Читаем The Ghost Makers полностью

"A New York dick, named Cardona," declared Quellan. "He's working alone out here — and from what I hear, The Shadow is keeping under cover, for fear Cardona will find him.

"The Shadow's quick when it comes to battling with mobs, because he knows their ways. But he's yellow when the police get on his trail. Take it from me. I know."

"You think Cardona knows where The Shadow is?" Barruci questioned.

"Yes," Jake answered. "But there's only one guy can make him tell."

"Who?"

"You're looking at him."

Al Barruci was thoughtful. He wished that Jake Quellan had arrived a while ago. Still, it might not yet be too late. Barruci wanted to know more.

"We heard that Cardona was here," he said. "But we weren't tipped off to the lay. We heard just enough to let us know that there was trouble coming. That was all."

"I'm telling you what the trouble is," declared Quellan emphatically. "What's more, I know where Cardona is located. He's staying at a hotel, here in town. I came out alone, so as not to let the New York cops get wise.

"Here's what I want to do: I want to grab Cardona — with your help — and then I'll make him spill the whole story."

"How?" Barruci asked.

"Easy enough. I know part of it. What I know will make Cardona tell the rest. But I'm telling you straight, nobody else could make that dick squawk!" Jake was emphatic.

"You know where Cardona is?"

"Yes — at a hotel."

"You're wrong," declared Barruci, with a broad smile. "We've got him right now. One of my men is making him talk. When he gets through, there'll be one less flatfoot to bother you in New York."

"You aren't bumping off Cardona!" exclaimed Quellan, in consternation.

"That's just what we are doing," returned Barruci. "After he talks, or if he doesn't talk." Quellan drove his right fist against his left palm.

"You're pulling it wrong!" he exclaimed. "All wrong. Cardona is too wise! He'll either keep mum, or he'll give a phony story. Then you've lost the chance to get the lay on The Shadow!"

"Will that matter much?"

"Matter! Don't you see what it does? The Shadow is bottled while Cardona is hot after him. With Cardona out, The Shadow is loose again.

"You don't know The Shadow, Barruci. He spots mobs like a hawk spots a flock of pigeons. He'll be loose, I tell you — loose, here in Chicago!

"Well" — Quellan settled back with a deprecating gesture. "I should worry about it. The Shadow will have enough to keep him busy here. We'll have things easy, back East."

It was the final statement that brought a worried frown to Al Barruci's forehead. He saw the logic in the New York gangster's argument. He stroked his chin reflectively, then said:

"We've gone pretty far with it now. Cardona's got to take the bump. That's all."

"Let him take it," declared Quellan. "He's no friend of mine. But I want to hear him talk before he goes out — and it's more to your advantage than to mine."

Al Barruci was a man who made quick decisions when the occasion called for it. Moreover, he was naturally conservative. Also, he had been somewhat apprehensive about Snooks Milligan's quick action with Joe Cardona.

He realized now that they had worked too hastily. Without more ado, he arose and faced the New York gangster.

"Come along," he said. "Maybe we'll be in time!"

Jake Quellan followed him downstairs. Two men in the lobby arose the moment that Barruci appeared. The four left by a side entrance. Barruci and Quellan climbed into the rear seat of a sedan; the others took the front.

The New Yorker knew their occupations. One was Barruci's chauffeur; the other, his bodyguard. The man at the wheel nodded in response to his chief's order. The other man sat sidewise, keeping watch as they rode along.

"Maybe you've heard of this place where we're going," said Barruci, as they reached the outskirts of the city. "It was built to look like a country house, but Gallanta had it fixed as a blind to store hooch.

"Then we had to soft pedal the racket when Gallanta took his rap. So we've been using it to dump guys we don't want. Putting them where the booze was supposed to have been." The car was speeding rapidly along the shore of Lake Michigan. The New York gangster gave no betrayal of the tenseness he felt.

"No telephone out there," explained Barruci apologetically. "The place is kept empty. If there was a phone, we could have tipped Snooks to lay off for a while. Maybe we'll be in time — I hope so!" The final words showed that the Chicago gang leader shared the anxiety which he supposed gripped Jake.

The sedan drove up to a low house. The four men piled out, and Barruci led the way down the steps. They crossed a room, and Barruci gave a series of five quick taps at an inner door. Five taps responded. Barruci rapped twice. The door opened, and the arrivals stepped in to witness a strange scene.