"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 290 - Death has Grey Eyes" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

"I guess you really mean it, Dick," he said. "Anyway, tossing the cash
around was your idea, not mine. I haven't anything to lose."
Dick didn't notice the odd emphasis that Jerry put on the word "lose." He
simply queried:
"How have I tossed cash around?"
"By insisting on my renting this apartment for one thing," replied Jerry.
"Rigging up the new place was even more extravagant as you'll find out when
you
see it. I thought you'd really gone whacky when you insisted on my buying the
whole Petite Salon from the Steamship Bretagne."
This time the puzzled stare was Dick's.
"Did I tell you to do that?"
Jerry nodded and Dick laughed.
"It wasn't a bad idea at that," decided Dick. "I rode that scow once,
back
when she was regarded as deluxe. So I wrote you to buy the Petite Salon -"
"And I got it cheap," put in Jerry. "At auction. It was a real bargain,
Dick. Do you know I'd almost settle for the difference."
"Settle what?"
"Our little deal - or big deal, whichever it is. You didn't make that
part
quite clear."
"Good old Jerry." Laughing, Dick clapped his friend on the back. "You'll
always believe that some of my crack-pot notions will come through. Well, I
have the capital to swing them and you're welcome to your share if they come
through."
"About this deal, Dick -"
 Jerry spoke hesitatingly, then halted. Apparently he was hinting for Dick
to take up the details, but Dick didn't. Instead he went into one of his
musing
moods.
"That girl last night," said Dick. "I've seen her somewhere, Jerry. I
didn't mention her when I wrote you, did I?"
A head-shake from Jerry.
"Funny about last night, too," Dick continued. "Remember that message the
waiter brought me?"
"From Eric Henwood, wasn't it?"
"Yes. Said he'd phone me here, only he didn't. You say you've met Eric.
What do you make of him, Jerry?"
"I'd say he was a mental case," replied Jerry, "if I didn't hope he
wasn't. He seems to have some vague ideas that you were supposed to explain,
but haven't so far."
"I met him in the prison camp," recalled Dick, "before they shipped me to
the hospital. He'd been there a long time and was being exchanged because he
was disabled. I wonder -"
"About Eric?"
"About a lot of things, Jerry, but I can make it specific where Eric is
concerned. I wonder why I should remember him when I've forgotten so much
else."
"Why don't you ask him when you see him?"