"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 031 - The Red Blot" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

Silent inspection showed the room was empty. A tiny flashlight gleamed. Its luminous spot, no larger than
a silver dollar, performed several functions.

First it glittered about the room to show a closed door that evidently led to a hallway. Then it gleamed
upon four peculiar, cup-shaped objects of rubber that lay upon the floor. These disappeared into
darkness as The Shadow with a black-gloved hand placed them beneath his cloak.

These were the devices which The Shadow had used to facilitate his precipitous climb - rubber suction
cups capable of supporting considerable weight with safety.

Finally, the light twinkled upon the dial of a watch. The time was twenty minutes of eleven. A low whisper
crept through the room and stirred up vague, mocking echoes. The Shadow was ahead of schedule.

The light went out. A few moments later, the room was empty. Only the occasional glimmer of the flash
revealed The Shadow's progress down a stairway to the ground floor. When the light finally reappeared,
it shone upon the blackened front of Timothy Baruch's safe, in a back room on the ground floor.

Seventeen minutes of eleven. Again that whispered laugh. The flashlight, set upon some hidden object,
displayed a wider range of illumination as the gloves slipped from the hands of The Shadow.

Long, sensitive fingers began their work upon the dials of the safe. The burning girasol sent forth its
amazing sparks while the hands were operating.

The safe was, indeed, formidable. The turning dials seemed to defy The Shadow's probing touch. Slowly,
carefully, the fingers worked, while keen ears listened for the sound of falling tumblers. Minutes drifted
by; at last, a sound from the blackened door of the safe told that The Shadow's task was successful.

The light glimmered upon the watch. Eight minutes before eleven. The Shadow had accomplished his
work in nine minutes. A finger touched the watch significantly.

The numbers that it indicated upon the face showed that The Shadow had planned to begin at ten
forty-five and end at ten fifty-five. Starting two minutes ahead of schedule, he had gained another minute!

A hand turned the knob. The door of the safe moved slowly outward. Within The Shadow's grasp lay the
contents of this treasure box.

Why had The Shadow come to obtain it?

There could be but one reason. The close adherence to a scheduled routine proved that The Shadow
was not here to commit crime himself; his purpose was to forestall the efforts of crooks who were soon
due!

SURPRISE would be in store for those who attacked this strong box. Instead of wealth, they would find
only what The Shadow might choose to leave for them. The Shadow had anticipated crime tonight. He
was to view the contents of this safe before the others saw it.

The door was open. The Shadow's light glimmered into the interior of the safe. It paused motionless, its
glare revealing an amazing situation that brought a momentary period of inaction. Even The Shadow had
not expected the surprising sight which his eyes now saw.