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

Bursard was steadying as he rode away. The Shadow watched the cab as it turned
the block; then looked toward the courthouse. He saw Newell Radbourne coming
down the steps, receiving the congratulations of his lawyers.
Elwood Clewiss appeared a few minutes later. He came alone, no longer
accompanied by the inventor, Kroot. Eyes to the ground, hands deep in his
pockets, the threatened lawyer shuffled away in gloomy fashion.


THE SHADOW rode by cab to his hotel. Alone in his room, he stared from
the
window, a slight smile on his lips. Events today had come exactly as he had
anticipated. He was picturing exactly why Intimidation, Incorporated, had made
the courtroom thrust.
Among various reasons, one seemed most obvious. The master villain wanted
the two hundred thousand dollars that had been at stake today. Therefore, the
supercrook had paved the way to a coming threat. If Kroot had won, there would
have been an obstacle. The inventor would probably have accepted time-payment
terms from the textile corporation. He would not have had the full funds
available for a long while to come.
Newell Radbourne, on the contrary, had saved two hundred thousand
dollars,
which he had already counted as lost. Radbourne would have the sum available,
and could spare it. In addition, Radbourne was a man who had already quailed
before the threat of Intimidation, Incorporated.
Soon, Radbourne would find out how hollow his victory had been. His
dismay
would come when he received a new letter from Intimidation, Incorporated,
calling for the payment of two hundred thousand dollars. That letter, however,
would not reach him immediately. It seemed to be a policy with Intimidation,
Incorporated, to proceed with a cold calculation; never in a hurry.
It was upon that very factor that The Shadow had gambled. He, too, had
waited. He had given a hidden crook a chance for another thrust. Thereby, The
Shadow had gained an opportunity of his own. He was prepared to act while the
master crook waited.
From a corner of the room, The Shadow produced a portable typewriter. He
inserted a sheet of paper and began to type in deliberate fashion. The words
that he inscribed were similar to those that he had seen before. Beginning
with
the statement, "Dear Sir - ", The Shadow inscribed a letter. When he had
finished, he typed a signature in bold capital letters: "INTIMIDATION,
INCORPORATED."
Calmly, The Shadow typed an address on an envelope, then sealed the
letter
and stamped it. He stepped out to the mail chute, smiled again as he held the
letter, then let it drop down the chute. That final instant allowed the hall
lights to reveal the name and address on the envelope.
The letter that The Shadow had mailed was addressed to Newell Radbourne.


CHAPTER VIII