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

pleased by it, even though Judge Noy had not been.
For a short while, Bursard and Wrightley spent time shaking hands with
visitors. After the crowd was gone, Bursard looked about for The Shadow. Not
seeing him, he went back into the private office, then came back and
questioned
the secretary, who was standing beside the outermost door.
"Where is Mr. Cranston?" demanded Bursard. "Did you see him go out?"
"No, sir," replied the secretary. "He might have been with those people
who just left here; but I'm not sure -"
"It's your business to notice people," interrupted Bursard. Then, spying
Wrightley close at hand, he asked:
"What became of Mr. Cranston?"
"He said something about returning to the hotel," replied the mayor. "I
think he had an appointment. I brought him here very abruptly, never thinking
to ask him if he intended to be busy."
"That's all right then," decided Bursard. "He must have gone out with the
crowd. Well, Mr. Mayor" - Bursard stopped, noting the secretary close by -
"I'll call you tomorrow night, before the broadcast."
Wrightley caught the significance of the remark. With a pompous bow, he
went out to the elevator and descended. He reached the street, entered his car
and rode away. Swinging the block, the big machine passed the front of the
darkened office building, made a couple of necessary turns, then rolled along
a
one-way street which happened to be on the other side of the same edifice.
Mayor Wrightley had not noticed a side entrance on the far side of the
office building. He would have been puzzled if he had taken a backward look
from his big car. Scarcely had the automobile passed before a tall figure
stepped into view and watched the departing car. Mayor Wrightley, had he seen
the standing form, would have recognized Lamont Cranston.
For some reason known only to himself, The Shadow had come to this
obscure, deserted spot. With Wrightley's car gone, the way was clear.
Strolling
along the street, The Shadow came to a lighted corner. He waited there until a
cab came along. He boarded the tax and rode to his hotel.
Later, a soft laugh whispered through the darkness of The Shadow's room.
Its tone carried a strange significance that seemed to deal with Intimidation,
Incorporated. Tonight, The Shadow had begun a campaign that boded ill for the
supercrook. By tomorrow night The Shadow's plans should bring results.
Yet, in his purposes, The Shadow was meeting a game with many angles. The
unforeseen might enter before he achieved his goal.


CHAPTER IX

TRANSFERRED FUNDS

WHEN morning came, The Shadow had breakfast and remained in the lobby of
the Dorchester House. Quietly seated near the desk, he had the air of a person
who expects a telephone call. It was ten o'clock when a boy paged Mr.
Cranston.