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

It was this fast action that saved The Shadow. For Tocson, most desperate of all the raiders, was the
surest shot of the lot. Had The Shadow remained stationary, he would have been a perfect target for
Tocson's fire. But his sweeping whirl was something that the mobleader had not anticipated.

THE revolver barked as Tocson swung his aim. Shots sped close to the moving target, but they failed to
nick the traveling form in black. Tocson's bullets thudded into the walls. Two shots were wide; the third
went high as The Shadow's form suddenly faded toward the floor.

Then came the answering report. It was a perfect shot from The Shadow's right-hand gun. Tocson,
linked with Cardona, offered a difficult target. Only the mobleader's right arm and shoulder were certain
marks for The Shadow to find.

The bullet from the automatic lodged in Tocson's shoulder. The mobleader slumped. Cardona knocked
the revolver from the fellow's grasp.

A gorilla grasped Markham's gun as his companion twisted the detective sergeant toward the floor. The
crook aimed for The Shadow. He was too late. Again an automatic thundered. The gorilla succumbed.

Then came another shot. It dropped the last gorilla as he was about to pound Markham's head against
the wall. The crippled crook rolled on the floor. Cardona and Markham, rising, grabbed their guns. They
looked for The Shadow. He was gone.

Swiftly, The Shadow had swung out into the hall. He expected reserves. He encountered them. Some
were coming from the fire tower; others from a passage that led to a side stairway. As The Shadow
appeared, gorillas stopped to aim.

Then came shots from behind them. Crooks wheeled. Cliff Marsland and Harry Vincent had separated;
each had followed one group of crooks. The Shadow's laugh sounded weirdly through the hallway as his
automatics opened their quick staccato. Gorillas sprawled and dived for cover.

One opening attracted them. This was the door to Messler's kitchen. They took it, to avoid The
Shadow's shots; to escape the fire that his agents were delivering from the rear. But this led them into a
new trap that had formed during The Shadow's fire.

Plunging into Messler's dining nook, the crooks were met by the fire of Cardona and Markham. Two
gorillas fell; the others dropped their guns and raised their arms. Surrender to the law was better than
another hopeless fight with The Shadow.

Sweeping along the hall, The Shadow had neared the fire tower. With one quick movement, he drew off
hat and cloak. He hissed an order; Cliff Marsland stepped into view. The Shadow thrust his black garb
into his agents arms. The automatics accompanied the cloak and hat.

Cliff turned and headed down the fire tower. Harry Vincent, at the end of the side passage, had also
heard The Shadow's command. He took to the stairway. The agents were hurrying back to their coupe.
The Shadow, again in the guise of Lamont Cranston, was ready to return to Messler's apartment.

He chose the door through the kitchen. Carrying the revolver that Messler had given him, he came
through the dining nook to find Cardona and Markham covering the last of the raiders. Messler and
Claverly had also drawn their revolvers. They were standing by.