"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 112 - Death By Proxy" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

who had risen from his chair. The man was gray-haired, blunt-faced with heavy chin. But his face showed
kindliness and sorrow. His voice, though deep, was modulated.

тАЬWe have bad news for you, Owen,тАЭ announced the elderly man. тАЬIt was unfortunate that you did not
arrive home yesterday.тАЭ

тАЬWhat is it, Mr. Joland?тАЭ queried Owen, puzzled. тАЬSomething about the estate?тАЭ

тАЬYes and no. It concerns James. He died yesterday.тАЭ

тАЬAt the sanitarium?тАЭ

тАЬYes. Doctor Denburton received report that his condition was serious. I went there at once, taking Roy
and Walter with me. They were beside their brother when he passed away.тАЭ

Owen shook his head.

тАЬPoor Jim,тАЭ he said, sadly. I scarcely thought that he would go suddenly. I supposed that there was hope
for him. I am sorry to learn this.тАЭ

Owen strolled to the fire; began to warm his hands there. His cousin Roy arose suddenly and
approached him.

тАЬSo you're sorry about Jim?тАЭ quizzed Roy, in a gritted tone. тАЬYou don't seem to show it, Owen. You
haven't asked what he said before he died. You haven't asked about the funeralтАФтАЭ

тАЬEasy, Roy,тАЭ interjected Walter, rising to draw back his brother. тАЬPeople take things differently, you
know. Don't be harsh with Owen.тАЭ

Owen turned from the fireplace. His eyes showed anger; then relaxed.

тАЬI intended to ask those questions,тАЭ he told Roy. тАЬI should like to know what Jim's last words were; also
when the funeral will be.тАЭ

тАЬJim told us to remember him to you,тАЭ put in Joland, stepping between the cousins. тАЬHe kept asking for
you; said that he wanted to see you before he went.тАЭ

тАЬAnd you never came!тАЭ exclaimed Roy, hotly. тАЬIf you'd put yourself out enough to telephone here from
wherever you were, you'd have learned that Jim was dyingтАФтАЭ

тАЬI'm sorry, RoyтАФтАЭ

тАЬSorry? Why should you be? All you're thinking is that there's one less of us to share the estate. As for
the funeral, you're spared some trouble there. We buried Jim this morning.тАЭ

Owen's fists had tightened. He struggled to suppress his rage. Joland was helping Walter to calm Roy;
Eleanor came over and grasped Owen's arm. Slowly, Owen eased. When he spoke, his tone was crisp.

тАЬYou are forgetting one thing, Roy,тАЭ he declared. тАЬOne year ago, there were six of us in this house.
Eleanor and I had an older brother, like you and Walter had. We cared for Howard as much as you