The Gray Mask
by Wadsworth Camp (1879–1936)
- Free to read
- 4 hours to read
- 21 chapters
- Reading level: 6th grade
"The Gray Mask" by Wadsworth Camp is a novel written in the early 20th century. It follows the story of Garth, a young detective working at a police bureau, who is thrust into a dangerous undercover operation involving a faceless criminal known as Simmons and an elusive gang led by the notorious Hennion. The plot intertwines themes of crime, deception, and a love interest that complicates Garth's dangerous assignments. The opening of the book introduces Garth as he receives a summons from his superior, the inspector, who tasks him with a high-stakes mission that involves impersonating Simmons, a man infamous for wearing a gray mask to conceal his horrific facial injuries. The inspector reveals that Simmons is expected to meet with the Hennion gang, and Garth must step into this perilous role to gather intelligence. Meanwhile, an emotional undercurrent develops as Garth’s relationships, particularly with Nora, the inspector's daughter, surface, highlighting personal stakes against the backdrop of his dangerous job. The scene sets the stage for a tense narrative packed with intrigue and potential romantic conflict.
- Detective and mystery stories
- Adventure stories
- Detectives
Read the opening
Chapter I
GARTH IS SHOWN A GRAY MASK
Garth, in response to the unforeseen summons, hurried along the hallway and opened the inspector's door. As he faced the rugged figure behind the desk, and gazed into those eyes whose somnolence concealed a perpetual vigil, his heart quickened.
He had been assigned to the detective bureau less than six months. That brief period, however, had revealed a thousand eccentricities of his chief. The pudgy hand beating a tattoo on the table desk, the lips working at each other thirstily, the doubt that slipped from behind the veil of the sleepy eyes, were all like largely printed letters to Garth—letters that spelled delicate work for him, possibly an exceptional danger.
"Where were you going, Garth?"
"Home. That is—"
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About this edition
This free edition of The Gray Mask by Wadsworth Camp comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #33230, released 2010-07-22. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Crime, Thrillers and Mystery, Novels.
Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).
