"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 065 - The Chinese Disks" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

to refuse an interview when Joe Cardona demanded it. They preferred to answer the detective's
summons; then try to bluff it out.

Exactly what Duff Corley was attempting. But it didn't go with Joe Cardona. His ultimatum delivered, the
detective watched the twitch of the gangster's lips and waited. Duff's nervousness increased.

"Honest, Joe" - it was all whine, no snarl - "I don't know nothin' about what you're askin'. You say
there's been guys duckin' out an' not showin' up again. Well - I ain't one of 'em, or I wouldn't be here.
That's sensible, ain't it? There ain't nothin' I can tell you about guys that I don't know."

"Spider Mertz was one of them," put in Cardona, with a growl. "You saw him a few nights ago."

The statement jolted Duff; but the rat-faced fellow recovered quickly. Once again, he tried a whine to
cover up his bluff.

"Spider Mertz? I ain't seen him." Duff's tone became pleading. "Honest, Joe. I ain't seen Spider for a
couple of weeks. Not since -"

"Not since he ducked out of sight, eh?" demanded Joe as Duff caught himself in the midst of a damaging
statement. "That's what you were going to say, wasn't it, Duff? Well - that just proves one thing. You did
see Spider Mertz."

"Honest, Joe -"

"I'll tell you where you saw him. Down at Red Mike's. That's why I brought you here. Spider talked to
you, Duff. You're going to tell me what he said."

SILENCE. Joe Cardona smiled coldly. He had scored a point; he had the opportunity to follow it with
another stroke. The detective edged one elbow to the desk. Leaning forward, he gazed squarely at Duff
Corley.

"The dragnet's been working," informed Cardona. "Sometimes it brings in good results. This time we
hooked a couple of squealers who tried to put themselves in right. They talked. About those silk
warehouse robberies. Jobs that were pulled last month. I learned a bit about you, Duff."

The mobster began a snarl. He stopped short, realizing that talk might mean new trouble. Joe Cardona
resumed, in cold tone.

"Maybe I'm not going to use what I found out," stated the detective. "You weren't in those jobs as heavy
as you might have been. Six months over on the Island wouldn't do you much harm, Duff; but it wouldn't
do me any good. Might be a lot of trouble, pinning it on you. Sometimes squealers get closemouthed,
when the pinch hits. I figured you might be more useful where you are."

Duff winced. Cardona's tone had become mild as well as speculative; but the mobster saw the threat
beneath. Duff knew that Joe could pin the goods on him. He knew that the detective would do it, in spite
of the details involved, unless he found a reason to let the matter ride. Joe was leaving it to Duff to
provide the reason.

"You mean you'll lay off them warehouse jobs?" asked the crook, leaning forward. "You'll let the other
mugs take the rap without draggin' me into it? If I -"