"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 053 - Tower of Death" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

York.тАЭ

DOWN on the street, Luskin was looking about nervously. He spied a man standing near the curb; as
the fellow turned, Luskin spied the glimmer of a diamond stick-pin. He approached the man.

тАЬHello,тАЭ greeted the stranger. тАЬAre you from Haverly?тАЭ

Luskin nodded.

тАЬO.K.тАЭ The manтАФтАЬDirkтАЭ HalganтАФturned briskly and waved to a cab that was standing across the
street. The vehicle approached. Dirk motioned to Luskin to enter. Dirk followed.

Luskin showed no signs of trepidation. His nervousness was allayed as soon as he had entered the cab.
DirkтАФLuskin did not know the fellow's nameтАФappeared to be the very type of henchman that Mallet
Haverly would assign to the duty of delivering funds. Dirk had spoken cautiously; he gave a direction to
the cab driver in a low tone that Luskin did not overhear.

Luskin's eyes were approving as they studied Dirk. Engaged in studying his companion, Luskin did not
glance behind as the cab pulled from the curb. Hence he did not note the activity which occurred further
down the block.

An old sedan pulled away from darkness by the old Majestic Theater. A few seconds later, a rakish
touring car started from another spot. These two automobiles took up the trail of the cab which carried
Luskin and Dirk Halgan.

Back near the corner, a young man was seated behind the wheel of a coupe. His hand was on the gear
shift lever; his eyes were watching toward the curb. This was Harry Vincent, agent of The Shadow,
delegated to this duty. He was awaiting the arrival of Cliff Marsland. Harry had received a call from
Burbank. Already uptown, Harry had gained this spot ahead of Cliff.

Harry shoved the car in gear, realizing that he could wait no longer. A man, swinging from the passers on
the sidewalk, caught the handle of the door. It was Cliff Marsland. The underworld agent had arrived just
in time to join Harry. He boarded the coupe and Harry started after the cars ahead.

The coupe reached the avenue ahead. It shot across just as the light was turning. A larger coupe, coming
up the avenue, made a sudden swerve and followed Harry's car. A strange, whispered laugh sounded in
the dark interior.

The driver who had uttered that short burst of mirth was hidden in the gloom. His eerie tones, however,
were sufficient pronouncement of his identity. The driver was The Shadow.

SWIFT master of action, The Shadow had dispatched his agents to the scene immediately upon receiving
word from Burbank. His own location must have been more distant. Instead of coming up the avenue
near where the pursuit had begun, he had taken the one ahead, knowing that he might intercept the chase
should it have already begun.

Harry Vincent's coupe had passed the next avenue. It was half a block behind the cars which it was
trailing; The Shadow was a similar interval behind Harry. Watching from the wheel of his coupe, Harry
saw the taxi making a turn to the right. Reaching to the dashboard, Harry clicked the light switch twice.