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

radiator. Two mobsters went sprawling from the running board beside the driver's seat of the cab.

The touring car shot forward as a new driver handed it. A revolver barked an instant too soon. Its bullet
nicked the chromium of the radiator. The Shadow's automatic spoke in return. The touring car swerved,
took the curb on the far side of the street and rammed against a building.

The sedan, which had waited behind, came forward, its headlights blazing down the street. Shots burst
from The Shadow's automatics. Simultaneously, new gunfire echoed from behind the sedan. Harry
Vincent and Cliff Marsland were opening fire from their coupe.

The coupe stopped. Caught between The Shadow and his henchmen, murderers leaped from the closed
car to seek the cover of the houses, firing as they sprang for safety.

While guns barked, the shrill burst of a police whistle came from the avenue where The Shadow had left
his car.

This was the signal that produced the unexpected. Luskin heard it as he cowered in the taxicab. Realizing
that he, himself, was a man who had aided in plans of crime, Luskin uttered a hoarse scream and leaped
to the door. A moment later, he had reached the sidewalk.

A man was close by the rear of the cab. It was Burnetti. The gang leader had managed to gain this
temporary refuge. As he saw Luskin, Burnetti leaned forward and fired a quick shot that felled his quarry.
Swinging, Burnetti aimed toward the front of taxicab.

He was too late. The Shadow, rising, loosed a shot that drilled the murderer. As Burnetti's body
collapsed upon the sidewalk, The Shadow reached the spot where Luskin lay. The man was dying.

тАЬSpeak!тАЭ

The Shadow's command was a sinister whisper. Luskin responded. His lips moved feebly as they tried to
frame gasping words.

The traitor had been double-crossed. He had been duped by an offer of easy wealth. Dying, he was
seeking vengeance upon Mallet Haverly, the crook who had sent him to his death!

Mobsters were groaning in the street as Harry Vincent's coupe shot by, heading away from this zone
which police were approaching. The battle had been won. The time had come for prompt departure.
Yet, while his agents were hastening away, The Shadow lingered.

From Luskin's last words, this super-sleuth was seeking the answer to the crime that had been launched
by Mallet Haverly.

CHAPTER IV. THE SHADOW'S TRAIL
POLICE whistles shrilled close by. A siren whined as a patrol car whirled down the side street, its
searchlight playing a wide gleam. The taxicab beside the curb; the touring car rammed against a house
wall; the sedan deserted in the middle of the blockтАФthese were tokens of the fight that had been waged.

Harry Vincent and Cliff Marshland had gained the avenue. No sign of The Shadow's agents remained.
Officers, alighting from their car, found mobsters sprawled upon the paving. But they did not see the two
figures on the sidewalk near the taxicab.