"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 254 - Syndicate of Sin" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

It was at this moment that Cotswold's phone bell rang. The millionaire answered it.

"Hello?... Yes, this is Cotswold."

Cotswold didn't say any more. He seemed to be listening. His face became pale. When he finally
replaced the phone, he did so blindly. Strang looked concerned.
"Who was it?"

"The same voice! Rasping, ugly. He... he boasted that he has already made his first theft from my home...
in spite of all my precautions!"

"He's bluffing. What did he say he stole?"

"My Gutenberg Bible. One of the first books ever printed. He says it's gone. He's got it. He laughed at
me, called me a fool!"

Strang shook his head calmly.

"Now I know the fellow is a crank. That Gutenberg Bible has not been stolen; I saw it in its special safe
in your bedroom less than half an hour ago! I took it out myself and examined it. Wait! I'll prove it's still
there by bringing it to you."

Strang got to his feet. He left the room.

But he never reached his millionaire employer's bedroom. The butt of a .38 struck at his skull. Strang
collapsed without a sound. He was gagged and bound and dragged out of sight.

When Ellery Cotswold glanced up from his desk to greet his returning secretary, he found himself facing
the guns of Bobo and Sam.

"A nice night for a ride, Mr. Cotswold," Bobo said.

"Let's go!" Sam growled.

Again, a quiet little party of three entered a black sedan.

The car moved away. There was no fuss, no confusion.

THE room was small. Its air smelled stale. There was an earthy odor, as if the room might be
underground. There were no windows.

The only piece of furniture in the room was a bed. Two men were lying on the bed. They couldn't move
because they were tightly bound. Gags covered their mouths. Their feet struck out beyond the end of the
bed. Both men's feet were bare.

Their faces expressionless, Bobo and Sam watched the prisoners.

Suddenly, a hidden door opened. A man entered. He looked well-dressed, handsome. Cotswold's eyes
bulged as he saw the man. He recognized him at once.