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

The
Shadow, viewing the scene where Sack Balban lay dead, had gained new proof of
the power that a master criminal possessed.
The Shadow foresaw the need for deep strategy in the coming campaign
against Intimidation, Incorporated.


CHAPTER VI

THE SHADOW REPORTS

THE next morning, The Shadow paid a visit to Nobby Kilgan. He found the
newly crowned king in the hidden apartment where Sack had died. Though Nobby
was pleased to see Link Delvo, he betrayed a certain glumness which was
explained when he produced a letter that had come in the morning's mail.
Nobby's letter was from Intimidation, Incorporated. It laid down the same
terms that had been given Sack Balban; but it specified no advance payment.
Nobby was to nourish the rackets that he had inherited from Sack; to deliver a
third of the proceeds when called for.
"The guy's got me licked," admitted Nobby, as he burned the letter.
"He'll
have some cinch way of making me pass over the dough. He knows I won't squawk,
after what happened to Sack."
The Shadow's expression showed no change, but the odd smile that adorned
the face of Link Delvo seemed to house a plan. Nobby noted it, with glowery
glance, and waited for The Shadow to speak.
"Sack figured who was in back of Intimidation, Incorporated," said The
Shadow, in the hard tone of Link. "His idea was that the guy who visited him
ran the racket."
"Yeah," agreed Nobby. "It was one of four birds: Wrightley, Clewiss,
Bursard, or Radbourne. Wait, Link - one of those is out."
"Hugh Bursard?"
"Yeah. How did you guess it?"
"The same way you did, Nobby. Sack dropped dead inside of five minutes
after he came from his office. Right then, Bursard was talking over the radio.
He couldn't have got to the radio station in only five minutes."
Nobby's toothy grin showed admiration. Pacing the floor, he paused to
whack The Shadow's shoulder.
"You got it, Link," approved Nobby. "You've used the old bean, since
you've been in Dorchester. You figured out a few things about the town. It's a
good twenty minutes from here over to Station MXDO. Bursard couldn't have made
the jump. But there's still three to pick from: Wrightley, Clewiss and
Radbourne. I'd like to know their alibis."
"Suppose I check them for you," suggested The Shadow: "I'll call on all
three, telling them that I'm in the market for concessions at the exposition."
Nobby gaped. The daring plan left him astonished.
"Mayor Wrightley is a handshaker," continued The Shadow. "He won't guess
I'm in the racket. Elwood Clewiss is going to be D.A.; he'll look me over, for
future reference. Newell Radbourne is a big money man. He'll listen to anybody
who talks box-car numbers."