"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 116 - Intimidation,Inc" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

subject discussed by them was the death of Ludwig Meldon.
"No one can prove that Meldon was insane," insisted Bursard. "He may have
had some purpose in disposing of his utility holdings. Perhaps he counted upon
Lenning to aid him in a future scheme."
"A possible theory," smiled Clewiss. "In that case, Meldon murdered
Lenning because the latter refused to go through with the arrangements."
The owner of MXDO shook his head.
"I am not sure that Meldon murdered Lenning," he declared. "From the
newspaper accounts, all evidence against Meldon was of a purely circumstantial
nature."
"The coroner's verdict was suicide, in Meldon's case," argued Clewiss,
emphatically. "I am willing to accept it."
The conversation ended as two persons entered the room. Those at the
table
looked up to see Newell Radbourne, accompanied by a tall, calm-faced stranger.
Smiling a greeting, Radbourne introduced his companion.
"Gentlemen," said the shocky-haired financier, "this is Mr. Lamont
Cranston, from New York. He arrived in my office an hour ago. Mr. Cranston is
an extensive traveler; he has contacts in every country of the globe. He
believes that he could arrange for an Oriental exhibit at the State
exposition."
Seating himself at the table, Radbourne produced typed sheets of paper
and
passed them to the committee members. Nods came from all as they read. None
observed the smile that showed on the lips of Lamont Cranston.
Though he had presumably arrived in Dorchester today, the calm-faced
personage had actually been in town for nearly twenty-four hours. Last night,
he had appeared in garb of black. Today, he had chosen another guise.
The supposed Lamont Cranston was The Shadow.
Recognizing that new threats would follow the one delivered to Ludwig
Meldon, The Shadow had mapped a strong campaign to reach Intimidation,
Incorporated. It was his belief that the crook who used that title would
strike
again, wherever he saw chance for profit.
One field that might offer opportunity was that of the State exposition,
upon which millions of dollars would soon be spent. Therefore, The Shadow had
deemed it good policy to investigate the affairs of the exposition. By
proposing an Oriental exhibit, The Shadow had chosen an excellent method.
 MAYOR WRIGHTLEY was the first to comment on the proposition that he read.
"This seems fair enough," he announced, pompously. "Mr. Cranston agrees
to
produce a minimum of twelve exhibitors, each to pay the regular rent for
space.
Since any additional exhibitors will also be charged in full, we have nothing
to lose."
"Mr. Cranston has a chance to gain, though," inserted Bursard, in the
deep
tone that he used over MXDO. "If he chooses, he can charge the exhibitors more
than the usual rental."
"What if he does?" inquired Clewiss. The attorney's tone was sharp. "That