Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 190 by Maxwel l Grant

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

CHAPTER XII. VOICE OF CRIME

SPRINGING forward, Marjorie impulsively grasped her father's shoulders, made him look her in the eye. She demanded to know the real source of his worry.

Sitting down, Merton stroked his forehead, let his fingers drift through his gray hair. Then, in a strained tone, he stated:

"I heard from Dustin Hayde."

"When?" demanded Marjorie. "How?"

"A short while ago," said Merton. "He called me on the telephone. He seemed to be talking over a long-distance wire."

"What did he say?"

"He warned me that my life would be in jeopardy if I sent those statuettes away. He talked oddly, in a gritted tone. He said that there were other forms of art that he appreciated besides paintings; that what he liked, he took."

"And then?"

"That was about all. Except that he repeated his threat against my life, and added that you would be in danger, too."

Marjorie walked over to the cabinet, placed herself in front of the statuettes. Tensely, she declared:

"Daddy, you're not letting the Hoods take these. We'll summon every watchman in Pinewood to guard this house."

Merton shook his head.

"Hayde might notice the move," he said. "Look, Marjorie" - he pointed to the window - "it is dusk

already. His Hoods may be stalking the grounds."

Pondering, Marjorie asked: "Is the armored van actually coming?"

"Yes," replied Merton, "but I intend to send it away empty."

"You won't," declared Marjorie, firmly. "I'll see to it that people will be here to protect the place. Better people than those stupid deputies and clumsy watchmen. I'll -"

She paused. Men were entering the house. They were Kelm's servants, coming for the next load of books. Marjorie promptly closed the cabinet containing the bronze busts.

The key was in the lock, attached to a key ring from which others dangled. Locking the cabinet, Marjorie handed the keys to her father.

Withersham was with Kelm's servants. Withersham was Merton's secretary, a pale-faced man who wore large spectacles. He was capable enough when it came to listing books, but in danger Marjorie would sooner have depended upon her maid, Therese.

Impatient, Withersham was chiding Kelm's servants because they had taken some wrong books in the first load. He had made them bring those volumes back. They stacked them in a corner at the secretary's order. Then, tapping a typewritten list, Withersham turned to Merton.

"I'm keeping an exact check, sir," said the secretary. "This load will be the last, and I'll make certain that no further mistakes are made."

Stepping to the hallway, Withersham checked the high stacks of books as Kelm's two men carried them past. The servants returned for more and were coming out through the library door, when the hallway telephone rang.

Withersham always answered such calls when he was about. Seeing Marjorie at hand he gave her the list. She had just marked the books off, when Withersham returned and said to Merton:

"It's for you, sir. It seems like a long-distance call."

Marjorie watched her father go to the telephone. He kept saying "Hello," but couldn't get a satisfactory response. Marjorie was fidgety, and Withersham noted it.

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