Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 002 by Maxwel l Grant

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

CHAPTER XXIV. A HORDE ATTACKS

RED MIKE restored order. There were fully three dozen angry men in his outer room - would-be killers who uttered mad threats as they saw their comrades stagger from the inner room. These fighters of the underworld had become suddenly silent when they had heard The Shadow's mocking laugh. Then their shouts had recommenced - to stop when the proprietor of the Black Ship held up a commanding hand.

"Quiet!" he howled.

The babel ceased. At Red Mike's summons, several men came to the aid of the wounded crooks who had been in the fight. Not one of the ten had escaped uninjured. Three of them were badly hurt; they were carried to the street.

The bullets from the automatics had been well aimed; most of them had struck the arms and shoulders of the attackers. The Shadow had been swift to cripple his foemen.

Only two of the tribe were capable of further battle. One of them was Pedro. The big Mexican had not been hurt until the chair had struck him during his rush to safety. He was again ready for action, recovered from the blow that had sprawled him.

He still gripped his huge machete. He flourished the weapon and leered venomously as he shouted to Red Mike.

"He is hurt!" cried Pedro. "He is hurt, I tell you! He is in there; where we can get him!"

"Wait a minute," commanded Red Mike.

He turned toward the door that led to the street. Two men were standing there.

"Look outside, boys," ordered Red Mike. "We don't want more gun play until we know that things are quiet."

The men left the Black Ship. The proprietor listened at the door to the inner room.

"We've got him, all right," he said quietly. "He was lucky, that's all. He can't get out of there. We can take our time. Who is he?"

The question was put to Spotter.

"A stool," said the crafty-faced man. "I seen de guy once before. He's a bad egg."

A chorus of snarls followed these words.

"Spotter knows 'em all," affirmed a thug. "He can pick 'em out when he sees 'em. Let's get busy."

Spotter smiled. He had made the right statement. He was glad that he had not mentioned the name of The Shadow. It was known to comparatively few in the underworld; those who had heard the name held it in awe.

"Easy now, boys," commanded Red Mike. "Wait till we know that everything is quiet."

One of the two men who had left now reappeared at the entrance.

"All right outside," he reported. "Geek is watchin'. Youse can go ahead."

Red Mike produced a hammer and chisel. He began to pry one of the iron plates from the door.

"Watch out, Mike," warned Spotter. "He may pot you t'rough de door."

"Not with them little toy guns."

The iron sheet had been nailed fast to the top portion of the door. It yielded as the proprietor worked upon it. With great effort, Red Mike forced it free at the bottom and bent it upward. The crooks watched

in silence.

At last there was a space more than a foot in extent, just above the middle of the door.

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