"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 074 - Bells of Doom" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

him if he tried to make a break.

Messler and his guests looked on with interest as the crooks backed away from the guns of the
detectives. None noted Cranston's actions - not even Claverly.

The tall globe-trotter had played his part in aiding Cardona and Markham. Quietly, he had strolled away.
He had entered the dining nook and passed from view. The Shadow had played his part as Lamont
Cranston. He was preparing - for some reason - to resume the guise of The Shadow.

"Get in that room," barked Cardona, thrusting the muzzle of his gun against Tocson's ribs. "Get in there -
the three of you -"

The detective stopped short as Tocson laughed hoarsely. The man was staring beyond Cardona, looking
straight toward the outer door of the apartment. Backing, Cardona swung in that direction. His action
was instinctive. The door had opened with Tocson's laugh.

Coming through the doorway was a new squad of three desperadoes. The crooks had worked a double
game. One crew had come through the kitchen; the other had headed for the main door. The first raiders
had been nabbed; the second group, by their delay, had arrived to rescue them.

AS Cardona and Markham wheeled to meet these new enemies, Tocson and his two gorillas pounced
upon the two detectives. Down went Cardona and Markham. The new crooks sent the guests cowering
toward the walls. Only Messler, drawing his revolver, was ready to fight in this emergency.

A gun swung toward him; the leader of the new raiders was ready to fire.

Then came the first shot. It roared from an unexpected quarter - the entrance of the dining nook. The
shot was delivered from an automatic held in a black-gloved fist. With the burst came the jeering tones of
an unearthly laugh. The mobleader went sprawling, unable to fire at Messler.

Cardona and Markham were milling with Tocson and the two gorillas. But the other pair of crooks at the
door were ready for the menace. They saw it before a single guest could turn toward the dining nook.
They knew the foe with whom they had to deal. The Shadow!

The shot - the laugh - these were the tokens of the ominous presence. The sight of a tall being garbed in
black brought frenzied cries from the crooks at the outer door. Simultaneously, the two men aimed at the
sinister figure that had appeared as if from nowhere. They wanted to get The Shadow before he could
loose new shots.

Revolvers cracked. Bullets zizzed wide of their mark; for the crook's shots came in haste. A split-second
later, tongues of flame roared from both automatics. Stabbing shots found their marks. The frenzied
gorillas staggered. The Shadow whirled.

His action was well timed. Tocson, battling with Cardona, had wrested away the detective's gun. A
revolver gained, the mobleader was making a desperate effort. The Shadow, then Cardona. Such was
Tocson's plan.
But The Shadow had foreseen attack from the corner of the room. His quick whirl flashed the crimson
lining of his black cloak. His action was not a mere turnabout. In his speedy move, The Shadow went
sweeping out into the center of the room, heading toward the outer door where sprawled raiders lay
helpless.