"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 016 - The Ghost Makers" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

"He must have left," returned Cardona. "Castelle isn't sure, but he thinks there were seven men and six
women in the place. There were six men and six womenтАФHarvey includedтАФwhen the house detectives
got there. That makes an odd man in the crowd."

"How could he have disappeared?"

"There's a mystery," declared Cardona. "It's pretty near as bad as the ghost theory. When he went, he
must have slid out the door just after the lights came on.

"He had a straight hallway ahead of him. No doors on either side. He might have slipped along to the
balcony above the lobby, then down the stairs at the side.

"Castelle grabbed a telephone, and called for help right after the lights came on. The house men were
there mighty quick. But when you're dealing with an uncertain time element -"

"It would have been possible, however?" interjected Weston. "Possible for a man to have left by the
hall?"

"Possible, yes," agreed the detective. "That was the only way. One door to the room. Windows with
locked shutters. Out through the hallтАФ but if a man made his get-away there, he must have been a
wonder. Nevertheless, Castelle has given me the tip. I figure he must be right."

"About the people in the room," began Weston.

"Commissioner," said Cardona, "there is not one suspect in the lot. Peas in a pod, all except Castelle.
He's a skeptic as you say, but you can't hook up any motive for him."

"He speaks of an extra man. That might be a blind -"

"Not at all," said Cardona emphatically. "Castelle is talking straight. If he wasn't trying to help, he would
have taken the easy route sided with the rest of them. He's rightтАФabsolutely.

"There was another man in that room, and he made his get-away. When we find him, we'll have the
murderer!"

Weston picked up the newspaper. He made a study of the names in the list. He started a series of
pointed questions regarding the various individuals. Cardona answered each query in methodical fashion.
Weston dropped the newspaper and extended his hand.

It was a triumph for Joe CardonaтАФa glorious finish to this conference which he had approached so
uneasily. Weston's conviction was evident.

"There was another man," declared the commissioner, with a note of final emphasis. "A man who wanted
to kill Herbert Harvey. But why did he choose such a strange method?"

"That's easy," said Cardona, a slight smile upon his swarthy countenance. "It was a cinch, in the dark.
They were all sitting around that circle. When the dagger began to float above, the only one who could
have known it was phony was the medium.

"He says he had his eyes shutтАФalways does when he is in a trance. The witnesses agree. But supposing