"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 028 - The Shadow's Justice" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

тАЬBecause,тАЭ explained Boswick, тАЬlife holds nothing in store for me. What is wealth when one can no
longer work? That has been my creed, Tracy. I shall always adhere to it.

тАЬAll my business associates were older than myself. One by one they have dropped from sight. Death has
accounted for most of them. Senility has seized the rest. For the past year, I have lived with only one
hope.тАЭ

тАЬYour son's return.тАЭ

тАЬYes. Now, Tracy, that hope is assured.тАЭ

тАЬYou have heard from Carter?тАЭ
Houston Boswick nodded.

REAL elation appeared upon Farland Tracy's countenance. The lawyer had often heard Houston
Boswick speak of his absent son, Carter.

Years before, the younger Boswick had gone out to seek his own fortune. He had traveled in many parts
of the world. Indirect reports had reached Houston Boswick that Carter was doing well. But not until
now had the old man received direct news from Carter Boswick himself.

тАЬLet me become reminiscent,тАЭ remarked Houston Boswick. тАЬTragedy entered my life some twenty-odd
years ago. Directly following the death of my wife, my sister StellaтАФmy only living relationтАФperished in
a train wreck with her husband, Hugh Westling.

тАЬI raised their boy with mine. My son, Carter, and my nephew, Drew Westling, were like brothers. The
same ageтАФbut Carter was the stronger, and Drew the weaker. Realizing it, I favored Drew.тАЭ

тАЬThat was considerate,тАЭ observed Tracy.

тАЬToo considerate,тАЭ corrected Houston Boswick. тАЬCarter became obsessed with independence. Drew
became a weakling, with no initiative. The result was that Carter went away, and Drew remained.

тАЬOnly a week ago, I received a letter from Montevideo. It was from Carter. A friend of mine had met
him there, and had given him my Florida address. In that letter, Carter announced that he was coming
home.тАЭ

тАЬHow soon?тАЭ

тАЬHe has already sailed. He is aboard the steamship Southern Star. He is coming by way of Havana, and
will be here within two weeks.тАЭ

тАЬWonderful news!тАЭ exclaimed Tracy. тАЬHe will be glad to see youтАФand I know that he will receive a
glorious welcome.тАЭ

тАЬHardly,тАЭ responded Boswick, in a wistful tone. тАЬI shall not be here to greet him.тАЭ

тАЬYou will beтАФтАЭ

тАЬDead. Yes, Tracy, I shall be dead.тАЭ