.. But how did Judge Marshall know
of its existence?"
The only answer Dundee could think of was that Crain, overseeing the
building of his house, had suddenly conceived this brilliant and simple
plan, and had tipped one of the carpenters to carry it out for him.
Possibly, or probably, he had bragged to Clive or Ralph Hammond, his
architects, of his clever invention. And the Hammond boys had passed on
the information to Judge Marshall, when, after Crain's failure and
flight, the house had become the property of the ex-judge.
These thoughts rushed through his mind as his flashlight explored the
shelf through the tilted opening. The gun and silencer _must_ be here,
since they could be no place else!... But the shelf was bare except for
a small brass box, fastened only by a clasp. In his acute disappointment
Dundee took little interest in the collection of pretty but inexpensive
jewelry--Nita's trinkets, undoubtedly--which the brass box
contained.... No wedding ring among them....
In spite of his chagrin at not finding the gun, Dundee studied the
simple mechanism which Roger Crain's ingenuity had conceived. From the
outside, the eight-inch length of board fitted smoothly, giving no
indication whatever that it was otherwise than what it seemed--part of a
cheaply built wall.
Pages:
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241