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

reply was an affirmative. Swinging to the platform, the conductor waved to a brakeman who had stepped
from a front unit of the train.

Both clambered aboard. Doors slid shut; the Typhoon slid forward. Gathering speed, the streamlined
limited bent fantastically as it reached a curve. Seconds later, its rear lights had twinkled out of sight. The
Shadow's ruse had worked completely. Individually, conductor and porters had believed that the right
passenger had stepped from the train at the K and R Junction.

Had Seton Hylap been alive to leave the Typhoon, his first act would have been to enter the station
waiting room and buy a ticket for the K and R local. The Shadow, however, had no such intention. He
had stepped to a blackened spot beyond the baggage room; there darkness had swallowed him.

Depot loungers had come over to learn why the Typhoon had stopped; but the limited had left too soon
for them to make inquiry. None had seen the alighting passenger. Later, should investigation be made,
there would be a conflict of testimony.

Conductors and porters of the Typhoon would swear that a passenger had alighted. People at the station
would declare they had seen no one; furthermore, the crew of the K and R local would testify no stranger
had ridden into Altamont, the train being on the other side of the tracks.

Stooping in the darkness, The Shadow extracted blackened folds of cloth from his satchel. Gloves
encased his hands; then two fingers grasped automatics. Next, the bag itself flattened and spread out like
a knapsack. Then The Shadow affixed it to his back, and the satchel had become an untroublesome
burden.

GLIDING from darkness, The Shadow headed toward the K and R local, reached the second baggage
car, then followed it to the coupling. Rising upward, The Shadow huddled into a fixed position between
the cars. No eye would discern that motionless form.

Minutes passed. The conductor gave the cry of "All aboard!" Last to ascend the steps of the passenger
car, he pulled the bell cord. With bell clanging, the K and R local started its run to Altamont. With it rode
an unseen passenger. The Shadow was heading forth to learn the cause of murder, his purpose to thwart
the schemes of crooks. But even now, while The Shadow was riding blind-baggage on the K and R,
cross-purposes were still at work. New and insidious crime was in the making, beyond The Shadow's
reach!
 CHAPTER V. DOUBLE-CROSSERS
MOUNTAIN blackness spangled with twinkling lights. Such was the town of Altamont as viewed from
the platform of the railroad station. Small though the place was, it seemed to maintain an all-night vigil.
Dawn was not due for another hour; yet activity was apparent.

Men were on the station platform, huskies who were garbed in flannel shirts, with khaki trousers tucked
into the tops of high boots. They were clustered beneath a glow of light, exchanging jests, these early
workers waiting for their shift.

A rugged-faced man stepped up to the platform. Firm-jawed and cold-eyed, he looked over the chatting
group. Better dressed than the other men, he appeared to be someone of authority. His arrival brought
respectful nods of greeting from the men.

"Hello, men," spoke the rugged newcomer. "Any report on Number Four?"