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

it
in the desk drawer, which he locked. Impressed by The Shadow's confident tone,
Radbourne looked for more advice. He asked:
"When shall I call the others?"
"Not for a while," decided The Shadow. "You had better play safe until
you
have done all that the letter says. It mentions that you are to notify the
newspapers regarding your purchase of my concession. I should say that noon
would be about the right time to do that."
Radbourne nodded his agreement.
"Then wait until you hear from Mayor Wrightley," resumed The Shadow. "He
will probably call you some time today. Show him the letter. Let him inform
Bursard about it."
"Why should I hear from Mayor Wrightley?"
"Because he has something to tell you about a letter that Elwood Clewiss
received yesterday in the courtroom."
Radbourne dropped back as if shot. His lips opened and closed, then spoke
the tremolo question:
"Clewiss - received a - a letter?"
"Yes," replied The Shadow. "One from Intimidation, Incorporated, telling
him to throw the case your way."
A sudden indignation brought Radbourne upward. Forgetting his fear, the
financier spoke in candid tone.
"I didn't want that verdict," he declared. "Kroot had some right to those
patents. I wanted him to fight the case through, simply because it would be
bad
policy to settle with every crazy inventor who makes a claim. I wasn't sure
that
Kroot was right until the case was well developed.
"When I knew Kroot had a just claim, I was willing to lose. I had no
antagonism toward Clewiss because he became Kroot's lawyer. Do you know what I
intend to do?" Radbourne's tone was one of real sincerity. "I am going to make
a voluntary settlement with Kroot; talk things over with him and give him what
he thinks is right. It won't be two hundred thousand dollars, though. He knows
that claim was too high."
The Shadow began to draw the currency from his pockets. Radbourne guessed
his purpose. The Shadow intended to return the money, so that the financier
could apply it toward his settlement with the inventor.
Excitedly, Radbourne came to his feet; gestured for The Shadow to put the
money away.
"No, Mr. Cranston!" he exclaimed. "You must keep the money. I must bear
the loss. The threat is real. Keep the money; sign this transfer of your
concessions." Radbourne displayed a briefly typewritten sheet of paper. "I
must
go through with the terms. I am afraid to fight Intimidation, Incorporated. My
only hope is that he - or they - will not make further demands upon me."
The Shadow pocketed the bulky bundles. Without a word, he signed the
transfer paper. Radbourne's expression showed that he had been relieved of a
great burden. The Shadow shook hands and left.