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

curtains. He mistook The Shadow for Hylap.

"Just coming to give you a call, suh," informed the porter, thinking that he was speaking to the occupant
of the berth. "We're due at the junction in 'bout twenty-five minutes. Ah'll get your suitcase, suh. Right
from under heah where Ah placed it."

As the porter pulled a small dress suitcase into view, The Shadow reached down to take it from his hand.
He spoke in a voice that was slightly querulous, a tone that might well have fitted an elderly traveler like
Seton Hylap.

"I'll carry the bag, porter," informed The Shadow. "I intend to go back to the observation car. My
overcoat is back there and I have nothing to pack. Do not disturb this berth, however. I might decide to
return."

With that, The Shadow thrust a dollar bill into the hand of the rising porter. Turning about, he walked
toward the rear of the car, carrying Hylap's suitcase.

That role of Hylap had to be dropped, however, when The Shadow entered the club car. The
conductors were still there; they would remember him as the passenger who came aboard at Falko.

Just inside the club car was a little writing desk. The Shadow saw the attendant, dozing on the opposite
side of the aisle. He stowed Hylap's suitcase beneath the writing desk. That done, The Shadow
awakened the porter by jogging the fellow's shoulder.

"Another cup of coffee," ordered The Shadow, quietly. "Bring it back to my chair."

FIVE minutes later, the conductors arose. As soon as the conductors were gone, The Shadow rang for
the porter and told the man to bring the suitcase that he had left beneath the writing table. The porter
obeyed, a trifle puzzled.
He had not recalled two bags coming aboard with this passenger. The porter found the bag, however,
and brought it to The Shadow. As soon as the attendant had left, The Shadow opened Hylap's suitcase.

Except for a few articles of clothing, the only item in Hylap's bag was a timetable of the K and R
Railway. The Shadow perused the pages of the schedule. He discovered that a local was due to leave
the K and R Junction about fifteen minutes after the Typhoon would arrive there. There was only one
station of consequence on its route. That was the town of Altamont, where the local's run ended.

The time-table listed names of officials of the K and R Railway. The president and general manager was
Gifford Barbridge. His office address was Altamont. That town was obviously headquarters for the K
and R. That fitted with facts that The Shadow already knew concerning the jerkwater line that paralleled
the Mountain Pacific.

The K and R Railway had but one present reason for existence. It served the town of Altamont, which
had become important because of a new power development. The K and R afforded transportation for
supplies and equipment that were required by the Altamont Power Company.

Seton Hylap had been on his way to Altamont. He could not have intended a visit to the officials of the
Altamont Power Company, for they were located in Chicago and New York. Obviously, his purpose
had been to meet someone who represented the K and R Railway, probably Gifford Barbridge.