Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 290 by Maxwel l Grant

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

CHAPTER XI

LAMONT CRANSTON took the steep, sharp turn leading up to the bridge across

Leyden Kill and sped his trim car onto the old wooden bridge. There was a sharper turn on the other side, but Cranston made it in the same easy style, without the help of any comment from Dick Whitlock.

Then they were twisting for the climb beside the old flume, toward the place where the road ran around the cliff edge, the most dangerous stretch of all, but still Dick didn't talk. When Cranston drove, you sat back, held your breath, and knew you'd come through anything.

Dick Whitlock had been finding that out all day. They were far from the Berkshires, where this trip had begun and were now deep in the loftier Adirondacks, on the final lap to Lake Sheen, which nestled in a high hollow, close to Dick's lodge, Rook's Retreat.

Briefly, Dick's thoughts drifted back to the start of this ride, where Cranston had taken over in place of The Shadow. So far, Dick hadn't even begun to define The Shadow and Cranston as one.

Nor was it logical that he should.

Darkness had covered the switch of identities the first time; today, the fog formed the blanket. Safely across the river at Rocky Point, Dick had found

himself in a car where Cranston joined him.

Obviously, The Shadow had gone back to settle matters with Leo Dolbart and

his Apache crew. It was the only way The Shadow could have rescued Irene Breslon, who deserved consideration for giving Dick last minute aid.

Or did she deserve that consideration?

His thoughts troubled, Dick put the question to Cranston, while the car was covering the last stretch of the journey.

"About Irene," said Dick. "What made her risk her own life for mine?"

"That question was answered beforehand," replied Cranston. "At least so you said."

"Answered by whom?"

"By your good friend Doctor Greug, if the report you gave me was accurate."

Having told Cranston about Greug's rescue and the subsequent interview, Dick felt the subject had been fully covered. Cranston's calm statement was therefore sufficiently cryptic to puzzle Dick. While pondering, he waved to some logging men who were working at the side of the road; then, as the car sped on, Dick rejoined:

"But Greug said that Irene was working with Dolbart."

"That wasn't all," reminded Cranston. "He said that Irene was to marry Friedrich."

"She only pretended that she did."

"Have you asked her?"

"Well, no." Dick gave a short laugh with the admission. "I didn't even know that Friedrich existed until Greug told me last night. But now, Friedrich is dead."

"Does Irene know it?"

"Of course not. I'm the one she thinks is dead -"

Cutting himself short, Dick flashed Cranston a look that combined anger with amazement.

"Say!" Dick's voice came sharply. "You don't mean that dame could have suddenly fallen for Crown Prince Kraut!"

"Such things have happened," observed Cranston, veering the car to avoid some hunters who were plodding along the road. "After all, with Friedrich's future, your money - and your mutual looks -"

Dick had swung to wave a greeting

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.