"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 336 - Blackmail Bay" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

long time studying the notices on the bulletin board, a point that Margo
undertoned to Clyde, who responded with a nod. Then Margo strolled away and
increased her gait to a brisk walk until she reached Kroft's and found the
judge waiting to have lunch with her on the veranda. After lunch, she resumed
work in the library, checking the available tape for clues to those that were
missing - or stolen.
Down by the landing, things were going not only as Margo hoped, but even
better. All afternoon, Clyde Burke had been checking on all patrons of the
general store, going and coming, by playing the part of what he really was: an
inquiring reporter, no more and no less. That fact was proven late in the
afternoon, when the 'Priscilla' was ready for her six o'clock sunset trip back
to Baxter Harbor. Just then, a speed-boat pulled in below some steep steps
beside the wharf and two men clambered their way up to the top.
One was a big, bluff character, who looked like he either owned
everything
in sight, or could buy it, which was true in this case. He was Wilby Weldon,
who
owned Round Island outright and could easily buy Spruce Island for half the
price. The other was Harry Vincent, a personable chap who, like Clyde Burke,
was an agent of The Shadow.
As Clyde stepped up and asked Weldon for an interview, he was shoved
roughly aside in the very manner he expected from such a character. So Clyde
settled for Harry Vincent and both smiled as they watched Weldon stride over
to
the general store.
"What's His Nibs after now?" asked Clyde.
"Some special tobacco that they sell here," replied Harry. "You know how
pipe smokers go for exclusive blends."
"He's lost his impetus," rejoined Clyde, "considering how he's stopped to
read those notices on the bulletin board."
A clang of bells from the 'Priscilla' interrupted the conversation and
Clyde hurried over to join Lew Barton, who was beckoning for him to come on
board. All that was visible of the 'Priscilla' was her smokestack poking above
the wharf, for the tide was approaching its very lowest. Harry watched the two
passengers go aboard a gangplank that led downward from the wharf to the
bayliner's upper deck. Then, with another clang of bells and the blare of a
whistle, the 'Priscilla' was on her way to Gosport.
Wilby Weldon was coming back with his precious tobacco to join Harry
Vincent; and Margo Lane was doubly right. Other agents of The Shadow had
covered the waterfront during her absence. Whatever was happening on Spruce
Island would be known to The Shadow!


V

DUSK was deepening over Hiram's Cove when Kroft and Margo had supper on
the veranda. The judge looked over the sizeable lists that had kept Margo busy
until after seven o'clock. Approvingly, Kroft remarked that when all the names
from the tapes had been fully checked, some would surely provide links to the
past, but their value would depend chiefly on what happened here tonight.