"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 005 - Gangdom's Doom" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

"How soon do you expect trouble, Prescott?" he asked.

"Soon," was the reply. "Very soon!"

"To-night?"

"No. I think I can count on a few days of grace. But after that—"

Prescott began to pound one palm with the fist of his other hand. His haggard face showed signs of long,
uninterrupted strain. He was nearing the breaking point. With an effort, he regained control of himself and
sat down on the edge of a chair.

"Fellows," he said, "I've talked too much. I did it to cover up. I thought that if I acted wise, as though I'd
been checking up on gang stuff as a hobby, no one would ever suspect that Horace Prescott was in the
racket, himself.

"It worked all right until I became foolish. It was when I began to play with rival gangs that they figured I
was giving them the double cross.

"Now I'm slated to be put on the spot. On the spot, Fellows! You know what that means!"

The other man interrupted.

"Outside of Chicago—" he began.

"It's all the same," replied Prescott. "They'll follow me anywhere. They'll get me!"

"Outside of Chicago," repeated Fellows insistently, "you will be safe. I promised you that you would be
protected, once you were clear of this city.

"You have done your part. You have given me the information I needed. You have had contact with both
Pete Varona and Mike Larrigan."

"Yes," agreed Prescott, "I know how those gangs work. I've seen too much of them"—there was
bitterness in his voice—"and when I said that the big shot, Nick Savoli, can be reached through Pete
Varona, I meant it. Pete's in with the big shot, all right."

"You are right when you say that you talked too much," resumed Fellows quietly. "At the same time, your
future safety lies in that very fact.

"I represent a man, Prescott, who is more powerful than any of these gangsters!"

"Not in Chicago," objected Prescott.

"Not in Chicago," agreed Fellows. "Not here, at present. But later" - his voice was prophetic—"the
situation may be different."

HORACE PRESCOTT seemed somewhat reassured by the quiet manner of his visitor. He looked at
Fellows inquiringly, hoping that the man would tell him more.