Chet's gaze was frankly bewildered, whereat Thorneau's smile increased.
With a wave of his hand, the blunt-faced man suggested:
"Put the gun away, Conroy. If you ever intended to use it, you would have
done so at the Pyrolac plant last night. Then tell me: why did you make those
threatening phone calls?"
Putting away his gun, Chet stared so blankly that Thorneau lifted his heavy
eyebrows.
"You mean the calls weren't yours?" queried Thorneau. "Marquette was sure
they were. He is still trying to trace them."
"I get it," spoke Chet, bitterly. "It's all part of the frame. Dorgan, or
whoever is behind him, is trying to back up the phony evidence they pinned on
me."
Thorneau picked the name from the midst of Chet's harangue. Tilting his
head, the big man inquired:
"Dorgan?"
"That's right," replied Chet. "If you'll listen, Mr. Thorneau, I'll tell
you just where and how Dorgan figures - along with the rest."
Listen Thorneau did, while Chet told the story. Not knowing that Thorneau
had personally seen The Shadow in action, Chet didn't stress the freight train
fight too strongly. He wanted Thorneau to believe the tale of the camouflaged
tunnel. Apparently, Thorneau did, though he raised his eyebrows at intervals.
Each of those lifts was Chet's cue to emphasize more credible details, such as a
description of the Diesel shifter, or Dorgan's comments to the gang.
At the finish, Thorneau folded his hands, and made his first comment.
"Most amazing, all this," he declared, in his firm basso tone. "But I
believe you, Conroy. Actually, I believe your story because it seems too
fanciful to be a lie. I only wish you had informed me sooner."
"That's what I tried to do," said Chet. "But you weren't at the brass
works."
"I never am," explained Thorneau. "I retain that business, like several
others, purely through sentiment. Yet the brass works and the rest have been
very helpful lately."
Chet thought that Thorneau was changing the subject, but he wasn't. His
remarks were much to the point.
"This highjacking that we thought was sabotage," explained Thorneau, "has
produced an alarming shortage of Pyrolac in the essential industries with which
I am connected. Fortunately, we have been able to buy emergency supplies from
such companies as the brass works."
"But their quotas can't last indefinitely," declared Chet. "Not if this
highjacking continues."
"It won't continue," assured Thorneau. "You have already cracked it,
Conroy. Our only question is how we should convey your information to Marquette.
I doubt that he will believe your story, Conroy."
Before Chet could answer, there was a knock at the door. Thorneau gestured
for Chet to remain calm. Stepping from the desk, Thorneau opened the door. The
man outside was the chauffeur who had brought Chet in the station wagon.
"Hello, Thomas," said Thorneau. "I was just going to call you. Have my
coupe ready outside. I shall meet the next train myself, if Mr. Cranston does
not arrive sooner."
"But those threats, sir -"
