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

Responding, The Shadow went to a telephone.
The call was from Newell Radbourne. The financier was speaking from his
residence. His voice, noticeably shaky, expressed the urgent request that Mr.
Cranston would call on him at once.
Soon, The Shadow arrived at Radbourne's. He was ushered into the
financier's study, where he found the gray-haired man at a desk. Radbourne had
risen late; he was still attired in a dressing gown. His hand was unsteady as
he passed a letter across the desk.
It was the letter that The Shadow had mailed last night, signed with the
name "Intimidation, Incorporated." Eying it in Cranston's calm fashion, The
Shadow acted as though he had never seen the letter before. When he had
finished reading it, he placed it on the desk, and looked at Radbourne with
serious expression.
"A new demand," quavered Radbourne. "This time, I am to pay two hundred
thousand dollars in cash; and you, Mr. Cranston, are to be the recipient. I am
to announce that I have bought the rights to the Oriental exhibit."
"But I received that concession gratis!" objected The Shadow. "Why should
I take such a sum for it?"
"You don't understand!" exclaimed Radbourne. "It is a pretext; a plot
like
those that went before. Yesterday, I saved two hundred thousand dollars, by
winning in court. Intimidation, Incorporated, knows it. He wants me to pass
that amount along, to save my life. The money will not be yours; you, too,
will
be threatened, later."
The Shadow eyed the letter; then remarked:
"I take it that you have not mentioned this to any of the other committee
members."
"Read that line near the bottom," explained Radbourne, pointing. "It
states expressly that I am to speak to no one until I have completed my
transaction with you."
With that, Radbourne arose, half tottered to a safe and opened it. He
brought out bundles of crisp bank notes, all in thousand-dollar denominations.
He passed the money to The Shadow.
"I sent to the bank," declared Radbourne. "I had the money brought here.
Take it, Mr. Cranston. Relieve me of the danger that threatens me."


RADBOURNE'S tone was a plea. The Shadow carefully separated the bills
into
thick bundles and stuffed them into various pockets. A look of immense relief
was reflected from Radbourne's ashen face. With trembling hand, the financier
picked up the letter, intending to toss it in the fireplace.
"Wait!" The Shadow stopped Radbourne with a gesture. "You have already
violated one term. You should have destroyed the letter before I saw it."
"But you already know about Intimidation, Incorporated."
"Of course. Therefore, since I have seen the letter, there is no reason
why others should not see it also. Others such as Bursard, Wrightley and
Clewiss."
Radbourne nodded his agreement. Folding the letter, he carefully placed