"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 153 - Murder For Sale" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

flash of vengeance, with indignation. It wasn't the sort of look that would
come with thoughts of crime. The girl, Harry was sure, had chosen the same
quest as himself. She was in search of Rulland's murderer.
Harry's own eyes must have registered the sincerity of his answer. His
clean-cut features carried a frank expression, and Harry Vincent seldom had to
convince people when he spoke the truth. For the first time, the girl's nerve
broke. She lowered her gun, as she gave a choky sob.
A few minutes later she was seated in an armchair near the writing desk,
forcing back her tears as she told her story to Harry.
"My name is Isabel Rendolf," she declared. Then, frankly: "I loved Louis
Rulland!"
Harry nodded sympathetically. He had expected that statement, after he
heard Isabel's first sob.
"Lou had his faults," the girl continued, "but he kept his promises. He
told me he would stop drinking, and I knew he had. That crash of his couldn't
have been an accident.
"Today, I talked with two of his friends. That's how I learned that you
had called on them. One of them telephoned some others for me and learned that
you had seen them, also.
"It made me suspicious, coming so soon after Lou's death. That's why I
came here, instead of going to the ballroom. I had learned where you
were--through the friends I mentioned--and I wanted to make you talk."
Harry felt urged to tell Isabel why he had been investigating Rulland's
death. He knew that she would be overjoyed to learn that so powerful an ally
as The Shadow was engaged in a search for the murderer. But Harry had to
retain that information for the present.
"Be assured, Miss Rendolf," he declared, "that if I were in any way
concerned with the cause of Rulland's death, I would not be in Philadelphia at
present. As a matter of fact, I was coming into town at the exact time of the
accident on the bridge. That is how I happened to see it."
Dark eyes widened. From beautiful, expressive lips came the breathless
question:
"You saw the accident, and you believe--"
"I believe that you are right," interposed Harry. "Louis Rulland was
murdered. If I have your confidence, I am willing to investigate further, and
later tell you all that I have learned."
The declaration satisfied Isabel. She subdued her curiosity, not even
asking the details that Harry had witnessed. She started to place her revolver
in Harry's hand, remarking that she could not very well carry it to the ball,
and would therefore appreciate it if he would keep the gun for her.
At that moment, some one rapped at the other side of the door to the
hallway.
Hastily, Harry pointed Isabel to the inner room, whispering for her to
keep the revolver for the present. Picking up his own gun, Harry stepped to
the outer door just as the rapped summons came again.
Whoever the new caller might be, this time, Harry Vincent was ready in
advance.

CHAPTER V
 CRIME'S THRUST