"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 026 - Murder Trail" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

Harry had served an unknown master.

Stationed in New York, supplied with all the funds that he required, Harry Vincent constantly awaited
The Shadow's bidding. A young man of ability and resourcefulness, Harry had proven an excellent
operative whenever The Shadow had required him to combat crime.

For the past month, Harry had been free from duty. Then, shortly before noon on this very day, he had
received a telephone call from an investment broker named Rutledge Mann. That meant instructions from
The ShadowтАФfor Mann was a contact agent, who, like Harry, served The Shadow.

Harry's instructions had been to drive to this lonely spot, and to await certain developments. Harry had
arrived two hours ago. He was still waiting in his silent, darkened coupe, the lowered top being also in
accord with orders.

A rhythmic hum came from overhead. Harry became immediately attentive. He stared upward and saw a
hovering light that twinkled three times.

This was the signal that Harry had expected. He watched the moving light. The token in the sky was
different from that of an ordinary passing plane. It did not move with steady, rapid sweep; instead, it held
its position momentarily; then sidled slowly away, twinkling its occasional triplet, like a gigantic firefly
seeking for a place to descend.

Harry knew the reason for the odd behavior of the light. This was no ordinary plane above; it was an
autogyro, the type of aircraft that The Shadow frequently utilized. At the control of that ship was The
Shadow himself. That fact, Harry knew.

THE autogyro was picking a circuitous course. Harry started the motor of the coupe. He edged the car
into the road and slowly started in the direction which The Shadow's plane had taken.

Now appeared a change in the signal from above. The color of the twinkling light had changed. It was
green instead of white. That was the final signal. It meant that the ship was preparing for a descent.

Harry parked the coupe and turned out the headlights. He clambered from his car and ascended a bank
beside the road.

The autogyro's lights were hovering with design. Still flashing their green signal, they gave Harry
opportunity to head in their direction, and thus note the exact spot of the landing.
Slowly, the machine descended. Above the dim horizon, Harry could see the revolving wing that whirled
above the ship. The shape of the autogyro was blotted out as it came to earth close by the trees. Harry
was running across the field.

When the young man reached his destination, he saw a tiny glow beside the bulking shape of the
autogyro. He knew the meaning of that light. The Shadow had stepped from his plane, and was awaiting
the arrival of his agent. Harry stopped a few yards away from the invisible man who held the flashlight.
He saw the torch move; and he followed.

What was The Shadow seeking? Why had the mysterious personage of darkness dropped from the night
at this isolated spot?

Harry could make no conjecture. Little did he realize that The Shadow was following an air trail; that the