Shadow of Doom Read Free

forward to stop the assailant. He too was struck with a savage blow, and fell.
    â€˜I say!’ protested Palfrey, for someone bumped into him. There was confusion, people moving in all directions, men shouting, men running, Another attendant made an attempt to catch the violent one, and this time a little fellow prevented the man from being caught.
    Palfrey saw the little fellow shoot out a leg and trip the attendant up. The main quarry got clear away and raced towards the main gates, where a car was waiting. The little fellow seemed to stay and watch events, taking his chance. Palfrey drew near him, and murmured: ‘Neat, wasn’t it?’
    â€˜What do you mean?’ demanded the little fellow, violently. ‘I didn’t do—’
    â€˜Anything,’ said Palfrey.
    The little fellow delivered a short-arm jab, nicely calculated to hit Palfrey on the chin. Palfrey moved his head and swung his left fist. He connected. Next moment he was hugging the little fellow closely to him, and a crowd had collected about them. Airfield attendants broke through the crowd. The little man was bellowing protests, he would have the law on them, he wasn’t going to be set upon, he was a most indignant citizen. Yet Palfrey persuaded the attendants that he should be taken to the Superintendent’s office.
    That was after the car which had been waiting in the road outside had been driven off, but before the excitement was over.
    The little man was a red, round-faced fellow, flashily dressed. He appeared to be sizzling with indignation, but there was fright in his eyes. The Superintendent was a leathery middle-aged ex-R.A.F. man of the kind who would stand no nonsense, not even from distinguished visitors, and Palfrey stood aside while the attendants told their story.
    The Superintendent turned cold eyes towards the little man.
    â€˜None of you saw this gentleman?’ His ‘gentleman’ was horribly derisive.
    â€˜No, sir,’ said the attendants, in unison.
    The cold eyes were turned towards Palfrey.
    â€˜You think you saw him trip up one of the attendants, sir?’
    â€˜No,’ said Palfrey, and the cold eyes looked startled. ‘No thinking about it. He did. With malice. But for him, the man who first grew violent and then ran would not have escaped. Your attendants were very quick.’
    The attendants drew themselves up proudly.
    â€˜The beggar got away,’ growled the Superintendent, and the attendants wilted.
    â€˜Half-light, determined gentlemen, no wonder,’ said Palfrey. ‘Take it from me, please, that this individual prevented your men from doing their job properly.’ Until then he had looked so mild and apologetic that his air of authority seemed to come out of a box. ‘And give me a few minutes in private, will you?’
    â€˜I insist on being released!’ howled the little man. ‘This is outrageous! I’ll go straight to the police—’
    â€˜Your truest word,’ said Palfrey. ‘You will.’
    The little man was silenced for the time being, and the Superintendent’s brows met together in a frown which was partly of bewilderment. This Palfrey puzzled him.
    â€˜Well, I can spare you a few minutes, Mr. Palfrey.’
    â€˜Dr. Palfrey,’ smiled Palfrey. ‘Thanks very much. While we’re talking, could one of your men go and look at my car?’
    â€˜ Your car? It’s all right, isn’t it?’
    â€˜That’s what I want to know,’ said Palfrey. ‘It’s the horrid sight in the corner. Mercedes-Benz.’
    â€˜Why, sir!’ exclaimed an attendant, ‘the man who got away was doing something to it, that’s why I stopped him.’
    He was excited and pleased with himself, and the other attendants were so intrigued that the little man saw a chance of running away, and seized it. He rushed to the door, pushing one attendant aside, flung the door open and raced along the passage.