"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 160 - Vanished Treasure" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

the
jerky elevator. Highly powered for its weight, the car took a skyrocket trip
to
the seventh floor. The door stuck when the operator tugged it; but at last it
jerked open. Marcus stepped into a little anteroom that formed the entrance to
Itch's apartment.
The elevator had descended when a brawny man stepped suddenly into sight.
Marcus recognized "Croak" Lorman, the husky, broad-faced bodyguard who was
constantly with Itch Fendel.
 Croak greeted Marcus with a guttural grunt, that could have accounted for
the bodyguard's nickname; but Marcus had a different theory on that subject.
Croak had a reputation as a killer; that was probably the reason for his
underworld moniker.
Mere sight of Croak made Marcus uneasy. The fellow's smile was leery; he
had a way of bobbing into view when least expected. He always made visitors
precede him into the apartment, while he followed with a catlike tread.
On this occasion, Croak employed the usual process. As Marcus walked
along
the hallway to Itch's living room, he could imagine a gun muzzle tickling his
spine. The sallow visitor was ready for collapse by the time that walk was
finished. All that saved him was the cheery greeting that he received from
Itch
Fendel.


TALL, long-jawed, Itch wore a smile that was chiefly an outthrust of his
lower lip. He was attired in a gaudy purple dressing gown that gave him a
mildish appearance. His welcome was spoken with an easy, gentle purr, but
there
was no velvet in his handshake.
Marcus felt the grip of a bone-crushing paw; it seemed to symbolize the
strength that Itch had at his command. And it was Fendel's itching palm for
gambling money, that had given him his nickname.
"Park yourself," suggested Itch. "I'm mixing a drink; after that, we can
start to talk."
He stepped to a portable bar, where he began to pour liquors into a
cocktail shaker. While he was adding ice cubes, Itch spoke to Croak, who was
standing at the door.
"Outside, Croak," Itch told the bodyguard. "See that nobody disturbs me
and this fellow. We got a lot to talk about - in private!"
While Itch was speaking, he didn't even glance toward the spot where
Croak
stood; a fact that made Marcus shift uneasily in the big chair that he had
chosen. If Itch was smart enough to keep track of Croak, without looking to
see
where the sneak-footed fellow was, Marcus could see trouble for himself.
Very shortly, Marcus would be trying to alibi himself with Itch. Though
his story was a straight one, Marcus figured that his chances of selling it to
Itch would be very slim. Even when Croak sidled away from the door, Marcus
felt