"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 083 - Man from Scotland Yard" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

all."
"That won't be no use, Joe" - Scud's whisper rose in frantic protest - "honest, it won't! It's curtains for
me, if you spring the dragnet. Too many guys would know that I might've spilled somethin' about Rigger
Luxley."

"But what if I pinch this Sailor Martz?"

"Nobody'll know nothin'. Sailor Martz never seen me aroun' with Rigger. Nobody down at Dory's joint
will know nothin' about me. But they may know somethin' about Rigger. See?"

"Does Sailor Martz talk much to guys he knows?"

"Maybe. I can't say for sure; but he's got pals down on the waterfront. He might've talked to them. An'
they ain't likely to be all for Rigger. Some of them guys might talk."

Conversation ended. In the tenseness, Hawkeye could hear Scud's breathing, coming in wheezy fashion.
The stoolie was nervous as he awaited Cardona's decision. At last, the detective grunted a verdict.

"All right," declared Joe. "it's a raid. There's been coke peddlers seen down at Dory's joint. That's a
good enough reason to grab the gang that's down there."

"Then I can slide along?" queried Scud, anxiously. "So's I can be down at the Pink Rat before you head
for Dory's?"

"Sure. Keep yourself alibied with the guys that know you. I'll need you later, Scud."

"T'anks. Joe."

Scud edged from the space beyond the house corners. Hawkeye could have touched the fellow as he
came shiftily to the sidewalk. Scud chose the direction toward the street lamp. Hawkeye listened to his
clicking footsteps.

A minute later, Joe Cardona emerged. Stocky, but muffled like Scud, the detective came along past
Hawkeye. Joe's coat almost grazed the shoulders of the crouched spotter; but the detective did not spy
the huddled form.

HAWKEYE waited after Cardona had passed. Well did he know that either Scud or the detective might
peer back after reaching their respective corners. While he lingered, Hawkeye did some thinking. His
findings gave him a single answer.

A raid was due at "Dory" Halbit's, the waterfront dive that Scud had named. The raid, however, would
be delayed. First, to allow "Sailor" Martz time to get there; second, to let Scud establish himself at the
underworld joint known as the "Pink Rat"; third, to give Cardona a chance to form a picked squad at
headquarters.

All of which gave Hawkeye satisfaction. With one hour - perhaps two - before the law took action,
Hawkeye could complete his own work and allow The Shadow ample leeway. Realizing this, the little
spotter waited a full five minutes before leaving the wall by which he crouched.

Hawkeye sneaked back to the avenue. He saw no sign of Cardona as he paced along the dingy East