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

Hylap was not coming to the office of the K and R, but The Shadow was.

Chance, however, was due for a sudden change. Crooks had chosen their course; their intended victim
was the one who was to alter it. As the stopping local blared for the final crossing, a surge of thoughts
drove Barbridge to desperate action.

A double murder! The thought was overwhelming to Barbridge. He pictured Hylap - believing him still
alive - walking into this very trap. He could fancy Zullick chuckling as he and Soup performed a double
killing. Thoughts of his own danger had not inspired Barbridge to action; but his imagination concerning
Hylap did.

WITH a fierce cry, Barbridge launched himself forward, squarely upon Soup. Zullick snarled as he
leaped in to intervene. Barbridge had caught Soup's wrist; the henchman was going down beneath his
drive. Then, as Zullick arrived to wrestle with the grapplers, a muffled report sounded from the floor.

Barbridge's body went limp in Zullick's grasp. The railroad president rolled upon his back. Soup, his gun
still smoking, came up on hands and knees to stare at the body. Zullick delivered a triumphant snarl.

"You've croaked him, Soup," rasped the crook. "Well, that ends the argument. He thought I was bluffing
about Hylap."

"Weren't you?" queried Soup, coming to his feet. "Say, Foy, I was thinking that maybe -"

"You're as goofy as Barbridge," interrupted Zullick. "Sure I croaked Hylap. Dosed his coffee while he
was eating dinner on the limited. He's not coming here, but we're going."

"Sure thing," acknowledged Soup. "We'd better scram by that side door, Foy. Listen - I'm pulling out
with you. I've got it fixed so it won't look phony. I'm supposed to have left for another job."

"You've got the pay-off fixed? Ready to cover this mess!"

Zullick nudged toward Barbridge's body as he spoke. Soup nodded. Zullick motioned toward the side
door. Together the murderers made their way from the shack. They ducked to the rear of the office
shack and scrambled up the deserted slope.

The locomotive of the local was clanging its bell as the train jolted slowly into the station. Faint dawn had
streaked the sky; the loungers at the depot were looking over the cars as the train rolled in. But they saw
no sign of anyone riding blind-baggage.

The Shadow had dropped from the train just after it had made the final crossing. From his perch between
cars he had spied the light in front of the office shack.

AS he approached the front of the building, The Shadow could not see the door on the side, due to a
slight angle of his course. He had failed to witness the departure of Zullick and Ramsted. The Shadow
then reached the door through which murderers had departed.

The door was unlocked. The Shadow opened it and entered. He saw Barbridge's body immediately. He
stooped to examine the dead man's form. The Shadow could smell the pungent aroma of powder. One
bullet only had slain Gifford Barbridge. The shot had been fired only a few minutes before.