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

Dorchester, provided the law was not on their trail.
Soon after dusk, The Shadow left the hotel. It was not long before a hot
tip began to wangle along the criminal grapevine. A newcomer of known repute
was in town. He was "Link" Delvo, a crook who had beaten a dozen raps in as
many different States. As a hijacker, leader of a gorilla crew, and all-around
racketeer, Link Delvo had shown unusual versatility in the past.
The word passed up the line swiftly. At quarter past eight that evening,
it reached a mahogany-furnished living room where half a dozen well-dressed
thugs were in session. Lounging about, this tribe was called to order by a
hunch-shouldered, dark-faced man who glowered from behind a small desk.
This ugly individual, noted for his big-toothed grin, was "Nobby" Kilgan.
He was Sack Balban's chief lieutenant; those with him were the key-men who
handled the various rackets. When Sack was not on hand, the members of this
inner circle took orders from Nobby.
"Just got a tip-off," announced Nobby. "There's a new guy in town and
he's
good enough to be one of us. Any of you bozos ever heard of Link Delvo?"
The grunts that responded told that the name was recognized. Nobby
grinned; he picked up the telephone and gave an order to send Link upstairs.
The lieutenants stood about facing the door, anxious to see the arrival.


LINK DELVO, when he entered, lived up to expectations. He was tall,
well-dressed, smooth of manner. His face was a full one, but hardened in
expression. His eyes glinted from low-set brows; beneath his broad nose were
lips that held a set expression. They showed a permanent gloat, that came from
a peculiar twist that could have been styled a half smile. It was plain,
however, that a smile could mean anything to Link Delvo.
Out from behind the desk, Nobby Kilgan was the first to greet Link Delvo.
Nobby's big teeth showed a welcoming grin. Link's expression did not change as
Nobby introduced him to the others.
The smile remained as permanent as when it had first shown in The
Shadow's
mirror. The Shadow was playing the part of Link Delvo to perfection.
"Sit down, Link," suggested Nobby. "I hear you want to be in it with us."
The Shadow raised his faked eyebrows, as if in question. Nobby grinned.
"The news was piped to us," said the lieutenant. "You didn't do much
talking, though, Link. It was guesswork that made the little guys figure you
wanted to work for Sack Balban."
"I said that I would like to meet him."
"So I'm told. It was the way you said it that put the idea across. Well,
I'm sold, Link. Sack Balban is high man around here; but I rate second. He
leaves some things to me. Getting right guys is one of them. You're in."
Nobby did not specify in what capacity Link Delvo would serve as a member
of Sack Balban's organization. That, apparently, was something that the
big-shot would decide. The Shadow expected to meet Sack shortly, for in
reaching this lair, he had gained a full idea of how Sack's headquarters were
arranged.
This secreted apartment wherein Nobby and the other lieutenants
congregated was directly in back of the office building where Sack was