"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 101 - The Gray Ghost" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

“I was driving out on Long Island,” replied the visitor, quietly. “Coming into the city, I took this route
through Holmwood. I saw your car; I chanced to remember that Holmwood is within the New York City
limits.”

“So you scented crime. You were right, Cranston. There was murder here to-night. The owner of this
house was slain. His name was Hiram Windler.”

“And the murderer?”

“Appears to have been a rogue who styles himself the Gray Ghost. Be seated, Cranston, and you can
listen to the summary which we are just beginning.”

To Commissioner Weston, Lamont Cranston was simply a friend who had shown some interest in the
solution of criminal cases. Actually, this personage who posed as Cranston was The Shadow. He was a
master sleuth who moved by night, bringing disaster to men of crime.

TALK of the Gray Ghost had brought The Shadow to Long Island. But he had traveled farther than
Holmwood, in his quest for signs of the phantom crook. Passing through Holmwood on his return
journey, The Shadow had stopped in a store. He had heard discussion of Windler's murder, for the news
had already spread.

These were matters that The Shadow did not mention to his friend the commissioner.
Weston had motioned to Cardona. The acting inspector brought two persons into the room. Both
appeared to be servants. One was a Chinese cook; the other a Swedish housemaid. The Shadow
recognized that they had already been quizzed.

“Hiram Windler had no family,” summarized Weston. “These are the only other occupants of the house:
Lee Wan, the cook; Lempe, the maid. However, until a week ago, Windler had a secretary, a young
man named Culden.

“Windler owned property. It was Culden's task to classify those holdings and to arrange matters
pertaining to their sale. Culden finished the work six days ago. To-night, for some unknown reason, he
returned.”

“I bane see heem,” announced Lempe, nodding. “Ya, I bane see Mr. Culden in room right here. I tank
he come for dinner.”

“That was at six-thirty,” stated Weston. “Lempe was the only one of the two servants who saw Culden.”

“Me cookee flied lice,” chimed in Lee Wan. “Busy in kitchee. No see Mr. Culden halfee past six.”

Weston silenced the cook with an impatient gesture. Continuing, the commissioner stated:

“Windler remained downstairs after dinner. At eight o'clock, he went upstairs to his bedroom, since he
always rested at that hour. Lee Wan had opened the door of the back stairs. He heard a shot;
accompanied by Lempe, he found Windler dead.

“The local precinct was notified by these servants. The investigation showed an opened window; the
murderer had evidently jumped to the ground. The earth in a flower bed is scuffed; but bears no trace of