"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 114 - The Strange Disappearance Of Joe Cardona" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

THE STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE OF JOE CARDONA
by Maxwell Grant

As originally published in "The Shadow Magazine," November 15, 1936.

The weird purple death menace which The Shadow battles is but a prelude
to
a more amazing event - the Strange Disappearance of Joe Cardona!


CHAPTER I

THE PURPLE DEATH

"LOOK at this, Cardona."
Fiercely, Police Commissioner Ralph Weston brandished a newspaper before
the eyes of his ace inspector, Joe Cardona. The headline, in a big-typed
streamer, read:

PURPLE DEATH STRIKES AGAIN

His swarthy face grim, Cardona received the newspaper with tight-fisted
hands. He grimaced when he noted that the newspaper had foregone the usual red
ink that it used for sensational headlines. The big letters were printed in
purple; the very hue that represented death itself.
Cardona watched Commissioner Weston pace the floor. Weston seemed cramped
for space, in this little office that was situated in his apartment. Cardona
saw the commissioner pause and stare through the darkened window, where the
rattle of an early winter sleet storm was clashing against the panes.
Beyond were the lights of Manhattan, blurred by the sweeping sleet. The
tops of skyscrapers were lost, enveloped by the swirl. The frown that showed
on
Weston's firm, square-jawed face was proof that the police commissioner was
utterly befogged by the trend of recent crime.
Cardona took another look at the newspaper. He saw a subhead in smaller
type:

Detective Missing After Finding Button Clue

Cardona grunted.
"These morning sheets work quick," commented the ace. "I didn't think
they'd get the news of Doolan's disappearance in time for the bulldog
edition."
Weston swung about from the window.
He said wearily, "Five deaths in three nights; four of our best men
missing. Lacey, Kirk, Jenkins - now Doolan. What's become of them, Cardona?"
Joe shook his head. Even his poker-faced countenance could not conceal
the
emotion that he felt. Murder was bad enough; the evanishment of every
detective