The Mask: A Story of Love and AdventureHornblow, Arthur
General
The Mask: A Story of Love and Adventure
Hornblow, Arthur
Adventure stories; Twins -- Fiction
For several days they had shadowed the Frenchman constantly, until
to-night they were rewarded by seeing him start with a suit case in the
direction of the Bronx. They quickly gave chase, the lawyer confident
of results. It was not part of his plan, however, to hurry matters or
do things prematurely. To-night they would merely reconnoiter. They
would content themselves by watching the premises, seeing who came and
went, and trying to obtain a glimpse of the interior. If the evidence
was incriminating enough to make a raid successful, it would always be
time enough to call in the police. Keralio, he was also well
convinced, had something to do with the missing diamonds, and possibly
the present investigation would throw some light on the mystery
surrounding Kenneth himself. He had made no mention of his suspicions
to Helen, but he could not help feeling that in some way, yet to be
discovered, his old comrade had become involved with a band of crooks.
How otherwise explain his acquaintance with Keralio, an utter stranger
of dubious antecedents. How explain the loss of the diamonds? The
explanation Kenneth had given was decidedly fishy. Parker did not
believe a word of it--in fact, frankly expressed, his opinion was that
his vice-president had disposed of the gems. Had he himself not seen
Kenneth driving about the Bronx with Keralio at an impossible hour?
Had not Helen discovered Francois conversing on intimate terms with his
master? It all looked decidedly bad; only time could unravel it all.
It was a fearful thing to suspect a man of Kenneth's standing, but
everything pointed to his being involved in a vast network of crime.
He was aroused from his reflections by an exclamation of warning from
his companion.
"Quick--there he goes!" whispered Dick.
The valet had suddenly made a sharp turn to the right, and was lost to
view. But quick as he was, Dick was quicker. The young man was a
little ahead of the lawyer, and, putting on a spurt of speed, he
reached the corner just in time to see the Frenchman and suitcase
disappear into a grimy, dilapidated looking tenement at the end of a
blind alley.
"We've run the fox to earth," whispered Steell exultantly.
"Could any melodrama wish for a more appropriate _mise-en-scene_?"
grinned Dick.
"Come opposite, and find out what we can see from the outside."
Crossing the street they took up positions in the shadow of a doorway.
The house which the Frenchman had entered was all dark and apparently
tenantless, except on the top floor where lights could be faintly seen
behind hermetically sealed shutters. Straining his ears, Steell
thought he could hear the steady hum of machinery in motion. With an
exclamation of satisfaction, he turned to his companion:
"We've got 'em, Dick, we've got 'em. Do you hear the presses going?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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