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

mere attempt at bravado, as though he wanted to cut loose with useless shots
to
wreak his spite on a dead figure far beneath. Nobby's move did not impress the
crouching man who watched from the roof of the office building.
The intimidator pressed the trigger of his revolver, began a fire before
Nobby could make another move. The master crook had no need for further
caution. With his first shot, Nobby slumped; but the intimidator did not halt.
He pumped bullet after bullet into Nobby's sagging body. His revolver emptied,
he wiped the handle and hurled the weapon to the penthouse roof.
That done, the supercrook stood upright, shoved the ladder over the roof
edge and let it crash down into the space between the building. Turning
abruptly, he made a hasty departure into the interior of the empty office
building.


SPRAWLED on the edge of the penthouse roof, Nobby Kilgan had ceased to
writhe. His dead hands were clutching clumps of the mashed hedge. His ugly
face
was over the cornice; his sightless eyes were bulging as they stared vacantly
below.
 Eyes, looking upward, saw Nobby's dead gaze.
The Shadow was lying upon the cornice that skirted the outer wall of the
penthouse. Half over the edge, his position was precarious. Jolted by his
fall,
he seemed ready to roll outward and plunge to the street. His arms stayed him.
They had gained a secure grip.
The Shadow's left arm was over the head of a stone lion; his fingers
clutched its carved mane. His right hand was hanging hard to the lower jaw of
a
gaping granite mouth. All danger was ended for The Shadow. He had survived two
ordeals.
The first was the drop itself. The Shadow had plunged straight for the
ledge, trusting that he could gain a grip before his body rolled across the
edge. He had calculated well. His left arm had managed a hold; he had worked
his right hand into position while he clung to his precarious perch.
The second danger had come from above. Looking upward, The Shadow had
seen
Nobby Kilgan look over the edge of the roof. Badly shaken, barely able to keep
his position, The Shadow had been unable to gain a gun. One of his automatics
had scaled to the street, the other was wedged beneath his clinging left arm.
Nobby had spied The Shadow. He had seen the black-cloaked fighter's
helpless position. That was why Nobby had begun his deliberate aim. He had
been
astounded, at first, to see The Shadow still alive; but Nobby had not allowed
his surprise to stay him long.
Unfortunately for Nobby, the crook on the other roof had not gained the
same view that Nobby had obtained.
The Shadow, watching, had waited, hoping for the result that he believed
was due. The expected shots had been delivered. A master crook had disposed of
Nobby Kilgan. Looking upward, The Shadow had witnessed Nobby's death throes.