"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 255 - The Devil's Partner" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

He laid a large briefcase on Kilby's desk.
"I'm a man of my word," he said. "You gave me five thousand dollars to invest confidentially. I promised
you more than to double your money. I've brought you the return on your investment. Suppose you count
it."

Swade opened the bulging briefcase, began tossing packets of currency to the desk. At sight of those
packets, Kilby's eyes widened. Swade kept tossing them on the desk until there were ten in all.

Elated, Kilby picked one up. A glance at the denomination of the topmost bank note and a quick
estimate of the number of bills made him gasp.

"But... Swade... good heavens! There are five thousand dollars in just this single packet!"

"That's right."

"But there are ten packets. That makes... fifty thousand dollars!"

"I told you I'd do better than double your money."

Swade was entirely calm. But the glint in his sandy eyes deepened. He was like a fox considering a very
silly rabbit. He waited for Kilby to make some comment about the odd fact that the money was in
currency, rather than in the more convenient form of a check.

But Anthony Kilby was too dazed to notice.

"Good heavens! I didn't know it was possible to turn so handsome a profit so quickly in the stock
market. I know that you are a financial wizard, Mr. Swade. But even so -"

"I didn't invest it in the stock market," Swade murmured. "I took a little flyer in some real estate"

Kilby hardly listened.

"Now I can go ahead with the memorial project. Naturally, I'll need more money later. But this is a
splendid start! Since the city has agreed to assemble a plot provided that I pay for the equipment of the
playground, it looks as if I can go right ahead."

Simon Swade didn't reply. The cold spark in his shrewd eyes made a more noticeable gleam now. Kilby
became aware of it. He thought he knew what it meant. Flushing, he tried to stammer his thanks.

"I want to show my appreciation, Swade. You've undoubtedly gone to some trouble to do me this favor.
You must have incurred some expense. I insist that you allow me to turn over - say - ten percent of this
money to you."

"No!"

Simon Swade was no longer so friendly. A change had come over him. His voice was crisp, cold.

"Keep your money, Kilby. I want something more than a lousy ten percent from you, my friend. I want
complete obedience!"