"020 (B026) - Death in Silver (1934-10) - Lester Dent" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

"I should have turned the matter over to the Silver Death's-Heads, as the newspapers so dramatically term them," retorted the other.



The mention of Silver Death's-Heads had the effect of nearly causing Winthrop to drop the receiver. The man peered about as if fearing some grisly menace might be in the room with him. Then he got a grip on himself.



"There is no more to be said," he stated grimly. "I have given you a chance to disband the Silver Death's-Heads and destroy the - the thing that was built in my shipyard. You refuse. Therefore, I shall now call the police."



His voice, charged with desperate excitement, had risen to a yell that had considerable volume. The sound penetrated through the door of the private office, despite the precautions which Winthrop had taken in stuffing the keyhole and covering the crack at the bottom of the door.



Clarence Sparks, at his desk outside, heard. He hesitated, eying the door, longing to listen. Then, summoning his nerve, he shuffled over to the water cooler, which was beside the door of the private office. He could listen from there.



Inside the office, Winthrop screamed, "I am going to call the police and tell them all about the Silver Death's-Heads! I am going to tell who is apparently their chief, and I am going to tell whose devilish brain is actually behind all of this!"



The coarse whisper over the telephone said, "I can promise that you will not live long enough to do that, Winthrop!"



Winthrop was squirming, perspiring. He shouted, "Killing me will not help! I have a blueprint showing some of your working methods. I have given it to my secretary. And I have told her the whole story."



"You are bluffing, Winthrop," snarled the whispering one.



"I am not!" Winthrop barked. "My secretary will give the whole story to the police if anything happens to me. Now, will you give this all up, or do I call the police?"



"Call them if you dare," suggested the other.



"I will!" Winthrop banged the receiver up.