Grant, Maxwell - The Shadow 140 - Racket Town by Maxwell Grant

Author:Maxwell Grant
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Detective, Mystery, Crime, Suspense, Adventure, Thriller
Publisher: Street & Smith Publications
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“IT’s Dingo,” muttered Mart. “Doing like I told him - sticking to the wall. Say - he’s handling it neat; only he’s a couple of minutes ahead of time

-”

“Like he ought to be,” put in Brace, “so’s to be sure of making it by nine o’clock.”

“Got a rod ready? Just in case somebody spots him?”

“Sure. You watch Dingo, Mart. I’ll cover the edges.”

There was a tense lapse of ten seconds. Suddenly, Mart gripped Brace’s elbow. From his throat, the big-shot rattled the fierce news:

“Take a gander, Brace. Tell me if that’s Dingo.”

Brace looked. The approaching figure was almost at the light. Crouched, its shape was difficult to observe. There was something weird in the prowler’s approach to the door. An instant later, the form was outlined against the wall, as it made a long move for the doorway.

Mart and Brace saw the shrouding folds of a black cloak; above it, the familiar shape of a slouch hat. Mart’s whisper was venomous:

“The Shadow! Plug him, Brace!”

“Wait, Mart,” returned the triggerman, his voice a trifle shaky. “We got half a minute yet -”

“While he gets inside? To lay for Dingo?”

As Mart jabbed those questions, he looked toward Brace. He saw his companion straining his gaze. Brace’s gun hand was lowered. For a moment, Mart was infuriated. Then, an answer struck him.

“Shove that gat away,” ordered Mart. “I get you, Brace. You’re figuring a big smoke-wagon makes a lot of noise. Take this.”

With that, Mart pushed the special rifle toward Brace. The latter gave a nervous headshake. Brace’s left hand pushed Mart back. He didn’t want the rifle.

“Hold it, Mart -”

Mart saw the motion of The Shadow’s figure at the door of the jewelry store. The cloaked shape was edging inward. Brace’s delay had given him time to get the door unlocked. That was enough for Mart.

“You’re yellow, Brace,” snarled the big-shot. “As yellow as Dingo ever was!”

A hiss finished Mart’s sentence. It didn’t come from his lips. While he spoke, Mart was hoisting the rifle to his own shoulder. His press of the trigger produced the sizzle beside Brace’s ear. Mart’s aim was straight for the center of the blackened doorway; and his single shot scored a hit.

Cloaked shoulders heaved outward; the light showed The Shadow performing a twisted stagger. Mart’s voice delivered a pleased oath when he saw the human target sprawl.

“That clipped him, Brace! How’d you like the way that silencer worked?” Then, angrily: “Say, yellow guy, what’ve you got to say for yourself? Looks like one peek at The Shadow took the nerve out of you.”

“I’m saying nothing,” returned Brace. His words were choppy. “Not just yet.”

“Keep The Shadow covered,” ordered Mart. “Maybe he’s only faking. He’s smart enough to know that these silent shooters only hold one slug.”

Mart broke the rifle apart and packed it in the darkness. He was watching Brace; the triggerman was stolidly covering the black-clad victim who lay below the window. The packing done, Mart looked out to make sure that The Shadow had not moved.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.