"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 100 - The Man From Shanghai" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

THE MAN FROM SHANGHAI
Maxwell Grant
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? CHAPTER I. A MURDERER'S MOVES
? CHAPTER II. A DEAD-MAN'S TALE
? CHAPTER III. THE SUBSTITUTE VICTIM
? CHAPTER IV. THE YELLOW FACE
? CHAPTER V. TRAILS CROSS
? CHAPTER VI. THE MAN FROM SHANGHAI
? CHAPTER VII. CRIME'S PURPOSE
? CHAPTER VIII. THE SHADOW'S PLAN
? CHAPTER IX. THE COUNTERPLOT
? CHAPTER X. INTO THE SNARE
? CHAPTER XI. HANDS IN THE DARK
? CHAPTER XII. CRIME'S PRISONER
? CHAPTER XIII. SHATTERED HORDES
? CHAPTER XIV. MALFORT PLANS ACTION
? CHAPTER XV. THE MESSAGE AT DUSK
? CHAPTER XVI. HOARDED WEALTH
? CHAPTER XVII. A CROOK PLAYS SAFE
? CHAPTER XVIII. THE SHADOW TALKS
? CHAPTER XIX. THE SHADOW ARRIVES
? CHAPTER XX. THE CHEST OF GOLD
? CHAPTER XXI. THE LAST STROKE
CHAPTER I. A MURDERER'S MOVES
THE man by the fireplace was busy at a task. Before him, turned at an angle to escape the fire's heat,
was a low table, stacked with correspondence. The letters were at the man's left; to his right were pen
and inkwell.

The man was reading the typewritten letters in methodical fashion. As he completed each perusal, he
placed the letter in front of him, dipped pen into inkwell and applied his signature with a peculiar flourish.

The name that the man signed was Kenneth Malfort.

The crackling fire raised grotesque flares to reveal Malfort's face. Somehow, flames seemed the proper
light to show that countenance. Malfort's countenance was one that at intervals betrayed a demonish
glare. At those moments, an imaginative observer might have classed him as a satan who had chosen to
masquerade in human cruise.

Except for those intervals, Malfort's face was steady, almost dignified. His features were craggy, from his
high forehead, past his well-formed nose, to his straight lips and large chin. His profile was an excellent
one, always constant. It was only the full-face view that showed those evil flashes.
Then came a narrowing of forehead muscles that brought straight vertical lines above the bridge of
Malfort's nose. The man's eyes shone with evil glint. His lips compressed, to purse themselves into a
smileless leer. Though smooth-shaven, Malfort could have passed for Mephistopheles whenever he
allowed malice to rule his countenance.

Malfort was signing the last letter when he caught a sound that only the keenest ear could have detected.