Maxwell Grant - The Shadow 013 by The Blackmail Ring

Author:The Blackmail Ring
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-11-15T00:41:09+00:00

Sherwood Mayo sat back and folded his arms. He looked about the group, as though expecting some other person to take up the cudgels. One of the other men spoke.

"We can't give you this account, Delmuth," said a sharp-faced individual. "There's two reasons why. One is, Mayo won't let us. The other is, the account's already placed.

"But I have a proposition to make. I have interests in the Grandoso Cigar Co. I'll swing you that account if you will keep away from concerns who are in the lotion business."

"When do I get the Grandoso account?" asked Delmuth.

"This week," was the reply.

"Fair enough," said Delmuth, rising and staring from one person to another. "I'll wait to the end of the week!"

"All right," said the man who had spoken before. "That settles it. You get the Grandoso account. I'll see you in your office, and we can go over the details. We'll line it up so that if you sign with any lotion concern, that will be the end of the Grandoso job."

Delmuth bowed and left the room.

"Now," said Mayo ironically, "we have finished with bribery. We can attend to business."

"I think he'll play fair on that basis," said the sharp-faced man.

"Delmuth is not likely to play fair on any basis," declared Mayo quietly. "You don't know him, Rawlings.

If you did, you would not negotiate with him. However, I warned you.

"We can do with this makeshift arrangement. He will want to hold the Grandoso account, and that will give us a head start. But if he gets a good offer from a rival lotion concern, I warn you, he will drop the cigar advertising in a moment!"

THE door was closed during this discussion. Delmuth, in the hallway, was putting on his overcoat while the servant held it.

Going down in the elevator, the advertising man felt in both inside and outside pockets. He smiled as he felt the envelope and the revolver.

In the taxicab, Delmuth drew the envelope front his pocket. He held it between his hands as he smiled, and speculated on what had transpired.

"The fools!" he exclaimed in a low voice. "Handing me that soft proposition. They're stalling for time, and they don't think I know it - none except Mayo.

"They can have six months start for all I care - the way Mayo keeps bidding back on all his propositions.

Then I can break out with another lotion, and it will be the same story over again.

"As for that Grandoso account, they'll find out that their contract will be a hard one to break, without paying plenty. Fools!" He laughed softly. "If they only knew what was in this envelope!

"Well, that's over, and I didn't have to say more than a few words. Easy money and no work!"

Delmuth opened the envelope as he spoke. He removed a paper which it contained, and unfolded the document.

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