Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 095 by Maxwel l Grant

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

CHAPTER XIII. CROOKS CONFER

TWENTY-FOUR hours had elapsed since The Shadow's fight against the attackers of the filling station.

New cloud banks scudded low above the Watchung Mountains. The whistling of outside winds made the living room of Zullick's lodge a place of desirable occupancy.

Foy Zullick was seated alone before the fire. His wolfish face was sour; his eyes showed an impatient glitter as they watched the crackle of sizzling logs within the fireplace. At odd moments, the murderer glanced toward the outer door; then, at last, he paused to listen. He had caught the sound of footsteps on the veranda.

The door opened. Soup Ramsted entered. The dynamiter doffed a rain-soaked overcoat; he grinned as he came over to enjoy the warmth of the fire. Zullick snorted angrily; Soup maintained his grin as he pulled a newspaper from his pocket.

"Lamp that," suggested Soup. "All the latest news about last night. I was right, Foy. Nobody got on our trail."

"Maybe not," grumbled Zullick, as he scanned the headlines, "but it wasn't brains that pulled you out of a tight one. It was luck."

"Yeah? Well, if I hadn't have throwed that pineapple, the story might have been different. It was the only out, Foy."

"You didn't get Caulkens, did you?"

"No. He dived out of sight too quick."

"Well, then, what was the use? You only messed it worse by heaving the pineapple."

"It covered the get-away, Foy."

Zullick shrugged his shoulders. He began to read the details in the newspapers. Soup put a query:

"Where's Dulkin and Widpath?"

"In Dulkin's room," returned Zullick, "talking things over."

"About this?"

"No, you sap. Do you think I'd let them know what's been going on? They're talking about Selger."

"They know he's dead?"

"Say, Soup, you are dumb." Zullick folded up the newspaper and pitched it to a table. "All they know is that Selger signed the paper. I've been grinding that into them, so's they'll weaken."

"And are they?"

"Not yet. It's just as well to give them time."

ZULLICK arose and stalked to the door of Dulkin's room. He listened a few minutes; then returned.

"You've muffed things, Soup," declared Zullick, reverting to the theme of last night's attack. "Just because it's blowing over is no reason to think you pulled a smooth job. Look at it this way. First there was Hylap. I croaked him so neat that they aren't sure yet it wasn't suicide."

"Yeah?" queried Soup. "What about Danning? Things went haywire there, didn't they?"

"No. It was a strong-arm job. The crew was to have snatched Danning in a pinch; instead, they must have bumped him by accident. Anyway, Danning isn't around to squawk. Now take it with Barbridge.

You fixed things good there, Soup. That explosion was a real pay-off. We rubbed out the guy we wanted; we covered it."

"What about Chicago? Finger Lurbin muffed that job of his, didn't he?"

"Yeah. He should have gotten Jolles; but he didn't. Anyway, Jolles has scrammed and won't show his

nose. If he does, it'll be tough for him."

"Seems like you're stretching things, Foy, when you figure I pulled a muff last night.

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