"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 059 - The Crime Master" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

big holdup -"

Cardona waved the boy aside. The gamin persisted for a dozen steps; then gave up the idea of a sale as
the detective turned a corner and swung into the entrance of a building.

A few minutes later, Joe Cardona came into a quiet anteroom. A girl spied him from a desk in the corner;
she motioned for him to enter the inner door. Cardona followed through. He came into a large,
sumptuous office where a man was seated behind a glass-topped desk.

Cardona approached and stood waiting. The man looked up.

"Good evening, commissioner," said Cardona.

"Hello, Cardona," came the brisk response. "I want to talk to you. Pull up a chair."

The detective obeyed. A few seconds later, he was sitting face to face with Police Commissioner Ralph
Weston, chief official of the law in New York city.

Cardona and Weston were men of determination. In that one respect, they were alike. Otherwise, they
differed. In contrast to the stocky, taciturn detective, Commissioner Weston was tall and of heavy build.
His full face, with its pointed mustache, was keen and dynamic. Weston was a pusher who demanded
action.

Often, the commissioner had berated Cardona for lack of gusto. On other occasions, he had waxed
enthusiastic while the detective had remained critically silent. This latter mood was present to-night. After
a few moments of silence, Weston burst forth with commendation.

"You deserve credit, Cardona," he declared, "for your work this morning. I have read your report in
detail. The manner in which you and your squad beat off that raid upon the bank truck pleased me
immensely."

The commissioner arose from his chair. He paced heavily across the room; then returned and faced the
detective.

"Moreover," added Weston, "the way you used that single clue was excellent. Crime has been rampant
of late, Cardona. You have dealt a decisive blow; the first stroke, I hope, in our campaign against the
present epidemic."

The commissioner resumed his chair. He leaned with folded arms upon the desk. Cardona was about to
speak; he paused, while the commissioner made another utterance.

"That is why I called Inspector Klein," stated Weston. "I told him to send you here. I wanted to
commend you personally - and also hear your opinion on the situation as it now stands."

ORDINARILY, Joe Cardona felt ill-at-ease in the commissioner's presence. Weston's manner -
overbearing at times - was difficult for him to meet. But when Weston loosened and gave commendation,
Cardona's inferiority complex faded. Facing the firm-visaged commissioner, the detective suddenly
voiced a challenge.

"You want my opinion?" he inquired. "You want it straight? All right, I'll give it. First of all, you can wipe