"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 250 - Death About Town" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

"And what will the total be, Buram?"

"That's why I can't tell you, Burke," replied Buram frankly, "because I don't know. The decision rests
with the executive committee of the Avenue Club. It must pass on the stability and general worthiness of
the various local clubs that would like to affiliate themselves with Allied Benefit."
"And when will the committee do that?"

"After it reorganizes. It lacks two members. One, Orvill, is dead; the other, Laverock, is missing. See for
yourself, Burke" - Buram gestured across the foyer - "there goes the committee up to the meeting room.
Until it has decided, I am as much in the dark as you are."

Despite Harry's sentiments to the contrary, Clyde was beginning to like Buram, now that the chap had
opened up. So Clyde gave a nod to show that he understood Buram's problem, and proceeded to watch
the committee file by.

Among the group, Clyde saw a few keen faces, but the rest were very drab. They looked like men who
would simply vote "yes" to any required measure. That fact took Clyde back to the matter of Orvill and
Laverock.

It was easy to understand how those two could have come to odds, considering that they were both
aggressive. Probably the sight of dull and stodgy faces among the rest of the committee had been enough
to drive Orvill and Laverock to extreme notions.

Clyde was considering that point, when he suddenly realized that Rudolph Delmot was not with the
passing parade. Turning, Clyde saw Delmot near the foyer desk, shaking hands with two newcomers.

Those arrivals happened to be Police Commissioner Weston and his capable ace, Inspector Joe
Cardona.

Clyde tossed a glance at Buram, and received a quick nod in return.

"There you are, Burke," remarked Buram. "The bloodhounds are still bothered about Laverock. They're
going to take up all of Delmot's time, and the committee meeting will go right to pot. Which means that
my business, important though it is, will get nowhere fast."

With a shrug, Buram settled back in his chair. Drawing two cigars from his pocket, he handed one to
Clyde, suggesting, with a tired smile, that they might as well sit it out, to which Clyde agreed.

Delmot was turning, to invite Weston and Cardona up to the executive office, when another arrival
entered the foyer. The newcomer was Lamont Cranston; he seemed quite surprised to see his friend the
police commissioner. After a short exchange of greetings, Cranston went along with the group to the
office, which was also on the mezzanine.

ONCE in the office, Commissioner Weston came directly to business.

"I won't keep you from your committee meeting very long," Weston told Delmot. "What we're here for, is
to make a final try at locating James Laverock."

"I wish you could locate him," returned Delmot ruefully. "We don't know what to do about his case. He's