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

Textile.
True, the circumstances relieved Judge Noy of the menace which threatened
him; but he had already made up his mind to brave the danger. Therefore, he
was
not pleased. Pounding slowly with his gavel, he called for silence. A buzz
ended. In grave tones, the judge announced that through lack of sufficient
claim on the part of the inventor, Ray Kroot, the case was dismissed.
Intimidation, Incorporated, had scored another victory; this time through
a double-barreled threat. Reaching both the judge and the lawyer for the
plaintiff, the master criminal had gambled that one or the other would weaken.


THE SHADOW accompanied Hugh Bursard from the courtroom. Going down the
outside steps, Bursard expressed his opinion in a troubled tone.
"I can't understand it," he declared. "It looked as though Clewiss quit
cold. It puts me in a bad position, Mr. Cranston. A very bad one! I shall have
to handle this tactfully."
"On account of Clewiss?"
"Yes. On account of Radbourne, too. Don't you see what the inference will
be? People will think that there was a tie-up between the two. If that idea
gains credence, they will attribute it to the fact that both Clewiss and
Radbourne were on the exposition committee."
"And that will lead to the matter of the stadium contract."
"Exactly! I fought that mess as well as I could." Bursard paused, his
fists clenched; then added: "I wish that I had fought that contract business
to
the finish. Sooner or later, someone will have to denounce Intimidation,
Incorporated, to the public. When the time comes, I would like to be the man
to
do it."
For a moment, Bursard's attitude was one of outright defiance; then a
shudder swept over him.
"I am helpless," he admitted, wearily. "Alone, I could dare to act. But
whatever I do will involve three others. I must think of Wrightley - of
Clewiss
- of Radbourne -"
A shake of his head marked Bursard's self-interruption. The long-faced
man
placed his hand to his high forehead. The Shadow steadied him and waved for a
taxi that was on the other side of the street. Pitifully, Bursard whispered:
"Perhaps - perhaps Intimidation, Incorporated, was behind this thing that
happened today. Perhaps, in a few days, Newell Radbourne will receive another
threat -"
"Wait until then," suggested The Shadow. "Keep up your nerve, Bursard.
The
best we can do is wait."
Bursard nodded and managed a weak smile.
"My promise went with the others," reminded The Shadow, calmly. "We must
all preserve silence regarding Intimidation, Incorporated."
The Shadow put Bursard into the cab, told the driver to take him to MXDO.