luggage piece drop from the far side of the plane.

The autogiro took off, leaving the blackness of the landing field beneath it. Members of the small ground crew went their way; Howard's chauffeur returned to the limousine and started back to the estate.

The final incident suited The Shadow to perfection. He wanted it supposed by everyone, particularly by Howard Caxter, that Lamont Cranston had taken off in the plane. For The Shadow was due to appear in a neighborhood where Cranston

had been; and should he, by chance, be sighted, his chief wish would be to keep

his double identity secret.

Finding Crofton's parked car, The Shadow removed his hat and cloak from the suitcase, along with other needed items, then placed the bag in the car.

That done, he started a roundabout route by foot, back in the direction of Howard's mansion.

Tonight, The Shadow's goal was not the side door that led into the tropical garden. He had found a better mode of entry. During that view of Howard's laboratory, The Shadow had noticed a doorway at the rear of the hall.

It obviously opened to the ground in back of the wing, wherein the study and the laboratory were located.

Reaching Howard's premises, The Shadow used the utmost caution. On estates

the size of this, the grounds were usually patrolled by watchmen late at night,

and the hour was already well advanced.

There would still be a while before midnight; but that was quite late in this vicinity. The people of Pennbury went to bed early, and Howard Caxter, according to all reports, had acquired the same habit.

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