"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 202 - Gems of Doom" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

"I thought I heard a car," said Kreld. "But it is too early yet. Tell me" —he turned suddenly to
Blendon—"did you actually see any lurkers outside?"

Blendon's response was a headshake, but he looked worried at Kreld's question.
"I did my best to keep this meeting secret," stated Kreld. "After paying a cold quarter million"—he was
thumbing the uncut diamonds, letting them trickle from his fingers to the desk—"I would not want to lose
it."

"You're afraid of robbery?" questioned Blendon, anxiously. "Perhaps you had better put the stones in the
safe."

"I want the investors to see them," said Kreld. "Come, gentlemen, let us forget our qualms. Finish your
drinks, and I shall bring up another siphon of soda. At least, I took one wise precaution." He was smiling
in reassured fashion. "I told all the servants to take the night off."

"A good idea," declared Traal. "Do you know, Kreld, I was a bit suspicious of that snoopy fellow that I
saw here the other night."

"You must mean Jaffrey," mused Kreld. "The man with the sharp nose and the big lower lip."

"That's the fellow."

"Jaffrey is new. But he came here with a good recommendation. Yet sometimes"—Kreld pondered—"I
wonder about Jaffrey. It was really on account of Jaffrey that I sent all the servants out. I did not want to
single him from the lot."

KRELD was picking up the siphon. His back was turned toward the door. In their turn, Traal and
Blendon were looking at their host. None saw the motion at the door of the room; it was far enough
away to be unnoticed.

The door was ajar, and peering through its crack was a face that answered the description that Kreld
had just given. From the hallway, Jaffrey, the doubtful servant, was making the most of his night off by
peering in upon the conference.

There was eagerness upon Jaffrey's big-lipped face; his eyes had a glitter as they stared at the uncut
diamonds. Jaffrey had listened long enough to hear mention of their value. He had listened long enough,
too, to know what to do about it.

Carefully closing the door, he sidled through the hall with sneaky tread.

Reaching the stairway, the servant hurried down. There was a telephone in the narrow rear hall that ran
along beside the staircase. Hurriedly, Jaffrey dialed a number, then opened the door of a closet and slid
his stooped form inside, taking the telephone with him.

A gleam came into Jaffrey's eyes. They were ugly eyes, and eager. Eyes of crime, that had spied upon a
scene where profit waited. A tool of evil, Jaffrey was forwarding word to someone who would listen to
the servant's tale!

CHAPTER II. THE SINISTER SCHEME
"ANSWER it, Ape."