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

chance. Too long a one to suit me. After all, why shouldn't we give the
contract
to Markallan? His concern is the best of all those that made bids."
"No better than Lubaker-Smythe," returned Bursard. "They offered to do
the
job for eight hundred thousand dollars less. That is why I object. The
difference is too great. Don't you see what we are up against? Where the bids
are known, we will be so badly criticized that we will have to make a
statement. Unless we make the true one - stating that we were threatened - no
one will believe us."
"We can't state the truth," declared Mayor Wrightley. "That was one of
the
provisions set down by Intimidation, Incorporated."
"Which places us in an absolute dilemma," argued Bursard, promptly. "We
are beaten either way. So why not face the menace today, instead of postponing
trouble?"
Bursard's words carried weight. Clewiss looked toward the microphone, as
though hoping that a listening crook might show some charity. Radbourne saw
the
lawyer's gaze. The financier's face became vaguely hopeful. Mayor Wrightley
sat
with mumbling lips, too troubled to observe the others. He found his voice;
began a quaver.
The mayor was starting to reverse his former statement. Preferring future
danger to a present one, he was about to cast an affirmative vote before
either
Clewiss or Radbourne could change theirs. A jangle of the telephone bell
stopped
the mayor. Shakily, he reached for the instrument.
"We have been heard!" interjected Bursard, his tone hopeful. "Perhaps the
threat will be removed. The crook may see that it is useless."
Clewiss gestured for silence. A stillness fell while Wrightley talked
over
the telephone. When he finished a brief conversation, the mayor sagged back in
his chair, then smiled.
"It was from Lubaker-Smythe," declared Wrightley. "They say that they
made
an error in their bid. They underestimated. They want to withdraw the bid."
"Ah!" exclaimed Radbourne. "They received a telephone call from the man
who has listened in on this conference."
"No." Wrightley shook his head. "They started to say something about a
letter; then stopped. However, that does not matter. We are free to vote the
contract to Markallan, on the merits of his concern. All in favor"
"Aye!"
Bursard joined with Clewiss and Radbourne in the affirmative expression.
Wrightley picked up the telephone and made a prompt call to the Evening
Clarion, announcing that the bid had gone to Markallan. The deal with
Intimidation, Incorporated, was made. To conclude it, Mayor Wrightley solemnly
burned the letter and tossed it into a metal wastebasket.