"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 126 - Treasure Trail" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

curb.

From between the buttons of a threadbare, bloodstained coat projected the handle of a knife that was
thrust deep to the victim's heart. Above the coat collar stared a face, its colorless eyes glazed with death.

Weston knew that face. He had seen the man, alive, only a dozen minutes ago, in the lobby of the Cobalt
Club. The murdered man was Skipper Dan Cray.

Despite their masklike appearance, the features of Lamont Cranston were grim. The Shadow foresaw a
quest of coming vengeance, against the unknown killer who had murdered Daniel Cray.

CHAPTER III. PAST LINKS
A SWARTHY police officer joined Weston and Cranston in the grillroom of the Cobalt Club. Weston
had chosen that convenient headquarters to conduct his inquiry into the death of Skipper Cray. The
arrival was Acting Inspector Joe Cardona, Weston's ace investigator. Joe knew Cranston; he nodded
affably to the millionaire.

Cardona brought news from outside. The thug-manned touring car had gotten away. Though machine
gunners had failed to bag The Shadow, they had at least accomplished one purpose. Their entry, their
cross trail took pursuing police cars in the wrong direction, allowing Cray's murderer a complete escape.
The arrival of Cardona opened the next stage of the inquiry. The details of Cray's death established,
Weston turned to Cranston, to ask:

"Just what do you know about Skipper Cray?"

"He was owner of the schooner Hatteras," replied Cranston. "I took a few cruises on that old
five-master, years ago. Cray retired; the Hatteras was junked. After that, I received a few letters from
him."

"Concerning what subject?"

"Sunken treasure." Cranston's elbow was on the table, his chin in his hand, as though he thought the
subject trivial. "Cray believed that he had located an old Spanish galleon, somewhere in the West
Indies."

Weston became alert. He pictured Cray the possessor of an important secret; sufficient cause for
murder. He wondered why Cranston had not jumped to the connection. If he had noted his friend's eyes
at that moment, Weston would have realized that Cranston had long since picked the link.

It was The Shadow's purpose to preserve his identity. Emergency had forced him to act with whirlwind
speed that was hardly in keeping with the leisurely manner of Cranston. By returning to his indifferent
pose, he was reestablishing himself as the indolent clubman.

"Gad, Cranston!" barked Weston. "This is vital! Can't you see that's why they murdered Cray?"

"It might be," came the musing reply of Cranston. "Cray frequently spoke about a treasure chart that he
possessed. An old map, made on parchment; it gave the location of the galleon."

"You saw the chart?"