"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 043 - The Crime Clinic" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

But he scrammed again. Now I think he's comin' back."

"Why?"
"Because I seen Bennie Lizzit back in town - and Bennie was workin' in The Jackdaw's mob."

"Do you know any others in the outfit?"

"Not a one, Joe - honest. Say - Bennie an' me used to be pals. If he knowed that I was squealin' to you,
Joe, I'd get the works, sure."

Cardona eyed the furtive-faced stool pigeon. There was no question about Scoffy's sincerity. The
palefaced gangster was telling all that he knew. Joe was determined to take advantage of Scoffy's
potential usefulness.

"All right," said the detective, rising. "I'm counting on you, Scoffy. Keep your eyes open. Pal around with
Bennie Lizzit again. Find out the fellow he's working for. If The Jackdaw is back again, I'm going to
crack his mob and get him, too."

"It ain't goin' to be easy," volunteered Scoffy, with a shake of his head. "I knowed Bennie was workin'
for The Jackdaw. I was the only guy that knowed it. But I never got no hook-up on the rest of the mob.

"The Jackdaw is a silk-hat, Joe. He may use some gorillas when he needs 'em, but he ain't in their class.
He's a guy that moves high. He knows the swells, an' he works alone whenever he can."

"I know his game," nodded Cardona. "If he had stayed around long enough I would have grabbed him.
Now that I know he's back, I can get to him. But I may have to do it through the mob. That's where you
come in. Understand? Watch Bennie Lizzit."

"All right, Joe," nodded Scoffy reluctantly.

"Give me a call," ordered Cardona. "Tell me as soon as you have any new dope. Nobody knows that
you're tipping me off. Don't worry."

With this assurance to the stool pigeon, Cardona closed his coat collar about his chin. He slouched his
hat down over his eyes, opened the door, and thrust his hands into his pockets as he stalked down the
stairs.

Scoffy listened at the door. He heard the thud of Cardona's footsteps. He was glad that the detective had
gone. The interview had taken only a few minutes. Scoffy tried to convince himself that no one had
recognized the detective. The stool pigeon realized that he had taken a long chance in bringing Cardona
here.

Satisfied as to Cardona's departure, Scoffy closed the door. He stood trembling as he fished in his
pocket for a pack of cigarettes. Matches rattled as a wooden box came out in the shaky hand.

Scoffy's gaze was toward the window. Suddenly, it turned to the door. With a wild gasp, the stool
pigeon sprang to lock the barrier.

He was too late.