"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 040 - The Death Triangle" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

to his feet, Sparkles stared in that direction.

It was then that Sparkles saw The Shadow. Tall, silent, and menacing, the black-garbed phantom stood
like a lonely sentinel, a creature of unreality amid a scene that told of imminent invasion. As a cry -
expressing both fear and amazement - came from Lorskin's lips, The Shadow's left hand turned the knob
of the door.

The barrier swung inward. A burly officer plunged headlong. At the same instant, another bluecoat
appeared at the door from the kitchen. The Shadow's hand was still in motion. As Sparkles Lorskin
cowered toward the wall, The Shadow pressed the switch and plunged the room in darkness.

Sparkles fired his revolver. He did not aim at either policeman. He shot for the spot where he believed
The Shadow stood, sensing that there was his immediate enemy. A whispered laugh, its very location
vague, was the mockery that came in answer.

New revolvers spat their flame. Both policemen had aimed toward Sparkles. Swinging wildly, the crook
began to return the shots.

Amid the staccato of revolver fire came the heavy roar of an automatic. The policemen's shots continued.
There was silence from the spot where Sparkles had stood.

Instinctively, the policeman from the kitchen advanced toward Lorskin's position. His gruff voice ordered
his companion to turn on the light. Simultaneously, a silent being edged toward the door from which the
officer had come.

On came the light. It revealed two uniformed men, one by the outer door, his hand upon the switch; the
other, staring toward the table. Sparkles Lorskin, his breath coming in convulsive gasps, was doubled up
on the floor, his revolver three feet away.

Vainly, Sparkles reached for the gun. His effort was useless. He sprawled, choking, as the policemen
leaped forward to beat him to the weapon. Cries of amazement came from the officers as their eyes saw
the jewels that were strewn upon table and floor.

Another policeman appeared at the outer door. He, like the pair already in the room, was astonished at
the sight of the precious stones. Not one of the trio who represented the law gave a glance toward the
kitchen door. Hence they failed to see the tall being in somber black, who, motionless, surveyed the
scene with penetrating eyes.

AN instant later, The Shadow was gone into the darkness of the kitchen. Picking his way past the bodies
of the fallen gangsters, the master fighter headed toward the window that gave access to the fire escape.

Stealthy in stride, The Shadow reached his goal. He was already on the fire escape when a powerful
flashlight cast an upward beam to reveal the window through which The Shadow had passed.

"Hey, up there!"

The call came from a policeman, who was standing beside the dead body of the gangster who had
toppled from the window. A figure appeared within the shaft of light. The man below recognized one of
the policemen who had gone up to Lorskin's apartment.