"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 114 - The Strange Disappearance Of Joe Cardona" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

new murders. If they come, let us hope that we learn of them soon enough to
take advantage of whatever aid Professor Murkden may give us."
A minute of silence passed, disturbed only by the sweep and rattle of the
outside sleet. At last, Weston spoke methodically, passing Cardona a sheaf of
report sheets.
"It is unfortunate, Cardona," he remarked, "that you were away on
vacation
when these deaths began. However, beginning with to-night, you will have full
charge of investigation. These reports are copies of those supplied us by the
missing detectives. They are quite sketchy.
"You will, at least, learn something about the purple death itself, as
the
descriptions of the victims are quite detailed. I may say" - Weston seemed to
shudder as he spoke - "that the horror of the purple death is something that
can not be described with mere words. If you had seen the victims, as I have,
you would understand that fact."
Cardona received the duplicate reports. Rising, he donned a heavy
overcoat.
 WHILE Cardona was tightening his overcoat collar, the telephone rang.
Weston answered it; Cardona heard the commissioner's end of a brief
conversation.
"Hello..." Weston's brisk tone slackened. "Ah, good evening, Mrs.
Tabor...
Quite an agreeable surprise, to hear from you... Certainly, I shall be glad to
do the favor... Yes, a message to Mr. Tabor, at his studio..."
Weston wrote an address on a pad. Cardona saw the commissioner smile, as
he added:
"I understand... Yes, I shall detail a tactful man to the duty. I have
such a man right here at present..."
Hanging up the receiver, Weston chuckled.
"There, Cardona," he declared, "is an example of how results can be
obtained by going to the man higher up, no matter how slight a task is
required. The Tabors are friends of mine; socially prominent persons who live
on Long Island.
"Frederick Tabor is an architect; he has a studio here in town, where he
goes when he does not wish to be disturbed. Here is the address." Weston
passed
the memo to Cardona, added, "It is ten o'clock. Tabor promised to arrive home
before that hour. Mrs. Tabor thinks that he has forgetfully remained at the
studio. Since there is no telephone there, she called me and asked me to send
some one to the studio to remind him."
Cardona stared.
Weston saw Cardona's gaze and chuckled anew.
"It is making a messenger service out of the police department," admitted
Weston. "However, the Tabors are important people. I assured Mrs. Tabor that I
would send an experienced man who would not unduly alarm her absent-minded
husband."
Weston was still chuckling when Cardona left, but Joe was muttering to
himself when he arrived outside the apartment house. Hailing a cab, Cardona
gruffly gave his destination. Riding along, Cardona continued to fume. The ace