"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 117 - Vengeance Is Mine" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

all his transactions in a manner which was entirely aboveboard."
The Shadow nodded his agreement.
"Six years in the security business," added Weston. "A high financial
rating. Reputed capital more than one hundred thousand dollars. That sums
Zanwood's position. Humph! What fault can those old blatherskites find with
that? Won't they recognize a man's merit unless he is worth more than a
million
dollars?"
"Their criticism of Zanwood was not unfounded," replied The Shadow. "Some
of them knew facts concerning his earlier career; details that were learned
too
late to prevent Zanwood becoming a life member of the Cobalt Club."


WESTON sat down immediately. He realized that he had missed something
important. In tracing Zanwood's past, Weston had been so impressed with the
six-year record that he had gone no further back, except to check the fact
that
Zanwood had once been a security salesman.
"Zanwood once sold bonds," declared The Shadow, confirming Weston's
knowledge. "He worked for a good house; but he handled freak issues on the
side."
"And swindled people with them?" demanded Weston. "Did you learn that,
Cranston?"
"No. Oddly, Zanwood was very weak at the game. People seem to have dodged
him very easily; which makes it all the more odd."
"Makes what more odd."
"The fact that Zanwood suddenly acquired enough money to go into business
on his own."
Weston began to rub his chin. It was odd, when he came to think of it. He
had pictured Zanwood as a man who had put his savings into a new business. The
more that he considered it, the more he realized that the jump had been too
great.
"Zanwood had a friend who also sold wildcat stocks," added The Shadow.
"The friend's name was Dudley Mook."
"Then that explains it," decided Weston. "Mook became Zanwood's silent
partner."
"Not at all," declared The Shadow. "Mook merely adds to the puzzle. He
was
as broke as Zanwood; but when Zanwood suddenly branched out on a big scale in
the security business, Mook also took up large enterprises of his own. He went
to the Middle West; bought out controlling interests in some important
patents.
He has held them ever since."
Weston was totally amazed. Particularly because Zanwood's records
contained no mention of a man named Dudley Mook. The obvious answer was that
Zanwood and Mook had promptly parted after they came into money - for the very
reason that their mutual prosperity would have been twice as suspicious.
An attendant entered the lounge room, paging Mr. Cranston, who was wanted
on the telephone. Weston sat alone, staring from the window. He was pondering