"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 066 - Doom on the Hill" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

"How far is it from town?" he questioned.

"To Chanburg, sir?" asked Adele. "Less than two miles, sir, by the short road that comes in below the
house -"

"Then that's the sheriff," broke in Harry, as the clang came with violence. "I'll answer the door myself,
since Craven is not about."

With that statement, The Shadow's agent hurried out into the hallway. Grim as he hastened to admit the
sheriff, Harry Vincent was forming a quick theory based upon Johanna's fainting spell and Craven's
absence.

Harry Vincent was convinced that the dead man on the hill could be none other than Grantham Breck,
the absent master of this house!

CHAPTER III. NEW MYSTERY
WHEN Harry Vincent opened the front door of the house, an angry-faced man stalked in and glowered
at The Shadow's agent. The newcomer was a husky fellow. His old, unpressed suit added to his rough
appearance, while the badge that glimmered from his vest was token of his identity.

"I'm Sheriff Forey," the big man announced. "Tim Forey from down in Chanburg. Are you the fellow that
called me over the telephone?"

"Yes," responded Harry.

"What did you say your name was?" questioned the sheriff. "Vincent?"

"Yes. Harry Vincent."

Three grim-faced men had followed Forey into the hall. They were wearing deputy badges. Their gaze
was challenging on account of their chief's anger.

"What did you cut off the call for?" demanded Forey. "What happened here?"

"The housekeeper fainted," explained Harry, indicating the room where Johanna was still resting on the
couch. "I had to catch her before she fell to the floor."

"I see. Well, it broke up that description you were giving me. Where's Mr. Breck?"

"The housekeeper said that he was out. She let me use the phone to call you."

"All right. But say" - the sheriff's eyes were suspicious - "for a fellow that was in all the hurry you were, it
seems funny you left me standing outside this door. Why didn't you answer my first ring?"

"The butler was around," responded Harry, calmly. "I expected him to answer. I was in the living room. I
came to the door when the butler failed to show up."

"All right." Again, the sheriff was abrupt. "Suppose we run up to the road and find that body."

"I was about to suggest it," put in Harry, quietly. "Otherwise you may be getting more calls from tourists