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

"The Mountain Pacific may want the K and R," purred Zullick. "If they do, they'll pay plenty. It might
mean five million dollars, clear, to you, Barbridge, provided you own the line."

"And if I don't?" demanded Barbridge. "What then?"

"They'll still pay. Not to you, but to the Altamont Power. What's more, they'll pay more than they'd pay
you, because the Altamont Power could hold out - for double the sum or more!"

"What is your racket, Zullick?" Barbridge demanded.

"No racket," was the smooth reply. "Just a suggestion. An easy one, too. Let the works slide, Barbridge.
Let the Altamont Power get what they want. Nobody can blame you; it would look all right. Just forget
the stockholders of the K. and R; and pull in a cool bonus of one million dollars for yourself."

"So that's it!" Barbridge came to his feet; his glare was savage. "You're the under-cover man for the
Altamont Power! I knew they were in on the dirty deal that I've been getting! Trouble with the workers;
mistakes that took days to correct; anything, everything that caused delay and cost money! Zullick, I'll
give you my answer! I'll make no deal with the crooks you represent; and when I see them personally, I'll
give them a type of settlement they don't expect!"

"You'll never find the men you want, Barbridge," Zullick assured, in his suave tone.

"It doesn't matter who they are," challenged Barbridge. "I've beaten them already. They will have their
half million before it's due. No one can stop me. No one - unless -"

BARBRIDGE paused abruptly. His face clouded as he noted Zullick's hard smile.

"Unless," supplied Zullick, "is a good word. In this case, it means you've won out unless your angel fails
to show up. You're waiting for him right now; Seton Hylap, due in on your jerkwater local. Well,
Barbridge, you'll have a long wait for Hylap.

"Let me tell you a few facts. You wrote to Hylap and arranged a deal with him. He was to lend the half
million at interest, and with it a flock of loose shares of K and R stock. A big profit for Hylap when the
Mountain Pacific would be ready to buy up K and R.

"But Hylap had a secretary - a fellow named Danning - who didn't mind telling me all he knew. I paid him
for the information; and I watched him at the same time. I've been keeping a strong-arm squad around
Hylap's home for a couple of weeks.

"Danning did all that was required. Kept me posted on the details. Destroyed all the letters that you
wrote to Hylap. Danning did that right after Hylap left his home this afternoon. My squad was posted to
let Hylap pass; but they still kept watch after he was gone.

"Danning was rather short on nerve, so I didn't take any chances. Yes, Barbridge, Seton Hylap left
aboard the Typhoon, intending to get off at the K and R Junction. But I was aboard the train with him."
"You - you threatened him?" stammered Barbridge. "Made him go on, while you - while you took his
place?"

"Not exactly," leered Zullick. "I left the limited at Falko. I had a plane waiting; I flew in here. My ship is