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

passes me the high sign."

"Yeah?" Cardona was gruff. "Listen, Duff, this kind of talk would sound natural from a hop-head. But
from you it sounds like a stall. I'm telling you -"
"I can prove it, Joe!" broke in Duff, anxiously. "I ain't stallin'. There's some guy goin' to walk in on me at
Red Mike's. Look at this - then you'll know I'm talkin' straight."

Fumbling in his pocket, the crook produced a small, roundish object. He dropped it on the battered
table. It fell with a dull clank. Cardona picked it up. The object was a grayish disk of metal, slightly
smaller than a half dollar. Engraved upon its center was a Chinese character.

"Who gave you this?" demanded Joe. "Spider Mertz?"

"Yes," responded Duff. "Spider's got one like it. He gave me this one. The guy that's goin' to meet me at
Red Mike's will have one. That's how I'll know him."

"Did Spider tell you why they use a disk like this?"

"No. An' I've been wonderin' what the thing is. It ain't a Chinese coin - I've seen Chinese coins, an'
they've got square holes in the center of 'em. I don't know what this thing means, outside of it servin' for a
high sign."

Cardona was examining the disk. He placed it on the desk, laid a thin sheet of paper over it and took an
impression by rubbing the paper with a pencil. Lifting the paper, he tossed the disk back to Duff.

"Keep it," ordered the detective. "Go down to Red Mike's. Contact the fellow that comes there. Go
where he tells you. But tip me off, the first chance you get. Understand?"

"But Joe - maybe the big shot will get wise -"

"Leave that to me. Whoever I send around there won't be too close. But remember" - Joe was rising as
he spoke - "play on the level with me. Or -"

Cardona had no need to complete the statement. Duff was nodding as he slouched toward the door. He
waited for Cardona and watched the detective open the barrier to peer into the corridor. Joe gave a
wave of his hand. Duff scurried from the little office and headed down the corridor to a secluded side
door.

OUT on the street, Duff Corley looked about nervously. He seemed to fear the presence of skulkers in
the dark. Hands in coat pockets, the scrawny mobster was using one to grip the disk that Cardona had
returned to him. That disk was the talisman that could protect him in the underworld and with the law as
well.

A man was approaching. Duff slunk into the darkness and saw the arrival enter the side door that he had
left. He caught a glimpse of the man's face and recognized him as Clyde Burke, a newspaper reporter
who frequently visited the underworld. Relieved, Duff shambled hastily away.

Meanwhile, Clyde Burke had entered the corridor. He strolled past the office - now darkened - where
Cardona had held conference with Duff Corley. He turned into a wider passage and there stopped
before a lighted doorway. Looking in, Clyde saw Joe Cardona seated at a desk. The reporter entered.