"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 095 - Death Rides the Skyway" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

Mountain Pacific takes over the K and R, they'll rig it up for speed."

"And if they don't get the K and R?"

"They'll be out of luck competing with the other transcontinental lines. Three hours lost is going to be
plenty bad, when every through pike is running streamlined limiteds."

THE railroad conductor gave his head another emphatic shake. He became silent as he counted through
a stack of tickets. Suddenly he paused and examined one slip of pasteboard.

"Fellow getting off at the K and R Junction," he remarked. "Let's check this one. Where did you locate
him?"

"Lower 8, Car 3," returned the Pullman conductor. "Charged him same fare as for a berth into Ridgley.
No rate listed for the K and R Junction."

"It's not a regular stop for any through train," mused the railroad conductor, "but we've got an agreement
with the K and R in case a stop is called for. Funny how that bird knew about it. First time any passenger
ever reminded me about it."

"Maybe he was an official of the K and R?"

"He'd have been traveling on a pass if he was. No, sir, this chap was a straight fare. He said K and R;
and there I was."

"There's a local pulls out on the K and R, isn't there?"

"Yeah. To Altamont, where the power dam is under construction. Like as not this fellow is switching to
the local."

The conductor placed the ticket aside. He went on with his other details. Neither he nor the Pullman
conductor glanced across the aisle. The Shadow had completed his light repast. He was rising silently,
leaving his grip by the seat.

Walking forward, The Shadow passed the corner where the porter was dozing. He walked through the
short vestibule into the car ahead. This unit of the articulated train was the portion to which the Pullman
conductor had referred as "Car 3." The Shadow's unit was one ahead; but he did not continue on to Car
3.

Instead, he stopped at curtains that read: No. 8. This was the berth occupied by the passenger whom the
conductor had discussed - the man who was due to leave the train at the K and R Junction.

The Shadow had learned much from the short conversation that he had overheard. He knew that the
occupant of this berth must be a man who had some unusual purpose. He could be no chance traveler,
for he would not have called for the stop required by a little known regulation.

The Shadow had deliberately passed by the muffled passenger who had alighted at Falko because he
had conjectured no reason for Seton Hylap leaving the limited there. Conversely, The Shadow was
stopping at this berth because he had decided that Hylap might be its occupant.