“So I arranged for protection. These two men” — he indicated Cardona and Markham — “will station themselves here in the study, to be ready in case any trouble may occur. I decided — when Claverly arrived early — that it might be well to take certain persons into our confidence.
“Claverly is one; you are the other. I have revolvers here” — Messler paused to bring the weapons from the desk drawer — “and if it is all right with Cardona, I shall have you two men equip yourselves with these guns. Is that satisfactory, Cardona?”
“All right,” responded Cardona. “But don’t say anything to the rest of the guests.”
“Certainly not,” agreed Messler. “I shall have a revolver of my own. We three will be in the living room; Cardona and Markham will remain here. Of course, gentlemen” — this was to Cranston and Claverly — “we must not use our weapons except in case of emergency. Should any marauders appear here, I feel sure that Cardona and Markham can deal with them.”
KEEN eyes were upon Milton Claverly while Augustus Messler was speaking. Those were the eyes of The Shadow, peering from the masklike countenance of Lamont Cranston.
The Shadow knew that a brief conference had been held prior to his appearance as Cranston. Hence he was not surprised to note that Claverly appeared unperturbed.
In fact, the young man from Australia was more suave than usual. He chanced to speak to Messler while The Shadow’s eyes were watching him. Unconscious of the critical gaze, Claverly appeared completely at ease. The part that he was playing seemed quite in accord with Messler’s plans.
The discussion continued. Messler had chosen the study as the best place for Cardona and Markham to be stationed. While in this room, the men of the law could guard the safe. Later, they would hold a commanding position, for the study door gave a view of the outer door of the apartment and a portion of the dining nook.
Claverly was listening to Messler’s plans. Accepted as a confidant by his host, Claverly had become an inside man on both games. He knew that a raid was coming; he also knew what steps were being taken should marauders visit this place tonight.
The Shadow, in turn, knew the plans that had passed between Claverly and Rosling, aboard the Laurentic. The thin smile that showed upon Lamont Cranston’s lips was the only reflex of the thoughts that were passing through The Shadow’s keen brain.
Upon Claverly depended the signal for the raid. It would be impossible for Claverly to get word to Rosling that the police were here. Yet Claverly could easily offset the efforts of the law by simply withholding the required signal. That, at least, would mean stalemate. Cardona and Markham waiting within; crooks lurking without; no meeting between the opposing forces.
But did Claverly intend to forego the signal? Something in the man’s easy manner had impressed The Shadow. Those keen eyes that stared from the visage of Lamont Cranston were unflinching in their steady survey. The Shadow could observe something that others did not notice — a tenseness that Claverly showed in spite of his apparent ease.
A BUZZER sounded. More guests were arriving. Messler arose from his chair and indicated the door. He waited until Cranston and Claverly had walked into the living room. Then he followed. He closed the door of the study behind him, leaving Cardona and Markham on guard with the gems.
Messler admitted his guests. They were the first of several arrivals who came in quick succession. All were wealthy men, friends of Messler’s.
Half an hour after the conference had ended, there were a dozen guests seated about Messler’s living room. This completed the expected quota.
Interest was in the air. All were anxious to see the rajah’s jewels. Messler decided to end the impatience of his guests. He entered the study and was gone for a few minutes.
When he returned, he was carrying a long, flat box. This was the receptacle that held the jewels from India.
Men gathered about. Exclamations sounded as Messler opened the box to reveal a dazzling display of gems. Blood-red rubies, 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 called to accounting, should the raid fail?
So far as the crooks were concerned, Claverly could pretend that he had not known of the detectives in the study. On the contrary, he was running a risk of exposure if the raid went wrong.
In his analysis of Claverly, The Shadow had given the young man credit for being a smooth worker. The Shadow was sure that Claverly must have had reason for giving the signal in spite of the difficulties that would confront Rosling’s raiders.
The glint of The Shadow’s eyes; the firm, unchanging smile that showed on his fixed lips — these were the only indications of The Shadow’s thoughts. The Shadow was gaining a definite conclusion. He knew that Claverly had chosen to play a bold game; that the young man was uncertain as to the outcome.