"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 173 - Death's Harlequin" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

A cautious knocking on the door interrupted her. Her face paled.

"Who is it? she whispered.

"Walter!" The voice sounded softly urgent. "Hurry up, sweet! I don't want to be seen!"
An instant later, Jane Purdy unlocked the door and a man in evening clothes slipped into the
room. It was evident that his arrival held no terror for the girl. The pallor on her face was
replaced with a flush of delight. The man caught her in his arms and held her in a long
embrace.

"I love you," he said. "I couldn't stay away. I had to see you!"
At first glance, he seemed a young and good-looking man. But there was weakness about
his mouth, a shiftiness in his eyes. His face was beginning to show the telltale marks of
dissipation and easy living.
His name was Walter Roscoe. In Washington society he was known as a playboy who had
plenty of money and didn't mind spending it. That had been true for several years, but it was
true no longer. Every penny of the wealth he had inherited was now spent. For the past year,
Roscoe's easy money had been rolling in from a more sinister source. Blackmail!

Jane Purdy knew it and didn't care. She was in love with him. Occasionally, she even helped
him with his blackmail schemes.
Crook working with crook! There was nothing strange about that.

But love had made Jane Purdy do something that had placed her life in frightful danger. She
had disclosed to Roscoe the nature of her own employment.
Walter Roscoe knew that Jane was an important cog in the organization of the superspy
who was working to cripple America!
Roscoe's greedy mind saw at once the opportunity for profit. The biggest blackmail chance
of his life beckoned to him. He planned to use Jane to further his own daring scheme.

Tonight he was ready to disclose his hand. His love-making was merely a screen to mask
his greed and make the girl obedient to his will. He saw a million dollars ready to be plucked
if he could persuade Jane Purdy that she could betray her unknown chief without danger to
herself.

"You shouldn't have come here tonight," Jane whispered. "I've got to leave at once."
"Are you going toтАФhim?"

"Yes."
"With a secret message from Madame Alyce?"
Jane didn't reply. Even her lips were pale at his careless mention of a forbidden name.

Walter Roscoe laughed. There was meaning in that laughтАФa reassurance that the girl felt
instantly.
"Suppose I tell you," Roscoe whispered, "that you and I can make a half million apiece,
without the slightest risk."

"How?"

"By letting me see the message you're carrying tonight to Number One."