The Spider Strikes by By R.T.M. Scott

Author:By R.T.M. Scott [Scott, By R.T.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Blackmask Online
Published: 2001-10-06T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE Wentworth Tastes Fear

The last second of light had presented a particularly dramatic scene. The great criminal, sinisterly masked, appeared to be collapsing in agony upon the floor. Behind him the huge Hindu stood with knife poised, ready to throw or to spring. To one side, still leaning against the mantelpiece, Richard Wentworth regarded the scene calmly, master of the situation up to the moment. Madame Pompe forgot to smoke, forgot to pose for masculine eyes, stared in admiration at the man by the mantelpiece.

Then came the pistol shot and darkness. There was the thud of steel striking wood and, in the very dim light from the open window, the figure of Ram Singh could be seen bounding forward.

Swiftly Wentworth drew a flashlight from his pocket and shot a beam of light to the spot upon which the mysterious Mr. X had stood. There, with point deeply imbedded in the polished floor, was the Hindu's second knife and Ram Singh, himself, crouched above it in the attitude of seizing something which was no longer there.

Mr. X had vanished.

Even while Wentworth pointed the flashlight at the knife in the floor, he snapped his lighter with the other hand and ignited several ornamental candles which stood upon the mantelpiece. In the soft light the black portieres swayed and bulged into the room a little.

Ram Singh, noticing the movement of the portieres, sprang into them with arms outstretched to seize what stood behind. His weight tore one of the portieres from its rings and he went to the floor with it. There was a muffled scream, and the Hindu staggered back into the room, carrying something which wriggled within the portiere.

From one end of his bundle a black- stockinged leg protruded. From the other end could be seen the tousled head of Mimi. He brought what he had found to Wentworth, like a dog bringing something to his master. But the look on his face was one of disgust when only Mimi emerged.

Wentworth picked up his revolver from the floor, where Mr. X had brazenly allowed it to remain, and left Ram Singh with the two women while he rapidly searched the penthouse. He did not expect to find his man. But when dealing with such an audacious person he felt that precautions were necessary. Undoubtedly Mr. X had escaped by the emergency stairs, there having been no time to call an elevator to the top of the building.

To follow him would have been difficult and Wentworth had something else in view.

Ram Singh was squatting on the floor when his master returned to the front room. In his hand the native held the great knife which he had drawn out of the floor. Mimi, restless and nervous, stood beside her mistress. Madame Pompe smoked with apparent indifference.

“That will be all, Mimi,” said Wentworth. “You may go to bed.”

“Mais Madame?” queried the girl, surprised and looking toward her mistress.

“You heard me, Mimi!” Wentworth said sharply. “I am sorry for the little accident at the portieres.

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