"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 074 - Bells of Doom" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

gems. Blood-red rubles, sparkling sapphires and deep-green emeralds vied in resplendent beauty.

After the first inspection, the throng spread slightly. Guests listened while their host began to display the
jewels one by one, giving a brief history of each stone as he showed it.

Milton Claverly was standing by the window. Keen eyes watched the young man raise the stump of a
cigarette to obtain another light. The Shadow, watching, knew that the action could be viewed by anyone
outside the apartment building.

Claverly flicked the stump from the window, turning in that direction as he did so. His gaze steadied off
toward the Drive, to the lights that followed the line of the Hudson River. From below, quartered in the
seclusion of the side street, any watcher could have noted Claverly's procedure.

A smile was firm on the lips of Lamont Cranston. In this guise, The Shadow was ready to thwart the
attack that he knew must follow. For Claverly's action meant one thing only: The inside man had passed
the signal that was to bring in workers of crime.

CHAPTER IV. THE SHADOW'S PART
MINUTES passed after Claverly's signal. The time period had no effect upon Augustus Messler. The
owner of the rajah's jewels was continuing with his description of the gems. His guests were listening with
quiet interest.

Milton Claverly had strolled away from the window. He had crossed the room and was standing on the
far side, close to the door of the study.

Lamont Cranston, however, had made no move. He was in the place that he had originally taken. He
was just around the corner from the dining nook.

This spot suited The Shadow for the present. It gave him a command of the outer door. It also enabled
him to flank the dining nook. One of those two entrances must be used by the expected raiders. The
Shadow held a position that was quite as effective as the study door where Cardona and Markham
lingered.

Keenly, The Shadow was watching Claverly; yet the young man did not notice the eyes that were upon
him. Claverly, where he stood, was out of sight of both Cardona and Markham. He, too, could watch
both entrances.

It was plain to The Shadow that Claverly did not know from which direction the crooks would enter.
That was not surprising. The conversation aboard the Laurentic had indicated that Claverly would handle
the inside job alone, leaving the actual robbery to the crooks whom Rosling headed.

Hence The Shadow was watching Claverly, knowing that the inside man would show some change of
expression when the crooks arrived. It was not necessary for The Shadow to gaze toward either door.

Strain had begun to show on Claverly's countenance. There was a reason. Although men from
headquarters were present, Claverly had given the signal. He had set a tough task for the crooks who
would soon be due.

Did Claverly think that Rosling's band could overpower the watching detectives? Did he fear to postpone
the signal for the raid, thinking that he might incur Rosling's antagonism? Did he feel that he might be