Gypsy Vengeance

CHAPTER X. JERWYN STALLS

IT was midnight. Claude Jerwyn and Madame Lorenna had returned from Rupert Murnick’s. Their house stood gloomy in the middle of the quiet block.

A figure glided past a patch of light. It merged with darkness at the side of the house. The Shadow had arrived; tonight, he was choosing the entrance used by Valdo.

The lock of the side door clicked. Invisibly, The Shadow entered. The door closed; another click. The Shadow moved into the passage that led toward the stairway.

A light showed in the reading room. The door was ajar; curling smoke came from the opening. The odor was that of tobacco — not of incense. It was evidence of Jerwyn’s presence.

The Shadow reached the doorway. His keen eyes stared through the opening. They noted Jerwyn, seated in a far corner. Lorenna’s manager had drawn back a hanging curtain to reveal a filing cabinet. He was consulting folders that he had taken from an opened drawer.

Finishing one cigarette, Jerwyn extinguished it in an ash tray; then lighted another. With pencil, the manager made notations on a pad.

The Shadow’s keen eyes were on the upper end of the pencil, tracing the words that Jerwyn wrote by the motion of the rubber tip.

Suddenly, The Shadow moved away. His cloaked form faded with incredible swiftness, as it dropped silently toward the front entry. The reason for the sudden shift became apparent. Valdo had entered by the side door; The Shadow had heard the gypsy’s footfalls.

Valdo’s shrewd eyes gleamed in the dim light of the hall. Like The Shadow, the gypsy noted the open door and the curls of tobacco smoke. Unlike The Shadow, he did not choose to spy on Jerwyn. Instead, he moved up the stairs, treading softly. Jerwyn evidently did not hear him.

A DOZEN minutes passed. Again, Valdo’s footsteps were catlike as the gypsy reappeared, descending.

This time Valdo went directly to the room where Jerwyn was stationed. He entered, leaving the door half opened behind him. The Shadow, moving forward, saw and heard what ensued.

Jerwyn, hearing Valdo enter, turned suddenly, snatching up the pad that lay beside him. There was a challenge in his stare as his eyes met the gypsy’s gaze. Valdo, laughing, pointed to the chair that Jerwyn had vacated.

“Sit down,” said the gypsy. “Do not let me frighten you. What is the matter, Jerwyn?”

“Nothing,” growled the manager, resuming his chair. “You startled me — that was all. I was busy with my work. You should have knocked at the door.”

“Busy, eh?” queried Valdo. “It is time that you were busy. I have been talking with the man who sent you the five thousand dollars. He has asked me when he will know something.”

“Tell him I need more time,” snapped Jerwyn. “I’m as anxious to finish this job as he is. I know he sent me five grand — but there’s twenty more to come.”

“Thirty,” asserted Valdo, “if you can find out everything within the next week.”

“Thirty grand?” Jerwyn arched his eyebrows at mention of the larger sum. “Say — he must be in a hurry to grab those jewels.”

“Why not?” questioned Valdo. “The sooner they belong to him, the better. I tell him you are working. He say hurry. He will pay more money. He wants to know if you have found out what he needs.”

“Not yet, Valdo,” said Jerwyn, seriously. “I’ve got that list you gave me — the description of some of those Spanish gems — and I’ve been working on it. We’ve been to a dozen places, Lorenna and I.”

“A round stone of yellow,” commented Valdo, forming a small circle with thumb and forefinger. “One about so big. The kind they call a topaz. You have not seen it, Jerwyn?”

Jerwyn’s lips tightened. A flush appeared upon his pallid face as he stared at Valdo.

“You were startled, eh?” resumed Valdo. “Startled when I came in here. That is what you call odd, Jerwyn. Why should you jump? I never have seen you jump before.”

The gypsy’s teeth gleamed. Again, he made the circular sign with thumb and finger.

“So big,” he remarked. “With gold about it — hanging from a chain. A topaz — that is the name they call it—”

“What makes you ask me about the topaz?” demanded Jerwyn. “Have you been talking with Lorenna?”

“Yes,” nodded Valdo. “Lorenna, she is Romni. I am Rom. We talk when we wish. No gajo can stop us.”

Jerwyn was on his feet, his fists clenched. For a moment, he glared threateningly at Valdo. Then, loosening his hands, he picked up his half-smoked cigarette and indulged in angry puffs. Valdo watched him smiling.

“I don’t like this sneaky business, Valdo.” asserted Jerwyn. “Lorenna is working for me. The deal is between us — between you and me. Come to me when you want information.”

“And suppose you do not give it?” questioned Valdo. “What do I do then?”

“You wait.” ordered Jerwyn. Then in a pacifying tone: “Look here, Valdo. I’ve got twenty grand at stake, maybe thirty now. I want to collect it — through you. That’s plain, isn’t it?”

“Certainly,” agreed Valdo.

“All right,” snorted Jerwyn. “Meanwhile, you come along and talk to Lorenna. What are you trying to do — double-cross me? Learn what you want — and pay nothing?”

“You will get the money,” assured Valdo. “I have given you my word. Among the Rom, promises are kept — but it is not always so with the gaje.”

There was a warning in the gypsy’s tone. Jerwyn was momentarily perturbed; then, with a note of apology, he resumed an injured voice.

“I trust you, Valdo,” he wheedled. “You must trust me. I shall tell you why I did not wish to talk about the topaz pendant. Lorenna saw it — only tonight; but she did not learn where it came from.

“It was worn by a girl named Shirley Laustin. She told Lorenna that her father gave it to her. She added that her father bought it from another man. She did not know his name.

“I’ve been looking up facts on Howard Laustin, the girl’s father.” Jerwyn pointed to the files that he had taken from the cabinet. “I’ve got him listed. I keep records on anybody that Lorenna may meet when she gives readings. He’s a retired manufacturer, Laustin is; that’s all I’ve found out about him.

“We’re going up to Laustin’s on Thursday night, Valdo. The girl — Shirley — is throwing a shindig and Lorenna will give readings. Lorenna already has told the girl that the topaz pendant is a charm against bad luck. Leave it to Lorenna; she’ll do some real pumping Thursday night.”

“Very good.” nodded Valdo. “You have told me what Lorenna just said. But why did you not want to tell me all this, Jerwyn?”

“Because I’ve got nothing yet,” argued Jerwyn. “I won’t have until Thursday night. Maybe not then. That’s why I didn’t want to talk tonight. You savvy, Valdo?”

“I understand.” Valdo nodded. “You are good gajo, Jerwyn. You are good — like Rom.”

“That’s the way to talk. Listen, now, Valdo. You leave this job to me and Lorenna. Tell your friend to have his thirty grand ready — but stay away until after Thursday night.”

“I do that,” nodded Valdo.

The gypsy extended his hand. Jerwyn grasped it. Turning, Valdo started for the door. The Shadow glided back into darkness. He watched the gypsy cross the hall and leave by the side door.

Claude Jerwyn peered from the room. The cadaverous man laughed. Sure that Valdo had gone, he went back and resumed his study of the files.

SILENTLY, The Shadow edged from darkness. He followed Valdo’s path. He reached the side door, made his exit and locked the barrier behind him. A few minutes later, he was on the silent street.

A laugh amid the darkness. Whispered mockery, it revealed The Shadow’s thoughts. The master sleuth had learned much tonight, through his belated visit to Claude Jerwyn’s home.

Jerwyn had stalled. He had tried to lull Valdo into believing that all would be well. The gypsy, despite his mild leave-taking, had not fallen for the bluff. The Shadow had heard his words to Jerwyn — ‘you are good — like Rom’ — but he had seen an expression that had belied the statement.

Valdo, as he had crossed the hall, had worn a cunning smile. His gleaming teeth were proof that he had spotted treachery.

The Shadow, like Valdo, had detected symptoms of a double-cross. Jerwyn had spoken truthfully regarding Thursday night; but he had told only half his story.

What Jerwyn learned on Thursday, through Lorenna’s aid, Jerwyn would use for his own game. Rodney Casper was not the only one who sought the Spanish gems.

Cliff Marsland’s report on “Muggsy” Wagram was fresh in The Shadow’s mind. The Shadow could see beyond. He had gained the fact he needed. He knew why Muggsy was enlisting the aid of new gorillas.

Marty Lunk was the man behind Claude Jerwyn’s game. The missing mobleader was coming back, to beat Rodney Casper to his goal. Would he succeed? Or would Valdo, by guessing the full truth, enable Casper to thwart the scheme?

Those questions would remain unanswered for the present. One fact, however was definitely settled.

Rodney Casper or Marty Lunk — whichever reached the goal first — would encounter The Shadow as guardian of the Spanish gems!