He had guessed the key to crime; he had divined where the final stroke would come. Here at the home of Justin Craybaw; there was no need to travel elsewhere.
Often The Shadow sought action, and was forced to set out to find it. To-day he was confident that action would be brought to him.
A curious turn of events; but one that fitted with The Shadow’s knowledge of The Harvester.
CHAPTER XIV. EVENTS IN LONDON
SHORTLY before noon, Harry Vincent arrived at the offices of Rudlow, Limited. He paused outside the building in Threadneedle Street, to watch the unloading of a bank truck. Harry was but one of many curious observers who saw four uniformed men march into the building with an object no larger than a small satchel.
There were others about, whom Harry took to be Scotland Yard men. They followed the bank guards into the Rudlow office; but the armored truck remained. Two constables moved the crowd along. Harry decided to go into the building.
The outer office occupied by Rudlow, Limited, was fenced off in one corner to form a waiting room. This was where Harry entered. At the gate, he inquired for Inspector Delka. A boy was sent into a suite of private offices. He returned, followed by Delka.
Harry introduced himself. When he stated that he was an American, and a friend of Lamont Cranston’s, Delka became keenly interested. He told Harry to follow him. They went through to the private offices; there they entered a conference room, beyond which was a door marked with the title: “Managing Director.”
Both Sidney Lewsham and Sir Ernest Jennup were seated in the conference room. Two bank guards were at a table in the corner, with revolvers ready in their holsters. Between them was the precious bag that had been brought in from outside.
Delka introduced Harry to Lewsham and Sir Ernest. Both eyed him with a trifle of suspicion. Harry stated himself.
“Cranston called me shortly after midnight,” he explained. “He had come up to London and was at Charing Cross, so he said. He told me that he would be at the Moravia all day; but that he would be busy and would prefer to see me later.”
“Yet you went to the Moravia?” queried Lewsham.
“Yes,” acknowledged Harry, “because another matter came up this morning. I wanted to talk with him about my passport. But Cranston was not at the Moravia.”
“How did you happen to come here?”
“I made inquiry to the Moravia. They suggested that I communicate with Scotland Yard and ask for Inspector Delka. I did so and learned that he was here.”
Harry’s tone was a grave one that showed deep concern. It passed muster, especially because the others began at once to wonder about The Shadow’s whereabouts.
“The last we heard of Cranston was when he left Craybaw’s,” mused Lewsham. “But if anything has happened to him, we can now trace from Charing Cross.”
“Not necessarily,” put in Delka, with a shake of his head. “The call could have been from somewhere else. It came at midnight, you say, Mr. Vincent?”
Harry nodded.
“Why was Cranston at Charing Cross as late as midnight?” queried Delka, suddenly. “His train arrived there long before that. Unless he missed it and took a later one.”
“Cuthbert would have mentioned it,” remarked Sir Ernest, “Or he might have brought Cranston back with him.”
“And there would be no reason for Cranston staying at Charing Cross,” insisted Delka. Then, to Lewsham: “This may be another development, chief.”
Harry was relieved when Lewsham shook his head.
“Forget it for the present, Delka,” decided the chief constable. “Since Cranston said for Vincent to wait until evening before calling at the Moravia, there is a chance that Cranston had alternate plans for the day. Let us wait until nightfall before we press this matter.”
HARRY had apparently established himself because of his claim of friendship with Lamont Cranston. No one urged him to leave, so he quietly seated himself beside Delka. Lewsham made a cryptic comment to Delka.
“Remember about Craybaw?”
Delka nodded. Harry smiled to himself. He understood that Lewsham meant for Delka to watch Craybaw. There was no need for Harry to bring up the emergency warning.
The door of Craybaw’s office opened and a small group of men filed out. These were evidently the directors. One remained and shook hands with Sir Ernest Jennup. He was a portly, pleasant-faced man, who wore pince-nez spectacles. Craybaw introduced him to Lewsham.
“Mr. Thaddeus Blessingwood, the comptroller for Rudlow, Limited.”
Blessingwood bowed pompously and adjusted his spectacles. He talked with Sir Ernest and it became evident that Blessingwood was the official who acted as contact with the banking house that had financed Rudlow’s. Finally, Sir Ernest ended the conversation and pointed to the money bag in the corner.
“Two hundred thousand pounds are waiting,” he stated quietly. “It would be best to place the funds in the vault.”
“At once!” agreed Craybaw. “Through my office, please. The vault connects with it.”
Blessingwood went with Craybaw, followed by the guards who carried the money. Lewsham also went to see the installation of the funds. Delka spoke to Harry.
“I am lunching with Mr. Craybaw,” stated the Scotland Yard man. “If you wish to remain in case we hear from Mr. Cranston, you are quite welcome to come with us.”
“Thank you,” rejoined Harry. “I appreciate the invitation.”
When Craybaw returned, Delka introduced Harry and mentioned the matter of The Shadow’s absence.
Craybaw started to express concern regarding his friend Cranston; but Delka assured him that all was probably well. They went out to lunch, leaving Chief Lewsham in charge of the office. Sir Ernest and Blessingwood went out together.
It was after one o’clock when they completed luncheon. Harry had gained a chance to chat with Craybaw; he noted that except for short spells of absentmindedness, the man seemed to behave in normal fashion. It was plain, however, that Delka intended to stay close to Craybaw.
Craybaw had taken Delka and Harry to a restaurant close by Piccadilly Circus. When they came out, they walked through Piccadilly and Craybaw stopped in front of a shop that advertised travel goods. He suggested that they enter.
“I am going to the Riviera,” Craybaw remarked. “I need a rest for my health. New luggage is the first requisite toward correct travel. I shall need a steamer trunk and a stout pigskin kit bag.”
Craybaw purchased both articles. He ordered the salesman to ship the steamer trunk to Tunbridge Wells. The pigskin kit bag, however, was another matter.
“A masterpiece in leather!” expressed Craybaw. “We shall carry it with us in the motor cab. Sir Ernest shall see it; and Blessingwood, also. Gad! They will be envious!”
WHEN they reached Rudlow’s, Craybaw strode into the conference room and proudly exhibited the pigskin bag. He classed it as a bargain at ten guineas, a price which Sir Ernest agreed was reasonable.
When Craybaw went into his private office, he carried the bag with him and placed it on a corner table, beyond his desk.
Delka had made inquiry to learn if word had come from Lamont Cranston. Learning that none had been received, the C.I.D. man made a suggestion to Harry Vincent. He decided that it would be best for Harry to go back to the Addingham Hotel and await word there.
Before Harry could produce a pretext for remaining at Rudlow’s, an interruption came to save him the trouble.
Two Scotland Yard men entered the conference room, accompanying a stocky, nervous-faced man who was carrying a satchel. Introduced to Sidney Lewsham, this arrival expressed relief. He was glad to see the chief constable of the C.I.D.
“I am Dawson Canonby,” he explained. “My own conveyance is outside; and my guards were with me. I left them on the street when I met your men, chief.”