Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 075 by Maxwel l Grant

Author:Maxwel,l Grant
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf

CHAPTER XV. STALEMATE

Two weeks had passed. A new evening found Rook Hollister still secure in his hidden abode atop the Hotel Moselle. Attired in garish dressing gown, Rook was awaiting the arrival of Bart Koplin.

A rap at the door. Rook answered it. Bart entered the shuttered living room gloating as he flourished an extra that he had just purchased on the street. Rook chortled as he saw the headline. Police, that afternoon, had smashed a mob attack on an armored bank car. Armed thugs had been captured.

“Looks tough for Lingo Queed,” announced Bart. “He's let these lieutenants of his cut loose. They've been getting theirs—they and their mobs.”

“Lingo can't last,” agreed Rook. “He stalled off too long before he started. Now he's making the mistake of letting his pals run things the way they want. They're jamming themselves.”

“Which means,” asserted Bart, “that Lingo will be rubbed out. Like we counted on—but not by The Shadow. His pals will get him on their own. Then Buzz Dongarth can step in.”

Bart was chuckling as he spoke; but when he had finished, the private dick noted that Rook did not share his new elation. Bart waited, wondering. Rook's explanation came.

“That's the tough part of it, Bart,” declared the big shot. “The Shadow business. Looks to me like he's crossing the dope again. First of all, he used to play a lone game; then he began this fake mob business.

“Right now he's doing neither. He's sitting back, out of sight, with all the guys that work for him. He's picked a new way of queering jobs and rackets.”

“A new way?” queried Bart. “Say, Rook—I hadn't figured The Shadow being in on anything.”

“No? Who do you suppose is passing these tipoffs to the bulls? They've been showing up everywhere, just when they weren't wanted.”

“You mean The Shadow's in on it? Getting the inside on everything that Lingo and his pals are planning?”

“That's it. There's a leak somewhere.”

Bart pondered. Then he nodded.

“That fits with the reports I've been getting from Buzz,” admitted the private dick. “He's told me it was the police, not The Shadow, crimping Lingo's setup. They've been piling in before the stoolies have had a chance to grab off any info from the grapevine.”

FISHING in his pocket, Bart brought out a folded sheet of paper which he passed to Rook. It was a list of lieutenant and bodyguards who stood in with Lingo Queed. Rook checked the list.

Most of the names upon it were those of crooks who had formerly been with Rook himself. The big shot knew that none of them would sell out to the law. Rook noted Hawkeye's name on the line-up. He passed it by.

Hawkeye had too good a rep in the bad lands. The little spotter had once served time in the penitentiary.

Since his return from the “big house,” he had shown himself cautious in his actions.

It was not surprising that Hawkeye had at last sought to blossom out. As an aid of Lingo Queed, he had a chance to build up new status for himself.

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