Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 266 by Maxwel l Grant

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

CHAPTER IX

VICIOUS CIRCLE

By the time Pitman had conducted Vallon to the foot of the staircase, The Shadow was no longer visible.

He had faded swiftly aloft.

In the dim hallway above, The Shadow was busy at an urgent task. It was a task that required a sharp knife and steady fingers.

The Shadow risked discovery to do it properly. But when he faded deeper into the gloom of the upper corridor, an inaudible twitch of laughter in his throat testified that he was satisfied.

"A gentleman from the telephone company, sir," Pitman announced at the door of the study. He turned, started down the stairs.

The next instant there was a terrific crash in the dimness of the upper hall.

Startled, Pitman whirled about. His cry of alarm was echoed within the study. Bellinger rushed into view, followed by Vallon.

"What happened?" Bellinger cried.

"I don't know, sir," Pitman gasped. He pointed tremulously toward the corridor wall. "I think one of the wall paintings has fallen, sir."

Marcus Bellinger bent over the fallen picture. He noted that the antique gold cord that had parted was badly frayed. The Shadow had done a nice job with

his knife.

Pitman's face was still pale. He was staring, not at the fallen picture,

but at the telephone man. In Vallon's grasp was a grim-looking .38. He chuckled

as Pitman recoiled.

"Don't get excited. Nobody's going to get shot. I just didn't know what was going on. I'm a collection man for the company as well as a repair man. So I carry a gun. I just thought I'd play safe."

He shoved the gun into his pocket, followed Bellinger back into the study.

This time, the door was locked on the inside.

The Shadow, unknown to either man, was also inside the high-ceilinged study!

Profiting by their scrutiny of the fallen painting in the dark corridor, The Shadow had gained his goal unseen.

A swift advance carried him up the softly carpeted staircase that led to the balcony. His earlier visit in the role of Cranston had apprised The Shadow of the possibilities of that balcony as a hiding place.

The wall behind the mahogany rail was lined with tiers of books. From the railing itself hung ancient parchment maps. It was the work of an instant for The Shadow to gain his aerial perch and crouch low behind one of those parchment maps.

"You shouldn't have flashed that gun, you fool!" Marcus snarled. "I don't want Pitman getting any wrong ideas."

"Don't worry," Vallon said. "I never saw a butler yet that wasn't a dope."

He laid his leather valise on the top of a polished table.

"What was the idea of making me wait? It's cold outside! Why did you give me the shade signal?"

"I had to," Bellinger replied. "My brother made an ill-timed visit. He brought a couple of people to look over my collection of arms."

"Who were they?" Vallon rasped.

"Lamont Cranston and Margo Lane. You wouldn't know them." There was a sneer in Marcus Bellinger's smooth voice. "Cranston is a society man. Miss Lane

is also in the social register. I had quite a job getting rid of them.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.