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VOL. VI AUGUST 1, 1933 No. 5

Yearly Subscription, $2.00 Six Months, $1.00 Single Copies, 10 Cents

CONTENTS
Complete Shadow Novel

THE BLACK HUSH

From The Shadow's Private Annals, as told to
Maxwell Grant . . 3

Thrilling fiction Stories

SMALL-TIME GUYS . . . Allen Westley . . 84
In Big-time Stuff!

THE DEVIL'S DECOY . . Jay J. Kalez . . 94

Leads to a T rap

FLYING HIGH
Art Treasures Fly Away!
.... Harley James . . 105

THE DEATH TRAP ... . Robert N. Reeves . 116

What Does It Catch?

Special Features
THE THIRD DEGREE 124

THE SHADOW CLUB 126

Twice- a- month publication issued by Street & Smith Publications. Inc.. 79-89 Seventh Atenue, New York, N. T. Ormond G
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 THE BLACK HUSH

Oat of nowhere comes a deep, a 'enveloping

blackness, hiding nefarious work, making help"
less all means of defense. The awful ray searches
out easy wealth^but it finds The Shadow, too,
and The Shadow tracks it to its lair!
A thrilling epic from the private annals of
The Shadow, as told to

Maxwell Grant
CHAPTER I.
CARDONA GOES ON DUTY.
The spacious lobby of the Olympia
Hotel presented an interesting study to
the man who viewed it from a corner
chair. No longer a pretentious estab-
lishment, the old hotel at least gained
share of patronage. Nearly all
chairs and lounge seats were filled, and
many persons were strolling back and
forth near the desk.
The man who was watching from the
corner, had chosen a spot which was
quite inconspicuous. Furthermore, he
had successfully rendered himself un-
its noticeable. The collar of his dark-gray
of the coat obscured his square-set chin. The
 4 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
spread pages of an opened newspaper the outer door from the corners of h
aided in the concealment of his swarthy eyes. He saw another man enter an
countenance. go to the seat which was now vacant ;

Nevertheless, the man was constantly the edge of the lobby. Just the trace c
observant as he peered from under the a satisfied smile flickered on Cardona
derby that crowned his forehead. His lips. This arrival was another detectiv
dark-brown eyes kept up an intermittent who had come in response to Cardona
vigil that allowed very little to escape signal at the revolving door.
them. "Ballroom floor," announced Cardon;
Hunched in the chair, watching from as the elevator ascended. "Which wa
a gloomy spot, wearing a type of hat to the Mohawk meeting?"
that he seldom utilized, Detective Joe "Over to the right, sir," responds
Cardona was effectively avoiding recog- the operator. "The meeting is in th
nition, and at the same time taking good Blue Room."
measures to spot any one whose features "The Blue Room?" quizzed Cardona
he might know. The ace of New York "J was told that the crowd met in th
sleuths was living up to his reputation. Red Room."
Cardona's watchful eyes picked out a "They used to," explained the op
small group of men who entered erator, as he brought the car to a stop
through a revolving door. The detec- "but they changed it for this meeting
tive's quick glance settled upon one in- Go down to the right turn at the en<
;

dividual — a heavy-built man of more of the corridor. You'll see the door."
than average height, whose chief item of Cardona followed directions. The cor
attire was an expensive astrakhan coat. ridor ran directly in front of the largi
As this arrival strode across the lobby, ballroom, which was not being used thi:
he half turned his head in Cardona's evening. At the end, Cardona immedi
direction. Grinning at a companion's ately discovered the door of the Blut
remark, the man displayed a glimmer Room — an opening concealed by a blui
of gold'in his thick-lipped mouth. screen. He could hear the chatter an<
Cardona needed no further sign of guffaw of loud voices beyond the bar-
recognition. This glitter from a full, rier.
heavy face was the identifying mark of Passing the screen, the detectivt
"Goldy" Tancred. This was the man looked in through the door at an angle
whose coming the detective had awaited. He spied a waiter and beckoned to the
man. He drew the attendant out be-
As Goldy and his friends crossed the yond the screen.
lobby and entered an elevator, Cardona "I want to speak to Mr. Tancred,'"
remained more watchful than before. explained Cardona. "He just came in
His eyes swept every portion of the a few minutes ago. Wearing a fuzzy
lobby they continually reverted to the
;
coat. Tell him a friend's out here to see
door through which Goldy had entered. him."
At length, satisfied by his inspection, The waiter nodded. He went into the
Cardona arose and strolled toward the Blue Room.
revolving door. He turned as he neared Two minutes passed, then a head was
it, tracing his steps so that only his back thrust from the doorway. Cardona
could be seen from outside. recognized the face. It was that of
Shifting the position of his derby, the "Bowser" Riggins, a man who had come
detective slowly changed his course, so in with Goldy Tancred.
that it neared the row of elevators. "Huh!" greeted Bowser. "It's you,
Waiting for a car, Cardona spotted eh? O. K."
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 5

He turned and waved to some one in a strong-arm job for me once in a while
the room. A moment later, Goldy Tan- —but it never amounts to much."

cred appeared in person, to display his

shining molars when he saw the detec- Cardona pondered. There was both
tive. truth and reason in what Goldy Tan-
"Wait inside for me, Bowser," or- cred had to say. Nevertheless, the de-
dered Tancred. tective could not forget the causes that
Dressed in Tuxedo, the gold-toothed had prompted him to undertake this
man made an imposing appearance de- mission.
spite the hardness of his heavy face. He Goldy, with a slow smile, suddenly
joined Cardona outside the screen, and seemed to divine the detective's
walked a few paces along the side thoughts.
passage. Then, with a quizzical frown, "Listen, Joe," he said quietly, "I
he turned to the detective. know what's got into your head. You've
"What 're you doing here, Joe?" he been listening to some stool-pigeon
growled. "No raid coming off, is chatter. That's it, huh?"
there ? These fellows always have "Maybe," replied the detective, in a
"
things fixed noncommittal growl.
"I'm not working on booze squads," "I'll tell you what ails those guys,"
returned Cardona, in a low, steady tone. laughed Goldy. "It's the way you
"You know that, Goldy. I'm here on handle them. If they've got nothing to
—
account of you and if you don't know say, you figure they're laying down on
it,you ought to know it." the job. So they're wise enough to slip
"News
to me, Joe." you phony dope that they know can't
"Yeah? You were always supposed be checked.
to be a good listener, Goldy. It's funny "It's happened before, Joe. They
you haven't heard what's being said." figure that just because I know how to
Goldy's puzzled look turned to one make tinhorn racketeers eat dirt, that
of enlightenment. The big fellow some day a yellow dog is going to try
chuckled, and slapped the detective on to bump me. So all they have to do to^
the shoulder. earn their bird seed is come slinking in-
"Listen, Joe," he said, becoming seri- and say that they've got wind of som£
ous, "that's all hooey—that talk about —
guy they don't know who that's out —
them being out to get me. I'm not in to take a shot at Goldy Tancred."
any racket. Never carried a gat in my "That's straight enough," agreed Car-
life. Take a look now. Do you think dona calmly. "I know how you stand,
I'd be a sap if I was in danger?" Goldy. But sometimes, when talk gets
He spread the sides of his Tuxedo going around a bit, I get a hunch. I've
jacket, offering the detective an oppor- got one now."
tunity to frisk him for a weapon. "Keep it, Joe," smiled Goldy. "Maybe
Cardona did not accept the invitation. it's due. Funnier things than that have
Instead, he made another comment?" happened. But I'm giving you some-
"You've got Bowser Riggins along thing else that's straight. I can't think
with you," remarked the sleuth. "He of any crawler who would have nerve
sticks pretty ck ,e most of the time, enough to take a whack at me. Par-
doesn't he?" up here, Joe. This is a po-
ticularly
"Sure he does," admitted Goldy. "But Mohawk bunch.
litical outfit, this No-
he doesn't pack a rod, either. I'll bring body's going to disturb them."
him out. Look him over. He's a pal, "Have it your own way, Goldy," re-
Joe, not a bodyguard. Maybe he does marked Cardona, with a shrug of his
6 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
shoulders. "Just the same, I'm staying merely sat back and watched others
around a while." work. Here, to-night, he was mingling
"Come on inside, then," suggested with a group of quasi- politicians, who
Goldy. "Stroll in any time you want. called themselves the Mohawks. That
Sit down and join the feed. I don't was part of Goldy's game. He dealt in
think you'll know many of the crowd, protection, giving it or refusing it as
"
but you're welcome, just the same best suited his purposes.
"Thanks, Goldy," smiled Cardona. Had some one crossed Goldy yTan-
"I'll probably be there later." cred? Were important figures of the
The detective strolled along the cor- underworld anxious to launch a new
ridor after Goldy Tancred had gone scheme of crime free from his clever,
back into the Blue Room. He walked tribute-taking surveillance? If such
toward the elevators, and stared suspi- were the case, there was reason why
ciously into the vacant blackness of the Goldy's life might now be threatened.
ballroom. Joe Cardona gave this case grim con-
sideration as he turned back toward the
Cardona noticed that men in Tuxedos Blue Room. The detective was not here
were coming from an elevator and head- to protect Goldy Tancred. He was here
ing toward the Red Room, at the other to thwart crime that might be in the
end of the corridor. He caught a few maicing.
snatches of conversation and gained the With a shrug of his shoulders, Car-
knowledge that a dinner was being held dona entered the Blue Room. He
there by a society of electrical engineers. found a chair at a corner table along
Moving back toward the Blue Room, with a group of lesser politicians. These
Cardona began to wonder whether or men, enjoying their first evening with
not he had made a mistake in coming to the Mohawks, were quiet in demeanor.
the Olympia Hotel. They accepted the detective as another
Goldy Tancred had hit the nail of their ilk, and made no effort to open
squarely when he had suggested that conversation.
Cardona must have been listening to the Thus, Joe Cardona watched. His
chatter of stool pigeons. Persistent ru- steady, vigilant gaze never once lost
mors from the underworld had it that sight of Goldy Tancred and his com-
Goldy Tancred was going on the spot. panion, Bowser Riggins. The detective
There was reason in such rumors. was ready for trouble when it should
Goldy Tancred was a big shot de luxe. break and as the minutes drifted by,
Informants kept him posted regarding Joe Cardona became more and more
the doings of racketeers. He found convinced that his hunch was correct.
ways to make it difficult for those whose The detective sensed that violent
activities bordered on crime. death would be attempted within the
Tobe successful, a racketeer found it walls .of the Olympia Hotel, on this very
wise to keep in the good graces of Goldy night. He waited patiently while the
Tancred. Time and again, soft grafts Mohawks chattered and burst forth in
had been smashed because the perpetra- boisterous song.
tors had ignored the big shot. Hence "At last, restless and uneasy, Cardona
there were many who might like to see pushed his chair from the table. He
Goldy Tancred out of the way. sidled along the edge of the room, and
Goldy was too wise to be at odds with paused as he neared the door. Some-
the police. He could not be branded as thing told him that danger might lie
a racketeer, for there was no proof that without. He felt that the crucial mo-
he engineered schemes of his own. He ment was close at hand.
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 7

Then, merrymaking was

while the dent resumed his discourse, in a voice
rising to anew height, the unexpected that sounded strangely modulated in the
happened. One instant, Joe Cardona midst of that impenetrable darkness.
was watching Goldy Tancred and Bow- "We shall wait," he announced, "un-
ser Riggins as the pair were laughing til the light is restored. Then we shall
at the capers of a stout, bald-headed be ready to hear from our associate, Ro-
politician. The next moment, the entire land Furness."
scene was gone. A sharp exclamation came from the
Without a warning, the room was man beside the president. Roland Fur-
plunged in darkness. Every light, not ness had risen to his feet in the dark-
only in the Blue Room, but throughout ness. Something in the hushing power
the entire hotel, was blotted into black- of the new atmosphere had evidently
ness. With that unfathomable gloom, alarmed him.
shouts and laughter seemed to die away. He spoke excitedly—almost gasping
A black hush lay over all —amid the thickened gloom he turned as
in the direction where Richard Reardon
had been sitting.
CHAPTER IX,
"Something is wrong," he said, in a
MURDER STRIKES. low, muffled tone. "Something that I
While the Mohawks had been en- never believed could happen something —
joying themselves so loudly in the Blue that may mean serious danger—
Room, a quiet dinner was in progress Only Reardon caught the worried
at the other side of the Olympia Hotel. words. The president groped blindly
Within the Red Room, some thirty men and found companion's arm.
his He
were listening to a presiding officer at could feel Furness trembling. Reardon,
the head table. too, rose to his feet. Then, as he heard
This gentleman was Richard Reardon, Furness gasp again, the president
a prominent member of the Association stepped, backward from the table.
of Electrical Engineers, the organiza- A sudden gleam of light was sweeping
tion which was assembled here to-night. through the room. The brilliant rays of
Heavy of build, a trifle over average a powerful lantern were focused upon
height, Reardon was a man of im- the men at the head table. The diners
pressive appearance. could see Reardon and Furness, both
On this occasion, he was introducing raising their arms in surprise as they
a young man who sat beside him. In were caught within the circle of that ter-
quiet, convincing terms, Reardon was rific glare.

telling the assemblage that in Roland

Furness, the association
member whose ability would
widely recognized.
While Roland Furness, red- faced and
uncomfortable because of Reardon's
praise, was glancing toward the table-
cloth, the darkness came to the Red
Room. As promptly as if some one
had pulled a hidden switch, blackness re-
placed light. The change caught Rich-
ard Reardon in the middle of a sen-
tence.
After a momentary pause, the presi-
possessed a The light was coming from the door
soon be of the room. Held by an unseen person,
it was a veritable spotlight that had
picked out the two principal men of this
assemblage. Furness, open-mouthed,
was partly in front of Reardon's form.
The bark of a revolver sounded from
the darkness. Although its flash ap-
peared behind the light, the shot had a
sound that was almost muffled. The
firing —
was repeated again again— —
again.
Roland Furness staggered. He col-
8 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
lapsed upon the table, his falling form A false alarm?
clearly revealed in the circle of illumina- That was Cardona's momentary
tion. thought. Then, seeing that all was well
Asecond later, Richard Reardon here, the detective swung from the door
dropped. Two men, living but a few and entered the corridor. There, as in
moments ago, were sprawled lifeless be- the Blue Room, light had been restored.
fore the horrified witnesses i No person was lurking in the corridor,
The powerful glare went out. Stygian but Cardona's ears caught the sound of
darkness was all that remained. wild, terrified shouts.
Not a man in the room possessed the Responding, the detective dashed
immediate resourcefulness to cope with along the corridor to the other side 5f "

this unexpected situation. Tragedy had the hotel. He arrived at the open door
happened before their startled eyes of the Red Room. He dropped his
tragedy that was hidden by an amazing flashlight into his coat pocket and dis-
black-out played his badge as he encountered a
Appalling gloom The same black
! group of frightened, struggling men,
hush lay within the Blue Room at the who were pushing toward the corridor.
other side of the hotel. There, Joe Car- The sight of badge and revolver
dona, grim amid the darkness, still stood stayed the near stampede. Men dropped
beside the door, expecting to hear the into their chairs. They looked at Car-
sound of shots before him. dona for help. Pointing fingers and ex-
- But the man who expected did not cited words directed the sleuth's atten-
hear. Those muffled reports from the tion to the sight that had caused this
other side of the hotel had not reached commotion.
his ears.
Joe Cardona waited. A click sounded Slumped across the head table were
from his left hand. He had drawn his the bodies of Richard Reardon and Ro-
flashlight, and had pressed the button. land Furness. Cardona needed no testi-
The instrument, however, did not work mony to him what had happened.
tell
Cardona growled. He could, not un- His practiced eye knew that the middle-
derstand this. He jockeyed grimly with aged association president and the young
the button while his right hand clutched electrical engineer had been slain in cold
a revolver. Seconds were ticking into blood
minutes, still the torch was useless. The Cardona calmly closed the door of
detective cursed his negligence he hoped
; the room and locked it. He ordered one
only that he could fight without the aid man to telephone for assistance. He mo-
of light. tioned all who were standing, to chairs.
Then came unexpected relief. The Grim-faced, he took command ;
then,
Blue Room was suddenly flooded with after studying the persons present, he
brilliance. The had come on.
lights walked up beside the bodies,
For a moment, the detective saw a sea was not long before police arrived.
It
of whitened faces. Then a buzz started Cardona unlocked \he door to admit the
as the Mohawks resumed their inter- officers.
rupted noise-making. The detective had done the best thing
Cardona saw Goldy Tancred. The possible under the circumstances. Com-
man was serious and worried in ex- ing through the corridor, he had seen no
pression; then, slowly, he showed his one who might have figured in this dou-
teeth a sickly but glittering grin.
in ble murder. He felt sure that the killer
Bowser Riggins, gaining courage from had probably escaped; nevertheless, it
his chief, smiled feebly. had been essential to hold all who were
 — —;

THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 9

present. Cardona had done this effec- pocket, remembered suddenly that it was
tively. out of order, then stopped and uttered a
With policemen to do his bidding, puzzled exclamation.
Cardona began a quiz. The flashlight was turned on It had !

He learned immediately that the shots been gleaming in Cardona's pocket The !

had been fired from the door; that the switch was just as it had been pressed
victims had been spotted by a powerful the instrument that had failed to func-
light. No one present and most were — tion in a time of need, was now casting
close friends of Reardon and Furness rays of useless illumination.
could suggest a motive for the killings. Puzzled, the detective turned the
Important details in the handling of flashlight off and on. He repeated the
this case required time. Inspector Tim- operation, several times. The torch
othy Klein arrived more men came on
; worked perfectly.
the job. At last, with testimony taken With a grunt, Cardona extinguished
and witness examined, Joe Cardona the flashlight and thrust it back into his

found himself alone in an emptied room. pocket. Even though it appeared to be

He went out into the corridor and in perfect order, he would get a new
walked slowly to the other side of the one. No use to rely upon a flashlight
hotel. He looked into the Blue Room. that had failed once at a crucial mo-
The Mohawk meeting was still on. ment.
Politicians, highly convivial, were still There was important work to do
at their merrymaking. They had not now. Cardona wanted to find out who
heard the news of murder. Cardona had entered the Red Room and left
saw Goldy Tancred and Bowser Rig- probably scurrying down the stairs and
gins, enjoying themselves at the head out to the street amid the darkness. He
^le. wanted to learn what had caused the
lights of the hotel to- fail.
The detective went back toward the These proved insurmountable ques-
Red Room. He met Inspector Klein. tions. When Cardona's investigation
His noted the serious
superior ex- was finished, he had gained nothing. He
pression upon Cardona's face. thought he knew the motive. He under-
"What is it, Joe?" inquired Klein. stood of
the style killing. Those were
"There's a meeting in the Blue important matters. But the clew that
Room," responded the detective slowly. —
he wanted the cause of the extin-
"That's on the other side of the hotel. —
guished lights was something that he
The Mohawk Club." did not manage to gain.
"What about it?" Cardona, when he reached headquar-
"It used to be held in the Red Room." ters, was still disturbed because he had
"You think that has something to do not obtained a shred of evidence that
"
with this involved the mysterious darkness. He
Cardona nodded. sat at his desk, and scratched his chin.
"Yes," he said thoughtfully, "it prob- He felt something in his pocket thump
ably has a lot to do with it. A gang against the arm of his chair.
killing, inspector —one that didn't click." Angrily, Cardona pulled out the
The pair toward the lower
started faulty flashlight and tossed it into a
lobby. Cardona paused a moment at the wastebasket. He got up from his chair
head of the stairs. He wanted to see if and sauntered out to report to Inspector
there was any trace of a man who had Klein. He did not realize the im-
come in this direction. portance of the action which he had just
He drew his flashlight from his performed.
 ! — ;

10 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE

Unwittingly, Detective Joe Cardona Tancred. Well-directed bullets had
had thrown away the only clew that he marked Reardon's aim. Roland Fur-
possessed. That discarded flashlight ness, also in the danger zone, had been
was the one link that might have led put on the spot as well. It was possible
him to the solution of the hlack hush that he had been taken for Bowser Rig-
that had fallen over the Olympia Hotel gins.
to-night Newspaper columns were with filled
hectic details which? included garbled
statements of the witnesses. Members
CHAPTER III.
of the Association of Electrical En-
THE SHADOW BEGINS.
gineers, when interviewed, had given
Headlines told of the double killing varied stories. Such statements re-
at the Olympia Hotel. New Yorkers ceived no more than passing mention.
read of gangland's outrage. Mingled One man said that the shots had pre-
with bacon and eggs came the cry of ceded the light ; another told the oppo-
murder as breakf asters perused their site. One declared that he had seen the
newspapers. light move away; another that it had
Such events had occurred before. The been extinguished before it moved. One
slaughter of innocent victims was no more declared that the killer had used
novel feature in the ceaseless surge of an acetylene lantern instead of an elec-
underworld warfare. Playing children tric flashlight.
massacred by machine-gun bullets had But the sum and substance of all the
raised a storm of public rage which had reports was that Goldy Tancred had
finally died. members of an en-
Slain been slated for the spot. A big shot,
gineering association were another story, liked by politicians, but unpopular
one that would be forgotten more among certain gang leaders, had escaped
quickly. the doom that was intended for him.
Richard Reardon and Roland Fur- Goldy, himself, knew nothing. He
ness were unfortunate victims. Every was staying close to his palatial apart-
one granted that fact, and agreed that ment high up in the Hotel Marathon.
the perpetrators of the outrage should His famous astrakhan coat no longer
be brought to justice. But in back of would be seen at Brindle's restaurant.
all the disapproval was the established —
Goldy Tancred so reporters affirmed
idea that the men had died through a would prefer to send out for sandwiches
mistake. in the future.
Detective Joe Cardona had expressed Close-mouthed except for his smile,
that belief,and it had been accepted. Goldy had told reporters and police that
Every journal in Manhattan was in ac- he knew of no one who was out to get
cord. The case was too obvious for him. In fact, the big-timer was in-
doubt. Even the man who had been sisting that the death bullets had not
missed was known. been intended for him at all. News
Unknown mobsmen, out to get Goldy writers, however, knew better than that
Tancred, had made a blunder. Some- and they passed their inside knowledge
how, they had extinguished the lights along to the public.
in the Olympia Hotel. Under cover of
darkness, they had entered the Red Detective Joe Cardona read the
Room where they had believed the meet- morning newspapers with a real relish.
ing of the Mohawks was being held. His presence at the Olympia Hotel was
Richard Reardon, heavy and con- universally commended. He had used
spicuous, had been mistaken for Goldy good sense in watching Goldy Tancred.
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 11

It was not his fault that the killers had rumor. He, like others, had heard it

blundered. said that The Shadow employed opera-

Commissioner Ralph Weston, over- tives who aided him in his warfare
lord of New York police, had voiced his against master minds of crime. Well
approval of Cardona's tactics. He sup- did Clyde Burke know the truth of this
ported the detective's findings, and he supposition. For Clyde Burke, himself,
had promptly deputed Cardona to handle was a secret agent of The Shadow!
the case. In a room at the Metrolite Hotel, an-
Among the newspaper men who were other young man was pondering upon
active on the story the same matters
was Clyde Burke, a that concerned Clyde
reporter for the New Burke. A resident
York Classic. A vet- guest of the hotel,

eran news gatherer, Harry Vincent was

Clyde believed that scanning the day's
Cardona was right. headlines. Like Clyde
Secretly, however, he Burke, Harry be-
wondered what the lieved that Joe Car-
outcome of this af- dona had the correct
fair might be. For information. Never-
Clyde knew, from theless, Harry was
experience, that wondering what
there was some one would follow. He,
who could deal with too, was an agent of
gangland's slayers The Shadow.
even when the most In an office of the
ardent police meas- huge Badger Build-
ures failed. ing, a chubby-faced
Clyde Burke was man also studied the
thinking of The morning newspapers.
Shadow. Like other With careful shears,
newspapermen f a - Here is "Goldy" Tancred, big- he clipped the col-
miliar with the tur- time gambler and racketeer whose umns that carried
moil of the under- racket is the rackets! Clear of the story of the dou-
world, Clyde had the police because he keeps his ble slaying at the
heard the strange own hands out of scandal, he is in Olympia Hotel. By
reports of a mysteri- fact the biggest crook of them all, profession, this plac-
ous being who had and one whom all other crooks id individual was an
long fought crime envy. investment broker.
upon an equal basis. Was menace of the
the sinister His name was Rut-
A master of the
. black hush intended for him? ledge Mann, and his
night —a strange, many acquaintances
weird personage whose eyes saw every- knew him merely as a specialist on
where, and whose unseen hand struck financial advice.
—
from the dark The Shadow had be- But Mann, who held no opinion re-
come recognized as the hidden threat garding Cardona's theory, was also won-
who carried doom into the strongholds dering about the future. Like Clyde
of evil. Burke and Harry Vincent, Rutledge
Clyde Burke, however, knew from ex- Mann served The Shadow. Where the
perience what others had gleaned from others were active and frequently in
12 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
the field, Mann acted as a contact agent. no mistaking the hands of The Shadow,
He supplied information and data that for upon a finger of the left hand rested
might be required. These clippings that the identifying token of the master.
he was gathering to-day were being pre- This was a gleaming gem that shone
pared for delivery to The Shadow. with a changing hue that symbolized
His compilation completed, Rutledge mystery. The Shadow's girasol a fire —
Mann put all his clippings in an en-
velope. He left his office, took a taxi to
opal unmatched in
ened
all the world — glist-
like a sparkling eye in ever-chang-
Twenty-third Street, and entered a ing hues.
dingy building. On an upstairs floor, From azure, the girasol took on the
he stopped at the door of a deserted of- shades of a rich purple. Its glowing
fice which bore the name "Jonas" on its depths became a brilliant crimson, only
cobwebbed pane. He dropped the en- to change to a deep maroon that gave
velope in the mail slit. the stone an appearance of unlimited
Mann's work was done, until later or- depths. All the while, the illusion of
ders might be received. sparks persisted. Flashes of flame
The mail slit was the delivery box seemed to leap upward toward the light.
that enabled Mann to reach The The white hands produced an en-
Shadow. Complete reports on the velope and removed its contents. Rut-
Olympia outrage were now posted to ledge Mann's clippings lay in view. The
the master mind. Whatever the sequel right hand brought forward a pen and
might be, Rutledge Mann would be a sheet of blank paper. While hidden
ready to obey instructions. eyes studied the reports, the hand be-
Qyde Burke's reportorial work- gan to write.
Harry Vincent's perusal of the news- Brief, pointed facts appeared like
papers —
Rutledge Mann's clipping thoughts. As the hand rested, eyes
service —
all these were productive of an from the dark visualized those state-
important aftermath. A strange, un- ments. Bluish ink dried, then disap-
seen event occurred somewhere in New peared. The memory of the vanished
—
York and its beginning was a click words remained, locked in the brain.
that sounded in a secret room. Could Joe Cardona have seen those
inscriptions, hewould have been amazed.
Intense blackness was suddenly For The Shadow, step by step, was shat-
ended by a bluish light that appeared tering the detective's theory He was
!

in the corner of a black-walled apart- tracing a very definite connection be-

ment. An uncanny glow was focused tween the big shot and the murders in
upon the polished surface of a table, the Red Room!
directly beneath the shaded circle of a Where Cardona had pictured Goldy
blue-bulbed light. as a man who had escaped a menace,
In only one place could this phenom- The Shadow saw the big shot as one
enon occur. That spot was The Shad- who had known a designed murder.
ow's sanctum. Away from all the Goldy Tancred —threatened—was the
world, the very location of his secret last person whom the police could sus-
room unknown, The Shadow, master of pect of complicity. But The Shadow
darkness, planned his warfare against deducted otherwise.
the hosts of evil. The change of the Mohawk's meeting
Two hands appeared beneath the from Red Room to Blue Room—the
bluish glow. They were long hands, holding of the affair on the same night
with tapering fingers that combined as the meeting of the electrical en-
smoothness with strength. There was gineers—these had been accepted as
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 13

mere coincidence. To The Shadow, "Burbank speaking."

however, such an obvious conclusion The quiet voice over the wire was that
was not to be accepted. of The Shadow's hidden contact man.
Cold-blooded mobsmen who attacked Always ready for The Shadow's bid-
beneath a barrage of blackness were not ding, Burbank dwelt in obscurity and
the ones to make so clumsy an error. kept up a telephonic communication with
The Shadow, versed in knowledge of The Shadow's agents. Words that came
underworld tactics, was quick to reject to Burbank were relayed back and forth
Cardona's theory. between The Shadow and his men.
Richard Reardon and Roland Fur- "Clyde Burke on duty," responded
ness: —
one perhaps both had — been The Shadow, in an even monotone-.
marked for death. "Commence observation on the activ-
"
Why? ities of Goldy Tancred
They were not men of crime. Yet the The voice continued. Burbank lis-

explanation must exist. From a study tened. While The Shadow spoke, his
of the past, and an observation of the hand was writing. Every word that he
future, the reason could be discovered. gave to Burbank was inscribed in blue
upon a blank sheet of paper. The state-
Crime was impending crime that — ments, however, were in code.
mark of genius. The secret of
bore the The Shadow concluded his orders.
mighty schemes was unrevealed, yet As he told Burbank to stand by, he
ways to reach it. Where the
there were folded the paper, before the writing had
police were content to look for un- reached the vanishing stage, and placed
known murderers, The Shadow in- it an envelope. This was to go to
in

tended to follow other courses. Rutledge Mann. The writing would not
The Shadow wrote disappear until after the investment
broker had learned its import.
Goldy Tancred.
"Harry Vincent on duty," The
A soft laugh came throughgloom the Shadow went on. "To cooperate with
of the room. Its whispered tones awoke Rutledge Mann in uncovering facts re-
pulsating echoes. The hand inscribed garding Richard Reardon and Roland
"
terse comments beneath the name that Furness
it had written. Goldy Tancred must be The voice continued; the hand wrote
watched. There was a way to do it. and closed its message. The ear phones
The Shadow was making his plans. slid across the table. Instructions to
Two other names appeared upon the Burbank were ended. The orders to
paper. Side by side, The Shadow con- Rutledge Mann, sealed in separate en-
sidered them. velopes, were carried away by The
Shadow's hands.
Richard Reardon —Roland Furness.
The light clicked out. Invisible
Again, the hand began its comments. within the walls of his windowless
The careers of these men must
be sanctum, The Shadow laughed again.
traced. Somewhere in the events of Weird echoes of a mocking cry rever-
their lives might lie an item of evidence. berated from the hollow spaces. The
Ear phones slid across the table as Shadow's work had begun.
the hands reached beyond to obtain During the future, his eyes would
them. The Shadow spoke into a mouth- watch the activities of Goldy Tancred,
piece. His low tones were passing over the man who had escaped. Meanwhile,
a private wire to a listener as secretive delving into the past, his investigating
as himself. forces would discover facts regarding
 ! : ;

14 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE

Richard Reardon and Roland Furness, were darkening, but the sun gave spar-
the men who had encountered death. kling brilliance to the offices of great
Somewhere, between the affairs of skyscrapers.
the big shot and the dead engineers, lay Glinting rays of light were reflected
crime of an insidious nature. Goldy by the polished walls of futuristic build-
Tancred, feigning a connection with ings. Most conspicuous of these was
small- fry politicians, was seeking to the new Judnith Tower, which lifted its
cover up the game. jutting shaft ninety-five stories toward
Clearly, The Shadow saw that Goldy's the sky. A
pinnacle that formed a
pretensions were a bluff that he was ; tribute to modern engineering, 'this
using the unsuspecting Mohawks as an structure added a new spectacle to Man-
alibi. Just as plainly, The Shadow knew hattan's sky line
that there had been a definite purpose The highest office the
floor was
in the killings of Reardon and Furness. ninety-third. There, in a private office,
The echoes of The Shadow's laugh a bespectacled stout man was studying
persisted. At last, like dying whispers the afternoon edition of a New York
from invisible ghosts, they faded into daily. Behind his flat-topped mahogany
nothingness. Only impenetrable dark- desk, he was reading rewritten accounts
ness remained within the sanctum. of the tragedy at the Olympia Hotel.
Strange darkness! Like a shroud it A knock at the door. The stout man
had veiled the presence of the master laid the paper aside, ordered the per-
mind. From that darkness, The Shadow son to come in. A
stenographer entered
had gone into light. He would find the man at the desk peered toward her
—
darkness again for The Shadow struck through his gold-rimmed glasses.
best from Stygian gloom. is after five o'clock, Mr. Fawcett,"
"It
This time, however, a curious analogy said the girl. "The office force has left.
remained. Out of darkness had The I amgoing now, unless you have some
Shadow gone. Into darkness he must additional letters that must be mailed."
come to deal with the hidden foe. For "Quite all right to leave," responded
The Shadow, now, was dealing with Fawcett. "I intend to wait for Hobbs.
strange fighters who also had used He couldn't get back to town in time
blackness to mask their crimes for the sales conference this noon."
It was darkness that The Shadow The stenographer nodded and left.
sought. It was darkness that he would The stout man resumed his reading for
find. That strange black hush that had a short while, then dropped the paper
fallen over the Olympia Hotel would and arose from the desk. He strolled to
, spread its blanketing depths again. the window and looked down toward the
Its sinister folds would envelop The streets of the city that were spread out
Shadow along with fiends of crime. The below him.
Shadow had begun his campaign against Then, with a smile upon his lips, Faw-
the menace of the black hush! cett went from his corner office. He
entered another room, and closed the

CHAPTER IV. door behind him. The glass panel of his

private office bore the name
FROM THE TOWER.
In contrastto the impenetrable gloom
HECTOR FAWCETT
PRESIDENT
that always pervaded The Shadow's
sanctum, the light of day still shone Continuing, Fawcett reached another
above the island of Manhattan. It was door, and stepped throughit to an ante-

waning afternoon, and the city streets room, where a row of elevator doors
 ' !

THE SHADOW MAGAZINE IS

greeted his eye. The door behind him the salesmen to produce. Electro-
*-bore another legend: therapy was on the rise.
The proof? Fawcett, himself, had
CLIMAX CORPORATION
given up another profitable business to
ELECTRO-THERAPEUTICAL
develop this one. With faith in the fu-
EQUIPMENT
ture, he had leased this entire floor of
The elevator doors were heavy-metal the new Judruth Tower. The rental,
barriers that completely closed this ante- like the altitude, was high. Fawcett
room from the outside world. Hector wanted results, and he intended to get
Fawcett smiled in satisfaction. His eye them.
ran along the doors. All but one were The president recalled that he had
stopping points at the ninety-third floor. cited the case of Hobbs. The other
The sole exception was a special shaft salemen had never seen this member of
which ran exclusively to the observa- the force. The reason? Hobbs was al-
tion floors above. ways on the go. In and out of New
— —
York everywhere the man was a live
Sure that no one was loitering in the wire.
anteroom, Fawcett returned to his of- Some day, Fawcett had promised,
fices, leaving the door unlocked behind Hobbs would tell the other salesmen
him. This would be an invitation to the how he managed to produce. But, for
expected visitor. In the meantime, the the present, Hobbs was too busy taking
president of the Gimax Corporation be- orders from eager customers to make
gan a short tour through his suite of a sales talk.
offices. Still smiling in recollection, Hector

The entire space of the ninety-third Fawcett approached an inner office. This
floorwas occupied by the one enterprise. room, its door locked, served as a storage
Fawcett strolled from office to office. place for new items of equipment. Faw-
Each corner of the floor had a private cett, himself, had the only key. He
office like the one which the president opened the door, turned on the light,
occupied. But, with the exception of and looked over the assemblage of elec-
Fawcett's own room, these were devoid tricalapparatus.
of desks and chairs. Instead, they Most of the machines were duplicates
served as display rooms for electro- of items on display in the corner offices.
therapeutical equipment and many There was one noteworthy exception.
kindred devices. This was an oddly shaped device
Sun-ray machines, health devices, mounted on rubber wheels. It consisted
other items designed for treatment of of a cylindrical box with a curved door
illness —these made up a galaxy of shin- in the front. Above it, mounted on a
ing apparatus. Hector Fawcett's busi- thick post, was a burnished projector
ness was in keeping with the times. Peo- that resembled a searchlight.
ple were ready to purchase mechanical There was a control switch at the
inventions of this type. The business side. There were also focusing levers
was one that afforded tremendous and pivoting arrangements. These
profit. were oddly designed, but they were not
To-day, Fawcett had been in confer- the chief item of peculiarity. That lay
ence with his sales force. Standing in an the glazed front of the searchlight
.. one of the display rooms, he recalled the itself.
pep talk that he had given them. The The face of the projector was solid
Climax Corporation could fill orders as black
fast as they came in. It was up to An amazing paradox —a device that
 16 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
seemed designed for the issuance of buildings were masses of ore, among
light —
yet it was coated with a surface which were veins of profitable material. f

which light could not penetrate I Within a huge radius from the jud-
ruth Tower, that source of wealth was
Hector Fawcett's smile became a workable. —
From this office from the
laugh. The corporation president turned other corner rooms —Hector Fawcett
on his heel and left the storeroom. He could point his finger at the spots he
closed and locked the door behind him. wanted then, when the proper time ar-
;

He went back into his own office, and rived, he could arrange the action that
picked up the telephone from the desk. would bring prompt results.
In a methodical voice he gave a number. A promoter of experience, Hector
He recognized the tone that responded. Fawcett was now in back of a scheme
"Hello," greeted Fawcett. "Yes. that could mean millions. Completed
. . . Waiting now. . Yes, . . plans were ready. The first test had
I've been reading the newspapers right been made, and with it, the way had
here. . . . Exactly as we expected. been paved toward success.
. No reason for delay now."
. . Crime? What of it?
Fawcett was moving toward the win- Murder? It had proven necessary.
dow of the office standing there, he still
;
Such considerations did not restrain
talked in the telephone while he stared this man. His longing for gain sur-
outward and downward. passed all else. Behind an exterior that
"Yes," he continued, "I've made the denoted a business man of integrity, the
observations. It's up to Hobbs now. real Hector Fawcett was an individual
... No. No. ... A ... without conscience.
test is unnecessary. . . . Just the There was reason for his smile. In
sighting at the correct hour. . . . all his former schemes of promotion,

I'll call you later." Fawcett had carefully masked all un-
Hector Fawcett hung up the re- scrupulous activities. He knew how to
ceiver. He stood by the window and obtain the prestige that went with suc-
studied the vista of the city below. Aft- cessful business. President of the Cli-
ernoon was waning, even at this height, max Corporation, his affairs would pass
where the final rays of the setting sun the closest scrutiny.
lingered. Like Goldy Tancred, Hector Fawcett
Pygmy automobiles were passing was a man who had avoided crime. But
along the ribbonlike streets in the Fawcett had not even allowed himself
chasms between the buildings of Man- to deal with shady enterprises. Like
hattan. Tiny lights were twinkling from Goldy, Fawcett had watched his actions
myriad windows. purely because he knew the risk in-
Hector Fawcett chuckled. volved.
This altitude gave the bespectacled There were easier ways to make
man a sense of vast superiority. The money, but when crime could be perpe-
feeling would have been justified from trated with the dangers minimized, that
even a commercial standpoint the : altered the aspect. It was the attain-
thought of salesmen who had issued ment of such a condition that had turned
forth from here to find limitless sources Hector Fawcett to his present schemes.
of revenue among the thousands of po- High above the world, safe from ob-
tential customers in those buildings. servation, he felt positive that his ac-
But Fawcett's ideas were of a vaster tions were also free from possible detec-
scheme. Commercial enterprise meant tion. Sleuths could do their utmost,
nothing to this watcher. To him, those they would never reach this stronghold.
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 17

Many opportunities had come to Hec- "Reporter outside to see you," an-
tor Fawcett. This was the time that swered Curry. "Guy named Burke.
he had engaged in the promotion of a Comes from the Classic. Wants an in-
new and alluring enterprise—that of terview."
crime. Here was crime that would be Bowser Riggins offered an objection
fool-proof crime that had stood the
; before the big shot could make reply.
test crime that would increase in power
; "Say" the— —bodyguard's expression
with each succeeding effort. was a growl there
"ain't no end to
The sky was darkening now. In the those guys? There's been half a dozen
"
gloom of his office, Hector Fawcett up to see you, Goldy
turned away from the window, where The big shot waved his hand for si-
Manhattan lay helpless before his eyes. lence.
He had heard the sound of an open- "Show him in, Curry," he ordered.
ing door. His visitor had arrived. Turn- "I'll talk to him. I knew Burke."
ing on the light, Fawcett took his seat
behind the desk just as another man The hand when
big shot held out his
entered the room. Clyde Burke entered. Although he
Hector Fawcett smiled in greeting. made no effort to rise, Goldy's clasp was
This was the person he had expected. cordial as he received the reporter's
Known to the office as Hobbs, accepted handshake. Burke took a chair that
by others as a traveling salesman who Goldy pointed out to him, and drew the
spent most of the time on the road, this seat alongside that of Goldy's.
visitor was actually Hector Fawcett's "Listen, Goldy." Burke was serious
associate in stupendous crime. as he took up the conversation. "You
know what I'm after. A story. The
boys are all wise. What's the use of
CHAPTER V.
kidding them?"
BURKE REPORTS. "Wise to what?" queried Goldy
Goldy Tancred was seated in the suavely.
living room of his luxurious suite at the "Wise that somebody's out to get
Hotel Marathon. Bowser Riggins, the you," returned Clyde. "Why don't you
man whom he called a pal, and others give us something to work on? If you
termed his bodyguard, was lolling in a know who's on your trail, it won't hurt
corner by the window. to spill the news."
Attired in a dressing gown of gor- "No ?" Goldy's question came with
geous colors, Goldy Tancred appeared a smile that showed his shining dental
quite unconcerned in these surroundings. equipment. "Say, Burke, you're no nit-
He did not have the look of a hunted wit, like most of these news hounds.
man. Nevertheless, there was signifi- You don't think I'm a squawker, do
cance in the fact that he was not abroad ——
you? If I was" Goldy indulged in a
to-night. Normally, this big shot did contemptuous leer "I'd have been
not have the stay-at-home habit. pushing up posies long ago. Squawkers
A heavily built man entered the room don't go, that's all."
and turned a sour, motionless face in "Murder has been committed," said
Goldy's direction. Although dressed in the reporter gravely. "If you have any
a business suit, this fellow had the man- way of rectifying —of bringing justice
it

ner of a servant who had come to make against the killers —you should take the
an announcement. opportunity."
"What is it, Curry ?" questioned Goldy Tancred leaned back in his
Goldy. chair, and loosed a long horselaugh. He
SHAD—2 A
 ;

18 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE

looked toward Bowser Riggins, then be different then, Burke. I'd be forced
pointed at Clyde Burke. to admit_that they were on my trail.
"Listen to that, Bowser," chuckled "But as it is, I've got no proof. If
the big shot. "This column-filler talks I come out and try to place the marker
likeJoe Cardona. Remember the line on some bozo, I've got to make every
he passed out when he dropped in here one that I think is sore at me. What
this morning?" would that mean? I'll tell you— it
Bowser grinned and nodded. would give me a dozen enemies maybe —
now — — Goldy was speaking to Burke
"Say"-
"if I couldn't tell Cardona any-
two dozen.
"Instead of a flock of rats, I'd have
thing, you don't think I'd have any dope a troop of foxes on my list. You know
for you, do you ?" how those small-fry mobsters work.
"No," admitted Burke. "But when They hide out and run away until they
"
Cardona talked to you think they're in for something. Then
"I told him the truth." interposed they get nasty. So I'm just sitting back
Goldy. "I told him that I didn't know and saying nothing. That's all. No
of any rat that had nerve enough to try names. Not one."
to get me. I admitted there were a lot "Well," volunteered Burke, "if Car-
of boobs who might have it in for me dona "
is satisfied
because I had queered their cheap rack- "Satisfied?" came Goldy's interrupt-
ets for them. But I didn't need to name ing quiz. "Say, boy, he saw the light
them." mighty quick. You want to know why?
"Why not?" I'll tell you
—
provided that you don't
"Because Cardona already had the use it in your paper."
list. What do you think he pays a lot "Go ahead," said Burke.
of stool pigeons for
tell funny stories?
—
just to hear them "Cardona," explained Goldy, "figures
Listen, news hound. that the birds who bumped these elec-
If any guy was after me last night, trical engineers won't be satisfied until
Cardona has just as good a chance of they take another crack at me. He
guessing who he was as I have. believes me when I tell him I don't
"There's the whole lay. It's easier know who the killers are.
for Cardona to locate the bird he wants. "So he's laying quiet, like I am. Why
I'm not worried. I'm not going around should he stir up a lot of other rats—
to look for trouble. It's a police job or force me to do it? There's a bunch
lethim do it. It's his business" might take the trouble to come after
Goldy smiled more pleasantly when he me if they got worried. Then Cardona
saw Clyde Burke nod in agreement to would be stuck. He wants the guys who
his statement. killed the engineers to show
themselves
"Murder," said the big shot, becom- again.
ing somewhat serious "That's what is "I'll tell you what
I've done for Car-
—
was, Burke cold murder. Cardona is dona. I'm laying low, playing possum,
a smart detective. As a matter of fact, acting almost like I'm scared. That's a
he's beginning to convince me that they good come-on, isn't it? Of course, I'm
—
were really after me but at the same playing safe, even though this talk of
time, I'm not sure enough to say so. danger may be hokum. But if these
"Now suppose that a pot shot had tough bimboes want to waltz into trou-
been taken at me. Suppose that Bowser, ble of their own making, I'll be satisfied.
here, had taken a dose of lead trying So will Cardona."
to protect me from some sap who had Goldy Tancred grinned and clasped
more bullets than brains. Well, it would one hand with the other to demonstrate
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 19

an illustrative shake. It was an effort tell him when I see him. . . Yeah,
.

call you some day soon. ."

to explain the entente cordiale that ex- I'll . .

isted between Goldy and Joe Cardona. Goldy looked toward Bowser Riggins
Clyde Burke smiled. as he lowered the receiver.
"Thanks, Goldy," he said. "You've "Just been finding out I'm nothing but
explained what was puzzling me. a big playboy," he remarked. "That's
There's no story in it but it may mean — about the tenth guy that has called me
that something will break a lot quicker." up to go on a night-club party. Bunch
Despite his expression of new un- of chorus girls and other molls. They
derstanding, Clyde Burke had actually can. leave me out of the night life for a
learned nothing which he did not know while."
before. This unofficial arrangement be- The pretense was But
well done.
tween Cardona and Goldy Tancred was Clyde Burke sensed that Goldy Tancred
a logical procedure. In fact, it was had sought to cover up a message of
possible that the detective and the real importance. The reporter remem-
smooth racketeer handler might have bered that name that Goldy had men-
checked up the names of certain gang- tioned — Hobbs.
sters. Rising from his chair, Clyde Burke
Clyde's conversation had been in- cast a glance about the room. He noted
tended as a stall. He wanted to stay the elegant furnishings, and his eye fell
in Goldy 's suite as long as possible. That upon a corner by the window. book- A
was not part of his work for the Classic. case, set at right angles to the win-
It was a duty that had been ordered by dow, jutted out until it reached a hang-
The Shadow. ing curtain that draped to the window
ledge. Beyond the window, Clyde espied
While Clyde was thinking of some the brass railing of a balcony.
way to prolong the visit, the telephone "So long, Goldy," said the reporter.
rang on a table at Goldy Tancred's side. "Maybe I'll drop in again."
The big shot lifted the receiver. Clyde "Wait a moment," suggested the big
caught a gleam of the gold teeth as shot. "Bowser will ride down with
Goldy talked across the wire. you, Burke. He's going out."
"Hello. Yes.
. . .
." Goldy . . The bodyguard joined the reporter.
seemed intensely interested. "Yeah. They descended to the hotel lobby, and
... All right. That's settled then. left by the same door. There, their
. . . Hobhs will he there? Good. paths separated.
. . . Good. . . Ordinarily, Clyde Burke would have
Intense interest had entered Goldy 's gone directly to a telephone to communi-
eyes. Now, upon sudden thought, the cate with Burbank. The proximity of
big shot had apparently remembered that Bowser Riggins restrained him on this
a visitor was listening to his talk. Per- occasion.
haps it was the fact that he had men- Clyde covered several blocks before
tioned the name of Hobbs. Whatever he dropped into a drug store and entered
the cause of Goldy's change might have a phone booth. He obtained his number
been, the result was immediate. quickly, and talked with Burbank. In
"That's all right," continued Goldy, short, low sentences, Clyde stated that
in a noncommittal tone. "Glad you Goldy Tancred had received a suspicious
called. Sorry I can't be at the party. call, which involved the name of Hobbs.

. . . No, I'm feeling pretty good, He added the fact that he had noted con-
but I'm sticking around the apartment cerning the proximity of a bookcase to a
for the time being. . . . Sure — I'll balconied window.
20 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
"When Clyde Burke left the store, he
called a taxi and directed the driver to
take him to the Classic office. The re-
porter's only regret was that he had lost
fifteen minutes between the time of his
departure from Goldy's apartment, and
his arrival at the telephone booth. On
the contrary, he felt sure that he had
escaped "all observation.
In that thought, the reporter was
wrong. From the time that he had left
the Hotel Marathon, a skulking figure
had followed him along the opposite side
of the street. That same follower had
waited outside the drug store, and had
heard Clyde order the taxi man to take
him to the Classic.
Now, a fox-faced, dark- sweate red
gangster came into view, and scurried
away along a side street. The appear-
ance of Bowser Riggins with Clyde —
The man behind the guns "Ping" Slat-
Burke at the door of the hotel had been
terly.Ping is Goldy Tancred's right-hand
this skulker's tip to takeup the trail.
man, his active power. While Goldy
Such was Goldy Tancred's game. Se-
keeps hands off, Ping steps in and does
cretly, the overlord of racketeers was
the dirty work, thus maintaining the
in league with forces of the underworld.
power of his lord.
He had forces at his disposal, but he
kept them hidden.
A big shot de luxe, Goldy Tancred,
like Hector Fawcett, was a power in the
menace that was now impending. The A short, squat, hard-faced man was
black hush that had preceded murder ushered into the room. With the frame
at the Olympia Hotel had been no mys- of an orang-utan, a visage like a
tery to Goldy Tancred! chunk of hewn rock, and hands that
Clyde Burke, agent of The Shadow, looked like mallets, "Ping" Slatterly
had gained a partial inkling of that fact. looked like what he was the toughest—
Soon The Shadow, himself, would visit gang leader in the underworld.
the abode of Goldy Tancred "Hello, Ping," greeted Goldy.
"How're ya," returned the gang
CHAPTER VI.
leader. "Say—I've been stickin' around
on the floor below, waitin* to hear from
IN GOLDY'S APARTMENT.
—
you. Well what's the news ?"
Hardly had Clyde Burke left Goldy "All set."

Tancred's apartment before Curry en- "Yeah? Well, leave the rest to me.
tered to speak to his master. The I'll pull -this one like I did that job at
servant's expression was quiet. His tone the Olympia."
was confidential. He was announcing "You're laying low ?"
another visitor. —
"Say I'm like a dead log, Goldy.
"Ping Slatterly he informed. There ain't nothin' creepin' out, neither.

"Bring him in," ordered Goldy. There ain't nobody knows what's comin'
 !

THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 21

—even the mob I've got. They're wait- sash began to rise. Through the open-
in' for the word; an' they're keepin' ing came a long, black silhouette that
mum while they wait, projected itself across the floor.
—
"I'm just nobody see? They think Something blotted out the reflecting

—
I'm through all tough looks an' no surface of the raised windowpane. The
punch. That's the way they're goin' to sash moved downward. The silhouette
stay. I mean the guys that ain't in the advanced across the floor. Seemingly
know. I've got my mob trained all from outer darkness, a tall figure
right." materialized. It developed into the
"Stay away from here," warned shape of a being clad entirely in black.
Goldy, "until I send for you. That With cape reaching from his shoul-
won't be until after we pull the job. ders, with hands incased in thin black
You're sure that it's all set?" gloves, his features obscured by the
"Just the way we want it, Goldy. turned-down brim of a slouch hat, The
Douse the glims, an' I don't care if Shadow stood within the confines of
there's a hundred bulls in the place. Goldy Tancred's living room
How about the bump-off at the Olym- A soft, whispered laugh came from
pia? Good, eh?" invisible lips. The black-hatted head
"Perfect," admitted Goldy. tilted upward. A pair of burning eyes
Ping Slatterly's huge chest swelled. studied the scene. Those glowing op-
The evil-faced gang leader leered. He tics turned in the direction of the book-

sauntered toward the door, with Goldy case, close beside the window.
Tancred following, and turned to deliver The position of the heavy article of
his parting expression of assurance. furniture answered Clyde Burke's de-
"They'll all be close to me, see?" he scription to Burbank. The Shadow
eoncluded. "When I shoot on the bull's- stooped; a small object showed in his
eye, the rest is easy. Each guy has his hands.
place. Teamwork. Fast pick-up and With calm precision, the strange vis-
a quick get-away. You've got it set for itantmoved the bookcase slightly away
fifteen minutes, huh?" from the wall, and attached a small in-
"That's the time." strument. The bookcase moved back.
"Soft. Nothin' to it. Wait and see." The Shadow's hands urged a thin wire
Curry appeared at Goldy Tancred's inbehind the curtain. They continued
call. The servant went with Ping Slat- todraw the connection toward the win-
terly down a flight of stairs. He was dow.
taking the gang leader to a service ele- Suddenly, the worker stopped. Step-
vator on a lower floor. dumb op- A ping half behind the curtain, he became
erator, an exit at the rear of the hotel entirely motionless. Not even the slight-
— that was the course which Ping Slat- est rustling of the hanging betrayed his
terly took when he visited the big shot. presence. The long silhouette still
stretched its black shape across the floor,
Back in his living room, Goldy Tan- but it did not waver.
cred strolled about, smoking a cigarette. Curry had entered the room. The
His teeth gleamed in occasional smiles. servant was closing the place for the
At with a bored expression, the big
last, night. He walked directly to the win-
shot sauntered from the room. dow, passed within inches of The Shad-
Minutes drifted by. Not a sound ow's hidden form, and tried the sash to
came to this apartment, high up above find it locked. Wheeling, Curry went
the street. Then, so slowly that its mo- back toward the outer door and extin-
tion was almost unnoticeable, a window guished the light.
22 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
Departing footsteps faded through the owner of the apartment was away. Up-
hallway beyond the room. The Shad- stairs, in Goldy Tancred's living room,
ow's laugh came in a sinister whisper. The Shadow had attacked one end of a
By absolute stillness, this weird in- dictograph connection. Here, he had
vestigator had completely avoided dis- hooked the line with the telephone.
covery. That was The Shadow's pur- Through a perfected mechanism of
pose on this night. hisown invention, The Shadow now had
The window sash moved upward. The the communication that he desired. It
Shadow reached the balcony. Invisible, merely remained for Burbank to call up
he lowered the sash so subtly that it this apartment. The ringing of the bell
seemed to creep downward of its own would do the rest. The call would ap-
accord, inch by inch. A steel instrument parently be completed actually, a con- ;

entered between the sections of the sash.
An unseen hand relocked the window
from the outside, so perfectly that no
trace of the deed remained.
The free end of the wire dropped from
the balcony and bung down the dark-
ened wall of the hotel. The Shadow's
phantom figure moved to the end
then stretched itself upward and out-
ward. Long, strong fingers caught the
projecting cornice of a window above.
Qimbing like a human fly, The Shadow
reached his goal and entered an apart-
ment.
This place was occupied, but no one
was awake. The Shadow's cloak
nection would be formed with the dicto-
graph line. This meant that Burbank
could listen in at will to whatever was
said in Goldy Tancred's place.
By hanging up bis own receiver, Bur-
bank would complete the supposed call.
Thus The Shadow's hidden agent could
rail, follow everything at a distance, when-
ever the occasion might require. There
would be some long calls over this wire
during the next few days!
The flashlight went out. The Shadow
swished through darkness. The closed
apartment was once more empty. The
Shadow's work was done.
Impending crime Could The Shadow
!

swished slightly as its wearer made his learn its secret ? Would his efforts
way to an outer door. Silence lingered frustrate the schemes of evildoers ?

after The Shadow had departed. To-night, Clyde Burke had gained an
inkling. The Shadow, although too late
Ten minutes afterward, a window to witness Ping Slatterly's visit, had ac-
opened in an apartment a few floors be- complished something that would re-
low Goldy Tancred's domicile. An in- veal to him all telephone calls and con-
visible hand stretched out into the night, versations in which Goldy Tancred
and caught the end of the slender, hang- might be concerned.
ing wire. A tiny flashlight threw a Well had The Shadow planned His !

dollar-sized disk of light upon the wall eyes had seen now his ears would hear.
;

of the apartment where The Shadow Important contact formed, The Shadow
now was. A gloved hand drew the end held a great advantage.
of the wire to the bell box of a tele- Only one factor served to spoil The
phone, that was set against the wall. Shadow's measures. To-night, Goldy
There, The Shadow attacked another Tancred had completed plans so effec-
mechanism. The operation here re- tively that the big shot had decided to
quired a multitude of details. When it abandon all communication for the
was completed, The Shadow stepped present.
back and viewed the completed job with Unwittingly, Goldy had acted with
the light of his tiny torch. great wisdom. The black hush was due
This was a private telephone, and the to fall again — in a place other than the
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 23

Olympia Hotel. Where it came, crime A hardened mobsman in walk, ap-

would follow. Until then, Goldy was pearance, and demeanor, The Shadow
preserving silence. shuffled away from the little store where
The ingenuity of The Shadow had al- he had made the telephone call. His
ready been counteracted by the man who —
dragging footsteps a strange contrast
did not even suspect its presence. to the quick glide of a phantom figure
in black —
were turning toward one of
the most notorious dives in the bad-
CHAPTER VII.
lands.
THE SHADOW MOVES.
Thoroughly familiar with every
"Burbank speaking." feature of the underworld, The Shadow
This was the statement that came was undertaking a swift and methodical
over the wire. The reply, made from process of elimination. His analysis of
a telephone booth, was uttered in the approaching crime had connected Goldy
quiet voice of The Shadow. Tancred with the activities of some gang
"Report." leader. One by one. The Shadow had
"Nothing." visited the hang-outs where representa-
There was a tinge of helpless regret tives of different mobs were wont to ap-
in Burbank's final word. The Shadow's pear.
hidden agent, usually unemotional in his His keen eyes, obscured by the visor
conversation, had realized his present of a wrinkled cap, had studied the
inability to help. bloated faces of a score of sordid mobs-
The receiver clattered in the telephone men. His sharp ears had listened for
booth where The Shadow stood. Si- snatches of conversation. Yet the
lence followed while The Shadow cause had been fruitless. The Shadow
planned. had learned many facts but none of
;

Two days had passed since The Shad- them gave evidence of a connection with
ow's visit to Goldy Tancred's apart- the case that now needed his attention.
ment. In that space of time, not one In the middle of a darkened alley, the
report of consequence had come from shuffling figure paused and turned to
Burbank. Night had come once more, descend a flight of broken stone steps.
and with it, a new threat of unknown His hand pushed open a rickety door.
action by dangerous men of crime. With hunched shoulders, the visitor en-
The door of the phone booth swung tered an underground den where some
open. It was not, however, a tall black two dozen mobsmen were assembled be-
figure that emerged. Instead, the hud- neath the glare of two large incan-
dled form of a shifty, cap-and-sweat- descents.
ered gangster made its appearance.
The Shadow, master of disguise, was Toughened gunmen turned toward
garbed as a ruffian of the underworld. the doorway as the newcomer appeared.
While Burbank waited, hopeful for They saw a grimy, square-jawed visage
news to-night, The Shadow, himself, beneath the cap visor. Somewhat suspi-
had penetrated into gangdom's terrain. ciously, they accepted this stranger as
This was the second successive night one of their own ilk. Not one man
upon which The Shadow had visited the present suspected that he was viewing-
underworld. Denizens of the badlands, The Shadow.
unaware that their common foe was No mobsman could truthfully boast
among them, had accepted the disguised that he had ever seen the face of The
vi sitant merely as an unrecognized Shadow. There was a few who claimed
gangster. that they had seen his mysterious shape,
24 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
and all descriptions agreed that The sters prepared to leave. The Shadow,
Shadow was a tall being, habitually however, had learned all that he needed
garbed in black. Had this stoop-shoul- to know. The objective of the gangsters
dered gangster announced hi s true could not be the Windsor Theater it-
identity, no one in this dive would have self, for the old, closed playhouse of-
believed his words. fered no attraction to men of crime.
This was one underworld hang-out Rut the mention of the alley alongside
that had no exact title. Once it had been was a give-away. A fashionable apart-
called Gorky's Joint, in honor of its pro- ment house was located next door to
prietor. Rut Gorky's period of owner- the theater, and it could well be a lure
ship had terminated amid a barrage of to smart crooks.
gun play that had counted him a victim.
Since then, three proprietors had taken Thaddeus Harmon lived in that
charge in turn. building. New
Yorkers had heard
Nevertheless, the place had become much of him during the past few weeks.
an indiscriminate meeting spot for lesser A millionaire whose name was fre-
gangsters who patronized it as a speak- quently in the news, Thaddeus Harmon
easy, A melting pot where rival gang- had expresed his approval of valuable
sters seemed to forget their feuds, the gems as an investment.
dive had assumed the distinction of a He had spoken of important pur-
neutral territory. chases which he had made through dia-
The unknown gangster drifted over mond merchants, and it was a known
to a table at the side of the room. He fact that he had invited wealthy friends
flung a crumpled dollar bill in front of to see the collection of resplendent gems
him, and a grimy-faced waiter brought that he brought back and forth from
in a bottle and a glass. The unknown ; storage vault to apartment.
poured out a long drink, but let the glass Until now, The Shadow had been un-
stand idle while he stared glumly toward able to lay his finger upon the exact type
the barren wall. of crime which might be impending.
Drifters of the underworld were here Murder —cold and exacting—had been
to-night but among them were a few
; the toll the Olympia Hotel. More
at
who looked like regular mobsmen. The murder —racketeering — blackmail — all
Shadow, in choosing his table, had these had been possibilities.
picked a spot close by a promising pair. But the connection of two sullen-
Now, apparently indifferent to what faced gangsters with a rendezvous in a
was going on about him, he was listen- deserted between the Windsor
alley
ing to the conversation of these gun- Theater and the next-door apartment
men. was a definite clew that pointed to un-
"It's nearly ten o'clock," came a usual crime.
growl. The men had spoken of one whom
"Yeah," was the reply. "Wait'll I The Shadow knew of
they called "Ping."
have another drink. I'll be goin' with Ping Slatterly —a gang leader who had
you." recently dropped out of sight. The fact
"You'd better be. Ping ain't the guy that these rowdies were connected with
that'll stand for hokum. It's a long so formidable an evildoer was im-
jump from here up to the old Windsor portant. Whether or not Ping Slatterly
Theater, an' we've got to do a sneak was Goldy Tancred's unidentified asso-
into the back alley when we finally get was in keeping with The Shad-
ciate, it
"
there ow's policy to impede the progress of
The conversation broke as the gang- impending crime.
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 25

Such opportunity was here. The beefy-faced man stood glowering into
Shadow had gained a definite mission. the underground dive. His bulky form
With other possibilities exhausted, the blocked The Shadow's path.
investigation had tapered down to a A buzz swept through the room. The
point where almost any definite warning newcomer was known to the assemhled
of crime could be regarded as a clew crowd. He was a hard-boiled gangster
to Goldy Tancred's enterprise. who went under the name of "Smash"
As the two mobsmen concluded their Harlow ;
directly behind him was the
conversation and prepared to leave the stocky figure of his pal, "Bozo" Guckert.
sordid den, The Shadow shifted away Glancing downward, Smash Harlow
from the table where he was seated. saw the disguised figure of The Shadow.
Still playing the part of a wandering He observed a face that was tough and
gangster, he was about to take up the grimy.
trail of these lesser crooks. In bullying fashion, Smash expressed
The Shadow knew their destination; an immediate dislike toward the person
he had knowledge of their possible goal. who blocked his path.
Nevertheless, he could accomplish most "Out of the way, dopey," he growled.
by following them. Often, in the past, "Whatcha tryingto do —
hog the whole
The Shadow had thwarted the schemes doorway ?"
of malefactors by suddenly appearing in Guffaws came from mobsters within
the midst of their trusted cohorts. the dive.
Once these men were clear of this "Poke him one, Smash," came an
speakeasy, The Shadow could trail them urging cry. "He doesn't belong in this
with ease. His slow-motion action at joint, anyway."
the table was calculated to give them a Smash continued to glower. When
short head start. he saw that the figure before him did
The pair had left through the door not move away, the bullying mobster
by the time The Shadow was standing did more than try a punch. With a
on the floor. With the leisurely shamble quick jerk, he pulled a large revolver
of a purposeless mobster, The Shadow from his pocket, and thrust the muzzle
moved slowly toward the exit. directly toward the hawklike nose that
His perfect disguise now served him was before him.
well. Many eyes were upon him, but Finger on the trigger, Smash was
none suspected him to be other than an ready to shoot down this small- fry
unimportant toady of some lesser mob. mobster who had no friends.
There were two stone steps up to the Then came swift action. The stoop-
door. On one side was the wall on ; shouldered figure seemed to lengthen.
the other, an iron rail. The Shadow The Shadow's long left arm shot di-
reached this point. With bowed head rectlyupward, and caught Smash Har-
and sullen lips, he grasped the rail. low's wrist. As the beefy man fired,
His departure was timed to perfec- the bullet took an upward course, and
tion. But for the intervention of crashed against the stone ceiling.
chance, he would have been outside of Smash Harlow had no opportunity
.the dive within the next few seconds. for another voluntary action. The
Shadow's right arm had caught him
An unexpected occurrence stopped now. Raised by the crouching form that
The Shadow's plan. As his forward wore the sweater, Smash was lifted clear
foot reached the first of the stone steps, from the steps.
the door of the speakeasy was flung With a terrific upward snap, his as-
open. A huge, broad-shouldered, sailant threw him headlong. The big
26
man's body whirled as it swept over the
cap which The Shadow wore. Smash
Harlow's revolver sailed from his grasp
and clattered against the wall a mo-
ment later, his bulky form landed prone
upon the floor.
Bozo Guckert was drawing his re-
volver. He never had a chance to use
THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
suers in hand-to-hand combat. ,But, on
this occasion, he could not afford the
time. The encounter with Smash Har-
; low and Bozo Guckert had consumed
valuable minutes. The two gunmen
whom The Shadow was following had
gained too great a headway. There was
only one course now to make for the
:

it. Straightening forward with in- destination which they had named.
credible swiftness, The Shadow made This offered obstacles. The Shadow,
a sideswipe with his left fist. The blow still using the pose of a shambling gang-

knocked the revolver from Bozo's hand ster, was forced to choose a circuitous
then, with a continued motion, The course in order to avoid the mobsmen
Shadow's right arm swung. who were prowling in search of him.
A fist like a trip hammer caught Bozo He could not afford to waste precious
Guckert on the chin. The powerful moments in purposeless combat.
punch lifted the mobster clear over the At last, his scurrying figure appeared
rail beside the steps. Bozo Guckert upon a street which bore the appearance
landed back downward upon a table of a respectacle neighborhood. Away
where two gangsters were sitting. The from the borders of the underworld,
flimsy piece of furniture crashed be- The Shadow was free to make all speed.
neath his weight. Stooped and hurrying, he approached a
In the midst of the confusion, the powerful coupe that was parked beside
unknown gangster who had so ably de- the curb.
fended himself made a swift departure. It was then that new eyes saw the
Guns flashed into view. Shotswere fired huddled figure. A
challenge came from
at the spot where The Shadow had been. across the street, as a policeman hurried
The bullets of the excited mobsmen up to find out what this sweatered in-
found no target other than the closing dividual was doing beside the expensive
door. automobile.
Nevertheless, the chase was on. * Quickly, The Shadow slipped within
Smash Harlow and Bozo Guckert were the car. His cap dropped to the floor
popular in this dive. Half a dozen beside him. The sweater seemed to peel
gangsters leaped to their feet, ready to itself from his body. It fell also and ;

avenge the downfall of their friends. from the back of the seat came a
The snarling mobsters swarmed to the crushed opera hat, which popped open
exit. They reached the alley and fired and reached The Shadow's head just as
pot shots in the dark as they spread out the officer arrived.
in different directions. White hands came up and pressed
They could not find their man. Some- against the grimy visage. They seemed
how — somewhere —he had slippedfrom to be wipingaway the traces of dirt and ;

view. with it, they were forming a molding

process. The action continued as the
While the mobsmen were hustling officer circled the coupe. Just as the
along the alley, the stoop-shouldered policeman thrust a flashlight into the
figure which The Shadow had chosen open window, the white hands dropped
as his disguise appeared from between to the steering wheel of the car.
two buildings on another street. "Hey, you !" came the policeman's
Swift, stealthy, and spectacular, The growl. "What areyou doing in this
»
Shadow would readily have met his pur- car
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
The officer's challenge ended with a "That's not necessary," vouchsafed
surprised man attired in full-dress the policeman. "Sorry to have bothered
- clothes and wearing an opera hat. Ques- you."
tioning eyes were staring at the open- "I was just about to pull out," re-
mouthed policeman. marked Lamont Cranston, replacing the
"What is it, officer?" came a calm card in his pocket. "I had only been
voice. m the car a minute or two. If a man
"Guess I made a mistake, sir/' re- had been lurking near, I should cer-
turned the policeman. "Thought I saw tainly have seen him."
a tough-looking rowdy fooling around "It's all right," returned the police-
this car. There wasn't anybody trying man. "Go ahead, sir. I'll look around
to get in, was there?" some more. Just a suspicious charac-
"I saw no one," responded the gen- was all."
ter, that

tleman at the wheel. "Perhaps if you

look around a bit, you might find the Lamont Cranston's lips wore a
man you observed." smile as his hands turned the wheel and

The policeman stepped to the side- the car pulled away. The Shadow had
walk and looked in both directions. worn a double disguise to-night. Be-
Grumbling foolishly, he came back to neath his sweater and baggy trousers
the coupe. The calm-faced man held was a closely tailored full-dress suit.
out a license card ; the officer noted that He was kicking off the trousers now.
.

it bore the name Lamont Cranston. The officer had not seen them in the
dark.
The gangster
bloated face had
changed to a dignified countenance as if
by magic. The difference had lain
partly in expression partly in grimy
;

make-up, which had been quickly wiped

away with skillful motions.
The Shadow was now playing the part
of Lamont Cranston, millionaire club-
man, well-known in Manhattan. It was
one of his most effective guises. Whirl-
ing up Fifth Avenue, The Shadow was
bound for the apartment house which
adjoined the old Windsor Theater.
Now, however, The Shadow's smile
was grim. Two delays : one at the
dive ; the other with the officer — these
had obstructed his plan of action. There
was no chance to overtake the mobsters
who had gone on duty.
Only one possible course could be
taken. As Lamont Cranston, The
Shadow would appear at Thaddeus Har-
Behind the man who is behind Ping mon's apartment, playing the part of an
Slatterly, is —
another man Hector Faw- unexpected guest.
cett—a man who, under the guise of re- That was The Shadow's move. It was
spectable business, furnishes the means the method that he must now employ to
for the nefarious work in this story. cope with crime.
 28 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
CHAPTER VIII. to be a risk —bringing these jewels up
IN THE PENTHOUSE. here, and leaving them apparently un-
guarded.
Thaddeus Harmon was entertaining "Let me inform you that this pent-
in his penthouse, atop the roof of the house is impregnable. Were it situated
apartment house which adjoined the old upon the top of the Rock of Gibraltar,
Windsor Theater. The apartment it could be no safer than it is at the
house, like many of Manhattan's huge present moment.
residential structures, had no name. It "Whenever I bring my valuables here
was designated merely by its street num- for display, I have detectives stationed
ber. in this penthouse, and also on the
The building was only a short distance ground floor of the apartment building.
west of Fifth Avenue. Going along a They are private men, all capable and
cross street from Fifth to Sixth, one ready for emergency.
passed the entrance to the apartment "There are two ways to reach this
house before reaching the old Windsor penthouse. By elevator, the way which
Theater. all of you came, and through the fire

Perched upon a building of some tower. Both routes terminate on the

twenty stories in height, Thaddeus Har- ground floor In this room, I have a
mon's penthouse formed an isolated special alarm. It is operated on a sys-
spot. The millionaire had chosen it for tem of its own. With it, I can immedi-
that very reason. Here, to-night, he ately notify the men downstairs. There
could entertain wealthy guests in abso- is also the telephone; but it is not neces-
lute seclusion. In fact, Harmon was sary to rely upon it.

commenting upon that very fact. "Should any dangerous persons en-
Standing in the middle of a sumptu- ter here —
and entrance would not be
ous living room, with a long, thin cigar difficult —
they would find it quite a task
clipped between his fingers, the million- to capture the jewels, with my men on
aire was addressing a dozen guests who guard. Should they succeed, they
were seated about the room. While he would find escape the great problem.
talked, Harmon waved his cigar toward The sounding of the alarm would enable
an oddly shaped cabinet that stood the men below to trap them.
against the wall. Strong and bulky, this "No matter what might occur, my
article of furniture had a heavy, broad- men below will remain at their stations
hinged top. in the lobby until they hear the special
- "There you are," remarked the mil- alarm, which cannot fail to work, or re-
lionaire. "Nearly half a million dol- ceive a direct telephone call from this
lars' worth of gems underneath that lid. penthouse. So be at ease, every one.
The cabinet is unlocked. All I have to My possessions are quite secure."
do is raise the lid, and the jewels will-
be accessible to any one who wants The guests seemed pleased at Thad-
them." deus Harmon's assurance. They had
The millionaire paused to smile while alllearned that detectives were present
he drew a few long puffs upon his pana- it was easy to pick out the qitartet of
tella. sleuths who were stationed in the room.
"I am mentioning a few facts," he The additional precautions, however,
continued, "because certain of my guests came as an interesting revelation.
have expressed apprehension regarding "When the rest of my guests arrive,"
the safety of my valuables. They have declared Harmon, "I shall show the
wondered why I run what they consider gems to the entire company. There are
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
only two or three who are not yet here. The millionaire's gaze turned toward
I expect them shortly." the elevator shafts. His manner seemed
A few seconds after the millionaire expectant. In fact, Harmon was as
concluded, the telephone rang. Thad- anxious to reveal his gems as his guests
deus Harmon answered it himself. He were to see them.
repeated names of persons who were Soon one of those heavy elevator
announced from the iobby. Then a doors would open to admit the final
pleased expression came upon his face. members of the privileged group whom
"Ah!" he exclaimed. "You say that Thaddeus Harmon had invited here to-
Mr. Lamont Cranston is calling? Yes, night.
indeed! Tell him to come up with the A vertical row of tiny incandescents
!"
others was set beside each elevator. Harmon
Hanging up the receiver, Harmon an- noticed the lowest light of one row. The
nounced that the final guests were now bulb flickered ; the one above it lighted.
on their way to the elevator. He added The indicators changed in slow suc-
that another visitor was coming up with cession. This elevator was coming up.
them. Itwas bringing the final visitors with —
"You will enjoy meeting Lamont them Lamont Cranston.
Cranston," lie stated. "The man is a con- Puffing his panatella, Thaddeus Har-
noisseur where valuable gems are con- mon serenely watched the indicated
cerned. He
has a remarkable collection progress. A quiet, gray-haired gentle-
of his own, and every jewel is unique. man, the millionaire had a habit of for-
A great traveler, Cranston. I did not gettingall about him while he watched

know that he had arrived back in town. something that consumed his interest.
"His presence will be most welcome He was, entirely oblivious to the con-
as I have acquired two diamonds which versation of his guests as he counted
he may be able to identify. Wonderful the floors that the elevator was passing.
legends attach themselves to certain —
"Sixteen-— seventeen" Harmon's lips
gems. To me, such stories, when veri- were silently forming the numbers—
"
fied, are quite as valuable as the stones "eighteen
themselves." The countended. Without an in-
Thaddeus Harmon motioned to two stant's warning, the penthouse was
of the detectives. The men strolled blanketed in complete darkness. Even
across the living room and stationed the lights of the elevator indicator went
themselves beside the cabinet which con- out as the pall of gloom fell.

tained the collection of jewels. The

other pair of sleuths took positions near
the outer door.
This was evidently the final precau-
tion. As soon as the late guests had
been welcomed, the curiosity of the vis-
itors would be satisfied. With the jew-
els under competent guard, the collec-
tion would be viewed in safety.
Thaddeus Harmon turned toward the
door of his living room, and glanced
out into an anteroom which served also
as an elevator corridor. He could just
see the bulky door of the fire tower,
past the row of elevators.
With all the thickness of a cloudy,
blackened night, a fearsome darkness
seemed to tell of impending disaster.
Even the windows of the apartment
were blotted out completely.
Impenetrable gloom had taken full
command. The entire building was
wrapped in a shroud that prevented the
entrance of even a distant glare!
Yet the completeness of that dark
was not fully comprehended by those
who were within it. Other phenomena
had occurred as well. With that stroke
of blackness, not only the electric lights,
 ! ;

30 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE

but every other current-controlled de- henchmen were coming through the
vice within the entire building had gloom.
failed The sound of the advance had not
The rising elevator was stalled mid- reached the group in the penthouse liv-
way between the eighteenth and the ing room. There, Thaddeus Harmon
nineteenth floors. Telephone service was was groping his way to the alarm
automatically ended. The special alarm switch.
between the penthouse and the ground Detectives were trying to get results
floor was rendered worthless! —
with their flashlights all in vain. Even
Gasps of surprise and fright seemed these appliances had succumbed to the
muffled as they came from the Hps of strange force of the black hush.
Thaddeus Harmon's guests. The sen- A match flickered ; its illumination did
sation of a choking, suffocating power not carry far. Even the face of the
gripped every one. The darkness had guest who had ignited it was not dis-
the reality of a solid substance. It tinguishable. It needed greater light
menaced; it throttled; it brought a fear than that to pierce this thick haze of
of blindness. blackness.
Those within the pall scarcely dared The light came. From the doorway,
to move. Hands clawed feebly at chair the glare of a bull's-eye lantern flashed
arms. Persons arose to grope their way suddenly into view. Supplied by acejjf-
to a less dreadful spot; then dropped lene, this instrument of illumination -

back to their seats, awed by the terrible brought a strange brilliance throughout
sensation. the living room. Guests and detectives
Caught by hideous alarm, Thaddeus were staring at the bright spot through
Harmon spent every ounce of effort as a murky atmosphere.
he managed to move slowly back into the A voice spoke from behind the lan-
living room. This weird darkness tern. Its tones were utter^.in a harsh
savored of the unknown. Its terror growl that was plainly aumble, despite
caused the millionaire to tremble. the muffling effect that pervaded the
It was the strangeness of the thick air.

gloom that produced this effect. Actu- "We've got you covered" Ping Slat-
— —
ally, those within it were free agents terly was talking "and the first one
yet the unbelievable condition of ab- that moves gets bumped. Do you savvy
!"
solute dark could not be combated by that? Stick up your mitts
these persons who were experiencing Thaddeus Harmon yanked the alarm
it for the first time. just as Slattery spoke. Then the mil-
A
menace shrouded the atmosphere lionaire backed against the wall, with
of the penthouse. The black hush had arms upraised. His action was followed
come; and in its wake, crime was due promptly by his guests. The detectives,
to follow! in turn, sullenly obeyed Ping's com-
mand. The suddenness of the attack
CHAPTER IX. had caught them completely unprepared.
"We're not worryin' about that
THE ROBBERY. alarm," informed Ping, in his harsh
Invisible men were moving through voice. "Yank it again, if you want.
thick darkness. While silence still per- Try the telephone, too. It won't do
sisted in Thaddeus Harmon's living you no good."
room, the invasion of crime was on its His words were followed by an order
way. Issuing from the door of the fire to his henchmen. Two roughly garbed
tower, Ping Slatterly and his group of invaders stepped into the glare of the
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 31

acetylenelight. Between them, they other had a revolver in his hand, and
were carrying a double-handled bag. was turning it menacingly in all direc-
These men were masked. It was impos- tions.
sible to identify them as they moved Thaddeus Harmon groaned at the
straight toward the cabinet against the thought of his plight.
wall. This unexplainable situation was one
While the detectives remained help- for which he had not provided. Fully
lessunder the threat of unseen guns, one did he realize the helplessness of the
of the mobsters opened the top of the present conditions. The elimination of
cabinet. Grimy hands dipped into the light throughout the apartment house
large jewel chest. Out came sparkling would mean nothing to the men sta-
gems, which were dropped into the bag tioned on the ground floor. There was
in glittering array. no reason for them to suspect trouble
in the penthouse unless they received
Thaddeus Harmon forgot caution. a summons by telephone or heard the
The sight of his valuable collection of specially wired alarm.
precious stones, taken openly before his The invaders had come from the fire
eyes, was too much for the maddened tower. They would depart by the same
millionaire. He made no attempt to at- route. In this amazing blackness, which
tack the robbers, but he did follow the only the acetylene torch seemed capable
advice which Ping Stfatterly had sug- of penetrating, they could make a swift
gested. escape. Already they had captured the
Seizing the telephone, Harmon raised jewels. Half a million dollars was slip-
the instrument from its hook and tried ping away unhindered!
to establish a connection. The experi- Pursuit ?
ment convinced him that the leader of Harmon realized that would be im-
it
the invaders had spoken the truth. The possible until after the crooks had made
telephone was dead. good their escape. They could easily
Ping Slatterly laughed. His workers barricade the door of the fire tower be-
were completing their job in rapid time. hind them. A
hurried flight down the
The top of the cabinet descended with a —
stairway of the tower that would con-
thump that sounded muffled in the clude the raid.
gloom. The gang leader saw a detective The millionaire knew that the elevator
shift uneasily. He growled an order. and alarm,
service, like lights, telephone,
A revolver spoke through the dark- had been interrupted. Harmon and his
ness. Its suppressed roar was a warn- detectives were trapped here in the pent-
ing. Abullet flattened itself against house. Until the black hush ended,
the wall above the detective's head. The they could not move.
threat was sufficient.
"Remember" — Slatterly's tone fol- Ping Slatterly, still out of sight
lowed the abbreviated echoes of the re- behind the glare of the acetylene light,
volver shot
—
"the first guy that moves was emitting a gloating chuckle. He
gets drilled. We're leavin' you but — knew that his warning would be heeded. "'

we'll be back quick enough if anybody
tries to make trouble. It won't be safe
to try anythin' until the lights come on
again. Forget these sparklers if you
know what's good for you. Savvy?"
The men were backing away from the
cabinet. One was lugging the bag; the
No one would dare move until com-
plete illumination returned. It would
be suicidal, even after the acetylene lamp
had been extinguished. Ping's threat
of lurkers in the dark was too potent to
forget.
Events had passed swiftly since the
32 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE

One was lugging

the bag; the other
had a revolver
his hand . . . V

invaders had arrived. The purloining
of the gems had been a rapid action.
Less than four minutes had elapsed
since the black hush had fallen, up to
the time of the warning shot that had
ended all thoughts of resistance, or at-
tempted recovery of the stolen wealth.
Ping Slatterly had estimated that the
descent through the fire tower would re-
quire no more than four additional min-
utes. This allowed for a complete
escape before any one outside of the
penthouse could possibly know that
trouble had occurred here.
Until the black hush was lifted, these
people would be helpless. Knowledge
of that fact was the only reason why
Ping had desisted from murder. This
SHAD—2A
 !

THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 33

fiendish gang leader would gladly have If Thaddeus Harmon fell, riddled by
massacred the helpless detectives, but he bullets,a second before the acetylene
was under orders to concentrate upon light made the only thoughts of
its exit,
the removal of the gems. the remaining people would be the fear
AH that he wanted was a good ex- of death. That terror would persist;
cuse to shoot some helpless victims. and when the penthouse lights returned,
The warning shot had shown the ten- confusion would occur at the sight of
dency of Ping Slatterly's evil brain to- Thaddeus Harmon's slain body.
ward killing. With cool deliberation, the evil gang
Giving the command to retire, Ping leader raised his revolver. Ready to
began to back away from the door of the loose unexpected death, he held the bril-
penthouse living room. With his men liant lantern steadily in his left hand,
crouching backward with him, the male- taking aim with the weapon in his right.
factor engineered a steady retreat until "Hold it," growled Ping to his
he was standing close beside the door clustered companions. ''Wait until I
of the fire tower. cut loose with this smoke wagon. Then
A growl from a henchman told Ping we'll scram."
that the barrier was open. The way was With final deliberation, Ping Slat-
ready for the swift escape. Ping Slat- terly belittled consequences.
the He
terly paused. He rasped an order for could explain matters to his associates.
the others to stand by. Murder did not matter, so long as the
The glare from the acetylene search- robbery had been completed. Success
light stiil illuminated the entire living would stifle criticism.
room. Through a peculiar, dusky haze, Thaddeus Harmon's life was hanging
faces were visible in strained white- in the balance. The crime of deathwas
ness. Frightened guests— sullen detec- to follow lawless entry and theft. Ping
tives —
Ping viewed them with disdain. Slattcrly gloated as he prepared to slay
The gang leader's gaze turned toward the helpless One minute
millionaire.
Thaddeus Harmon. The millionaire, more; then the enveloping shroud of
alone uncowed, wore a look of defiance. the black hush would close upon a scene
Hi's expression aroused Ping Slatterly's of murder
complete antagonism. The gang leader
snarled in the gloom.
CHAPTER X.
Instructions flashed through Ping's
hostile mind. He had been told to get
SHOTS FROM THE SHAFT.
the jewels; to make an effective get- Ping Slatterly's powerful light had
away; and to stay his gun until its use carved a beam through the blackness
proved necessary. Murder was Ping that pervaded the penthouse. The awe-
he saw good occasion
Slatterly's .forte; some pall of the black hush had not,
for now.
it however, been dispelled elsewhere.
Only one man among the helpless peo- Within the elevator that was bringing
ple in the room seemed capable of plan- guests upward, a solid block of im-
ning action against the crooks. That penetrable gloom had struck with amaz-
one was Thaddeus Harmon. Why not ing power.
him ?
eliminate The car had come to a stop midway
In moments of quick thought, Ping between two floors. The startled gasps
saw the advantage. To Harmon, the of the passengers had died upon fright-
jewels were of prime importance ; to the ened lips. After the first seconds of
others, the welfare of the millionaire astonishment, a muffled terror had
was the chief consideration. gripped quivering hearts.
SHAD—3 A
34 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
Among those passengers, so suddenly While Ping was giving his final or-
invisible to each other, was one to whom ders,The Shadow's hands were work-
the coming of blackness had brought no ing with the barrier. The heavy door
awe. This person was the unexpected moved slowly open. The gleam of the
guest whom Thaddeus Harmon had acetylene light greeted The Shadow's
been so eager to welcome ;
namely, La- eyes
mont Cranston.
Within the darkness of the elevator, The door of the shaft was outside the
Cranston's first action was to press his range of Slatterly's special searchlight.
hands against the interior wall of the The thick gloom of the black hush cov-
car. Probing fingers found a crevice. ered all of The Shadow's actions. Ping
They wedged a metal implement into it. Slatterly could not see the phantom
A hushed click in the gloom was un- form emerging through the door of the
noticed by the terrified passengers, who shaft; nor could The Shadow observe
were mumbling incoherent comments to Ping's outline behind the glare of the
each other. The side of the car, when acetylene lantern.
it came slowly inward, disturbed no Nevertheless, The Shadow's actions
one. were identical with those of the gang
The Shadow, working in the dark- leader. While Ping Slatterly was draw-
ness, had opened the emergency door in ing and leveling his revolver, the hand
the side of the car. This barrier was of The Shadow was bringing forth an
designed for the removal of passengers automatic, to handle it with deadly aim!
from one elevator to another. At pres- Each had a different target. Ping
ent, it was useless for this purpose; Slatterly's objective was Thaddeus
there had been no opportunity to bring Harmon The Shadow's was
; the gleam-
a second car up alongside the stalled ing lantern that hung from Ping Slat-
lift. terly's left fist!
The Shadow, however, used the open- Trigger fingers poised, unknown to
ing for another purpose. His invisible each other. A
man's life was mo-
form through the unlocked side of
slid mentarily at stake. In that tense mo-
the car. The door closed and clicked ment of decision, the chances seemed
behind him as he clung to the outside of equal that Ping or The Shadow would
the elevator. Then, with calm precision, fire first.

he clutched the front wall of the shaft, One element of mental reaction alone
and raised his long body upward. decided the result. Ping Slatterly, con-
While Ping Slatterly and his men fident and firm in the belief that Thad-
were effecting the robbery in the pent- deus Harmon was a helpless victim, let
house, The Shadow, silent and un- his finger linger. The Shadow, know-
known, was ascending the interior of the ing that the cowed group in the living
elevator shaft, fighting his way upward room were at the mercy of lawless in-
through the deep gloom of the all-per- vaders, did not pause.
vading hush of blackness! A
shot rang out in the darkness. The
Strangely, the progress of this invisi- powerful roar of an automatic forced
ble being was timed with Ping Slatter- itsmighty sound through the repressing
ly's actions. At the very moment when gloom. With that shot came a metallic
the gang leader paused with his men at crash as The Shadow's bullet shattered
the open door of the fire tower, the hand the lantern in Ping Slatterly's hand
of The Shadow clutched the door of The lantern was extinguished. Down
the elevator shaft on the penthouse came the pall of the black hush, like a
level I
dropping cloud of ghostly darkness. A
 !

THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 35

second shot broke the tension. The pressed shut. The sleuths beat vainly
Shadow delivered a pot shot in the di- at the barricade. The gangsters had
rection of his first. This time he had fled, leaving some of their companions
no target, but his aim was limited to on the floor.
the small area by the fire-tower door. A revolver spurted from a wounded
Instinctively, the people in the living gangster's fist. It brought a frenzied
room scrambled for safety. They had response from the detectives' guns.
lost their awe of the black hush in face Fearing stabbing bullets from the floor,
of the gun-fire menace. Ping Slatterly the sleuths emptied their revolvers.
_and his gangsters began a frenzied at- Who had escaped? Who remained?
tack with their revolvers as they clu- Where were the jewels? These were
tered toward the exit. questions that the gloom withheld.
Some were shooting wildly toward the Then, one prowling detective made an
living room. These shots were futile, accidental discovery as he stumbled over
for the range was wide, and the people an object on the floor.
there had dropped to shelter. Others The jewel bag!
aimed toward the elevators. These also The sleuth's blurting cry came to his
fired vainly. The Shadow had dropped comrade's ears. They gathered round
back through the barrier, only his steady about him, clutching at the bag to make
hand projecting with its weapon, and sure it had been recovered.
his keen eyes darting into the gloom. Flashlights were useless. Matches
still

Smudgy flashes of flame from gang- glimmered feebly, and cast an insuffi-
ster revolvers gave The Shadow the cient glare. In the confusion, the ele-
targets that he needed. Each spurt vator door was forgotten. No one could
from the fire-tower door gave The hear its muffled opening. Obscured in
Shadow a new opportunity. With each the total darkness, The Shadow arose
burst of his automatic, he dropped back from the floor, and closed the door be-
into the shaft, only to emerge for a new hind him.
response. His form moved silently into the liv-
Shots came from the living room. ing room. There, when the lights came
The detectives were crawling forward on, he would be among the guests.
to action. The Shadow was forced to Let the detectives blunder on; there
stay his fire. was no need to aid them now. Some of
The elevator door closed shut ; bul- the mobsters had escaped, but The
lets battered against it. The sleuths, Shadow knew that their purpose had
not knowing from whence aid had been thwarted.
come, were firing toward the elevators as Soon the black hush would lift. Then,
well as the fire tower. amid restored light, the result of The
Shadow's might would be revealed
Had the detectives not intervened,
The Shadow, by his skillful tactics,
might well have stayed the flight of the
CHAPTER XI.

gangsters. The new turn of events,

THE HUSH LIFTS.
however, compelled him to withhold his "One minute longer."
fire. With no new shots coming from The voice of Hector Fawcett was
the elevators, the detectives directed all speaking in the corner office of the suite
their efforts toward the corner exit. in the Judruth Tower. Ninety-three
Coming through the darkness, firing stories above the street, the president of
as they advanced, they stumbled over the Climax Corporation was staring
prostrate forms. Then the heavy door from the opened window.
 ! ! !

36 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE

The room was dark, save for the but the tremendous force this gloom-
slight glimmer of a chromium-plated projecting beam had also wreaked tem-
apparatus close '

him. The beside porary havoc with all electrical equip-

strange machine storeroom from the ment in its path.
was in use. A
breathing sound denoted Hector Fawcett consulted the lu-
the presence of another man at the con- minous dial of his wrist watch. Time
trol switch. was up. The man lingered, however,
The lamplike portion of the odd to enjoy a few more seconds of this
mechanism was turned at a downward sight which intrigued him. Fawcett's
angle. From it extended a conical eye followed the spreading wedge of
widening beam like the ray of a power- darkness it dwelt approvingly on the
;

ful searchlight. But this shaft was dif- splotch of blackness that indicated the
ferent from any projected illumination. position of the hushed apartment house.
Instead of light, the machine was fo- Then, in a regretful tone, the corpora-
cusing blackness downward toward the tion president gave the final order to
city ! Through the dim glow that showed the man at the controls.
from the lights of Manhattan, a shaft "Time up."
of complete darkness was spreading its The man by the machine pressed a
mysterious ray! lever.
Just as the glare of a searchlight The effect was magical. The black
might carve through the night and beam disappeared. Where complete
spread a circle of bright illumination obliteration had marked the presence of
upon its objective, so did this amazing a building, a host of twinkling lights
beam do its work in direct opposition. sprang into being,
The lights of buildings were glimmer-
ing below, but the spot where the black Below the indirect glow of the great
ray ended was totally dark. city, the outline of Thaddeus Harmon's
Picked from among neighboring penthouse showed atop the apartment
structures, the entire surface of the building. Windows shone, indicating
apartment house beside the old Windsor the position of the living room. Hector
Theater was blotted out from view Fawcett chuckled.
Focused darkness a beam of night — He had seen this phenomenon before.
— black light This was the power that
! With his same companion, the man
was in operation to-night. It was the whom he addressed as Hobbs, he had
force that had lain the strange lull of observed the effect of the black beam
the black hush throughout Thaddeus upon the Olympia Hotel. Once again,
Harmon's penthouse a barrage of darkness had been lain and
"
"Good work— Hobbs lifted so that a time space for swift and
Hector Fawcett chuckled as he effective crime might be created
paused upon the name by which he had There was confidence in Hector Faw-
addressed his companion. There was cett's chuckle. It was answered by a
significance in Fawcett's tone. It indi- pleased mumble from Hobbs. Both men
cated understanding. knew the all-pervading force of the
Only these two men were witnessing power that they had loosed. Projected
the distant effect of the strange demon- on a perfectly arranged schedule, the
stration of new science. From their black hush had given full opportunity
towering vantage point, they were cre- to men of crime.
ating a mysterious result. Gleeful thoughts were humming
One edifice in Manhattan was black- through Hector Fawcett's cunning brain.
ened ; not only was it in total darkness, He was inspired by the surety of evil
 !

THE SHADOW MAGAZINE

The lamplike portion of the odd mechanism was turned at a downward

angle. From it extended a shaft of complete darkness
. . .

now accomplished he was considering

; The scene in the penthouse was, how-
the confusion that must surely reign in ever, quite different from the mental
the place from which gems valued at picture which Hector Fawcett had cre-
half a million had been stolen. ated. The restoration of the lights
38 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
came with amazing suddenness. Black- series of explanations. Cranston and
ness then dazzling illumination.
;
the others who had been in the elevator
Blinking, wondering eyes of fright- listened with intense interest.
"Burglars !" Harmon.
ened guests were staring at the strange exclaimed
results which had occurred in Thaddeus "They must have done something to the
Harmon's penthouse. electrical equipment. They threw out
People were spread all about ; in cor- —
everything lights, telephone, alarm!
ners, behind chairs, in other spots of "They were getting away with my
safety. But the guests paid no atten- collection of gems Fortunately, I had
1

tion to each other. The place of interest detectives on hand. My men were afraid
was the corridor outside the living room. to fire, for fear of bringing a reprisal.
There lay the results of thwarted crime. But when the burglars started to shoot
The bodies of two gunmen were hud- of their own accord, our detectives en-
dled upon the floor. Both men were tered into it.

dead. The Shadow's bullets had brought "We landed two of the crooks. The
them down amid the darkness. The rest managed to escape. It was won-
detectives, fearing that the men were derful work! Wonderful! The crim-
still in ambush, had riddled them with inals were forced to drop the bag in
'

shots. which they had the jewels. The ones

Two sleuths were still pounding
the closed door of the fire tower. The
other two were crouched upon the floor,
grasping the bag which had fallen from
the hand of the robber who had held it.
Thaddeus Harmon sprang forward
with a cry of delight. He knew
his precious jewels had been saved.
The other guests, relieved in turn, were
crowding close behind him.
The telephone began to ring. The
pulled alarm switch was functioning
now. Tiny lights flickered by the ele-
vator shaft. The stalled car had re-
sumed its progress. The metal door
opened, and the delayed guests surged
forth, pleased at their release from
bondage.
Amid the chaos, a tall, dignified gen-
tleman stepped calmly across the corri-
dor and joined the cluster of people who
had come from the elevator. Thaddeus
Harmon, guiding the detectives back
into the living room, jostled against his
new group of guests. Turning, he spied
Lamont Cranston; for it was he who
had just joined the others from the
vator.
Singling Cranston as the most im-
portant of the newcomers, Harmon ex-
tended a hand in greeting and began a
at that eluded us fled down the fire tower."
"Congratulations, Mr. Harmon," re-
marked Lamont Cranston, in a quiet
tone. "Your detectives are to be com-
mended. We were unfortunately un-
that able to assist. We were stranded in the
"
elevator a few floors below
"It is as well that you were not here,"
observed Harmon seriously. "The situ-
ation was very dangerous. You were
fortunate not to be present, Mr. Cran-
ston."
The faint trace of a smile appeared
upon Lamont Cranston's thin lips as
Thaddeus Harmon moved away. Little
did Harmon realize that he had been
talking to the one person whose timely
stroke had saved a fortune.
Well had The Shadow concealed his
hand to-night. As for the detectives,
their presence was a matter of regret.
Without their interference, The Shadow
might have gained a complete triumph
over Ping Slatterly and his mobsmen.
The Shadow, master of darkness, had
ele- used the black hush to his own ad-
vantage. It had been the covering
shroud from which he had brought
down two desperate crooks one of —
them the jewel carrier. Now, as La-
 —

THE SHADOW MAGAZINE »

mont Cranston, The Shadow strolled to stunt at the Olympia. They knew we
the spotwhere the bodies lay. hadn't spotted anybody monkeying with
He studied the faces of the dead the switch. So they tried the same gag
gangsters. He recognized immediately when they came after your jewels."
that neither was Ping Slatterly. The "But the telephone— the alarm"
leader was among those who had Harmon's reply was insistent. "They
"
escaped. managed, to eliminate those also
The menace of new crime still loomed "They were just more thorough, that's
in full intensity, for Ping Slatterly was all," interposed Cardona. "We've gone
unquestionably the only one of to- over the whole works we're going to
;

night's invaders who could be regarded make another electrical inspection. We'll
"
as a cogwheel in the schemes of those find out
who controlled the weird black hush. A puzzled frown appeared upon the
detective's brow. To Cardona's ears
Lamont Xranston joined the peo- had come a strange, mysterious sound
ple in the living room. The jewels were — a whispered echo from the past. The
back in their cabinet. Guests, still quiv- sibilant note of a faint laugh —
a mirth-
ering from excitement, were gradually ful tone that the detective recognized.
regaining composure.
their Lamont The laugh of The Shadow!
Cranston idled while the confusion died What did it mean? Cardona knew
away. that laugh. He had heard it under
Time drifted by; at last, the door of strange circumstances. He knew that it
an elevator opened, and a stocky, meant doom to crooks that it had in-
;

swarthy-faced man stepped forth. One
of the private detectives noticed him,
and went to greet him. He brought the
arrival to Thaddeus Harmon.
"Detective Cardona, from headquar-
ters," was the announcement.
Thaddeus Harmon shook hands with
the star sleuth. Cardona began a ques-
tioning. He turned to men who were
with him, and sent them to investigate
the fire tower. He called
and ordered the manager of the apart-
ment up to the penthouse.
Only a few guests still remained when
Cardona had completed his investiga-
tion. The star detective, about to leave,
paused to speak with Thaddeus Har-
mon.
"This shows you how crooks work,"
vouchsafed Cardona. "A couple of
nights ago, some gangsters tried to put
Goldy Tancred on the spot. They man-
aged to get at the main switch in the
Olympia Hotel. Then they bungled by
killing the wrong men.
"Now here comes another gang that's
out for burglary. They heard about the
tervened more than once in his own be-
half. Whence had the laugh come?
Cardona turned quickly. He half
expected to see the sinister shape of a
tall, black-garbed being. He stared at
— —
the walls at the floor almost believing
that The Shadow would materialize
from nowhere.
But the only person whom Cardona
noted was a dignified man who was
downstairs standing a few paces away. Cardona
glanced at this person's face. The de-
tective had never seen the visage of The
Shadow, but he did know the power of
The Shadow's eyes.
No, this man could not be The
Shadow. Cranston's gaze was mild, de-
spite its steadiness. Cardona shrugged
his shoulders as he turned away and
headed toward the elevator. The detec-
tive tried to convince himself that he
had imagined those faint echoes of a
laugh.
The effort was difficult, for as Car-
dona strode along, he fancied that hid-
den eyes were watching him. The de-
tective did not turn; instead, he tried
 !

40 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE

to forget this new effect that was dis- he had detected in it a strange signifi-
turbing him. cance of the unknown.
To find the mysterious, scientific

Had Cardona turned; had he again power that had produced the unaccount-
studied Lamont Cranston's face, then able phenomenon was the mission that
would he have known that fact, not lay ahead. The Shadow knew that the
fancy, was at work. An amazing change source of crime must lie in the secret
had come into Lamont Cranston's eyes. of the black hush
Those mild orbs were burning with a That weird force had lifted, but it
weird, uncanny light. was due to fall again. Not here, where
The elevator door clanged behind Joe crime had failed, but at a new spot
Cardona. Lamont Cranston stood alone where its menacing power would cover
by the door of Thaddeus Harmon's liv- the perpetration of another lawless out-
ing room. A soft laugh came from rage.
thin, unmoving lips. Its whispered Wherever the black hush might strike
echoes were an eerie aftermath to that next, there must The Shadow be to
Stirling hush which had so recently per- meet it.

vaded this penthouse. The Shadow knew 1

There was knowledge in The Shad-

ow's laugh. The strange mockery that CHAPTER XII.
had derided Cardona's decision was NEW ORDERS.
something that spoke of higher deduc-
tion. By hand, The Shadow had "Ping's outside."
thwarted crime by brain, he was seek-
;
"Show him in, Curry."
ing an explanation of the protection Goldy Tancred's teeth were glittering

which had so effectively aided the bur- when he gave the order, but it was
glars up to the time of his arrival. not a smile that displayed those shining
Where Cardona had overlooked many molars. An evil scowl showed on the
minor facts, The Shadow, in the guise big shot's face when Ping Slatterly en-
of Lamont Cranston, had studied clews. tered.
He had heard one of the private detec- "Well?" questioned Goldy harshly.
tives commenting upon the fact that his "Things went flooey," growled Ping.
flashlight had failed to function in the "That's all. It wasn't my fault, Goldy.

darkness. It was too tough a job."

The sleuth, however, had forgotten "Maybe you weren't tough enough to

the matter as promptly as Cardona had spring it!" rasped Goldy. "Did you try
disregarded the inefficiency of his own to figure it out from that angle?"
flashlight on the night at the Olympia "It was all in the bag, Goldy," pro-
"
Hotel. tested Ping. "All in the bag
To The Shadow, this was an im- "Rut you left the bag there, eh?" in-

It brought him the knowl-

portant clew. terposed the big shot, with a sarcastic
edge that he needed. The finger of leer.

The Shadow was on the throbbing pulse "I didn't leave it," declared Ping.

of mystery. Inspections of the elec- "Somebody winged Goofy Zelleno. He

trical equipment in the apartment build- had the bag in his mitt. I thought he
ing would be useless. had scrammed. Some dick plugged the
The Shadow knew that some blanket- light. Then we had to dive out in the
ing force had counteracted all electric dark."
devices during the invasion of crime. "So that's that," commented Goldy.
He had felt the lull of the black hush; "Well, I'm giving you a break. Ping.
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 41

You've got the mob all set so you — "What is it?" questioned Ping Slat-
can do a new job to-morrow night?" terly.
"Sure thing." Goldy Tancred held his finger to his
Goldy Tancred produced a sheet of lips. Ping nodded that he understood
paper from the jacket of his showy the command for silence. Goldy pulled
dressing gown. He unfolded the paper the rubber hemisphere from the wall,
and handed it to Ping Slatterly. and revealed the microphone attachment.
"Read it over," ordered the big shot. He covered the apparatus with the im-
"That gives you the whole layout of the provised muffler, and pressed the half
new job." ball so it stayed in place again.
Ping Slatterly studied the document. "A dictograph," declared Goldy. "It's
A slow grin appeared upon his ugly lips. been here a couple of days at least.
He finished his perusal and gave the That's why I'm playing mum. Just to
paper back to its owner. get the habit. They can't hear anything
"Say, Goldy," he exclaimed. "That's over the line since I covered it up with
"
a real lay. The Mew City Bank the silencer I invented."
Ping's voice stopped as the gang "A good stunt," commended Ping.
leader caught a scowl on Goldy Tan- "But say, Goldy—who put that thing in
cred's face. The big shot sneered con- —
here and where does it go?"
temptuously. Bewildered, Ping looked "That's the trouble," said the big shot.
for an explanation of the action. "It's got me guessing. Ping. I figured
"Smart, aren't you?" quizzed Goldy. maybe it was some gag Cardona worked
"Why do you think I gave you this up—just to see if he could find out who
written layout? Til tell you why —be- was after me. But -when I traced the
cause I didn't want you to open your line,what do you think I found?"
mouth about it. The first thing that "'Somebody at the other end?"
you do is begin to talk." "No," snarled Goldy. "If there had
"I didn't get the idea," responded been, it would have been too bad for the

Ping, in a sullen tone. "You always guy. It's smarter than that, Ping. This
used to talk about what you wanted thing is hooked up to a telephone in an
done." empty apartment. I can't trace it from
"Not any more, Ping." there on."
Wearing a cryptic grin, Goldy Tan- "Why didn't you rip it out?" queried
cred struck a match and ignited the pa- Ping.
per which bore the plans for the next "And let the guy know I'm wise?"
crime. He let the sheet burn nearly to scoffed Goldy. "No, sir. I keep it cov-
his finger tips ; then blew out the flame ered up, except when I talk with Curry
and let the ashes drop with the charred once in a while. Then I take the lid
remainder into a metal wastebasket. off ; if anybody is listening, they don't
"There's been some double-crossing hear anything important. Curry was
around here," remarked Goldy. "I don't the one who found the thing."
know who's responsible for it, but I can "How?"
show you the result. Come here." "Happened to be shifting the book-
case. Spotted the hook-up. N«w,
He by
led this visitor to the corner listen, Ping. You've got your orders.
the window. The bookcase had been You remember what I showed you on
drawn a few feet away from the end that paper. Be ready; that's all. Lay
wall. Goldy pointed to the half of a low, until the right time. I've got the
rubber ball, which was adhering to the rest fixed."
wall like a suction cap. Ping nodded.
 — —

42 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE

"What's more," added the big shot, "I Curry appeared at the door. He made
don't want you to take any chances com- a gesture that indicated a new visitor.
ing in here. Cardona is still squawk- Goldy raised his eyebrows, as though
ing that there must be somebody trying questioning Curry about the importance
to get me— and he thinks it's the same of the person outside.
bozo who bumped off those two elec- "It's the reporter," explained the
tricalengineers at the Olympia. servant. "You know the one I mean
"It wouldn't be funny, would it, if this fellow Burke, from the Classic."
he spotted you around here? He might "Show him in," ordered Goldy. "No
think you were the bird he wanted — just a minute, Curry."
and in a way, he'd be right. You never While servant paused, Goldy
the
were after me; but that wouldn't mat- signaled to Bowser to again cover the
ter if Cardona suspected you of that apparatus on the wall. The big shot
"
double killing had decided that some turn of the re-
—
"Say" Ping's interruption came as
— porter's conversation might prove trou-
a protest "what's the use of gom' back blesome. Goldy never placed too much
to that, Goldy ? I thought you said that confidence in any newspaperman.
we were goin' to keep mum around Curry waited until Bowser had capped
here." the hidden microphone. Then he went
"The dictograph is covered," smiled to usher in Clyde Burke. Goldy Tan-
Goldy. "Nevertheless, you're right cred settled back in his chair, while
about it, Ping. I'm glad I worried you Bowser Riggins sauntered to his usual
—
some it won't do you any harm. That's post beside the window ledge,
all. You know the lay. Do your fade- Lounging comfortably, Goldy in-
out." dulged in one of his most flashy smiles,
Ping Slatterly laughed and strode to- A greeting for the new visitor,. it was
ward the door. Curry met him there, the big shot's most effective mask.
and went along with him to the usual Affable, friendly and quietly at ease,
route on the floor below. Goldy Tancred did not look the part
Goldy Tancred picked out a com- of a man who had plotted crime.
fortable chair and sat down to light a Yet, not more than a dozen minutes
cigarette. While puffing away, he prior to Clyde Burke's new visit, Ping
looked up to see Bowser Riggins at the Slatterly had gone forth from this
door. apartment, bearing orders that would
The bodyguard nudged his thumb to- bring another stroke of hidden crime!
ward the bookcase. Goldy laughed and
nodded. CHAPTER XIII.
"Got it muffled," he said. "Pull off
the cap, Bowser. Then we'll talk a
THE SHADOW SPEAKS.
lotof foolishness, and let them listen in "Hello, Burke" greeted Goldy Tan-
to nothing." cred, when the reporter appeared. "Why
the visit? Anything new?"
The bodyguard went to the corner "Nothing new," returned the reporter.
and removed the rubber hemisphere. "That's why I'm here."
He started chatting with Goldy and the "Yeah?" laughed Goldy. "Well,
big shot responded. None of their talk you've come to the wrong place. I told
had any bearing upon current crime. you all I knew the other night."
Goldy seemed to enjoy the farce of pro- "Listen; Goldy"—Clyde spoke in a
viding a distant listener with useless in- confidential tone as he drew up a chair
formation. —"I've been talking to Cardona
 —

THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 43

sounding him out a bit— on the subject Bowser. Scram. I've seen enough of
of that list you said he had." you to-night."
"Well?" The bodyguard joined Clyde Burke,
"Cardona is too close mouthed. He but as he strolled to the door, Bowser
wouldn't give me any kind of a lead. So caught a glimpse of Goldy Tancred's
"
I just figured that perhaps you right hand. The big shot was holding
"That I'd tell you what you wanted his first two fingers crossed.
to know ?" Bowser knew the meaning of the sig-
"Yes." nal. He was to repeat it at the door
Goldy Tancred laughed uproariously. of the hotel lobby. Seen by a lurker
Bowser Riggins grinned in appreciation across the street, it was a sign that
of his chief's merriment. Clyde Burke Burke should be followed until further
remained serene. orders.
"That's a hot idea, Burke," remarked Something in the reporter's manner
Goldy, after he had recovered from his had excited Goldy's suspicion. Perhaps
laughter. "Cardona won't tell you what it was the fact that Burke, while con-

he thinks, so you come around to me. versing, had stared directly across the
You're working in circles. Trying to room toward the bookcase. At any rate,
pump me all over again, trying to make Goldy was inclined to consider Burke
a lot of trouble." as a menace. The big shot picked up
"Not at all," returned the reporter a telephone, called a number, and con-
who served as The Shadow's agent. ducted a short conversation with a party
"Figure it this way, Goldy. I get at the other end.
around places and I hear a ; lot of
things that Cardona doesn't. -All right. There was reason for the big shot's
If somebody is trying to put you on the suspicion. Clyde Burke had overplayed
spot, it won't hurt for me to find it his part to-night. He had come here
out, will it?" with a purpose other than his interview.
"I get the idea," said Goldy, as his As an agent of The Shadow, he had
smile became unpleasant. "You want been sent to study Goldy Tancred's liv-
me to take you on as a stool pigeon. ing room.
Is that it? Fine work for a newspaper It was Clyde Burke who had informed
reporter '."
The Shadow of the convenient bookcase
"Put it that way if you want," re- by the window wall. The Shadow, in
turned Burke. "Just the same, it's only turn,had installed the dictograph. Bur-
part of my job. Look here, Goldy; if I bank, however, had reported poor re-
can spot the fellow who killed Reardon sults.
and Furness, it will be a scoop for the The hidden listener had noted inter-
Classic. It won't do you any harm ruption in various conversations. This
maybe it will do you some good." had been due to Goldy's system of cap-
"Nothing doing," growled Goldy. ping the microphone and uncovering it
—
"I'm out of it see? That's all I've got at intervals. Even to-night. Bowser
to say." Riggins had not covered the mechanism
The finality of the big shot's tone in- until after Clyde Burke had arrived.
dicated that the interview was ended. Therefore the voice of the reporter had
Clyde Burke smiled and shrugged his not passed over the wire despite the
shoulders. He arose and turned toward fact that he had been definitely ad-
the door. mitted to Goldy's living room.
"So long," said Goldy, resuming his Such incidents during the past day
affable tone. "That means you, too, had led Burbank to believe that the ap-
44 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
paralus had been discovered- The hid- It was not long before a creeping
den contact man had forwarded that in- splotch of blackness appeared upon the
formation to The Shadow in return, ; floor beside the window. Once again
he had been instructed to send Burke to The Shadow was paying a secret visit to
investigate. Goldy Tancred's abode The black-
Thus, approximately twenty-four ness stretched and wavered; above it,
hours after the affray in Thaddeus materializing beside the curtain, ap-
Harmon's penthouse, Clyde Burke had peared the tall, phantom form in black.
made a discovery. It was Burke who Silently, The Shadow moved toward
had first noticed the position of the the wall beside the bookcase. His sharp
bookcase in Goldy Tancred's suite with ; eyes spied the improvised rubber cap.
this second visit, the reporter had de- His hidden lips emitted a sibilant, whis-
tected the change in position. pered laugh.
Had Goldy Tancred known that Clyde Turning, The Shadow noted a radi-
Burke was an agent of The Shadow, he ator on the opposite side of the window
would have taken prompt action to elim- ledge. Going to that spot, The Shadow
inate the inquisitive reporter. The big stooped and attached another micro-
shbt, however, had taken a different ave- phone. He ran a thin, invisible wire
nue of thought. Burke's mention of along the. base of the wall, then up be-
Cardona had led Goldy to believe that hind the draped curtain near the book-
the reporter might be working with the case.
star detective. Cardona, wise and Wedging the original wire into a
taciturn, was the type of sleuth who crack beside the window ledge, The
would employ a dictograph in his de- Shadow connected the new one, guiding
tecting work. his operation by occasional flashes of his
Thus Goldy was having Burke trailed tiny light. When he had finished, he
to see if the reporter had a connection stepped back toward the radiator and
with police headquarters. At any mo- spoke in a low, hushed voice.
ment, the big shot could give the word "Connection completed," announced
to dispose of the troublesome news the Shadow's monotone. "Burke off duty
gatherer ; but Goldy was biding his time. until recalled."
That was his —
way a complete mask- Those words went to Burbank. They
ing of all connection with the under- were followed by The Shadow's laugh.
world. Ping Slatterly was not the only The Shadow had come here a second
gang leader whom the gold-toothed time, to cunningly counteract Goldy
schemer had at his disposal. Tancred's accidental discovery of the
The telephone bell rang after Burke's original 'microphq^c. The first connec-
departure. Goldy Tancred picked up tion was ended. Goldy, confident with
the receiver and heard the voice of Hec- his capping device, wSutd never suspect
tor Fawcett With the dictograph cov- the new installation,
ered, Goldy was free to speak, but he But The Shadow, by a simple re-
was sparing and cautious in his remarks. arrangement of the circuit, had planted a
He passed off last night's failure as he new listening apparatus. Goldy, when
stressed the importance of to-morrow's he talked, would be heard. Even if the
action. big shot again went over the line, clear
"Hobbs is ready. He will be here." to the apartment below, he would not
Those were the final words that Goldy discover that neat connecting wire that
Tancred heard. The big shot hung up came in at the crack beside the window
the receiver, strolled about, and finally ledge.
departed from the living room. Nevertheless, desired contact had
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 45

been lost temporarily. What had hap- basket, The Shadow had learned broken
pened during the interim? Did any evi- facts concerning the next crime on the
dence exist that would aid The Shadow schedule. There he had read the words
in his quest ? —
"New City" the name of the bank
The tall figure glided across the room. which Ping Slatterly was to attack when
Searching eyes missed no spot that the black hush fell again.
might furnish a clew. The Shadow's Amid the next pall of blanketing
gaze rested upon the wastebasket. The darkness, the hand of The Shadow
charred remainders of Goldy Tancred's would be present. How did the master
written instructicns showed within the intend to meet the sinister menace?
metal container. Only The Shadow knew
A black-gloved hand dipped into the
wasiebasket. brought out a tiny frag-
It
CHAPTER XIV.
ment of scorched paper. The eyes
The
AT HEADQUARTERS.
spotted a portion of a written word.
same hand gathered ashes,
carefully Thenext night found Detective Joe
while the other hand produced a sheet Cardona seated at his desk in head-
of paper. quarters. The star sleuth was going
Working upon a convenient table, over a stack of papers which referred
The Shadow laid out these remainders to the interrupted raid on Thaddeus
of Goldy Tancred's message. The ashes Harmon's apartment.
rested upon The Shadow's sheet. The Reports were barren. Nothing had
tiny flashlight clicked. A spotted glare been learned concerning the electrical
showed traces of writing in the ashes. equipment of the apartment building.
The inspection went on amid com- Cardona looked up from his desk as
plete silence. At last,the hand of The a man entered. He nodded as he caught
Shadow raised the sheet of paper, and sight of Detective Sergeant Markham,.
let the fragments of Goldy's instructions the aid who had been working on this
drift back into the wastebasket. The case with him. Markham took a chair;
tallfigure swung toward the window. Cardona swung to face him.
The blank paper that had served as a "Any new clews, Joe?" questioned
background slipped out of sight beneath Markham.
the cloak. "Not a responded Cardona
thing,"
A whispered laugh— scarcely
sibilant, gruffly.^"Nothing but a hunch" he
— —
audible; yet it brought eerie- echoes. paused to smile "and this hunch is
That was the token of The Shadow's based upon what happened up at Har-
departure. The phanta^p shape merged mon's."
with the darkness of the window. "What is it?"
Several minute*! Sfterward, Curry en- "That the same crooks who did those
tered the room. The servant noted the killings at the Olympia were the ones
wastebasket and took it out for empty- who raided Harmon's."
ing. "I thought you figured differently,
Little did Curry suppose that a silent Joe. You said first that it looked like
visitor had been in the room to-night, one crowd had picked up the idea from
The servant did not realize that his de- another."
layed action of a simple duty the — "That's what I told the reporters,"
emptying of the wastebasket —had en- grinned Cardona, "and I gave them the
abled a powerful foe of crime to gain idea I had at the time. Now, I've picked
an inkling of Goldy Tancred's scheme. a different slant. I haven't told any
For among the ashes in the waste- "ne about it yet."
 46 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
i
"You've found something, then?" "Listen, Joe," said Markham sud-
"No. I've found nothing. That's denly, "you've given me a thought there.
why I have the hunch. Look at this, I was over by Goldy's apartment house
Markham. If one crowd hit the light- last night. I saw a reporter coming out
system at the Olympia to get a "
ing of the place. Maybe
shot at Goldy Tancred, it's logical "Who was he?" questioned Cardona
enough that another would try the same sharply.
stunt at Harmon's. That's the first "Burke, the fellow on the Classic,"
thought, isn't it?" returned Markham.
"Yes." "Clyde Burke, eh?" Cardona's tone
"But the chances are that each outfit was analytical. "Say, Markham, he's
would do the job in it's own way. That's been on both of these cases. Maybe he's
true, isn't it?" been trying to get Goldy Tancred to
"Yes." talk."
"Well," argued Cardona sagely, "it's "Not much chance," said the detective
a good bet that we'd have got some- sergeant. "You quizzed Goldy. He
thing on one mob— even if we couldn't claimed he told you all he knew which —
find a clew on the other. As it is, we've wasn't much."
"
got nothing. Therefore "Yeah, but Burke may have some-
"I get you," interrupted Markham. thing."
"Two perfect jobs mean the same With his final statement, Cardona
method —and that connects the first with reached for the telephone. He called
the second." the Classic office. He was connected
"Right," asserted Cardona. with Clyde Burke. The detective re-
"It sounds reasonable to me, Joe," de- quested the reporter to come to head-
clared Markham. "But why haven't quarters.
they gone after Goldy again? That was While waiting for Burke's arrival,
their first objective." Cardona conferred with Markham. The
"I'll tell you why," said Cardona. had another idea, and it gained
detective
wagging his forefinger. "They know his aid's approval.
that Goldy is smooth. They're afraid "I'm not going to talk too much to
he will get wise to them, and demand a Burke," explained Cardona, "Perhaps
cut to keepmum. That's Goldy's racket. he's lookingaround for something. I'm
So they went after him first, but they're going to let you tail him, just to find

afraid to chance it again because he's out."

laying low.
"They figure, too, that Goldy is afraid Clyde Burke arrived in Cardona's
of them. Maybe he is. So they're go- office with the air of a men who ex-
ing right ahead with a regular schedule pected information. He expressed sur-
of crime. This mess up at Harmon's prise when the detective began to ques-
was just the first job on their list. tion him.
There's others coming." "Sure, I was up to see Goldy," as-
"That's bad, Joe." serted Clyde. "I thought the same as
"Sure it's bad. That's why I'm keep- you, Joe. Maybe Goldy would know
ing tabs on Goldy. They may take an- who was trying to get him, and would
other shot at him ; if they do, we'll find spill it. But he was like a clam."
out who they are. At the same time, "All right, Burke," returned the de-
Markham, I'm letting the newspapers tective. "If you run into anything, let
hold the old idea. It may help fool me know. It would help out a lot if I
these smart crooks." could find out who was after Goldy."
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
Clyde Burke departed. Detective As Clyde quickened his pace toward
Sergeant Markham followed a minute a subway entrance, Markham also in-
later. When the reporter reached the creased speed. The detective sergeant
street, the sleuth was on his trail. was some distance behind the reporter
Off duty, nothing more im-
with he had not observed that Clyde had
portant than a quiet evening at the overheard the conversation between two
Classic office, Clyde Burke strolled chance idlers.
along the street, totally unconscious of Markham simply decided that Burke
the fact that he was being tailed by the must have an important destination.
detective. Tailing a newspaper reporter was a new
There was also another incident that experience for the sleuth, but under the
Clyde failed to notice. A prowling fig- present circumstances, Markham felt
ure was moving up the street ahead that the trail might lead somewhere.
of him. He
had been followed from That had been Joe Cardona's idea,
the Classic office to headquarters now, ; and the ace detective still held to it.
the lurker who had trailed him was pre- Back at his desk in headquarters, Car-
ceding him. dona was smoking a cigar while he con-
Detective Sergeant Markham, keep- tinued to pore over the accumulated
ing well in back of the reporter, had data in hope of a new hunch.
no suspicion that a creature of the un- At times, Cardona wondered how
derworld was moving ahead of the re- Markham might be making out. Then,
porter. Yet this odd condition of af- his study of the papers before him
fairs was due to bring unexpected con- occupied his complete attention. half A
sequences. hour slipped by while the detective
The prowler neared a corner; there, worked. The telephone bell rang upon
he stopped to greet a man who was idly the desk.
waiting. Quick words passed between Methodically, Cardona placed papers
the two. Then, as Clyde Burke ap- aside and picked up the receiver, after
proached, the pair began a quick con- the bell had rung thrice. He growled
versation. The reporter did not hear it a hello into the mouthpiece. A quiet
until he had passed. He hesitated as voice replied. Cardona listened.
he caught the louder words. That voice brought back recollections.
"He's going to get Goldy, eh?" Cardona was sure that he had heard it
—
"Yeah I'm meeting him down at before. It was not the voice of The
Jerry's
"
Shadow —a strange, sinister tone that
A buzz ;
then, as Clyde paused to Cardona had sometimes heard but — the
light a cigarette, he heard the men- calmness of this voice brought up
tion of a street address in a disreputable strange connections that concerned the
neighborhood. As he flicked the match master of the night.
away, Clyde turned slightly and saw the There was a reason for Cardona's im-
backs of the men as they moved along pression. The ace detective was listen-
the street. ing to the voice of Burbank, The Shad-
Clyde Burke's decision was a prompt ow's hidden agent. In accordance with
one. Like all of The Shadow's agents, special instructions, Burbank was tele-
the reporter was expected
use his to phoning detective headquarters at an
own wits in a time of opportunity. He exact time appointed by The Shadow.
thought no more of the two men; he Burbank's voice continued. Cardo-
simply decided to head for the spot that na's face turned grim. A click came
they had mentioned, and see what was from the other end of the line. Cardona
happening there. was holding a dead receiver. This was
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
not for long. The detective slammed
the receiver on the hook and leaped to
his feet. He bellowed to men who were
in another office They responded to his
summons.
"Everybody on this job!" exclaimed
Cardona, in a quick but steady voice.
"We're making up a raiding squad. We
start inside of five minutes. We're go-
ing to stop a robbery at the New City
Bank!"
CHAPTER XV.
ON THE ELEVATED.
Clyde Burke stopped in front of a
dilapidated building. He glanced at his
watch, illuminating the dial with a
lighted match. It was not quite half an
hour since he had left Cardona's office.
This was the destination which he
had heard the men give on the street
corner. Nevertheless, Clyde was not
sure that he had heard aright when he
had listened to the naming of the loca-
tion. He had expected "Jerry's" to be
some meeting spot of the underworld.
Instead, he was viewing the end house
of a quiet row— a structure which was
bounded on one side by an alleyway.
The house looked deserted. If it was,
it must be the wrong place. Clyde
looked about, then decided that he would
be conspicuous standing here. He edged
against the front of the building, and
remained near the wall.
As he glanced across the street, Clyde
thought that he saw another man on the
opposite side of the thoroughfare.
His eyes were right they had
;
It never occurred to the reporter that
he had been lured to this spot; that
Goldy Tancred had given instructions
for henchmen to seize him should he
pay a visit to detective headquarters.
Joe Cardona's telephone call had actu-
ally been an unwitting death warrant for
Clyde Burke. The reporter, in turn,
had made two serious blunders. The
first had been his folly in believing that
two gangsters would talk over plans so
close to detective headquarters. The
second had been his failure to call Bur-
bank.
Had
Clyde been on duty for The
Shadow, he would have communicated
with the contact man. But since he was
a free agent for the night, Clyde had
gone out on his own. In so doing, he
had deliberately placed himself beyond
the sphere of The Shadow's protection
— a mistake which no agent of The
Shadow should have committed.
Despite his ommissions, however, the
reporter did manage to gain a slight
inkling of danger as he neared the en-
trance of the alleyway. Clyde was
unarmed to-night, and he tightened his
fists as he gained the instinctive thought
of some trouble in this abandoned neigh-
borhood.
Thus Clyde was not totally unpre-
pared when danger did strike. More-
over, those who carried the threat be-
trayed themselves an instant too soon-
Just as Clyde moved slowly into the
darkness at the side of the building, he
caught a sound just ahead of him. He
stepped back as he raised his hands.

glimpsed the form of Detective Sergeant A man sprang forward from the
Markham. But like all quick glances, darkness. A swift arm came down-
this one faded under direct surveillance. ward as it swung a blackjack. Clyde
As Clyde watched closely, he could see did not see the blow, but he anticipated
no further trace of any one. it. Swinging his own arm upward, the
Clyde moved toward the entrance of reporter deflected the stroke. The man's
the alleyway. It was darker there, he form fell upon him, and Clyde shot out
decided less chance of being seen when
; to the sidewalk as he locked in a quick
the men who had talked kept their ren- struggle.
dezvous. This was just the beginning. Three
SHAD—3A
THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 49
 ;

50 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE

of the men who had emerged from the "Lucky I did tail you," said Mark-
alleyway. ham he began to reload his re-
gruffly, as
The effect was instantaneous. Fig- volver. "Got yourself into a pickle,
ures scattered. The man who was fight- didn't you? What was the idea?"
ing Clyde Burke wriggled free and "Listened in on what some gang boys
dived for the shelter of the alleyway. had to say," replied Clyde calmly.
Markham fired again. Dodging, the "Heard them talking about a get-
gangsters drew their own revolvers and together in this neighborhood. Thought
returned the shots. I'd find out what it was about."
Clyde Burke, prone upon the side- "Fine idea," snorted Markham.
walk, rolled toward the house and "Well, you nearly found out too much.
crouched in the shelter of some stone Come along. The gun's loaded up again.
steps. The move was just in time. I'm going to call Joe Cardona, Burke.
Gangster bullets spattered at the spot Maybe he'll want to talk to you after
where the reporter had been. The mob- this."
sters were making a last effort to riddle "Suits me," responded Clyde, in an
their quarry, whom they had been or- indifferent tone. "I was just after a
dered to kill. story—that's all."
Had Markham weakened in his sur-
prise attack, the gunmen would have They reached a small store a block
put up a resistance. The detective ser- away from the spot of the short fray.
geant, however, was a cool thehand in Markham entered a telephone booth.
midst of battle. He held an advantage Burke watched the detective sergeant
in that he could see all of his foemen, phoning. He saw an excited look ap-
except the blackjack artist who had scur- pear upon Markham's countenance.
ried for the alleyway. Hanging up the receiver, Markham
Markham's shots zipped dangerously- plunged from the booth and gripped
close to the scattered attackers. One Clyde Burke's arm. Without a word,
bullet winged a gangster's shoulder, and he led the reporter hastily along the
the wounded man's cry brought con- street. They came to an elevated sta-
sternation to the rest. These rats were tion and the detective sergeant hurriedly
merely paid assassins, not gorillas of a ascended the steps, with Clyde still in
doughty caliber. tow.
As the wounded man fled, clutching The pair entered a train. The car
his shoulder, the others followed suit. was almost empty. Markham thrust
Markham sent two shots down the alley- Clyde in a corner seat, and gave a low,
way as a parting thrust to the man grim laugh.
who had disappeared in that direction "What's up?" panted Clyde, still
then, coming from his position of winded from the mad rush. "Where
vantage, the detective sergeant hurried are you dragging me, Markham ?"
across the street, and reached the place "Plenty is up," retorted the detective
where Clyde Burke was huddled. sergeant, in a confidential whisper. "I'm
"All right, Burke?" growled Mark- taking you where you want to go — to a
ham. place where you'll get a good story."
Clyde recognized the voice, and re- The accent on the word "good"
sponded as he arose from beside the caught Clyde's ear. He
looked at Mark-
steps. ham for further information. The de-
"That you, Markham ?" he asked. tective sergeant gave it with a grin.
—
"Say I didn't know you were tailing "Started to tell Cardona I had you
me. Thanks, old fellow." with me," he remarked. "Before I
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 51

could him what had happened, he

tell As completely as if an invisible hand
gave me new
instructions. He was just had stretched forth to wipe it away, the
leaving with a raiding squad. We're white marble front of the strong-walled
—
going to join them at least I am. You edifice had been blanked into oblivion
can hang back and watch." by a powerful ray of superdarkness.
"Where?" questioned Clyde eagerly. Joe Cardona and his raiding squad
"Straight up Sixth Avenue," returned had not arrived in this locality. While
Markham. "It's the New City Bank, they were still hurrying to the spot, the
Burke. Somebody's going to try to first stroke had come. Amid a bar-
crack it to-night." rage of total gloom, men of crime were
"Whew!" exclaimed Clyde. advancing to attack the vault of the
The ejaculation masked the sudden blotted bank.
thought that had occurred to the re- A tremendous hush lay over this one
porter. Was the hand of The Shadow low building. It formed perfect cov-
connected with this tip-off? The mys- erage for the unseen men who were
terious master of the night had warned moving up to the side of the New City
Cardona of other contemplated crimes Bank.
in the past. The attack had been well planned.
Only one station more! The train Without a single ray of light to aid
was rumbling rapidly along the ele- them, the invaders stopped at a side door
vated platform. Clyde could see that of the building, Quick hands went to
Markham was eager to join with the work while Ping Slatterly gave muf-
raiders, even though the man was main- commands.
fled
taining a calm expression. Zoom!
Then came blackness. An explosion made the side of the
Without warning, every light in the bank building tremble. But even that
elevated train was extinguished. The blast which blew the door clear of its
cars slid to a grinding stop. Halted fastenings was no more than a low
midway between stations, they rested rumble. The blanketing effect of the
amid a strange silence that fell from hush seemed to stifle all sounds within
nowhere. its enveloping folds.
Neither Clyde Burke nor Detective Mobsmen pressed forward. They
Sergeant Markham understood the sig- were entering a building equipped with
nificance of that sudden, appalling all the most modern of alarm devices,

gloom. They did not realize that the but to-night they did not fear these
mysterious power of the black hush had mechanical sentinels. Every electrical
once again been projected upon a desig- apparatus in the entire bank had gone
nated spot in the midst of teeming Man- out of order when the black hush had
hattan ! struck.
That was a fact that only The Shadow W atchmen ?
knew! They were powerless, too. Telephonic
CHAPTER XVI. communication was ended. Flashlights
and powerful electric lanterns would not
OUT OF THE VAULT.
avail. Ping Slatterly thought of that
The same pa!I that had stopped the fact with relish as he ignited the strong
trainon the Sixth Avenue elevated had acetylene torch which was to play so im-
accomplished another purpose. It had portant a part in this raid.
cast its strange blackness upon the pol- Immune from interference, the strong
ished face of the low-storied New City gleam lighted up the interior of the
Bank. bank. A watchman scurried away as
52 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
gangster shots were directed toward lantern with another illuminating device
him. With his men forming a pro- of the same type
tecting cordon to meet stray shots from Ping Slatterly could not see the per-
the darkness, Ping Slatterly headed for son behind that light, hut the other could
the vault which he had come to crack. see him, for the light within the vault
was focused with even greater power.
This stroke of crime had been Moreover, the strange, unexpected
planned long before the first test of the intruder was able to observe Ping's gang
black hush. Slattcrly's men, obeying or- of followers. In the misty illumination,
ders, were at all strategic spots. Let the every one of the invaders was in plain
watchmen move around, helpless. If view.
they tried to make trouble, that would The light was astonishing in itself.
be their end. They could not leave the Blinding, it came as a terrific counter-
building, gangsters were picking
for agent to Ping Slatterly's first weapon of
their way various doors.
to the All attack. But another token of a formida-
means of communication from within ble presence within the vault brought
the bank were ended. dread consternation to the gang leader
The acetylene light shone upon the and all his band of ruffians.

vault. Ping lowered the gleam so that From the hollow interior of the vault
his safe-hlowers could prepare. This came a sound that no man of the un-
would be a job as quick as the one at derworld could fail to recognize. It
the outside door. was a laugh that broke with rising
The gang leader gave a muffled laugh. —
echoes a sinister burst of derisive
The outside explosion could not have mirth that seemed to shatter the spell of
been heard very far away, due to the the black hush.
sound-stilling gloom. This blast would The laugh of The Shadow!
not be heard at all. It required a larger Cognizant of the plans to raid the
charge, but the walls of the bank would New City Bank, knowing the hour for
aid the black hush in its silencing which the attack had been arranged, The
power. Shadow had entered this building long
"Ready?" before— white the bank had still been
Ping's voice had a hushed sound in open.
the midst of that strange scene, where Keeping in seclusion, he had man-
even the downward-turned gleam of the aged to elude discovery by the watch-
lantern was forced to penetrate a murky men. Familiar with every ingenious
haze. contrivance of vault protection, The
Growls of assent were the reply to Shadow had worked upon that massive
Ping's question. The men moved for- door, and had opened it without detec-
ward. Ping Slatterly turned his lan- tion. Hehad chosen it as the vital
tern up to the big door of the vault. spot from which he could strike against
An audible gasp escaped the mob lead- when they appeared.
the crooks
er's thick lips. The Shadow's method had proven its

Impelled by a power from within, the worth. He was here to meet the enemy.
door of the vault was swinging open. He had caught Ping Slatterly and his
As it moved wide, from the interior gangsters flat-footed.
came a glare as forceful as the one The opening of the door
; the appear-

from the lantern which Ping
carried.
Some being from within the vault
was meeting the rays of the acetylene
Slatterly ance of the powerful light; the mighty
—
laugh of The Shadow these acts of
gangdom's greatest enemy had been
timed to exactitude. -
 ! —
THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
Meanwhile, unknown to Ping Slat-
terly and his henchmen, forces of the
law were coming to this beleaguered
spot. The Shadow's purpose was to
meet the crooks with a surprise attack,
and drive them in flight into the toils of
Joe Cardona!
—
An amazing scene this meeting be-
tween The Shadow and the hosts of
crime. While that ringing laugh hurtled
from the vault, the gang leader and his
men stood like petrified figures —unmov-
ing characters in a sordid tableau.
So had The Shadow planned ;
he acted with full precision. A shot
burst from the vault. Like the first
stroke which The Shadow had deliv-
ered at Thaddeus Harmon's penthouse,
this one was again directed at the acety-
lene lantern in Ping Slatterly's hand.
The bullet reached its gleaming
get. Ping's lantern was shattered. The
gang leader dropped back, unwounded
by the deflected bullet.
Revolver in hand, he cried to his men
to reply in kind. The Shadow's lantern
made a shining bull's-eye. Behind it
was The Shadow himself!
So Ping Slatterly had reasoned. The
gang leader, however, had not reck-
oned with the wisdom of The Shadow.
That lantern was not in The Shad-
ow's hand. It was propped upon a
stack of boxes in the vault. Below it,
prone upon the floor, lay The Shadow.
His form was protected by a raised
ledge of steel that ran along the bottom
of the vault, at the very front
As Ping Slatterly pressed finger to re-
volver trigger, The Shadow's automatic
roared. Loosing his powerful .45s, The
Shadow directed one squarely toward
Ping Slatterly, while the other began a
sweeping motion about the semicircle
of mobsmen.
Ping Slatterly fell, an oath upon his
lips. The sight of their leader drop-
ping, the spatter of bullets aimed in
their direction —
these were tokens that
threw the mobsmen into confusion. One
53
gangster paused to fire at the lantern
in the vault. His shot went wide. He
never dispatched another. Like Ping
Slatterly, he crumpled as an automatic
roared.
The other mobsmen were scrambling
to shelter. They dashed for the protec-
tion of marble walls, seeking to avoid
the glare that outlined them. The Shad-
ow's shots, quick as a warning, were
intermittent as thegunmen fled.
The Shadow knew where they would
go—out through the broken door— into
now, the forces of the law that awaited them
there. His task was to deal first with
those who attempted resistance to his
might.
—
Ping Slatterly a second mobster
these had fallen. A third, turning to
crouch on the verge of the area of light,
tax- fell wounded as a bullet from an auto-
matic shattered his revolver arm. The
man screamed as he dived after his
companions. His hoarse cry was
strangely suppressed by the blanketing
hush.
Again came the laugh of The
Shadow! This master fighter, who
struck from darkness, had beaten back
the invaders by his irresistible might.
Not one shot had reached that glowing
lantern which gave The Shadow his
advantage over his enemies. He had
beaten a dozen and more men of crime
to the first shots.
As the last of the defeated invaders
fled from the room where Ping Slat-
terly lay before the opened vault, The
Shadow arose from his place of protec-
tion. The light moved forward as he
gripped it. The door of the vault swung
shut.
The Shadow's ambush had succeeded.
Now, with one automatic in his hidden
right —
hand a fresh weapon which had
come from beneath his cloak The —
Shadow moved forward in steady pur-
suit of the fleeing mobsmen.
The glaring acetylene headlight cut a
 !

54 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE

misty swath through the smudgy "Because of the elevated," was the
gloom. Its penetrating rays, reaching reply. "The trains are stopped. It
every cranny, were seen by the last of couldn't be helped."
the fleeing mobsmen, now well ahead in Hector Fawcett laughed. He was sure
the darkness. phenomenon would add nothing
that this
The moving threat impelled every de- He was think-
to police investigations.
parting rat to scurry to the only exit ing only of what was going on within
that seemed to offer safety —
that opened the bank.
door which Ping Slartcrly had so boldly From the tower, nothing could be
blasted from its mighty hinges. seen nor heard. The explosions and the
Watchmen, saved from destruction, were completely
glare of acetylene lights
still cowered in spots of safety. They obscured by the long shaft of blackness
did not know what had happened they, ;
that extended down to walls of the New
like the fleeing mobsmen, also avoided, City Bank,
the acetylene glare. Then, with the same The roar of the city was audible, but
suddenness with which it had appeared, every sound that reached the heights of
The Shadow's light went out. the ninety-third floor came from some
A triumphant laugh stirred up feeble spot outside the black-rayed area. The
echoes amid the awesome atmosphere shroud was all-suppressing in
scientific
of the black hush. The final whispers itspower.
died away. The Shadow, lurking in the One spot other than the bank build-
gloom, was planning his secret de- ing had attracted Fawcett's attention
parture, timing it with the confusion during this period of sustained black-
which was due to break outside of the ness. In back of the bank and to one
bank when the mobsters met the police. side, the stout man could see an empty
Single-handed, The Shadow had lot —
one of those few portions of Man-
brought disaster to these fiends of crime hattan that was temporarily free from
amid the pall which they had sought. occupation or building operation.
Once again, the perpetrators of the Fawcett had watched this area because
black hush had been foiled its edge marked the limit of the black
ray. In fact, the outer arc of the arti-
CHAPTER XVII. ficial darkness lay like a peculiar shadow
from the bank building. As a contrast,
THE POWER OF THE RAY.
the light of an electric sign cast a vivid
From the window high in the Judruth glow upon the rest of the vacant spot.
Tower, Hector Fawcett was again view- It was a strange phenomenon of dark-
ing the awesome ray that symbolized the ness versus strong illumination.
hidden power of the black hush. Even from the towering height, Faw-
Bathed in darkness, the front of the cett could distinguish objects in that
New City Bank was a blank space. space. He suddenly noticed an automo-
among a mass of looming buildings. It bile moving from the darkness into the
was toward that single spot that Hector light. That was surprising until the
Fawcett was looking. In his intentness, rear of the car appeared. Then Fawcett
the bespectacled man did not notice that saw the pygmy forms of half a dozen
the elevated trains were stopped above men scrambling into the car.
Sixth Avenue. Evidently the black ray had stalled the
"Time's nearly up," informed Faw- automobile. Fawcett chuckled. These
cett. chaps would not know the difference.
"Good," came the voice of Hobbs. The car was starting now. But as it
"Why?" questioned Fawcett. jostled along an alleyway, and headed
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
down a side street, Fawcett was sur- The black ray was on again. Now its
prised at the reckless speed with which it beam was slender, tapering out to a
. headed for an avenue. comparatively small circle. Focused al-
Then he caught a flash of a car swing- most directly downward, Hobbs threw
ing in from another direction. He re- the shaft directly into the avenue behind
alized that a pursuit was on. He was the carload of escaping gangsters.
just about to mention the fact when The pursuers shot into the gloom.
Hobbs spoke: Their cars did not reappear. Hobbs
"How about the time ?" wavered the circle slowly forward, tak-
exclaimed Fawcett, glanc-
"It's up," ing account of the momentum which the
ing at his watch. "Turn off the ray." cars had acquired. Hector Fawcett
Hobbs responded. His hand pressed laughed.
the switch. Released from black bond- The new maneuver had paralyzed the
age, the front of the New City Bank pursuing police. Their cars were
gleamed anew. Tiny trains began to blotted out by darkness. Motors stalled,
move along the Sixth Avenue elevated. lights gone, the chase could not be con-
tinued !

In the dwarfed cross section of Man-
hattan, which was suddenly restored to
light, Hector Fawcett beheld odd signs
of activity. He caught glimpses of tiny
figures beside the bank building he saw'
automobiles spurt forward sud-
den connection came to his mind.
"The police are there!" he exclaimed
The fleeing gangsters were gaining
blocks, but anew menace to their flight
had now appeared. They were coming
to an important crossing. Swinging in
; behind from side streets were new pur-
. A suers, and from both directions on the
wide cross street, other cars were con-
verging !

to Hobbs. "Those men who fled were It was too late now Fawcett ut- !

our workers Up the avenue beyond

"
! — tered an oath —
for he fancied that more
the bank building than men was in those cars. He did
The man at the black-ray machine not know that the fleeing gangsters had
made no comment. Clicks indicated failed to make their haul from the
work that he was doing. The dark- coffers of the New City Bank.
faced projector was turning. Its front The mobsters would be captured
surface was undergoing adjustment. surely, Fawcett thought, for cars were
"There they are !" cried Fawcett. closing in ahead and from the rear. He
In the gloom of the room, the bespec- expected Hobbs to widen the ray- to
tacled man tried to point out a car that blanket the entire area with blackness,
was speeding along the avenue. He saw that the fleeing men might leave the car
it at one cross street immediately in
;
and run..
back of it were pursuing vehicles that Fawcett added a groan to his oath as
flashed into view. Fawcett thought that he saw that the clear avenue traffic was
he could glimpse tiny figures about to about to be interrupted by the crosstown
wage battle. flow. Total darkness would be the only
The car turned it took a side street,
; resort now.
and suddenly swung into an avenue that
led almost beneath the Judruth Tower. Hobbs did the unexpected. The circle
The situation was plain now. The flee- of his ray sw£pt forward with amazing
ing car was closely followed. Fawcett speed, a veritable lever wielded from a
could see men on the running boards of distance of a thousand feet. It freed the
police cars, firing as they chased. stranded police cars that were now far
Click t behind. It stopped suddenly upon the
 ! ! — !

56 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE

important intersection toward which the
gangster car was fleeing.
Spreading, the ray caught the cross
traffic just as it was starting.
ing car could reach the intersection.
It was a perfect maneuver, but Faw-
cett feared that it was futile. The po-
lice were stopped on the cross street,
but the fleeing car was heading directly
into the black circle with a trio of pur-
suers gaining on it, less than a half a
block behind ! These new chasers had
come in from side streets
1
Fawcett known that those in flight were
traveling empty-handed, without the
would have ordered Hobbs to
leader, he
No block- letthem fall into the hands of the po-
lice.
Ping Slatterly was the only one who
counted. He, alone, had controlled his
henchmen. None of the underlings
possessed an inkling regarding the
source of the black hush. Ping's con-
tact with Goldy Tancred had been
guarded, even from his own men.
Thus, The Shadow, by his strategy,

Click! had not only thwarted the power of the

Just as the gangster car reached the black hush. He had also caused the
edge of the black circle, the huge spot hidden —
malefactors Fawcett and
disappeared. Traveling at a mile-a-min- —
Hobbs to take drastic action which had
ute clip, the fleeing automobile shot not been contemplated.
across the cleared intersection. With moving barrage of black-
their
Click! ness, the men in the Judruth Tower had
Hobbs resumed the ray. Clear of the revealed new clews which would serve
further arc, the escaping car kept on The Shadow well in his unceasing ef-
but the intersection was again bathed in forts to learn the source of the weird
blackness, which enveloped the police black hush
cars as they came into the range The power of the ray had been
"Great work! Great work!" cried demonstrated in a new way, but it had
Fawcett. "Keep them there They ! gained nothing for the men behind it.
can't follow now !"
"Not too long," decided Hobbs.
The gangsters had gained
CHAPTER XVIII.
hal f a
dozen blocks. Both watchers saw the FACTS FOR THE SHADOW.
car swerve into a side street. At noon, the following day, a young
Hobbs pressed the switch. The black man appeared in the outer office of Rut-
hush was ended at the intersection. It ledge Mann's suite. The stenographer
had been a matter of broken minutes. recognized the visitor. She entered the
The police chase had begun anew, but inner office, and announced that Mr.
now the law would have to guess which Vincent was calling.
direction the escaped gangsters had dis- Mann ordered the girl to tell Vincent
appeared. to enter.
The Shadow had won his fight to- Seated by Mann's desk, the door of
night. He had driven back a horde of the office closed, Harry Vincent quietly
criminals. He had defeated the scheme waited for the investment broker to
of cunning brains. A
handful of the finish operations with a stack of clip-
thwarted raiders had escaped but that ; pings that lay upon the desk.
fact marked an empty attainment for There was a marked contrast between
those who wielded the strange black ray. these twomen who served as agents to
It was the belief that Ping Slatterly The Shadow.
was fleeing with a mass of stolen wealth Harry Vincent, active agent, was a
that had caused Hector Fawcett's anxi- active young man, whose face
virile,
ety to aid the speeding gangsters. Had showed keen determination. Cool in
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 57

the face of danger, persistent in any Mann had traced Chalvers to New York
task set for him, Harry had proven his City. The whereabouts of Don Chal-
ability as a dependable roving operative. vers had been left for Harry to learn.
Rutledge Mann, passive agent, was a It was concerning this matter that Harry
roly-poly sort of chap who preferred the had come to Mann's office to-day. The
comfort of his office. His ability lay in investment broker was sure that the
his attention to detail. Methodical and active agent had gained new informa-
exact, Mann was well equipped to per- tion. This proved to be the case.
form the work required of him. "I've located him," announced Harry,
This had not been the first conference when Mann had put his clippings aside.
between the two. While The Shadow "You mean Chalvers," returned
had been battling- against the crooks who Mann, voicing his words as an agree-
worked with the black hush, Rutledge ment.
Mann and Harry Vincent had been co- "Yes," asserted Harry. "He has an
operating in an effort to gain informa- apartment on Fifty-fourth Street. He's
tion that concerned Richard Reardon there occasionallyand I caught up with
;

and Roland Furness, the electrical en- him night club" — Harry
gineeers slain at the Olympia Hotel. smiled
—"atBroadway
at a
two morning."
o'clock this
To date, they had made progress. "What then ?"
Rutledge Maim, by methodical research, "I introduced myself. Made friends.
had learned a pointed fact concerning Pretended to have met him before.
the past of Roland Furness. In his Helped him get home to his apartment.
senior year at college, Furness had been I'm due to drop in there this evening."
expelled with his roommate, Don Chal- "Good," approved Mann. "You'll be
vers. The young men had completed at the Metrolite ?"
their education at another institution. Harry Vincent nodded. The refer-
The cause of the expulsion, Mann had ence was to his hotel. It meant that
discovered,was due to repeated experi- Rutledge Mann intended to forward this
ments in which the roommates had in- new information to The Shadow; then
dulged. On several occasions, they had to await exact orders regarding Harry's
thrown the electrical equipment of the appointment.
dormitories into disrepair. This had Methodical, Rutledge Mann required
led the college authorities to request precise descriptive data pertaining to
them to continue their studies at an- Don Chalvers. Gazing thoughtfully at
other institution. Harry Vincent, the investment broker
Roland Furness was dead. He had put forward careful questions.
met his end amid a strange blackness "What reaction did Chalvers show
which was significant, for it linked his when you introduced yourself?" asked
demise with his expulsion from college. Mann.
Rutledge Mann had forwarded these "He seemed a bit surprised," de-
facts The Shadow. He had been
to clared Harry. "Then he became very
ordered to locate Don Chalvers. friendly."
This had proven difficult. Mann had "Did he take your word for it that
learned that Chalvers owned a small, you were an old acquaintance?"
isolated estate in the foothills of the "Yes. After a short befuddlement,
Catskill Mountains. Independent be- he sure that he remembered me.
felt
cause of a legacy, the young engineer He remarked that he had been many
preferred travel to seclusion in his home places, and had met many people. He
among wooded hills.
the said that he could remember faces, but
Aided by Harry Vincent's efforts, not names."
58 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
"Where did you say that you had met
him?"
"In Bermuda. Our data showed that
he had made several trips there."
"Your visit to-night," observed Mann
thoughtfully. "Do you think that it will
bring up any complications?"
"Not a chance," laughed Harry. "It
will be a get-acquainted affair. My only
hope is that Chalvers will mention Fur-
ness. They were roommates at college,
and close friends after that,"
"All right," decided Mann. "I'll call
you later at the Metrolite."
When Harry Vincent had left, Rut-
ledge Mann made inked notations, and
sealed them in an envelope. He turned
to his clippings and began a final ar-
rangement.
To-day's news stories told of the po-
lice rescue at the New City Bank. Led
by the intrepid Joe Cardona, a squad of
policemen and detectives had arrived in
time to prevent the cracking of the
vault.
They had driven back several of the
mobsterswho were confused amid the
darkness.The restoration of light had
caught these lawless men just within
the side door of the bank. Cardona,
leading the advance, had opened fire.
By force of superior numbers, the
officers had quickly won the engage-
ment. Among dead and wounded mob-
sters who had staggered in all directions,
the police had discovered one slain man
whom they were sure had headed the
expedition.
This was Ping Slatterly.
The fact that the electrical equipment
of the New City Bank had been put out
of order was an important item in the
story. The newspapers also stressed the
fact that some marauders had man-
aged to extinguish the street lights at an
important intersection, thus enabling the
mobsters to escape.
In the rapidity of events at that point,
the drivers of pursuing cars had scarcely
realized the import of the other un-
usual phenomena which had occurred.
They spoke of stalled cars; of extin-
guished headlights of blanketing gloom.
;
But there was much that they made no
effort to explain.
was known now, however, that
It
some peculiar form of electrical dis-
turbing power had been utilized, but the
newspapers, ringing with the reports of
how the major criminals had been
caught, gave tittle attention to the details
of the unsuccessful pursuit.
Joe Cardona was the hero. Inasmuch
as he had been at the bank itself, the
ace detective was naturally concerned
with the success of the police raid. He
stated emphatically that the death of
Ping Slatterly must mark the end of
these odd crimes which had involved the
extinguishing of lights in buildings.
Another item went into Mann's en-
velope. This pertained to a tie-up on
the Sixth Avenue elevated, which had
occurred on the preceding evening.
Newspapers had not connected this with
the foiled bank robbery. But, along
with his clippings, Mann inclosed a
statement from Clyde Burke.
The quick-witted reporter had gained
a theory which he had not mentioned at
the Classic office. Traveling with De-
tective Sergeant Markham, almost at the
spot where the bank had been attacked,
Clyde was sure that the ended service on
the elevated line possessed a definite sig-
nificance.
Rutledge Mann sealed the envelope
and left his office. He told the stenog-
rapher that he would return after lunch.
On the street, the investment broker
took a taxicab to Twenty-third Street.
Entering the old, dilapidated building,
Mann ascended to the blind office which
bore the name of the mythical Jonas.
He returned to the street, and continued
on to his club, for luncheon.
It was later in the afternoon when
Rutledge Mann, back in his office, re-
ceived a letter which had been thrust
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
through the mail chute. He opened the
missive after the stenographer had
brought it to him. Inked, coded words
disappeared following the insurance
broker's perusal.
Rutledge Mann smiled wanly as he
picked up the telephone and called the
Metrolite Hotel.
tective pressed forward, followed by his
compani&ns. The three found Goldy
Tancred, garbed in dressing gown, pac-
ing the floor of his living room. Goldy
was quizzical when he saw Clyde Burke.
"I want to talk to you, Cardona,"
he began. "What I've got to say is pri-
vate. I don't want it to leak out too

Instructions had arrived from The soon."

Shadow. Harry Vincent was to visit "Burke's all right," growled the de-
Don Chajvers to-night. tective. "He's not reporting to-night.
There's another reason for him being
CHAPTER
XIX. along."
Goldy Tancred hesitated, then he
GOLDY EMPLOYS STRATEGY. shrugged his shoulders. He smiled
"Call for you, Burke." weakly as he pointed to chairs. Then,
Clyde Burke arose from his type- with teeth still gleaming, he dropped into
writer in the Classic office. At the tele- his own lounging seat.
phone he recognized the steady voice of
Detective Joe Cardona. "Joe," announced the big shot, "I'm
"Want a story, Burke?" worried. You've put me in a real mess.
"Sure thing, Joe." It's up to you to give me a chance to
"Meet me at Goldy Tancred's, in fif- get out of it."
'

teen minutes." "How's that ?" questioned Cardona.

"Goldy Tancred's! What's up, Joe?" "Well," said Goldy, "I know who was
"You'll find out when you get there. after me. I'll be frank with you I half —
I'm giving you a break because I want to suspected it all along but I wasn't sure.
;

know more about what happened to Now I know."

you last night. Markham is coming." "Spill it," ordered the detective.
"You're busting in on Goldy?" "Who's the guy?"
"No." Cardona's voice came over the "Ping Slatterly," declared Goldy.
wire in terse monosyllables. "He sent Cardona was astounded for a mo-
for us." ment then he began to nod. Busy with
;

Leaving the ClassicBurke

office, details after last night's episode, the ace
stopped at a telephone booth on the detective had forgotten all about Goldy

ground floor. He called Burbank to Tancred. Now he saw the obvious con-
inform him of this new development. nection.
He arranged to call again as soon as he "He bumped those engineers," as-
had learned why Goldy Tancred had serted Goldy, in a confident tone. "He
summoned Joe Cardona.
In the lobby of the Marathon, Clyde
—
wanted to get me just like you thought.
He had some big ideas in mind, and he
found Cardona and Markham waiting was afraid I would cause trouble for
for him. The trio took the elevator. him. That's the way I figure it.

Curry received them at the door of "The lights were knocked out at the
Goldy Tancred's apartment. Seeing Olympia, weren't they? They were
Clyde Burke, the servant hesitated. knocked out last night, too and you —
"It's all announced Cardona
right," got Ping Slatterly. You're no dumb-
gruffly. "This fellow is with me. Come bell, Joe."
along, men." '*I guess you've hit it, Goldy," agreed

Ignoring Curry's indecision, the de- the deterctive. "But I don't see why
60 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
you're worried. Ping's out of the way he's had guys watching this place like a
"
now hawk.
"Sure he interposed Goldy. "But —
"Burke here" Goldy pointed to the
is,"

he's got friends, hasn't he? That's why

—
reporter "came in to see me. Outside
I wanted to talk with you. How did of Bowser Riggins, he's the only visitor
you get wise in time to spoil Ping's I've had. Can't you see it now, Joe?
game? Who gave you the tip-off?" Those bimboes ganged Burke because
"That's my business," declared Car- they thought he was working for me.
dona. They were some of Ping Slatterly's mob.
"That's just it," responded Goldy. That's easy to see."
"That's just why there's trouble for me. Cardona speculated. Once again, the
There's plenty of tough bimboes won- detective found himself agreeing with
dering where that tip-off came from. Goldy Tancred's statement. He nodded
There's plenty who figure that Ping automatically, and spoke a slow ques-
Slatterly was after me. Putting two tion.
and two together, they'll think that I "What do you want me to do about
was the guy who told you to watch Ping it, Goldy?" asked Cardona. "How can
Slatterly." I jam? Got any sug-
help you out of the
Cardona was silent. He saw the logic gestions?"
of Goldy's statement. If Ping Slat- Goldy's fancy molars glimmered. The
terly was not the only powerful gang big shot studied the detective with an
leader concerned in the attack upon the expression that was almost one of deri-
New City Bank, his companions would sion. Cardona wondered what the cause
certainly be out to avenge his death. might he.
Cardona began a new chain of conjec- "You want to help me," sneered
ture. Goldy. "Then why have you double-
"You've given me something to think crossed me, Joe? Why did you plant a
about," said the detective, after long mike here in this room?"
consideration. "I'll tell you why I "I planted nothing!" retorted Cardona
brought Burke up here, Goldy. Last hotly.
night, he ran into a couple of thugs who "No?" Goldy strode across the room
would have got him, if Markhara hadn't as he spoke. He beckoned to the others
been there. Burke had been up to see as he thrust back the bookcase. "Look
you, hadn't he?" at this. Didn't you put
it here?"

"Sure," retorted Goldy. "He was Cardona viewed the microphone after
here twice." Goldy removed the rubber cap. The de-
"Well," resumed Cardona, "I didn't tectiveshook his head.
like the looks of it. I brought him here, "I don't know a thing about it,
so we could hear what you have to say Goldy," he asserted, in a frank tone.
about it." "Positively, I don't."
"About him coming up to see me?"
"No. About this attempt to gang The big shot grunted. He yanked the
him." microphone from the wall, and began to
"You want to hear what I have to tear away the wire. It broke in his
say?" cried Goldy. "I've said it al- hand as he came to the spot^ where the
—
ready if you could only see the facts slender line reached the window ledge.
like I see them. Reaching beyond the broken point,
"Look here, Cardona. Ping Slatterly Goldy gave another yank.
was pulling a job last night. He didn't It produced unexpected results. Out
want me to know about it. Chances are, came the wiring from below the window
 —

THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 61

ledge. away in sudden con-

Pulling "What then :" questioned Cardona.
sternation, Goldy followed the opposite "Let me
get out of this," requested
direction, and the microphone behind Goldy. "Stick with me, Joe. I want

the radiator snapped suddenly into view. a chance to scram. I can go where they
"Two of them!" exclaimed the big won't ever find me."
shot. —
"Say what is this? Don't you
know anything about it, Joe?" Joe Cardona pondered. He still felt

"Not a thing," insisted Cardona. that so far as crime was concerned, Ping
" marked the end of the
"Maybe when we trace the line Slatterly's death

"Nothing doing," interposed Goldy. recent series of outrages. Goldy Tan-

"It runs to a telephone in an empty cred was of no value as a witness.
apartment below. No way of tracing it There were good reasons, also, why
after that." Cardona would like to see Goldy Tan-
In sudden rage, Goldy seized both cred out of New York. The man had
microphones, and dashed the instru- unquestionably worked for political con-
ments against the wall. He began to nections. He was a conniver who could
tremble. His smile became a pitiful ex- cause great trouble in Manhattan.
pression. Clasping his temples with "All right, Goldy," mused Cardona,
his hands, Goldy Tancred stalked to his "I'll let you beat it, if you'll let me
"
chair and slumped into the cushions. make sure you've gone
"They're after me, Joe!" he gasped. "Let you make sure!" exclaimed .

"They're after me I figured you rigged

! Goldy. "Say
!"
—Joe— I want you to

up the dictograph layout. But if you cover me

didn't — —
say they've been right here "How?"
right where they could get me! I've "I'll duck out of here. Up to the

got to get out of this, Joe

!"
Pennsylvania Station — to-night. Train
Goldy Tancred's surprising collapse for Florida. If I get on that without
impressed Joe Cardona. The detective anybody knowing it, I'll be safe. Send
pondered. a man along — I'll pay the round-trip
By now, he was convinced that Ping expenses.
Slatterly and others —
probably rack- "But I want you to cover me from
Follow my cab.
eteers whom Goldy had bearded in the here to the station.
—
past had plotted well to put the gold- See me buy my ticket. Send me off.
toothed big shot on the spot. That's all I ask, Joe. I'm licked. I

The death of Ping Slatterly; the want to get away."

crime which had been attempted in Cardona smiled disdainfully The big
strange darkness the ganging of Clyde
; shot was proving yellow. The myth that
Burke; the discovery of the dictograph Goldy Tancred was a power no longer
—
connection all these were proofs that existed. The bubble had burst.
Goldy Tancred was in great danger. "All right," agreed the detective.
Cardona had little sympathy for this "We'll cover you. Markham and I will
high-stepping racketeer; at the same travel along behind you. Buy two tick-

time, the detective saw Goldy Tancred ets, and I'll have a man waiting at the
as nothing more than a prospective vic- gate to join you."
tim of the underworld's wrath. It was "Thanks, gasped Goldy, in
Joe!"
Cardona's business to prevent murder. blurted appreciation. "You're a real
He could not ignore Goldy's plea. scout. I'm trusting you, Joe you, too, —
"You want police protection?" de- Burke. Don't let this out until I'm
manded the detective. away. Please."
Goldy shook his bowed head. "I'll hold it," agreed Clyde.
 I

62 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE

"Wait down in the lobby," suggested "That's great !" Goldy Tancred
Goldy. "Make sure that nobody's lay- nodded. "Keep going, Curry. Hope
ing for me there. I'll get dressed — you enjoy the climate in Florida."
won't even take a bag with me. There's
a train that I can make just an hour CHAPTER XX.
from now. When I come down, fol-
low me
!" THE DEPARTURE.
"All right," agreed Cardona. Down in the lobby of the Hotel
The detective turned and motioned Marathon, Clyde Eurke remarked to
to Markham and Burke. The three Joe Cardona that he would have to put
walked out of the living room, where in a call to the Classic office
Curry met them and showed them to the "Don't say anything about this,"
elevator. warned the detective. "I've promised
The glance that Clyde Burke had "
last Goldy
through the closing door was a picture "Not a word about it," returned
of Goldy Tancred nervously clasping Clyde.
his hands as he sat worried in his big In a telephone booth, the reporter
chair. The reporter smiled as he heard called Burbank. As The Shadow's agent,
Caxdona laugh. he gave a terse account of the happen-
"A big yellow bum," was the detec- ings in Goldy Tancred's apartment.
tive's sarcastic "Goldy Tan-
comment. Burbank had already heard the con-
cred —yellow as they make them!" versation up to Goldy's plea for aid in
his flight. Then the dictograph connec-
The ace detective would have changed tion had been broken when Goldy had
his opinion could he have seen through torn the microphones from the wall.
the closed door of the apartment. Back "Report received," was Burbank's
in his living room, Goldy Tancred was comment.
no longer a figure of dejection. That meant that word would be given
A cunning, flashy smile had replaced to The Shadow. Clyde Burke left the
the pitiful expression on the big shot's booth and returned to find Cardona and
lips. Standing in the center of his liv- Markham in a low-voiced discussion.
ing room, Goldy Tancred was enjoying "Goldy has probably ditched Bowser
a laugh of silent derision. Riggins," Cardona was saying. "Maybe
His servant entered. Goldy's laugh that bird has flown South already. It's
changed to a low command, which easier to scram one at a time than two
brought a knowing smile from Curry. together."
"All right, Curry," instructed Goldy. "Maybe Bowser is still sticking
"Rig up that funny mug of yours. Slide around," objected Markham. "Letting
into the outfit and be quick about it." himself be watched until Goldy's in the
Curry went to a table in the corner. clear."
He opened a drawer and brought out The sleuths dropped the discussion as
several tiny, glimmering objects. He being of no consequence. It developed
slipped them into his mouth, adjusted that Cardona had also made a call while
them, and turned to smile at his chief. Clyde Burke was phoning. An unim-
His teeth capped with gold shells, portant man from headquarters had
Curry had gained a grin that was an ex- been designated to meet Goldy at the
act replica of Goldy Tancred's favorite station gate, and accompany him aboard
expression. Even without make-up, the the train.
servant bore a startling resemblance to Markham was watching the elevator
his master. steadily. After a quarter hour of wait-

THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
ing, the detective sergeant spoke to his
companions.
"Here comes Goldy now."
A stocky form was emerging from the
elevator. The man was wearing a heavy
overcoat. The collar was raised about
his chin, a gray hat pressed down upon
the man's forehead.
As the man walked through the lobby,
his gleaming grin showed between the
peaks of the overcoat collar. The watch-
ing men caught that characteristic ex-
pression that so plainly denoted Goldy
Tancred.
The man went out through the lobby
door. The detectives and the reporter
follawed.They saw the supposed Goldy
enter a taxicab and drive away.
dona hailed another vehicle, and the
followed.
It was a slow ride to the Pennsyl-
vania Station. There was ample time,
however, for Goldy Tancred to make
his train. Cardona, Markham, and
Burke continued behind the man who
was seeking flight.
They saw him stop at the informa-
tion booth, then at a ticket window, and
finally head for the train gates. Mov-
ing rapidly ahead, Cardona approached
the gate and signaled to a man who was
standing there. As Goldy Tancred's
double arrived, the man joined him.
This was Cardona's subordinate
young detective who had never seen
Goldy Tancred, but who could be easily
trusted to keep tabs upon the man who
was pointed out to him.
Cardona caught Goldy Tancred's
familiar grin as the supposed big shot
thrust a ticket into the hand of the
waiting sleuth. The pair walked down
the steps together. Cardona turned to
rejoin his companions.
"That's that," laughed Cardona. "The
big shot is small fry now. Goldy Tan-
cred has scrammed for the everglades.
It'll take more than his gold teeth to
laugh off that one."
a
63
The detective pronounced this state-
ment with the positive assurance that
he had seen Goldy Tancred take the
Limited for Florida. With his own man
on the same train, Cardona had no
doubt regarding the completion of the
trip, Markham and Clyde Burke, alike,
shared the detective's opinion.
Cardona's firm belief was a far cry
from the truth. While the detective
stillstood near the train gate, Goldy
Tancred, in the flesh, was riding up
Fifth Avenue in a taxicab, with Bowser
Riggins beside him.
"It worked great, Bowser," Goldy
was saying. "I pulled the stall about
some tough guys being after me. Car-
Car- dona fell for it. So did that news
trio hound, Burke."
"You ought to knock off that bimbo,"
asserted Bowser.
"Burke doesn't mean anything now,"
returned Goldy. "Let him ride. Say,
Bowser, when Curry was all rigged up
and showed his grin, he was a dead
ringer for me. Here's another laugh.
Cardona has put a dumb dick on Curry's
train —to make sure that I get to Flo-
rida."
"That's good," laughed Bowser.
"Meanwhile, you ducked out through
the service elevator. But say what—
was the good of having Cardona send
the dick along ?"
— you," growled Goldy. "There
"I'll tell
was a second dictograph hook-up in my
living —
room under the radiator. It's
lucky I didn't make any phone calls
lately. I'm going to make one right
now, though.
"There's a big job right ahead, and
I'll be in on this one, Bowser. Youll be
with me. I'm not taking any chances.
I was glad to pay that bonehead's ex-
penses for a soft trip down to Florida
along with Curry.
"That dick will be an alibi, Bowser!
Whatever happens, I won't be known
in it. Those dictographs have got me
worried. We're up against some foxy
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64 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
game. So I'm playing it safe; and if come to witness Goldy Tancred's de-
Mr. Cardona is in back of some smart parture.
plan to trap me, be won't get anywhere. The Shadow knew what the others
He thinks I'm yellow, Bowser! Let did not know. An impostor had left in

!"
—
him think it let him have me trailed to the big shot's stead. The disguise of
Florida the masquerading Curry had deceived
Glistening gold teeth reflected the other eyes, but not those of The
glare of a traffic light. The cab stopped. Shadow.
Goldy and Bowser alighted and went Goldy Tancred was still in New York.
into a dingy hotel not far from the cor- The big shot had gone into cover. With
ner where their trip had ended. Ping Slatterly no longer alive to per-
"I'm going to make some phone calls," form desired missions, Goldy was taking
remarked Goldy. "Stick here, Bowser. up the work himself. New crime was
I'm taking a room upstairs. Hang impending, and with it, the insidious
around the lobby until I join you again." menace of the black hush.
A soft, weird whisper came from the
Goldy Tancred was gloating over his Hps of that observer who now stood
own cleverness. Just as Joe Cardona alone by the deserted train gate. The
hacHaughed at what he thought was the laugh of The Shadow, it betokened grim
big shot's departure, so did Goldy warfare against the menace that still ex-
chuckle over the sleuth's mistake. No isted.
one, Goldy thought, could possibly have The Shadow had one mission now;
suspected Curry's make-up. that was to meet the minds of crime
In this surmise, Goldy Tancred was .with a method that they did not expect,
wrong. Joe Cardona had been bluffed. to locate the source of the black hush.
So had Markham. Clyde Burke had The Shadow knew!
been fooled as well. Moving away from
the train gate, these watchers were sure CHAPTER XXI.
that they had seen the big shot leave for
Florida.
THE MAN WHO FEARED.
But there was another observer at Harry Vincent was standing beside
that spot, a man whose presence none the living-room window of a com-
of the three had noticed. A tall person- fortable apartment. Before him,
age, whose keen eyes gleamed from stretched awkwardly in an easy-chair,
either side of a hawklike nose, had wit- was the man whom he had come to see
nessed the entire scene. —Don Chalvers.
Merely one of various persons clus- It had not taken Harry long to work
tered by the gate, this shrewd spectator up an acquaintance with his host. Last
had gained a close look at the face night, Chalvers had been somewhat in-
which Joe Cardona and the others had ebriated when Harry had spoken to him
mistaken for Goldy Tancred's. The tall at the night club. This evening, how-
personage's observant eyes had spotted ever, Chalvers was quite sober, and in
a strained expression in the flashing an affable mood.
smile that had come from the peaks of Nevertheless, Harry, from the mo-
the overcoat collar. ment of his arrival, had noticed a tense
This observer was The Shadow. nervousness in the man's demeanor.
Guised as a chance visitor to the rail- Tall, ungainly, but light in weight, Chal-
road terminal, he had followed up the vers made an eccentric appearance, and
report relayed to him by Burbank. He, this impression was increased by an oc-
like the trio headed by Cardona, had casional face-twitching.
SHAD-^4A
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 65

Quiet and reassuring in manner, "Vincent," he said suddenly. "Come

Harry had found little difficulty in talk- back up to the apartment, will you? I
ing with his new acquaintance. Don want to talk to you. I have to talk to
Chalvers had apparently accepted him you. —
I'm worried terribly worried—
on his word. There was no question and I must talk to some one."
brought up regarding the previous meet- Harry glanced at his watch. They
ing which Harry had claimed as an ex- were standing by the light of a drug
perience in the past. store. After short consideration, Harry
Itwas nearing midnight. Harry Vin- expressed willingness to return to the
cent, deciding that it would be unwise to apartment.
sound out Chalvers on this first visit, "I'll have to make a telephone call,"

resolved to forgo a discussion that he remarked. "There may be a message

might lead to some word regarding Ro- for me at the hotel. I'll go right here
land Furness. Chalvers seemed too in the drug store."
"
restless; perhaps it was because of his "Call from the apartment
carousing on the preceding night. Chalvers made the statement too late.
Harry noted that the man was weary. Harry had already reached the door.
"Think I'll be leaving you," remarked Chalvers followed him and watched him
Harry, as he stepped away from the enter a booth. While the engineer was
window. "When can we get together buying some cigarettes, Harry made
again? To-morrow night?" a quick call to Burbank.
"Busy to-morrow night," responded "Vincent reporting," he announced.
Chalvers. "But don't go yet, Vincent. "Chalvers may be going to talk. I'm
Don't go!" going back to his apartment. We're in
There was a pleading note in the final the drug store now."
tone. Harry could not withhold a "All well?" queried Burbank.
sharp look toward his companion. He "Absolutely," returned Harry. "No
noticed that Chalvers was pale. possible chance of danger. I'll report
That was not particularly significant, through Mann to-morrow morning un-
for Harry's impression at the first meet- less I learn something of great conse-
ing had been one of a pasty-hued, quence."
pudgy countenance. But as Chalvers With this statement, Harry con-
spoke this time, Harry could not help cluded his call and joined Gialvers by
but imagine that the pallor had in- the door of the drug store. Together,
creased. they strolled back and ascended in the
"What's the matter ?" questioned elevator.
Harry. "You don't look well, Chal- Chalvers was taciturn now Harry, ;

vers." however, knew that the man was hold-

"I don't fSfcffell," the man com- ing his conversation until they reached
plained. "I haven t been feeling well. the living room.
Wait. If you're leaving, go down-
I'll Back in the apartment, Chalvers flung
stairs with you, and do a turn around his hat upon a table. Restlessly, he
the block." drew Harry to a chair and began to ex-
Harry agreed. press his troubles in a breathless voice.
All the pent-up worry of the man
The pair left the apartment and seemed to break loose at once in a flood
descended by the automatic elevator, of emotion.
six stories to the street. As they "Vincent," confided Chalvers, "I'm
strolled along together, Chalvers gripped terribly afraid. Don't ask me whom I
Harry's arm in the darkness. fear. It's what I fear that counts. I'm
SHAD—5 A
 !

66 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE

afraid for my life. Maybe you can his degree at the new college, where we
help me." graduated. But I kept on fooling with
"Tell me the trouble." the idea. Had a model at my home up
"
"It goes back to when I was in
all in the Catskills. It's still there but;

college" —
Chalvers was speaking less Chalvers paused and clawed at the
hastily, while Harry listened without be- arm of his chair. He looked toward the
traying undue interest "and it involves— door, then leaped from his seat and
a friend of mine. My best friend, he went over to turn the knob and peer
was, but he's dead now. Poor Ro- out into the hall. Satisfied, he rejoined
land!" Harry.
"Roland?" "Somebody has learned the secret,"
"Yes. Roland Furness. Do you re- he whispered. "Some one has per-
member, Vincent, that two men were fected an apparatus like ours. Whoever
murdered not long ago at the Olympia has it is using it for crime. When Fur-
Hotel? Two electrical engineers the — ness was killed, the Olympia Hotel was
newspapers were filled with accounts of plunged into darkness. Furness was
the crime." killed because he knew about the ray —
"I think I did read something of the because he might have told
sort." "I am the only other one who knows.
Don Chalvers rubbed his hands in They haven't found me yet, Vincent.
worried fashion. He stared toward I'm practically in hiding here. I'm afraid
Harry, -and his face displayed an ex- to tell the police. I don't want it to be

pression that betokened a nervous, known that I'm in New York.

hunted man. Harry Vincent remained —
"Look, Vincent" Chalvers pointed
serene. He was sure that he was about to the window— "and see those twin-
to gain clews that would be of value to kling lights. The ray could put them
The Shadow. out ! could enter here and grip you
It
"When I was in college," confided and me. It throws a hush, too, Vincent
Chalvers, "Roland Furness was my — a black hush
"

roommate. He and I used to indulge in As Chalvers pronounced the words,

unusual experiments. made a dis-We every light in the room went out. Still
—
covery, Vincent a wonderful discov- staring toward the window, Harry Vin-
ery. I —
I don't need to go into the de- cent found his vision completely blotted.
tails now. But it was more than a dis- The twinkling flashes of the city were
covery; it was an invention also. It gone. A blanketing blindness had ar-
"
was a ray rived ; with it, a stifling pall that made
Chalvers paused and looked about The Shadow's agent utter an inartic-
him as though the very mention of the ulate gasp.
fact might cause him trouble. He licked The suddenness of the happening
his lips nervously, then resumed his seemed to paralyze Harry Vincent. He
discourse. was fixed in his chair, unable to under-
"A he explained, "that cast
ray," stand this terrible stroke of darkness.
blackness. It played the hob with elec- Weird silence hung like a shroud. The
trical equipment when we tried it out. black hush had fallen.
We kept on, though, and we got the Grimly, Harry regained his nerve.
bounce from college. We never gave He started to rise from his chair. But
the details —simply took the expulsign before he reached his feet, hands
and said nothing. clutched at his arms. The surge of a
"Furness didn't do much experiment- powerful body hurled him back. The
ing after that. He was too busy getting chair overturned, and Harry sprawled
 ! ; —

THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 67

upon the floor. Something struck him Harry Vincent heard the name that
underneath the chin. Goldy Tancred pronounced. It told
Blackness surged through Harry Vin- him the other man's identity. "Clipper"
cent's brain as he succumbed to the at- Hardigan, dock racketeer, was an ex-
tack delivered by men from the dark gang leader who had developed a power-
ful influence which the police had been
CHAPTER XXII. unable to counteract.
Despite the efforts of 'union leaders,
PLANS OF CRIME.
Clipper had managed to control certain
Harry Vincent opened his eyes. He groups of workers along the water
was no longer in the room where that fronts of Manhattan. His strength had
strange blackness had fallen. Instead, passed its zenith nevertheless, through
;

he was lying in the corner of a stone-
walled chamber, bound hand and foot.
Two men were standing close by. One
of them looked toward the corner as he
the aid of mobsters who intimidated
honest men, Clipper still retained power.
"Yeah," growled Clipper Hardigan.
"It works all right but how long can
;

heard Harry stir. The Shadow's agent you keep it going?"

caught the gleam of gold teeth that "We only needed three minutes, to-
flashed in the rays of the single light night," returned Goldy. "In fact, we
which hung from the ceiling. didn't need it at all, but I wanted you
"Come to, have you ?" the man ques- to be in on a test. Did you notice the
tioned, with a laugh. "Well, it's lucky way it quieted everything? That's why
you didn't wake up on the way here. we've called it the black hush. Keep
Saved yourself another wallop." it going? Just as long as you need it."

Despite a dull ache in the back of his "I figure about fifteen minutes is what
head, Harry Vincent sensed who his we'll need," calculated Clipper. "But I
principal captor was. He had heard of can't be sure. That's the trouble, Goldy.
Goldy Tancred, king among racketeers Suppose we get caught right -in the
and that gleaming face displayed the middle of the job."
man's chief mark of identity. "Not a chance," returned Goldy.
"Still groggy, eh?" jeered Goldy. "Not to-morrow night. We'll hold it
"Well, go to sleep again. Don't worry for the fifteen minutes. Then we'll lift
about your friend. We're taking care it. It will be a cinch for us to see if
of him. That's right" ——
Goldy laughed you're clear. If you aren't, we'll put
as Harry's eyes closed "take my ad- on the gloom again— in less than ten
vice. You're going to be here a long seconds."
while. It won't do you any good to "Sounds mighty good," said Clipper
stay awake." Hardigan, in a meditative growl. "Only
To all appearance, Harry Vincent had one thing, Goldy. Ping Slatterly was
drifted back to a state of semiconscious- working with you, wasn't he? Well
ness. This, however, was a pretense. Ping got his -"
Harry wanted to learn all that he could, "This is different," insisted Goldy.
and he knew that his captors might "Ping was busting into a bank. He
speak more freely if they thought that and his crowd made too much noise.
he was in no condition to listen. But you and your gang have everything
"You saw how it worked, Hardigan," the way you want it. Come on, Clip-
spoke Goldy Tancred, to his companion. per—you agreed to it before. You're
"Well, that's the way it will work to- not going to let this chance go by, are
morrow night. Plunk — all black—and you ?"
it stays that way." "I don't like to."
68 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
"Right you don't. That racket of "Got the car ready in the garage," the
yours is going haywire. It will be bodyguard said to his chief. "All ready
ended before you know it. This is to go along?"
—
something real and sure "
"Right," said Goldy. "Come on, Clip-
Clipper Hardigan was nodding. per."
Goldy Tancred clutched him by the The big shot extinguished the light.
arm. Harry Vincent heard the door shut. A
"We're all set, Clipper," he asserted. key turned in the lock. The trio had de-
"Listen, now. I'll go over every step parted. The Shadow's agent was alone,
"
of a helpless prisoner.
"Sh-h I" Clipper warned him. "That He knew that his room was under-
"
bimbo there in the corner ground. He sensed that shouts would
"Let him listen," scoffed Goldy. "He's be of no avail; otherwise, he would have
still wondering what happened to Chal- been gagged as well as bound. Vainly,
vers. He'll find out soon enough. We're Harry struggled with the cords that
going to keep him a while for good luck. held him. The effort was of no avail
We'll give him an earful to think about to him.
if he's still awake— which I doubt." Through Harry Vincent's aching head
The big shot cast a contemptuous thrummed a series of troubling thoughts.
look toward Harry Vincent. The young His report to Burbank it had been :

man was lying limp in the corner. unwise to tell the contact man that
Goldy laughed. He meant what he danger could not possibly exist.
had said. Let the prisoner listen. It Don Chalvers young engineer's
: the
would do him no good. broken revelations had come just before
the attack Harry was sure that the
;

Turning back to Clipper Hardigan, hunted man had encountered doom.

Croldy Tancred began anew. Step by But uppermost in Harry Vincent's
step, he outlined the plan which he had thoughts came the conversation that
arranged. had passed between Goldy Tancred and
With smooth, convincing tones, he his ally, Clipper Hardigan. In that dis-
won every point in furthering this new cussion, Harry had learned the enemy's
alliance. Clipper's head was nodding; plans. He knew the details of the
his lips were grinning as he approved crime which was due to strike to-mor-
the final arrangements. row night.
A pair of fiendish plotters: Goldy — —
Robbery murder those were the
Tancred, suave and scheming Clipper ;
contemplated acts which were to accom-
Hardigan, an iron-jawed ruffian with a pany a gigantic scheme which only the
weather-beaten face that increased in black hush could render possible. The
ugliness with every sentence his com- outlandish plan was one that police
panion uttered. could never suspect.
"It's good." Clipper's statement ex- Even The Shadow, if he were alert
pressed. his final agreement. "We'll be and ready, would look for criminal activ-
—
there ready for the black-out. I'm ities in a thousand places before he

counting on you, though, Goldy." would pick the one where crime was
"I'll be at the other end," assured the due.
big shot. Harry Vincent groaned. He was in
A knock at the door followed Goldy's the hands of superfiends. His captors
words. The big shot growled. The were men whose greed for lawless gain
door opened, and Bowser Riggins en- surpassed all other motives. To-morrow
tered. night, their stroke would fall. After
 ! — !

THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 69

that, they would attend to Harry Vin- rived. But The Shadow made no ac-
cent. counting for the passage of time. He
The Shadow's agent knew that he was engaged in a tremendous task.
could expect no mercy from Goldy Tan- Three times, heinous crime had fol-
cred. He knew that the big shot was lowed in the wake of black hush. After
holding him merely to question him the first occurrence, The Shadow had
later; then kill him if he did not speak. been able to beat back the crooks who
Yet Harry was not annoyed upon that had advanced.
score. But now, The Shadow was seeking
He felt sure that he would be safe un- greater results. Indifferent to what plans
til after to-morrow night. Then, with the enemy might hold, the master of
a new crime to work upon, The Shadow darkness was striving to reach the
might find clews that would lead to his source itself. Well did The Shadow
captured agent. Harry had confidence know that Ping Slatterly had been no
in The Shadow's power to rescue him more than a tool in the hands of mas-
from desperate situations. He had never ter schemers.
known The Shadow to fail. The Shadow had been piecing im-
Harry's thoughts did not dwell upon portant facts. Before him lay the as-
his own plight, however. The throbs sembled reports that told things which
that passed through his frenzied brain Detective Joe Cardona had failed to
repeated the knowledge that he now even suspect,
—
possessed the details of the contem- The secret of the black hush.!
plated crime which Goldy Tancred had The Shadow was upon its trail
so openly disclosed. A hand moved across the desk. It
If The Shadow only knew! But The swept the clippings aside. Brilliant eyes
Shadow could not learn. Harry Vin- from the dark were focused upon the
cent, the one man who could tell The huge map of Manhattan. Deft fingers
Shadow all, was buried in a stone-walled produced white-headed pins. One by
prison one, The Shadow placed these markers
on important spots.
CHAPTER XXIII. First, a pin touched the location of
the Olympia Hotel. The second pin
THE SHADOW LAUGHS.
marked the apartment building which
White hands beneath a bluish light; was topped by Thaddeus Harmon's
a gleaming gem that flashed amazing penthouse. The third pin rested upon
sparks from its color-changing depths the exact position of the New City
The Shadow was in his sanctum Upon ! Bank. The fourth entered the street in-
his table lay clippings and other sheets tersection where traffic had been halted
of paper. Beneath them was a map of to allow the escape of fleeing crim-
Manhattan that overspread the entire inals.
surface of the table top. After a pause, the fingers put another
This windowless room knew neither pin upon a line that indicated the Sixth
night nor day. Amid blackness that Avenue elevated. The keen eyes of The
was broken only by the blue light in the Shadow surveyed the studded surface of
corner, The Shadow worked in perfect the map.
seclusion. His sanctum was a spot Those pins indicated an important
which no one other than he had ever fact. They showed that the strange
visited. blackness of the hush could easily have
Night had passed outside the sanc- been projected from a single point.
tum. The light of a new day had ar- Significantly, the forefinger of The
70 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
Shadow's right hand moved from one "Check through Mann," ordered The
pin to another. The markers thus Shadow.
touched were the ones which showed The light went out. When it re-
the elevated and the street intersection. turned, Burbank opened the conversa-
These were the two places that gave tion :

the important clew. At the hotel, the "No report received by Mann."
—
apartment, the bank all three meant Silence. Then came the whispered
nothing more than the manipulation of voice of The Shadow. It came as a sud-
electrical equipment within the build- den thought of inspiration.
ings themselves. "Call Burke," ordered The Shadow.
But the elevated line and street in- "Tell him to call the apartment house
tersection !These spots, where black- where Chalvers lives. Call from the
ness had fallen, were sure indications Classic office, requesting information on
of a pall that had descended from the lighting service., interrupted there last
night itself! night."
The tiny bulb went out. On came the
With a the hand of The
pencil, blue light above The Shadow's table.
Shadow traced dotted lines on the face There, in total darkness, The Shadow
of the map. From the Olympia Hotel, had gained a new connection. There
alone, the indicating line might have was no report from Harry Vincent. The
gone in any direction. With the pent- agent might have met with unexpected
house as a starting point, there were enemies. If so, the meeting had pos-
logical places where its line and the line sibly occurred in the apartment of Don
from the hotel should cross. Chalvers.
The line from the New City Bank The enemies whom The Shadow now
produced a further limitation. The line combated were men who acted under
from the street intersection meant an- cover of the black hush. Perhaps that
other narrowing of the search. Yet The strange phenomenon had occurred last
Shadow's problem of survey work had night at the place where Harry Vincent
not yet been completed. had been stationed
One more pin might have solved the Anticipating this chance, The Shadow
calculation. The Shadow's finger lin- placed a pin upon the location of the
gered upon the Sixth Avenue pin. That apartment where Chalvers lived. He
one was useless identified with the New
; began a new tracing of dotted lines.
City Bank, it gave no additional aid to This was the one he needed. It indi-
him. cated a central point in Manhattan
The Shadow waited. His keen brain where all the lines showed perfect con-
had been wresting with this problem for vergence.
hours. The light snapped off. Within The little bulb was gleaming. The
.adarkness as total as that of the black hand of The Shadow lifted the ear
hush, The Shadow dwelt in solemn phAnes from the table. Burbank was
thought. A hand moved forward in the ready with a prompt report.
blackness. It found a set of ear phones. "Call from Burke," came Burbank's
A tiny ligrit glimmered on the wall be- quiet tones. "Report from the apart-
yond the table. ment house. Lighting service was in-
"Burbank speaking," came a voice terrupted there for a few minutes last
over the line. night. Regarded as dynamo failure."
"Report on Vincent " were The The bulb went out. The ear phones
Shadow's quiet words. moved across the table. The hand of The
"No further report," Burbank replied. Shadow produced a black-headed pin.
 ! !

THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 71

Carefully, the fingers placed it
focal point of the clotted lines.
That pin,, with its jet-black
marked the location which The Shadow
had been seeking. It showed the spot
in Manhattan from which the black ray
had been projected.
It was resting exactly upon the build-
ing site occupied by the new Judruth
Tower
A minute passed while the eyes
full
of The Shadow gazed upon the map-
The blue light cast its eerie flicker.
girasol upon The Shadow's finger
seemed to flash triumphant sparks from
its glimmering depths.
Blackness followed as the hand of
The Shadow extinguished the light.
long, reechoing burst of hollow laughter
pealed through the confines of the sanc-
tum. Quivering reverberations sent their
persistent shudders through the spaces
of that black-walled room. When those
sinister echoes had ended, the sanctum
was empty.
It was later afternoon in Manhattan.
A tall figure, striding along a side street,
paused to gaze up toward the sky. Keen
eyes perceived the jutting finger of the
Judruth Tower, gleaming in the sun.
The observer laughed as he stood
alone. His soft mirth sounded as an
echo carried with hira from the depths
of the black-walled sanctum.
The Shadow was viewing the tall
spire which harbored the secret of the
black hush. There lay the source of
crime.
The Shadow knew
at the a few late visitors were viewing the
splendid vista that lay below.
top, Among them was a silent watcher
whose keen eyes were moving from spot
to spot in the scene that stretched be-
neath. The Shadow, in the guise of a
curious visitor to the observation post,
was viewing each place where the black
hush of crime had fallen.
The Olympia Hotel was plain with its
glimmering windows. Thaddeus Har-
mon's penthouse was a conspicuous
The structure upon its apartment roof. The
white face of the New City Bank looked
like a tiny slab beyond the blackened
structure of the Sixth Avenue elevated.
The intersection of avenue and cross
A street was close to the base of the build-
ing. The observant visitor noted that
point ; then turned and located the apart-
ment house wherein Harry Vincent had
visited Don Chalvers.
From this pinnacle, The Shadow had
corroborated a belief that he had ac-
cepted while on his way to the Judruth
Tower; namely, that the force of the
black hush must have been projected
from one of the higher stories of this
edifice.Only from great height could
the results have been accomplished-
Leaning over the rail, The Shadow
viewed the bulk beneath. A straight
shaft ,
traveling downward into dizzy
depths; a mammoth creation of steel and
stone that defied the force of the whis-
tling —
wind such was the Judruth
Tower.
Somewhere among the windows that
were visible lay the source of the black
hush. Peering along the blackening sur-
face of the building, this silent observer

CHAPTER XXIV. waited for the opportunity that was

soon to come.
UPON THE TOWER. "All off the tower !" came a cry from
Night was falling upon Manhattan. an opened doorway. "Last elevator go-
The outlines of buildings were still visi- ing down!"
ble; windows ap-
twinkling lights in The tall figure lowered itself within
peared like sparkling jewels in futur- the confines of the railed platform.
istic settings. From the windy, open ob-* Black cloth swished. When the figure
servation circle atop the Judruth Tower, rose again, it blended with the dusk that
72 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
now surrounded the pinnacle. The last The keen eyes of The Shadow rested
visitor had become a phantom shape upon that ship. A laugh escaped The
garbed in black cloak and black slouch Shadow's lips. The vessel was the Gnr-
hat. ronic, the latest and most modernized of
A watchman, swinging a lantern, be- all liners that plied between New York

gan a circuit of the platform. He did and Europe.

not see the gliding shape that preceded
him. When he had completed his round,
he was positive that every visitor had
passed within. A metal door clanged.
The last elevator started on
The huge ship was driven by electric
motors. Once in the center of the river,
itwould loose itself from the tugs that
were backing it into the stream; from
its down- there on it would proceed under its own

ward trip. The tower had closed for the power to the lower harbor.
night. Why did The Shadow watch that
But there was one who still remained. single boat?
The Shadow, master of darkness, was There was an answer. Moving back-
alone on the observation platform of the ward from the pier, the ship made a
Judruth Tower, with the whole spar- conspicuous sight. Of all objects visible
kling array of glittering Manhattan far from this tower, it was the most plain.
below him. Like the brain of a mam- The passenger list of the Garro-nic
moth being, he could visualize all that had made it famous for this coming
passed beneath. trip. Among those aboard was the
noted Siamese prince, whose visit to the
While the increasing wind swirled United States had brought blaring head-
in powerful gusts, this strange phantom lines. With him, this celebrity was car-
began its solitary round of the platform. rying gems of fabulous value—prized
Sharp eyes gazed out over Manhattan, stones that were guarded by his trusted
then peered down the walls of the build- retinue.
ing. The Shadow was studying the city The Shadow was dwelling upon that
as well as the edifice upon which he fact. From here, the Garronic had the
stood. semblance of a tiny toy, which a mam-
The shape came to a halt. A weird moth hand could pluck from the river
laugh was caught by the increasing and shake of its contents. Such a hand
wind. In his circuit, The Shadow had did not exist; but here, not many feet
completed important observations. Yet below, lay a power as mighty as that of
he waited, sensing that time might bring a Gargantuan fist.

the vital moment at which to begin a
strange and hazardous course.
Up here, The Shadow was the master.
Above the source of the black hush, he
could bide his time
Gazing westward, the eyes of The
Shadow saw the strip that denoted the
North River. The lights of many craft
If ever the black hush could prove
of use to crime, now was the oppor-
tunity. It was the obviousness of that
fact —so plainfrom this tower that —
caused The Shadow to watch the back-
ward motion of the Garronic.
Close to mid-river, the great boat was
still under the control of the.tugs. They

were glimmering above the darkened were swinging its stern upstream. The
waters. Gigantic liners looked like toys. prow was heading toward the bay.
One vessel— Lilliputian from this ob- The laugh of The Shadow rose above
servation tower —showed as an outline the wind. Its uncanny mockery was a
that sparkled with many lights as tiny challenge to foreboding crime. Weird
tugboats, barely discernible, drew it out and mirthless, the laugh broke into a
into the mighty stream. wavering, sinister tone. With that
 ! ! !

THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 73

strange token of The Shadow's mysteri- The Shadow's call was answered. In
ous presence came the stroke that the cold, steady tones, the man from above
master mind had expected. passed the startling word that brought
In one quick instant, the entire hull news of unknown crime.
of the G-arronic disappeared from view. "Motor ship Garronie," came The
With it went every light. The tiny tug- Shadow's voice. "Attacked by gang-
boats and their signals were blotted out sters in the harbor. Criminals aiding
from view. Between the great ship and from post on ninety-third floor of Jud-
the pier lay a stretch of complete ruth Tower."
gloom. That was all. The receiver was on
The black hush had fallen. Under its the hook. Sweeping swiftly through the
spell lay the huge ship, vanished while gloom, The Shadow reached the ob-
The Shadow watched. Wealth beyond servation platform. With the abandon
pricewas at the mercy of the men who of a man seeking suicide, he vaulted
were waiting the blotch that was to over the rail, poising his long form
serve them! above the man-made chasm below
The Shadow's swing came to an
CHAPTER XXV. abrupt stop as his body slid down the
wall of the building, his hands using the
OUT OF THE RAY. cornice below the rail as a new gripping
Swiftly, The Shadow acted. Here, point. A mighty gust of wind swept the
from the observation platform of the building, but its ferocious blast did not
Judnith Tower, he held a new and amaz- detach the clinging shape in black.
ing vantage point. The black ray lay The decorated surfaces below the ob-
below him. Its conical projection servation platform were The Shadow's
formed a tapering tube of darkness that stepping-stones. Poised on the brink of
no eye could penetrate. oblivion, undeterred by the gale that
From below, that darkness could not sought to break his unerring clutch, the
be observed against the sky. But The black-clad master of the night began his
Shadow saw it as a swath of black that death-defying descent.
obscured the lights of the city beneath A thousand feet of nothingness! Yet
its path. More than that, he could de- The Shadow was as calm as if he had
tect the starting point —
a corner room been less than a yard above the ground.
two floors below There were projections that he could
Within the circle of the observation grasp, and he found them in the dark-
platform was the lounge room and the ness. Blotched against the surface of
information desk. The door was close the uppermost heights which the Jud-
behind The Shadow's form. Turning, nith Tower could boast, The Shadow
the rays of a flashlight guiding his was crawling like a beetle toward his
movement, The Shadow reached the goal —the ray of blackness that lay two
telephone that connected the tower with floors below
the main floor of the building. An op- The Shadow had conquered smoother
erator's voice responded. surfaces than this, but to-night, he
"Police headquarters," ordered The fought with terrible hazards. Speed
Shadow. was essential and he acquired it, de-
;

The operator, hundreds of feet below, spite the menace of the terrific wind
responded with trancelike precision. A that whirled the folds of his cloak.
call from the tower at this hour! A Then, as The Shadow poised above
voice that sounded like the knell of the window from which the blackened
doom! ray extended, he performed a weird
74 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
maneuver that brought his body side- thisman who controlled the ray was per-
wise on a with that open spot.
level forming his duty with the same perfec-
Death yawned below. Enemies lay tion that he hademployed before.
within. The Shadow paused. Was he "Ten minutes," announced Hector
planning; to return to the only spot that Fawcett. "That's half the time they
afforded the slightest vestige of safety want. They're getting what they're
— the observation platform above? Only after."
The Shadow knew ; but others were "It's a cinch," commented Goldy.
soon to learn "Say —look at that
*'
black— the way it
stretches out
There were four men within the se- Hector Fawcett laughed. He knew
cret projection room to-night. Hector that Goldy Tancred was realizing the
Fawcett was staring from the window, power of this ray. Blackness cutting
yet he could see but little, for the black within blackness, it made a weird and
ray swept close against the side. With unbelievable spectacle.
Fawcett was the big shot, Goldy Tan- "I never saw anything like it," added
cred. Behind them stood Bowser Rig- Goldy. —
"Say if anything ever came
gins, Goldy's bodyguard. out of that black, you couldn't see it un-
"
In keeping with his promise, Goldy til

Tancred was supervising this end of the The big shot's sentence ended. A
crime, while Clipper Hardigan did the gasp came from his startled lips.
work below. But the fourth member of The cry caused Hector Fawcett to fol-
the group was as important as any one low the direction of Goldy's gaze. Bow-
present. In the darkness behind the ser Riggins followed suit. The three
glittering machine stood Hobbs, the op- men of crime staggered backward in the
erator. face of a phenomenon more amazing
Silently, this controller of the black than the shaft of gloom which they were
ray awaited orders that were to
the viewing.
come. His hand was ready to lift the Out of the blackness came a living
pall of the black hush at the end of the form. As if a portion of the black hush
appointed time ready, also, to restore it,
;
had detached itself from the steady, un-
should Hector Fawcett or Goldy Tan- erring ray, a creature of another world
cred give the word. had materialized itself from that pro-
Deeming themselves safe from all at- jected gloom.
tack, these fiends were gloating over Like a spirit of darkness, a tall form
crime which they were sure could never swung over the window ledge, and
fail. The mighty ray of darkness that landed, in huddled shape, directly in
hurled forth the black hush had stilled front of the men who watched. Then,
all action aboard the Garronic. instead of a dwindled form, the sinister
"We can't be stopped to-night." Hec- object stretched upward until it became
tor Fawcett made the comment. "This the semblance of a tall, living being.
is the job that can never fail." With a mighty spring, this weird
"Be ready, though," advised Goldy monster leaped forward with out-
Tancred. "Watch for the tugboats stretched arms, toward the three men.
when we lift it. If they're still close, broke for
Instinctively, the watchers
give them more of the black." the sides of the room. Their cries caused
Bowser Riggins chuckled. As usual, Hobbs to see the obj ect which had
he reflected the opinion of his chief, and brought them ghastly fear. Grimly, the
Goldy Tancred had spoken in a tone of man at the black-ray machine faced this
surety. Hobbs said nothing. Stolidly, menace that had sprung from nowhere.
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 75

Through an opened window, nearly The tugboats? They were manned

a thousand feet above the ground from ; by Clipper's henchmen. Like the motor
a formidable blackness that obliterated ship, the smaller boats were wiped out
all objects in its path, had come the su- of sight.
perman who had never yet failed in his The stroke of the ray had been re-
combats with fiends of crime, served for the moment when the tugs
Out of the black ray —The Shadow! were ready to cast off. Yet they re-
His precipitous descent from the ob- mained for they were to serve Clip-
;

servation tower completed, the master
of darkness had used the black shaft
to his own advantage. It had furnished
him the obscurity which he required to
complete this weird attack.
per and his henchmen in their flight.
The tugboats had no lights now, but
their primitive steam engines were not
handicapped by the impelling force of
the black hush. W ith his acetylene light,
r

The Shadow had arrived to take his Clipper was out to gain the treasure of
foeroen unaware. His objective was the the Siamese prince; then to blaze a trail
glittering machine that evil brains had along a lower deck that would lead his
turned to the service of crime. crowd to the waiting tugs.
The hand of The Shadow was stretch- That was why Clipper wanted the
ing forth to end the blackness that was black hush to stay. Plowing out from
now the aid of an attacking band. He its depths, the tugs could steam away
was here — to fight the black hush at its to safety. They would be clear, while
very source! confusion still reigned aboard the Gar-
Out of the ray—The Shadow! ronic.
A perfect game —one which The
CHAPTER XXVI. Shadow was striving to defeat at the
one spot where success might properly
BELOW AND ABOVE.
be gained; that room in the corner of
One light glowed aboard the motor the ninety-third floor in the Judruth
ship Garronic. That illumination came Tower.
from a powerful acetylene lantern in Clipper Hardigan and his mob
the firm fist of Clipper Hardigan. With reached their objective. Most of the
water-front mobsters at his heels, this passengers were on the decks. The way
gang leader was advancing to an assured was clear below. Clipper moved with
objective. the steady precision of soldiers ad-
Playing the parts of passengers vancing behind a timed barrage.
aboard the vessel, Clipper and his hench- Stealthily, the black hush aiding in
men had ignored the cry of all ashore. their creeping silence, the mobsters
They had clustered close to the rear of neared the door of the prince's suite. .

the ship, all on the same deck, ready to Here, the glare of the light revealed an
head for the objective when the order opening.
came. Startled members of the Siamese
When the liner had been backed to retinue had thought the light was
mid-stream, the black hush fell. few A friendly. They learned their mistake
seconds later, Clipper Hardigan's lan- as one of Clipper's mob fired an open-
tern broke the gloom. ing shot that implanted itself in the
Aboard a helpless ship, on which doorway.
every means of illumination and power The door swung shut, but mobsters
had been eliminated, Clipper urged his hurtled forward and thrust it open.
men toward the stairway that pointed di- Then came resistance.
rectly toward the Siamese prince's suite. The prince was not in his cabin; but
76 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
he had others there besides the Siamese The gangsters swept into the main
servants. Detectives and ship's officers, room of the suite. With one accord,
who had been deputed to guard the jew- the defenders had dived for the shelter
els temporarily, opened an unexpected of other rooms. While his men cov-
fire. ered the barriers behind which detec-
They clipped the first gangsters who tivesand officers had gone, Clipper used
had rushed in front of the light. Mob- the acetylene lantern to bathe the entire
ster shots responded from outside the scene with light.
door. A detective staggered ; one of the Trusted made
lieutenants for the
Siamese servants fell. Clipper and his strong-room. They smashed at the
mob pressed onward as the defenders
scattered before the overwhelming fire. defenders knew that their cause was

This suite possessed an inner room

—almost a strong-room. Goldy Tan-
cred had gained full knowledge of the
arrangement. Acting in accordance,
Clipper ordered his men forward. The
brief battle had caused a delay. There
was no time for waiting.

The hand of The Shadow was stretching forth to end the blackness
to fight the black hush at its very source!
 ! ! ! ;

THE SHADOW MAGAZINE

hopeless; they hung to their places of Hobbs, least formidable of all. It was
safety, awaiting the return of the ship's he, however, who put up the resistance.
lights— the only aid which could equal- His hand still gripped The Shadow's
ize the struggle. fist as the ray clicked back and forth.
The door ahead was open. Clipper A black arm swung from the darkness
could see his men knocking it aside, as Hobbs collapsed as The Shadow's free
he looked through the murky haze that fist landed on his chin.
his light was penetrating. Success was That brought the rush. With one ac-
here the surety that Goldy Tancred had
;
cord, the three who had backed away
promised. But as Clipper's lips emitted now flung themsel ves upon The
a gloating cry, the one thing that he Shadow. With a wild cry, Goldy Tan-
had feared occurred. cred was crying his recognition of this
The ship's lights carne on enemy whom all wrongdoers had
Clipper's men hesitated ;
then, at the sought to eliminate.
end of long, tense seconds, the lights The Shadow's form seemed to col-
went out again. Clipper laughed amid lapse before the onrush. Goldy and
the muffling hush. This was as planned. Bowser drew revolvers upon
as they fell
The short spell of light had been ended the huddling shape. They sprawled
when watchers had seen that the job was upon the floor as The Shadow swung
not complete. clear. Hector Fawcett, staggering
Before Clipper's men could continue, against the machine, drew a revolver in
however, the lights appeared again his turn.
Once more off then on, off, en at the
; — Shots rang out from Goldy and Bow-
end of the quick succession, the lights ser; They went wide, for The Shadow
remained was making an elusive shift. The roar
- Consternation seized the mobsters. of an automatic responded. Bowser
Doors opened in the suite, and the de- Riggins, in front of Goldy's body, took
fenders fired from ambush. Retreating the bullet.
gunmen dropped as Clipper Hardigan Hector Fawcett, grabbing with his
ordered them to withdraw. New ene- left hand for the control lever, aimed h\is
mies were at the head of the stairs. A revolver at The Shadow. The be-
real battle had begun! spectacled crime plotter had a wonder-
ful advantage, but his attempted double
The explanation for the sudden turn action proved his undoing.
lay in what was happening in the cor- Missing the switch with one hand, he
ner office near the top of the Judruth fired wildly with the other. Then he
Tower. The Shadow, leaping to the caught the switch and tried to shoot
black-ray machine, had placed his hand again. The Shadow's fire felled him.
upon the switch. But as his gloved fist Hobbs was on his feet. Once again,
clutchedit, Hobbs, with a sudden swing, the operator of the ray performed the
threw himself upon the black-clad in- unexpected. Hurling himself against
vader. the heavy machine, he rolled it forward.
The Shadow held no weapon. He had The Shadow was crouching directly in
expected to find his enemies without its path.
theirguns handy. Had Fawcett, Goldy, The big device thrust him back to-
or Bowser made effort to draw a re- ward the window. He fired twice. The
volver, The Shadow would have re- bullets ricocheted from the side of the
an automatic.
sorted to machine. Hobbs instinctively shifted
The men had cowered from The his position; The Shadow stopped the
Shadow's wrath; the way lay open to progress of the rolling ray machine.
 ! ;

78 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE

Goldy Tancred scurried through the There was a reason why he had
door, with Hobbs close behind him. The wanted these men to live. He knew
Shadow, too late to stop them with his thatHarry Vincent lay in their power.
shots, laughed in the gloom beside the They, alone, could show the trail to
window. These men could not escape wherever The Shadow's agent might
him he had another task more pressing.
; be imprisoned.
Swinging into the room, The Shadow If the police had arrived, the fleeing
stooped and thrust his shoulder under- men would be captured ; but The
neath the machine that no longer func- Shadow did not count upon the law for
tioned. With a powerful upward heave aid. He, himself, would take up the
of almost superhuman strength, he lev- chase.
ered the big device endwise through the His tall form swung back into the
window. It glittered there, almost on corner room. It moved out through the
—
a balance. A final thrust the heavy in- window. With cloak close about him
strument of crime plunged forth on a to avoid the whirring power of the ris-
thousand-foot fall to a deserted area- ing gale, The Shadow began the perilous
way behind the mammoth building! ascent back to the observation tower.
Before the crash ascended from the
depths below, The Shadow had passed Teerible space lay below. The
the door of this corner room. He had Shadow ignored it. He paid no atten-
hurled the ray machine to its destruc- tion to the myriad lights of Manhattan
tion now he was on the trail of the
; nor even to the distant scene in the river
fiends who had tried to flee. beyond, where the motor ship Garronic
lay in mid-stream, with lights ablaze.
Goldy Tancred, king-pin of the plot- A mad fight was ending aboard that
ters ;
Hobbs, the man behind the ma- vessel. Clipper Hardigan and a hand-
chine —
itself these were the two with ful of unwounded mobsters were clam-
whom The Shadow would
presently bering over the rail of a lower deck,
cope. The door to the anteroom was springing to the safety of a tugboat
closed to block The Shadow's path. It that lay below.
was locked from the other side. Their goal gained, the mob leader
Carefully, a black-gloved hand in- shook his fist at the men who crowded
troduced a small pick into the keyhole. the edge of the upper deck on the Gar-
The lock clicked. The hand gripped the ronic. The tug was steaming away, be-
knob; the door swung open as The yond the range of pot shots. Clipper
Shadow slid backward into darkness, Hardigan and his last few henchmen
his automatic coming up in readiness. were heading for the safety of the
Across the anteroom, an elevator door shore.
was sliding shut. The criminals had The gang leader cursed as he heard
gained a lucky outlet. A foolish, un- shrill whistles and saw the lights of
suspecting operator had answered their small, swift boats approaching the tug.
frenzied summons. The Shadow had This was the finish. The police boats
sent a warning below yet this blunder
; had arrived. The tug could not escape
had been perpetrated them now.
The Shadow laughed mirthlessly. No Jamming cartridges in his emptied
elevator could be summoned now; for revolver, Clipper Hardigan prepared to
the men of crime had probably revealed fight. He stared futiiely toward the
themselves by threatening the operator spire of the Judruth Tower, silhouetted
with their revolvers. Yet The Shadow against the Manhattan sky line.
had not failed. No aid could come from there. Clip-
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
per Hardigan did not know why. He
could not see the tiny figure of The
Shadow, black in the night, as it reached
the rail of the observation platform.
There were men upon that circle.
They had come up to investigate the
mysterious call from this spot. They
had found no one.
While they flashed their lights, The
Shadow's tall form swung across the
rail. It passed between the searchers
and entered the room within the circle.
When the investigators arrived there
a minute later, they were surprised to
see a closed door where they had left
an open elevator. Stupidly, they re-
alized that the man for whom they had
been looking had chosen that effective
means of escape.
The elevator stopped at the ground
floor. The door opened slowly. Peo-
ple who had entered the lobby of the
Judruth Tower had rushed back to the
door, to observe the results of confusion
in the street.
The stealthy form of The Shadow
glided across the space. It moved
through the outer door, and merged with
darkness at the side of the building, un-
seen by the group that was looking to-
ward the street, where two policemen
were aiding a wounded comrade.
A whispered laugh sounded eerily in
the darkness. The Shadow was
He had ended the menace of the black
hush in Manhattan.
One more mission lay ahead.
Goldy Tancred and Hobbs had
trail that
taken must be followed. The Shadow
was ready for that task.
CHAPTER XXVII.
PURSUIT IS ENDED.
A swift touring car shot out of a
Manhattan garage, not far from the
Judruth Tower. The automobile con-
tained three men. Goldy Tancred was
at the wheel. Hobbs was beside him.
Harry Vincent, bound and helpless, was
79
in the back seat. He had been dragged
through darkness by these captors, and
hurled bodily into the car.
The vehicle's top was down. Mounted
upon the back of the front seat was a
post; upon it, what appeared to be a
large searchlight.
The moment that the car appeared,
shouts told of its arrival. A policeman
at the side of the garage fired wildly,
and missed his target.
Goldy and Hobbs had made a mad
escape by commandeering a taxi and
threatening the driver. Goldy had
wounded a policeman, an advance mem-
ber of a raiding squad approaching the
Judruth Tower. That had marked the
beginning ot the chase. The pair of vil-
lains had left the cab and hurried into
the garage where they had picked up
Harry Vincent and thrust him into their
own car.
A siren sounded as a police car shot
up the street in pursuit of the fleeing
touring car. Goldy Tancred clung grimly
to the wheel. Hobbs, calm in the dark-
ness, clicked a switch on the peculiar
searchlight.
A flood of blackness swept behind the
touring car. It filled the street and
buried the police car in its strange dark-
ness. The power of the black hush put
the pursuer's ignition out of commis-
gone. sion. Goldy Hobbs turned a corner, and
swung along an avenue.
Another police car was bearing down.
The Shots burst from it. Hobbs responded
with the ray. The new pursuer was
crippled. The touring car kept on its
mad course.
Then came a procession of strange
events. Hobbs pivoted the black-faced
searchlight so its darkened rays pointed
ahead, throwing a pall that began some
fifty feet in front of the touring car's
headlights.
Traffic was clear along the avenue.
Following a swath of darkness, the
speedy touring car continued its mad
pace with nothing ahead to intercept it.
80 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
Cars were stalled by the powerful Its motor stopped, the pursuing ship
gloom. Goldy Tancred picked his way was helpless. Close to the ground, it

by the short space of light which the banked as its pilot tried to avoid a crash.
front lamps furnished. Completely obscured by darkness, with
The black ray became intermittent as ignition out of commission, the situa-
Hobbs clicked, the switch off and on. tion reached a critical point.
This system was effective. It showed The touring car whirled onward
the avenue ahead at the same time, it
; Hobbs lost the focus. Lights glimmered
brought back the darkness that cleared above as the biplane was freed from the
all that lay in the path. power of the black hush. Good for-
tune, however,came too late. The pur-
Picking a new course, Goldy found suing pilot managed to pick a vacant
another avenue, and again headed north- space, but his plane crashed in the sud-
ward. As the touring car bowled along den landing.
toward the Harlem River, a siren call Harry Vincent, staring upward, saw
resounded. A police car was cutting in the lights of the biplane whirl in the
behind. Word of the fleeing men had final spin. The Shadow's agent closed
been telephoned from headquarters. his eyes. On through the chilly night-
Hobbs swung the Grange searchlight he did not know where he was being
on its movable pivot. A sweep of blacks carried. He realized only that the last
ness caught the police car in its gloowu attempt to halt this fleeing touring car
Once more, a chaser had been thwarted. had failed. Cold almost to a stupor,
The touring car shot over a bridge. Harry forgot the passage of time.
A clear path! It seemed open now,
but as the fleeing automobile whirled When the prisoner opened his eyes,
along the lighted boulevard, a new pur- he found that the car had stopped in
suer threatened. From above came the front of an old house. They were in
thrum of a powerful motor. A police an isolated spot. Harry's captors
airplane had taken up the chase dragged him from the automobile. They
Muttered oaths came from Goldy carried him around the house to a low,
Tancred. He threw a hopeless, side- flat building beyond.
long glance toward the man beside him. Through a door; then Harry found
This meant disaster. The followers himself flat upon his back, in what

from the air could keep pace with the
traveling automoWle. They could swoop
down and riddle this car with machine-
gun bullets.
seemed to be a stone-floored room. A
light came on; Harry stared at the
gloating face of Goldy Tancred. There
was no mistaking the big shot the flash-
;

It was Hobbs who counteracted the
emergency. He, the operator, knew the
full power of the black ray. The black-
faced searchlight pointed upward. Its
projected darkness suddenly blotted out
the lights of the biplane that was swoop-
ing from above.
The touring car was traveling at a
clip faster than sixty miles an hour.
Gauging this speed, Hobbs coolly
wielded the ray at a somewhat faster
pace. »The police plane was enveloped
in a wide range of blackness.
ing mouth betokened his identity.
Who was the other? Harry had heard
Goldy call his companion by the name of
Hobbs. The second man was turning;
to his amazement, Harry saw the pale
face of Don Chalvers!
Like Goldy, Chalvers was grinning.
Harry Vincent realized that the young
engineer's nervousness had been an af-
fectation.
Well did Harry understand the rea-
son for the murder of Roland Furness.
Don Chalvers, possessor of the black
SHAD—5A
 ! " !

THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 81

ray, had found it essentia} to eliminate looks best, we'll give you a chance to
the one man who might have betrayed send him phony information. Take him
the secret 1 off the trail. You'll get your cut out
"I'm bringing in the projector," Chal- of the swag."
vers informed Goldy. "Setting it up Harry Vincent remained obdurate.
on this flat roof. If any one heads this Goldy Tancred watched the captive's
way, it may prove useful." face during long minutes. At last, the
"Not much chance," responded Goldy. big shot turned to Don Chalvers.
"We shook them right, I'm not worry- "He won't squawk," announced
ing." Goldy Tancred. "He still thinks The
Chalvers went about
Nevertheless, Shadow can pull him out of this pickle.
his Goldy Tancred remained,
duty. There's only one thing to do. Give this
glowering at Harry Vincent. At last, heel the works ——
while his companion was still absent, Goldy Tancred stopped suddenly. His
Goldy addressed Harry with a hostile gold teeth shone as he scowled. He
growl. grasped Don Chalvers by the arm and
"You're working for The Shadow, the pair assumed a listening attitude.
eh?" The reason for the interruption came
Harry did not respond to the big suddenly to Harry Vincent's ears.
shot's quiz. From somewhere, in the distance, the
"Trying to keep mum?" Goldy's thrum of a motor was announcing the
question was sneering. "Well, we'll find approach of what could be only a ship
out how to make you talk. Maybe you of the air. That sound brought joy to
think we've been licked to-night. Not Harry Vincent. It might mean that
us. We lost a good guy they got — The Shadow was coming to this spot
Clipper Hardigan, sure enough. But But as Harry thought, he could not
the brains are still here. Chalvers repress a groan. Don Chalvers had
fooled you, eh? Framed you up in his made preparation for such an attack.
apartment. Well, he's smart —and so The Shadow was coming into the power
am I." of the black ray
Harry still preserved silence. Min-
utes passed. Don Chalvers returned. CHAPTER XXVIII.
He and Goldy Tancred held a confer-
ence. The big shot swung toward THE FINAL STROKE,
Harry Vincent. Upon a flat roof, beneath which
"Look here," he said. "We're giving Harry Vincent still remained a prisoner,
you a break. We're going to scrajn, Goldy Tancred and Don Chalvers were
see? Out of the country. I'll tell you standing in a hazy gloom. It was still
—
where to London. We're going to dark here, close to the ground, but the
crack the Bank of England when we sky above was tinged with early dawn.
get this ray of ours in operation. Beside the two men stood the pivoted
"You think I'm kidding you? Not a projector that could cast its dread black
bit of it. There's only one person who ray. Goldy Tancred, growling, was
might put a crimp in our game. That's staring toward the sky, while Don Chal-
The Shadow —
the one you're working vers —
again playing the part of Hobbs
for. So here's our offer. Spill what — was ready with the machine.
you know. Stick with us, and bluff "There he comes!" snarled Goldy,
The Shadow into thinking that we'll kill pointing high above the horizon. "Be
you if he moves. ready. When he gets closer,? you can
!"
"He'll stay out of the game. If it spot him
SHAD—6 A
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
An oddly shaped plane was visible in Goldy Tancred. "Watch him come
the pale hues of dawn. Hovering as it plopping out of there—the same way
approached, the ship revealed spinning' the biplane crashed. His motor's gone I"
blades that -whirled like a windmill.
That craft told well who piloted it. The two men waited. As their eyes
The Shadow was arriving in his auto- looked upward, they could see no re-
gyro! sult. The autogyro was lost in the path
"Good," snorted Goldy. "That ship of blackness. It was vanished as com-
of his can't move as fast as the biplane pletely as if it had disintegrated within

you knocked off. Give him the ray the folds of the black hush.
when he gets closer, It's The Shadow Seconds went by. Goldy emitted a
—
- if we get him
"
puzzled growl as he turned to Chalvers.
The
big shot did not conclude the In the dimness beside the black ray,
statement. He was watching the prog- Goldy saw a sudden expression of un-
ress of the ship,and he left his com- derstanding appear upon his compan-
panion to understand that the end of ion's face.
The Shadow would mean the finish of "He's coming downward in the ray!"
all possible attack or pursuit. cried the engineer. "He's guiding him-
The autogyro came on. Don Chal- self inside the blackness! That auto-
vers was waiting. He could see that the gyro needs no power
!"
—
the blades above
pilot was picking out the spot that he it resist the air
wanted. —
"He's heading here ?" gasped Goldy.
The Shadow had found the connec- "You mean —
you mean he's dropping
tion between Chalvers and the ray. He straight toward us?"
knew that the flight which had baffled "Yes!" screamed Chalvers. "We
the police must have ended here. can't stop him now! He'll land— right
Thus the criminal engineer bided his "
here
time. The black-faced searchlight piv- As the engineer broke away from the
oted upward. Chalvers waited,
Still, side of the black-ray machine, a shape
until the moment when
the autogyro bulged out of the darkness. Wings and
would be in perfect range. The ship wheels smashed downward toward the
—
seemed to pause in air not quite di- roof. The body of the autogyro landed
rectly above the spot where the two forcibly upon the black-faced projector.
villains were waiting. The machine crackled beneath the
"Give it to him!" snarled Goldy. impact. The black ray ended. Don
The autogyro was descending
as the Chalvers, too late in his leap for safety,
big shot gave the order. Less than a was smashed beneath the right wheel
thousand feet above, The Shadow had of the gyro as it jounced away from the
picked out the whiteness of the fiat- apparatus which it had shattered.
topped building in back of the old house Goldy Tancred saw his companion
which belonged to Don Chalvers. fall. With an ugly snarl, he whipped
Click! out his revolver. He saw a form in
The black ray cut a widening swath black bounce from the right of the
up toward the dawning sky. Just as a thudding autogyro. Goldy fired, know-
searchlight cleaves the night, so did this ing that he faced The Shadow.
stream of darkness carve through light. The big shot missed the swaying body
The autogyro was blocked out by the as it slouched back into the cockpit of
great circle of blackness. The thrum the autogyro. Then, as the wheels jog-
of the motor ceased. gled the ship back and forth, Goldy
"That ends The Shadow," announced raised his gun to shoot again.
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 83

An automatic spoke before the big lieve that the rescue had been so sud-
shot pressed the trigger. The Shadow, denly effected. He heard the motor
recovering from the bumpy landing, had hum with spinning fan now motorized,
;

fired in reply, to meet the menace of
Goldy Tancred. With a snarling groan,
Goldy staggered backward and sprawled
upon the flat roof.
The Shadow, tall and sinister,
alighted frsm the autogyro. He bent
above the bodies of the men who had
sought to resist him. Goldy Tancred
had a bullet through his heart Don
Chalvers, crushed by the impact of both
wheel and jouncing body, was coughing
out his last breath.
Through the last gloom of early
a clinging darkness that held to the
ground despite the approach of dawn,
The Shadow descended through an
' had brought doom to the last of those
opening in the roof. In the room be-
low, he found the bound form of Harry
Vincent. Quickly, he released his agent
and drew Harry up the stairs toward the
roof.
Slumped in the cockpit of the auto-
gyro,Harry Vincent could scarcely be-
the autogyro rolled across the roof and
took off into the lightening sky.
High above, it seemed to hover. Be-
neath lay the whiteness of the roof, now
visible in the growing light of day.
Upon it were two blackened, sprawled-
out shapes that lay beside the glistening
shattered bulk of a broken-up ap-
; paratus.
The ray of darkness would never
again be projected by the fiends who
lay beside their shattered machine. The
night, power of the black hush had been
ended.
With the final stroke, The Shadow
who had plotted amazing crime. Don
Chalvers, the creator, and Goldy Tan-
cred, the instigator, were dead.
The secret of the black hush had
been solved, and its weird force had
been ended through the mighty strength
of The Shadow 1

THE END.

—
From thick prison walls not thick enough to hold a desperate man—
through the dark alleys of New York, where one crook leaves another in the
—
hole when the lure of gold is held out to him up the muddy waters of the
Mississippi, the trail of evil leads to

THE ISLE OF DOUBT

There crook meets crook, and The Shadow, strange creature of the
night, meets both and bests them, saves untold wealth for its rightful
possessors.
A story as gripping, as moving, and as powerful as the mighty Missis-
sippi in its inevitable surge toward the sea, this tale of hidden loot and
treachery will thrill you through and through. It conies complete, a book-
length novel, together with those fast-action short stories you like, in the
February 1st issue of

Ten Cents a Copy Twice-a-month

February 1st issue on sale Friday, January 12th

 84

By Allen Westley
The difference be*
tween a mug ana a
big shot

SMALL-TIME GUYS
"How's tricks?" Sandy McCord, of •
"What you doin' so far from home?"
theWeston Daily, slouched into the po- Duneton and Weston were ten miles
lice chief's office in Duneton. apart.
"Ain't any," Chief Bill Cranston "The Feds seem to have some idea
growled from behind his desk. "Sit there's some dope smuggling round
down Sandy and take yourself a smoke. these parts," drawled McCord. "The
No, there's nothin' doin','' he went on. stuff's reaching New York pretty reg-
"Old man Williger gets drunk every ular by highway. People have seen
Saturday night an' I have Burrows take unexplained boats offshore along this
him home. And every other week or coast. There's a general suspicion they
so, Miss Susan Hunter gets scared and might be landing it somewhere along
wants me to go up there personal for a this line of shore. It would be easy,
burglar hunt. We've had a couple of once it was ashore, to ship it in beer
tramps, and once we thought we had a trucks. Seen anything unusual?"
fire bug. A hayrick got afire, but Cranston shook his big head so em-
turned out 'twas the farmer's kid did it. phatically his two chins waggled. "Not
r

THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 85

a thing," he insisted. "The coast guard house. Miles o' sea on one side miles ;

over at Long Shore would spot any o' dunes on the other. Used to stay
strange craft, I sh'd think. They may there when I was a kid. Me an' Tom
take it a little easy now and then, but used to play in the boathouse, and we'd
they ain't blind." go down in the 'root cellar' and steal
"They can't be on the coast all the us winter apples. An' now Tom's Hvin'
time," objected McCord. "There's a in style in New York. An' I'm hopin'
lot if inlets they could slide into after for a bum to come along so's I can put
dark. Crook by the name of Big Tim him in jail an'have him to talk to
Downey's at the head of the ring in evenin's."
New York. That is, everybody thinks bitter," chuckled McCord.
"Don't get
he is but you can't pin a thing on him.
; "You'll get a break one of these days."
He's one of the big-time guys in New He got up. "I'd better be goin' as long
York. Got a finger in every racket." as I can't get a story out of you. It's
"I see you read the papers." Crans- past ten now and I'm getting up early
ton's voice was dry. to-morrow. Going to try and track
McCord laughed. "I'll get to the big down this dope tale along the shore the
city yet," he promised. "I'd get there other side of Weston. So long."
quicker, though, if you'd spot a stranger "Good luck to you."
running dope and let me have a scoop." Left alone, Cranston yawned till the
"If I saw a stranger down here ex- hinges of his jaw creaked. He lighted
cept summer visitors, which there ain't his pipe and picked up the paper. The
any now, it bein' November, I'd plumb wind was blowing inshore, whistling as
faint away," grunted Cranston. "The it rushed past the scattered village. Ex-

last hobo hit here six months ago. I'm cept for the wind, everything was still.
not a cop any more, Sandy, I'm a janitor Cranston began to feel drowsy.
for the town hall. Honest, if I had to He got up slowly, intending to make
arrest somebody I'd probably yell, and himself a cup of coffee on the gas
scram. burner. The coffee never was made.
"1 was a mug all right when I stayed
in this hick town and got made chief. The telephone shrilled! Cranston
Thought I'd get lost in a big city. Lost, waddled rapidly across the office and
hell ! I'm not
Just dead lost. is all, picked up the receiver.
and haven't got round to Iayin' down "Well?" he asked.
yet. And the kids that went to school An agitated feminine voice chattered
with me are millionaires now. Look at him.
at Tom Doring. He's in some kind of "This is Susan Hunter, Chief Cran-
importin' business, in New York. He's ston. .What's that?" as the chief
. .

rollin' in the stuff. Bought his dad's swore under his breath. "Oh, I thought
old place an' fixed it up. Got a care- you spoke. Well, listen. I can see the
taker there 'n everything. You know Doring place from my attic window. I
where it is?" just happened to go up there to-night
McCord shook his head. He lighted a to get an extra blanket, and there's lights
cigarette and glanced at his watch. all around the Doring house."

Cranston's stones were apt to take time. "There's a caretaker there," explained
But Cranston's twinkling, agatelike Cranston curtly.
eyes were looking past him. But Miss Hunter wouldn't be soothed.
"It's over on Lonesome Cove, the "No caretaker dances with lights on the
house is," he rumbled reminiscently. dunes," she insisted.
"It's a honey of a place. Big, rambling "Dances? Say, Miss Hunter, sure
 !

86 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE

you ain't been dreamin'?" Cranston's that the chief had refused to come out
temper was growing short. when he was called for.
!"
"No, T haven't been dreaming As he tramped along the road the
snapped the lady. "I said dances and I wind a knife, and he had to use
bit like

meant dances There's things going on

! his flash constantly to keep from stum-
over there, and I'm going down to see bling over loose stones in the pitch
what's what! You can refuse to do darkness. The cold penetrated even the
your duty and sit tight if you've a mind thick wool of his mackinaw, and his
to." teeth were chattering before he'd gone
The went down with an
receiver half the way.
irritated jerkand the chief wasted sixty It wasn't a cheerful walk either. The
seconds telling the empty air a few of dull boom of the breakers on Long
the profane things he thought about Shore could be heard in the infrequent
women. Then, still grumbling and mut- lulls of the wind's howling, The few
tering, he heaved his great bulk into a houses along the way were dark, and
thick' mackinaw, jammed a cap on his not a wayfarer appeared on the road.
head and stuck an extra gun in his By the time Cranston got to the turn-
pocket. ing where the trail led to the Doring
He left a note for Burrows, the cop place, he was breathing hard, and his
on night duty, asking him to take care feet and hands were numb with cold.
of the office for an hour or so when he He was too disgusted even to curse, but
came in off the beat. He didn't tell him cut across the dunes doggedly, head
it was Susan Hunter who had called bent against the raw blast. It was

him out, because he knew what a laugh heavy going in the sand, still damp from
it would give the younger man to think a rain that day, and more than once
of the chief gallivanting again in search Cranston stopped to rest.
of some of Miss Hunter's famous imag- He strained his eyes to peer into the
inary sights and sounds. darkness ahead, but saw nothing stir-
ring. There wasn't a sign of a light,
When he started out of the court- dancing or otherwise. For a second or
house which housed both his office and two he had half a mind to go back as
the jail, Cranston was mad enough to quickly as possible to the warmth and
bite somebody. comfort of his office. But he gave up
The Doring place was particularly in- that idea almost as soon as it was
accessible. It a mile up the
lay half formulated. No use coming this far
State road from town, and then almost and then turning back.
a quarter of a mile in from the road And then, too, all of a sudden it
across the sand dunes. Old man Doring seemed to him that he did see a faint
had never built a drive in for fear 'of flash showing in the gloom at about
being bothered with visitors and motor where the house would be
tourists. And Tom Doring hadn't seen Cranston's big, round face took on
fit to change matters since he'd in-
. a more rugged look as his lips com-
herited the place. Probably because he pressed and his jaw set. He doused the
almost never came home. flashlight and went on with a swiftness
The idea of the long walk .in the of which he didn't seem capable. His
wind and dark, on what Cranston was feet made no noise on the sand, and the
certain was a wild-goose chase, was gorse, bayberry, and stunted conifers,
enough to make any man ugly. But he with which the dunes were mainly cov-
wasn't going to have wasp-tongued ered, were sparse here, so that there was
Susan Hunter saying all over town no rustle of undergrowth.
 ! !
THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
This was a good thing, because Lone-
some Cove, in which the house was set,
was sheltered by trees from the sweep
of the dunes, and from the open ocean
by a small bay and high sand cliffs so ; his knock. He was right. No one came
the noise of the wind penetrated little
to its natural fastness.
All at once Cranston stopped short.
He whistled under his breath! There
were dimly visible in the fine sea
lights
mist Cranston could see all about him
And the lights were dancing like will-o'-
the-wisps across the peat bogs of Ire-
land!
All Cranston's anger and reluctance
disappeared. Something was decidedly
wrong. It was up to him to find out
what it was. The heavy layers of flesh
which cloaked his massive frame cov-
ered layers of muscles which were
equally heavy. These tightened and
hardened now. He gripped his gun.
A look of grim purpose appeared on his
face. He hadn't forgotten how to go
into action.
As he moved silently toward the
lights, they moved up and down, seem-
ing to advance and retreat; then sud-
denly they vanished and the blackness
was once more without relief.
Cranston felt the sweat standing out
clammily on his forehead. There was
something uncanny about those jigging,
disembodied lights. He dared not show
his flash, but he could see the Doring
house, a mass just a little blacker than
the surrounding dark.
Cranston went up to it and around
to where he knew the front to be. He
felt for the porch rail and found it,
and with his foot discovered the two
low steps which led up to the veranda.
Here Cranston stopped and listened.
There was complete silence. Nothing
stirred.
He mounted the steps and they
creaked ominously under his weight.
He stopped again. Still nothing hap-
pened.
!
87
He crossed the porch and tapped at
the front door. He knew the care-
taker, PatMulvaney, slightly but some- ;
how he knew that Pat wouldn't answer
to the door and there was no sound in-
side the house.
Cranston tried the door and it opened.
Cautiously he went inside and stood
still, listening. His gun was ready. He
began to move toward the inner room.
As he slid his big feet ahead of him, one
after the other, feeling the way, he
jumped suddenly, and his stomach
turned over with a sickening wrench!
He had kicked something soft and
yielding
He bent down and felt for the object.
Then he pulled out his flashlight. The
time for caution was past. His hand
had come into contact with a human
face !He lighted the light, and stifled
an exclamation of horror
There, crumpled at his feet in an un-
natural position, her head bloodstained
and crushed, lay Miss Susan Hunter,
who had bravely come over to see "what
was what !" She was quite dead. Her
skull had been battered in with some
heavy weight.
Cranston was white with anger.
Susan Hunter had been a nuisance, but
she was a harmless old woman and he ;
v/M going to get the rat who'd slugged
her. He bent over her again, running
his flash slowly up and down her limp
body. Her right hand was closed around
something, and as the fingers had re-
laxed in death, the glittering object was
partially exposed. Cranston slid it out
from under without disturbing the dead
woman's hand.
It was a brass button torn off a coat
as Susan Hunter had fallen. Cranston
recognized is as one of a set which be-
longed to a blue jacket Pat Mulvaney
habitually wore.
So the caretaker was a killer. Why?
What could an old woman discover
about him that would make him mur-
 88 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
der her? Cranston ran his light
around the Everything was un-
walls.
disturbed. Susan Hunter had evi-
.
dently knocked at the door and insisted
on an explanation of the strange lights.
Mulvaney had let her in, killed her and
gotten out.
Cranston knew there was no tele-
phone in the old house, so he couldn't
call the Weston Homicide Squad. Any-
way, he thought it was better to hang
around a while. If there was something
in or around the house which was im-
portant enough to kill for, chances were
there was somebody left to guard it.
Cranston went through the back
premises. He walked cautiously, hold-
ing his gun level. In the kitchen, he
used his flash again and quickly doused
it. It had shown him the head and
shoulders of a man outlined for a sec-
ond against the dark window! The chief
held his breath. If this light had been
seen he'd probably be stopping a bullet
in the next few minutes.
But all was quiet again and he re-
'
laxed. Carefully he tiptoed to the win-
dow.
Outside the lights were dancing again.
But this time it was easier to see what
the mists and dark had distorted and
altered before.
The lights were lanterns carried by
men over the even surface of the dunes.
And near by, in the dim circle of light
they provided, Cranston saw that each
lantern showed the way for two men
who carried some kind of big bundle
between them. These bundles they
were bringing, alternately, up from the
shore and apparently from under the
ground at a short distance from the
house.
For a moment Cranston stared in be-
wilderment. Then he realized what it
was all about. Dope, of course. Being
brought up from the shore and from a
cache to load in the trucks; the cache,
probably filled with the fruits of previ-
ous landings, was the old "root cellar"
once used to store winter fruits and
vegetables.
Lonesome Cove was the best spot on
the coast for such traffic.
Mulvaney was undoubtedly in the pay
of the ring, and he had things all his
own way since Tom
Doring was so sel-
dom at Susan Hunter was prob-
home.
ably the first person who had ever sus-
pected the place, and she wouldn't be
telling what she'd seen.
What was the best thing to do now?
There was no sense wasting time search-
ing the house. The big game was
obviously outside. Yet if Cranston
showed himself now, it was six or eight
against one, at least; and while they
were scattered, one or two could easily
rub him out while the others took it on
the lam. If now he could get them all
in one spot, something might be done.
He decided to try waiting a while to
watch developments. If he went back
to town or to the coast-guard station,
their trucks might come and they pull
out with the evidence while he was gone.
If he stayed, they might get together
after the unloading was done and he
would have a fighting chance to make
a pinch. At least he could probably get
near enough to hear their plans.
He went to the front door; the back
was too risky. It might creak, or one
of the lanterns might come a little too
near then the game would be up. J
;
Cranston knew these men would .stop
at nothing tomake their get-away. The
dope racket carried heavy penalties; a
load such as these men were carrying
meant a good many grand invested, to
say nothing of the murder rap waiting
for Mulvaney. Three good reasons for
making quick work with a watcher.
Once outside the front door and
safely across the veranda, Cranston
moved quickly in the shadow of the
house. He flattened himself as much
as he could, and waited.
Soon some of the men started back
 ! !

THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 89

for the beach, and the remainder disap- he'd wanted, and a lot of good it was
peared into the cellar. going to do him
Cranston strode across the interven- He wondered if Burrows would have
ing strip of ground to where he knew wit enough to do anything about it if he

the slanting wooden door lay half -hid- didn't get back. Probably he wouldn't
den in the sand. even worry.
There he got down on his hands and After he came off the night beat Bur-
knees and crawled laboriously into the rows generally went home to bed. Cran-
sand and coarse beach grass at one side ston then slept on the couch in the office,
of the door. Then he raised his head within earshot of the telephone, till it
to reconnoiter. was time for Grimes, the other cop, to
There was a sudden brief flasn of come on duty. Alternate weeks they
light in his eyesand something whirred reversed the process. This casual po-
through the air licing had been enough for Duneton up
Cranston ducked, but he was a sec- to now.
ond too late Something crashed down
! Most likely, to-night, Burrows had
on his head colored lights nickered
; bedded down on Cranston's cot and was
dizzily before his eyes, and there was sleeping the sleep of the just, trusting
a minor explosion in his brain! Then he'd hear the phone if crime should
he slumped forward! suddenly break out in the village.
In the meantime the floor wasn't get-
Ckanston came to with a pain in his ting any softer. Cranston stirred.
head that made him gag. The hard sur- One of the men turned. "Hey,
face he was lying on didn't help him Boss!" he snapped. "Fat here's comin'
either. And the fact that his hands and out of it."

feet were lightly bound made him curse He had the ferret face and shifting
himself viciously for a double-dyed eyes of a city rat. As he spoke he
idiot. Naturally they'd have a scout raised his foot and kicked the police
outside while they were moving the chief sharply in his well-padded ribs.
stuff, and he'd been mug enough to go Cranston grunted and his little eyes
out and practically beg the punk to lay reddened.
him out. "Brave guy, ain't you," he jeered,
He opened his and
eyes painfully "when you got a real man hog tied."
squinted as the light stabbed his head The crook raised his foot again with
with pain. He was lying on the dirt a snarl, but the man he called "Boss"
floor of the root cellar. A lantern on turned on him. His visored cap was
the floor near his head was throwing its pulled low over his eyes, and a thick
yellow rays into his aching eyes. All growth of beard and turned-up coat
around him were piled boxes which he collar disguised the lower part of his
guessed contained dope. They were face.
marked "Pilsener type beer — 12 bot- "Lay off him, Al!" he growled.
tles" in black letters on the side. "We've got no time to fool around now.
Mulvaney stood near the door of the Wonder how the hell he got here?"
fair-sized underground room, a busi- The other men turned to look. They
nesslike automatic in one hand. Six were of different sizes and coloring, but
other men were standing in a huddle all had rotten, cruel faces, and all car-
near the steps. ried guns leveled for action.
On the steps going above ground, Mulvaney looked more brutal than
Cranston could see the legs of another the rest, but uglier and less cunning.
man. He had all the crooks together as Looking at him, Cranston wondered
 :

90 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE

how he had, up to now, missed the evil ers piled boxes together and swung
expression in his squinting eyes and the them clear of the ground.
bestial look about his coarse mouth of "Take 'em out half way to the main
the man. road," the Boss ordered them. "Then
Their eyes met and Mulvaney laughed the trucks won't have to come all the
coarsely. way in. Tell the boys to help you as
"Darned if it isn't Cranston, the po- soon as they get the last load off the
lice chief/* he sneered. "The first time boat. Show a little action there!"
he ever got wise to anything. I'll bet As the man left the cellar, Cranston
it was an accident. If you got him, held his breath. If they left the lan-
Boss, you got 'em all. There's only tern on the floor and if the guard stayed
one of 'em goes on duty at once in outside the cellar, he bad a dog's chance
this burg.- And all three of 'em's asleep of doing something about things.
all the time." The last pair left and the lantern still

"Cranston, eh ?" the Boss stared. glowed by Cranston's shoulder. But the
"Police chief you say? Well, I guess big hood who acted as scout sat down
the town'Il have to do without one for a on the steps. Cranston's heart sank,
while." then rose as the Boss rapped
"Want me to bump him off, Boss," "You, Gus. Get outside and keep a
one of the torpedoes offered helpfully. lookout in case this bird has any one
But he was silenced by the leader's tipped off tocome after him. There's
snarl. no time to make him talk now. And
"No, you big mug! We've got to get tellthe boys that's taking stuff to the
this stuff unloaded and piled ready for road to go help the guys on the boats.
the trucks —
and do it quick! We're in Then they can ail turn down here. It'll
a spot I tell you Why the hell else do
! save time."
you suppose I came down here myself? "O. K.," grumbled Gus. "But I
Some of the hicks around here have could be givin' the fat guy the woiks
spotted our boats. They're putting out while the rest was loadin'."
patrols. So far the trucks are clear. "Yeah? And have him yell the place
But we can't use this place again for down. Listen, you Be content to be
!

a storehouse for a long time. We'll take a good cannon. Don't try to think. Get
!"
this hunk of beef on the truck with the out there and get out quick
broad Mulvaney bumped. He may There was a crack to that last order
know something. We'll squeeze him that made the big gorilla move, and
and then drop him in a pond with the move fast. He went up the steps and
stiff. sat down, one big foot dangling within
"Step on it, now ! It'll take us half range of Cranston's vision.
an hour to finish unloading. And we've The Boss went past him with a last
got to make sure the sand's packed hard snarl of warning.
enough for the trucks to get in without Now was Cranston's chance,!
miring. If it isn't, rustle some planks.
They can't wait for light this time." Painfully he started to hitch him-
self up past the lantern. The scouring
Cranston felt more cheerful. They of the rough floor against' his bound
weren't croaking him right away, and hands was agony. His great weight
he had half an hour. It seemed to him pressed the cords into his fleshy wrists
as if he ought to manage some kind of and he felta searing, raw bite as he
an out in that time. dragged himself along. His breath
Some of the men went out; the oth- came in gasps of pain. Sweat poured
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
from his big body and into his eyes.
Each second seemed an age.
Every time Gus stirred he lay flat, his
heart pounding. But still he inched his
way upward till the lantern was on a
level with his elbows. Another few
minutes and it would be at his wrists.
He felt the warm blood
down his hands. Each time he moved,
the earth dragged across raw flesh.
Every strained muscle ached like a bad
tooth. Cranston bit his lips and made
his breathing shallow, so that wheezing
shouldn't escape him. Another inch and
—
another each one might have been a
mile. But he made it at last. The lan-
tern was flush with his fettered hands.
With a final effort he rolled his
straining,sweating body over and
shoved his wrists against the red-hot
glass. Then the real torture started.
The heat next his torn and bleeding
flesh was almost intolerable. Cranston
clamped his teeth against the groans
which rose in his throat. His stomach
heaved with nausea.
But there was a smoldering of cord
and flesh, an acrid smell from both.
Cranston wrenched his head back to
look at Gus. The gorilla had gone.
Probably to give the new orders to the
other hoods. He wouldn't worry about
the trussed prisoner.
Cranston knew fresh hope but he ;
had to hurry. At any moment now one
of the working parties would be back
for more cases. He set his jaw and
held his wrists as closely as he dared
to the lantern, without risk of over-
turning it.
Another few seconds of almost in-
torment and he felt the strands
tolerable
give! Another short, sharp crescendo
of pain and they snapped apart. His
hands were fre*!
At first they were helpless but
Cranston worked and chafed them till
he could move them swiftly. He got
out his jackknife, which the crooks had
either overlooked when they frisked him
91
or hadn't thought important, and cut
the bonds about his ankles. These he
rubbed smartly and winced as the blood
came flowing back into them.
Just as he staggered upright he heard
Gus's feet on the stairs
He staggered over to the steps and
trickling waited. When Gus's knees were visible
Cranston lunged forward and tackled
the gorilla.
The crook crashed down face to the
floor —
the breath was out of his body!
His gun flew across the floor.
Cranston made a leap for it. He
raised it just as Gus stirred, and brought
it down neatly behind his ear! The
hood went limp, and Cranston dragged
him across to the corner where he had
.lain so recently.
Then he turned. There was the roar
of a gun and a bullet parted Cranston's
hair!
The first of the working parties had
returned. The stairway was too nar-
row for them to stand abreast, but over
each other's shoulders Cranston could
see the blue of their automatics.
He raised Gus's gun. It roared once
and the first of the rats on the steps fell
forward with a hole through the left
side of his chest!
The other three started down, their
guns barking viciously
Cranston felt a sting in his shoulder.
He stepped back. His automatic spoke
again —
then once more, and the second
crook fell. At the same time Cranston
swung a huge foot backward and
crashed the lantern out.
The two hoods swore! Their guns
vomitted a stream of fire toward where
Cranston had been.
But he was crawling along the floor.
He found one of the dead gorillas and
took his gun. Then he fired from the
; floor. A
muffled howl told him he had
got home somewhere. Outside he could
hear the pad of running feet in the
sand. The others were coming!
He got up and pumped a steady
92 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
stream of bullets in the direction from
which the shots were coming. He
moved constantly. Suddenly he ran
into the great frame of one of the men
who also had been trying to keep out
of range. Cranston clenched a fist like
a hammer and brought it up to the
crook's jaw, with two hundred and fifty
pounds of hard flesh behind it!
The hood dropped. At the thud the
other one fired!
Cranston felt a thump and a tearing
pain in his arm.
Then a light showed. The Boss was
coming down the stairs with his two
remaining cannons after him. One was
Mulvaney. A lantern swung from his
hand.
Cranston wheeled! The last man in
the gang he'd just been fighting was
swaying on his feet. Cranston planted
a bullet between his eyes. Then he
lunged toward the Boss.
The Boss side-stepped and the two
other hoods came on down into the cel-
lar their guns leveled.
But with the quickness of desperation,
Cranston jerked the Boss out from
against the wall and got behind him.
He could have finished him off then,
but he wanted him alive.
The two gorillas held their fire for
fear of getting the Boss.
The Boss stepped out of the way, and
Cranston's gun cracked twice!
Both men dropped. One was dead;
Mulvaney's gun arm hung helpless and
bleeding.
The Boss whirled and Cranston
grabbed his right arm and twisted,
exerting terrific pressure.
There was a roar from the corner!
Cranston had forgotten Gus. The punk
had regained consciousness and was
using one of the dead hood's guns.
Cranston had a sensation of shock
and felt his knees sagging. His eyes
went dim. With all his remaining
strength he hung onto the arm he was
twisting. Then he heard shouts, the
tramp of feet; some one grabbed him
and he was out.
Cranston opened his eyes.
"Hey, there!" he heard. "See what
!"
you caught, Cranston
The chief looked around. He was on
the porch of the old house. Half a
dozen lanterns and flashlights showed
him Burrows standing beside him
where he was propped against the rail.
There was a group of coast guards and
two Feds behind him. And over in a
corner Sandy McCord was standing
with a bunch of the Weston force.
"Where's the army and navy?" Cran-
ston asked feebly.
Burrows laughed. "You're a hero,
chief. I'd drunk too much coffee to
when you didn't get
sleep to-night, so
back I began to get steamed up. I
found out from the night operator
about Miss Hunter's call. I'll never call
that girl down for listening in again.
"I called the Long Shore Station and
they said they'd send a boat to watch
the Cove. They came over, saw the
lights and calledWeston and the Fed's
patrol boat. Then we all got into the
Cove and heard the shots. This guy
you draped on when we got here's a
big shot. He's Big Tim Downey.
Bring him over here, boys, so's the chief
can have a look."
One of the Federal men dragged the ,
Boss over by his cuffs.
"We got the trucks, too," he ex-
plained. "They were regular brewery
trucks. The drivers were in the pay
of the brewery and running dope on
the side. We've had to be careful
about holding up trucks. There've been
so many howls about delayed deliveries
that headquarterswarned us to go slow,
unless we were pretty certain. Well,
here'syour prize!"
He turned his flash on the Boss's
face. His cap was off, his coat collar
down, and his eyes were glowing mur-
derously.
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 93

Cranston looked at him in the full bandaged, but he was drinking coffee
lightand gasped! with relish.
"Why, that's Tom Doring, whose dad "You ought to be in bed," McCord
owned this place!" he cried. "Didn't told him sharply.
you know me, Tom?" Cranston shook his head. "I'm as
"Sure I knew you," Doring rasped. well off here," he grumbled. "Nothing
"But not well enough. I thought you ever happens to tire a cop in this place."
were soft and -I thought yoa were McCord grinned. "Well, if last night
dumb." wasn't exciting enough for you, you
"So that's Tom Doring." McCord ought to be able to get to New York
strolled over. "The boy that made on the strength of this little stunt of
good, eh? Well, he's sure going to get yours. I'm going on the story I've writ-
a lot of free board." ten about it."

Cranston's round face was bewildered. "Good for you," congratulated Cran-
"We used to play together," he mut- ston. "But me" —he frowned—"I guess
tered as they took the crook away. IH stay here. Seein' Tom Doring in
The next evening McCord dropped cuffs last night gave me quite a jolt.

into Cranston's office. He was a good guy when I knew him.

Cranston was reading the newspaper Guess some of us hicks can't stand the
accounts of the capture of "Big Tim" city. Anyways, I know where I am
Downey and of Pat Mulvaney, Dow- here. And I'd a heap rather be a small-
ney's right-hand man. The police time cop, than a big-time crook, believe
chief's head, shoulder, and left arm were me."

® ® ®
PRISONS ON A PAYING BASIS
Recently, a State in the western part of the United States has
adopted a novel means of combating the deficit in its prison funds,
and hopes to put the penal system on a paying basis. Heretofore,
the State has put all her prisoners to work on State-owned farms.
But as the work only lasted for a few months out of the year, due
to the inclemency of the weather, the farms soon were mired in
debt. The keep of the convicts cost more than could be worked
out of the farm.
Under the new plan, the labor of the convicts will be farmed
—
out to any reliable person the State to receive not less than $1.50
a day for the services of each prisoner. And to insure decent treat-
ment on the part of the convict, the State will have complete control
over him at all times.
The State must house and feed him, must guard him from any
cruelties on the part of his employer, and must set the rules as to
the length of time he works and under what conditions.
Not only does the State hope to get the penal system out of
debt under this plan, but it will raise the morale of the convict,
making him think of himself, not so much a prisoner, but a worker.
 By Jay J. Kalez
"Calling South Bay Harbor Patrol. out a book that, with apologetic truth-
Calling South Bay Harbor Patrol. fulness, exposed for once the unevent-
Stand by! Stand by!" ful monotony of that beat from a news-
The machinelike drone of the short- paperman's point of view. However,
wave police radio, shelved against the from a reading public's point, the
aft bulkhead of the police launch tiny apologetic endeavor had worked in re-
wheelhouse, hummed suspense above the verse. The public had suddenly become
steady rain patter topside. water front conscious. That accounted
Sammy Crammer, of the Morning for Sammy's shift from the Fifth Pre-
Tribune, till that moment slumped in a cinct police beat.
dejected huddle upon the narrow wheel- Until further notice the water front
house bench, hit the deck with both feet. was Sammy's, with more than a mere
His eyes brightened. He glanced at the hint from the city desk that plenty of
bulkhead clock. Two hours until mid- splash and human-interest stuff was ex-
night and the dead line. Maybe after all, pected.
something was going to break. The radio speaker had again takenup
Sammy's anxiety was genuine. This its warning hum. "South Bay Harbor
was no chance assignment he was cover- Patrol," droned the repeat. "Go at once
ing for the first time to-night. Some to Lower Bay anchorage. Harbor Mas-
distant water front reporter had turned ter reports vessel lying off main chan-
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 95

nel with no riding lights aboard. In- Suddenly, the sergeant bent forward to
vestigate and report." shield his eyes with cupped hands at
The radio sputtered to its stand-by either temple.
pur. At the police-launch wheel, Pilot "There she is, Gus," his drawl
Patrolman Gus Swanson reached down echoed back from against the wheel-
to Jay a ready hand upon the engine- house glass. "Just to port the channel
room telegraph. Beside him, Sergeant buoy. Not a light on 'er. Bring 'er
Ryan, skipper of the three-man crew 'longside."
aboard, bent forward to peer through The sergeant lifted a megaphone
the rain-splaslted windows for assurance from its bench stow. He jerked the
of his position. catch-strap of the starboard window,
The sergeant straightened with a dropped it open. The police launch was
grunt. "O. K., Gus," he called, still just rounding the square-cut stern of a
staring ahead. "Swing 'er into the main high-riding vessel. The sergeant leaned
channel. Full speed ahead." out to catch the white-lettered name
Jingle of the engine-room telegraph painted across its stern.
and aft, the throb of the motors mounted "It's that limey square rigger cleared
in respond. in from Singapore three days ago," the
Sammy watched the sergeant begin sergeant called over his shoulder.
buckling the snaps of his stained white "Scrape her side. That looks like a
slicker. He moved in close. ladder hangin' over the side midship
"Something sarg?" he attempted
hot, there."
officiously. "Look like something?" Swanson had already signaled his en-
"Nahf" The sergeant'sanswer was gines silent. The launch drifted under
a disgusted drawl. "Everybody aboard her own momentum. Close in against
just drunk, suppose. Nobody sober the gray-planked hull they scraped. At
nuff to put out ridin' lights. That Har- the wheelhouse window the sergeant
bor Master layout'd drive you screwy. pointed his megaphone up toward the
Notliin' but rowboats ever use that deck above.
lower main channel anyway." "Ahoy on board there," he bellowed
The flash of hope within Sammy died into the blackness. "Show a light!"
as quickly as it had flared. He should There was no answer from above.
have known as much with mere mention The police launch drifted along the hull
of Lower Bay anchorage. Nothing down side in silence. Suddenly Swanson
there but fishing smacks, gravel barges abandoned his post at the wheel and
and tramp schooners. Lower Bay of- rushing through the wheelhouse door,
fered free anchorage. In the past few grabbed a long pike pole On deck to
years had grown to be a graveyard of
it hook them fast alongside. A dangling
rotting hulls and unchartered sailing Jacob's ladder breasted them. Swan-
vessels, riding out the shipping slump son's free hand grabbed it for a moor-
with only owners or hired watchmen ing.
aboard or salvage protection. Nothing "Ahoy on deck there !" the sergeant's
much could happen down there. heavy voice boomed out again. "Any-
body aboard ?"
For ten minutes, only the pound of Only the patter of the rain on the
the motors and hiss of the bow wash wheelhouse Seek answered the sergeant's
marred the wheelhouse silence. Ser- hail. The sergeant pawed with one
geant Ryan manned the searchlight con- hand beneath his slicker. A flashlight
trol. Pilot Patrolman Swanson held beam shot out from his grip to focus
her nose into the silvery painted beam. upon the ship's rail above. It swept aft
96 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
to the poop. Only lashed rigging and "Come out of there!" his voice bel-
!"
rusted turnbuckles loomed in the beam. lowed. "Open up. This is the police
"Mac." The sergeant pointed his Dead silence echoed in the wake of
megaphone aft as he shouted. "Stand the kick thud. Then suddenly, the shuf-
by to hold 'er alongside. Gus and I'll fle of scraping feet sounded upon
go aboard. Looks like the tub's been smooth planks. The sergeant took a
abandoned. All right, Gus. Up with quick step back.
yuh." A bolt inside the door clicked. Slowly,
Sammy now stood in the wheelhouse the upper section swung an inch back.
door. Mac, the engineman, had ap- A yellow, slant-eyed
face, still con-
peared as from nowhere to releave Gus torted with suspicion, peered through
mooring.
at the pike-pole Hand over the narrow opening. It was the pinched
hand Gus was swinging up the dangling face of a Chinese, wrinkled and fur-
Jacob's ladder. rowed with age. The slitlike eyes
The sergeant poked Sammy from be- blinked against the flashlight beam as
hind. "Up, if you're goin'," he grunted. they stared.
Sammy grasped at the hint of privi- "Open up there!" the sergeant bawled
lege. He reached for the swinging lad- loudly. "What the hell's goin' on
der. aboard here? Where're your ridin'
lights? Where's your skipper?"
Awkwardly, Sammy pulled himself Behind the door's partly open sec-
over the vessel's rail. tion, the Chinese suddenly caught a
Gus, a flashlight in his hand, stood glimpse of the police shield upon the
close by playing the light's beam about sergeant's slicker. The door opened
the gear-strewed deck. Now it focused full-

upon a gray bulkhead midship. The "Missee pleecemen, missee pleece-

dull sheen of a closed port caught and inen," the thin twisted lips began whin-
reflected its beam. An instant it showed ing. "Yoo go cap'in cabin quickee.
clear. Debil him kom.
Catchee Missee Cap'in?
Then into its frame popped a mask of Catchee Missee Joe. Killee eberbody.
"
contorted terror. Two fear-glossed eyes Killee Wong, Wong no
blinked against the brightness blinked, — The sergeant had turned his light full
then jerked back into the blackness to upon the Chinese. He did not need
signal a wailing cry of panicky horror. sight of the pot rack at the man's back
The night caught and muffled its echo to identify the space behind the open
in the drolling whine of the wind door. The stench of stale grease in-
through the rigging high above the deck creased as the galley door opened wider.
of the ship. Suddenly, the sergeant caught a glimpse
"Somebody alive aboard here any- of the heavy cleaver the Chinese held
way." Sergeant Ryan's drawling growl gripped in his one hand. Without a
came from Sammy's elbow. "Must be word the sergeant moved closer.
the galley there," the sergeant continued "Who killed who?" the sergeant's
as he moved forward. "C'mon, Gus. voice boomed as he advanced. "What-
Let's have a look." cha talkin' about? You somebody?"
kill

Together they rounded the bulkhead "Wong no killee. Wong no killee,"

corner to face a closed, two-section came the quick, excited jabber. "Debil
door. The sergeant attempted to push killee. Yoo go cap'in cabin, yoo see.
it open. It held. Swinging his light Debil killee Missee Cap'in alia samee
beam to the latch, the sergeant delivered killee Missee Joe."
a savage kick. The sergeant was to the galley coam-
SHAD-6A
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 97

ing. "Somebody bumped off the cap- tion. All seemed shipshape and regular.
tain in hiseh?" he grunted.
cabin, The stern chocks creaked lonesomely in
"O. K. C'mon. Show
us where." acknowledgment to the heavy mooring
"No! No!" came the screamed pro- hawser running over the side. The
test. "Wong no go. Maybe debil he helm was lashed fast with a line about
catchee Wong. Yoo pleeceman. Debil a supporting stanchion. Before it
loomed the rounded top of a hatch lead-
The jabber of the aged Chinese raised ing below.
to a shriek as the sergeant made to The sergeant crossed the deck.
reach past the galley door. Still jab- Sammy followed a step behind. Reach-
bering, he backed away. The cleaver ing the hatch the sergeant bent forward
in his 'one hand lifted threateningly. to focus his light down it. A startled
The sergeant still advanced. Sud- grunt pushed past his- Hps
denly his one hand shot out. It gripped Below, huddled in a shapeless heap at
the Chinese's wrist. A
twist and the the foot of the companionway ladder,
cleaver clattered to the galley coam- lay the body ef a man
ing to bounce across deck a few inches The sergeant moved across the hatch
from Sammy's feet. coaming. "That Chinaman sure wasn't
Mechanically, Sammy stooped to talkin' through his hat," he muttered
pick the weapon up. more than spoke, gathering his slicker
The Chinese had jerked himself free closer about him. "That bird's deader
to whirl and dash to the far end of the than a hunk of tripe/'
galley. Holding his light ahead of him the
The sergeant did not follow. Jerking sergeant descended, Sammy watching
his head in asignal to Gus, he swung from the hatchway above. A damp
his flashlight beam on past the bulkhead, mustiness reeked up from below. The
aft. "Watch that screwy Chinaman sergeant had reached the lower deck. A
while I take a look aft," he snapped im- moment he stared at the still body.
patiently. "I don't get this devil busi- Then reaching down he carefully rolled
ness, but there's something doin' in the it over.
captain's cabin. That must be aft here." A ghastly, leering face turned up. A
face stained in death to a repulsive pur-
Swinging his light in a point far aft, ple.
the sergeant started down the deck. An Sammy felt a chill travel up his spine.
instant Sammy stood undecided. Gus The chest of the dead man was
had snapped his light off and now stood knotted into a deformed mass. The
giantlike in the galley opening. The throat held an awkward bend. The fea-
swing of the sergeant's light sent a tures were contorted, mouth agape with
scatter of grotesque shadows scamper- blood dripping from a soaked mop of
ing about the skeleton rigging. Sammy beard; eyes, wide and bulging, as if
felta sudden tingle of uneasiness. The forced from their sockets.
sergeant's lighted path beckoned. The The sergeant still held his grip to tne
retrieved cleaver still in his hand, dead man's shoulders. Now he shook
Sammy hurried aft. The sergeant, them suspiciously. The body seemed
barely aware Sammy trailed him, moved boneless. Above, Sammy caught the
on. sergeant's puzzled grunt. Every bone
*
Aft to the main deck break and they of the dead man's upper body seemed
mounted the ladder to the poop. At the crushed.
ladder head the sergeant paused to The sergeant turned to swing his light
sweep his light about in a quick inspec- up the narrow companionway below.
SHAD—7A
 98 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
Sammy moved over the coaming in- The first gleam of the light past the
side the hatch. "Murder, is it, sarg?" bulkhead at the passageway end, iden-
he called half anxiously. "Think the tified the room's purpose. The ser-
Chinaman did it?" Sammy was de- geant pushed the door wide. A long,
scending the ladder as he spoke. high table stretched across the cabin
The sergeant had picked up a sea- center. Maps and charts were stacked
man's cap from the deck. The gold- neatly atop. Navigating instruments
braided title, "Captain," loomed over lay piled on a low shelf against the bulk-
its peak. The sergeant's light swung head. A heavy brass oil lamp swung
back to the dead man. His lips pursed over the table center. The chart room
in a puzzled pose. — its seagoing atmosphere reflected in
"That Chinaman couldn't have done the stow of each article about.
it,"came the uneasy growl. "Look at For a minute the sergeant played his
the size of that bird. Take the devil light about. Satisfied, he moved across
himself to twist him up in that awful the coaming to focus his light upon the
shape." chart table's stack of charts and maps.
Sammy had reached the ladder foot Sammy followed a step behind to the
to now stand directly over the body. chart table, sought the side opposite the
The sergeant's light played carefully sergeant. A step and he stopped short.
across it. A round pit of blackness yawned up
The dead man's chest had been at him from the deck. Alongside it lay
crushed fiat, then the body pulled about a heavy steel disk. An open manhole
to give it its gruesome aspect. On the and cover, of size barely enough to
head was not a mark, save the track of admit a man.
blood still dribbling from the lips. That Sammy stepped close to peer down.
and the wide, protruding eyes. An oily stench of bilge water greeted
him. Sammy identified the opening. It
The sergeant turned his light down, led to the bilge below. A long, lance-
outlining the narrow companion way. like sounding rod stood propped against
Three doors outlined themselves in the the bulkhead alongside. Some one had
partitioning bulkhead, two on opposite evidently been sounding the bilges below
sides of the companion, one, partly open, and had been interrupted in the middle
at the companion end. of their task.
The sergeant held his light on the one Sammy moved the water-tight man-
nearest. Moving forward, he turned hole cover with his foot. It scraped
its knob and pushed it partly open. An noisily across the deck.
empty, black silence dissolved in the light The sergeant stretched himself to peer
beam. over the chart table. "Close that damn
Sammy peered past the sergeant's hole," came his impatient growl, with
shoulders. Two vacant bunks with a sight of the open hole. "It stinks bad
bare cabin was his reward. enough in here. Shove that plate in
The sergeant drew back to close the place."
door and step across to the cabin oppo- Sammy reached out and, laying the
site. It revealed the same, though with- cleaver he still upon the chart
carried
out the air of empty vacantness. Evi- table edge, straddled the manhole to
dently this was the captain's cabin, bend forward and grip its cover. An
larger and furnished with a tinge of sea- instant he stared down into the inky pit
man homeliness. The sergeant drew of blackness below —stared to suddenly
back to move down the companionway jerk erect. A startled cry left his lips!
toward the open door at the end. His eyes popped wide!
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 99

Below, in that pit of blackness, two "He must be the dead guy aft there.
flame-lighted balls of fire seemed to rise The Chinaman was soundin' off about
toward him. Rise, pause, then with a somebody named Joe. No Joe in the
"
swaying dance dissolve themselves into log, unless
the darkness. Two ghastly eyes that The sergeant stopped short. From
never blinked in their ghostlike glare. forward came the sudden muffled re-
Sammy leaped back. port of a pistol shot! Another fol-
The sergeant was already around the lowed The sergeant whirled. A leap
!

chart table. "What is it?" he shouted. and he was across the chart-room coam-
"What'd you see ?" ing.
A puzzled grin twisted Sammy's lips. "That's Gus !" he shouted as he
"Down there," he managed to say. "In- rushed down the companionway. "Come
side the hole. Something —something on! Something's happened on deck!"
with eyes like — like
"

The sergeant took a quick step for- Sammy did not need the urge. A
ward. His arm extended to focus his pace behind, he trailed the sergeant past
flashlight beam down. Below, the black the body at the companionway foot and
emptiness of the bilge wells loomed up the ladder to the deck topside.
back. The sergeant cursed. To the poop rail and the sergeant
"What the hell's the matter with swept his light forward. A darting fig-
you?" His censorious growl stung. ure caught for an instant in its beam
"You tight or somepin? There's noth- only to dodge clear amid the scatter of
"
in' down there. You must be deck gear. The sergeant leaped down
Sammy only stared back, his features the poop ladder to race forward.
white and drawn. Now suddenly, his Sammy still followed close.
hand lifted in a signal of silence. A To the galley and the sergeant swung
frown gathered across the sergeant's his light in. The galley loomed black
forehead. and vacant. "Gus ! Gus !" the sergeant
"Listen," Sammy pleaded. "Below bellowed, pushing in. "Where ya at,
there. Hear it?" Gus?"
The sergeant cocked his head to one Hollow silence dampened the shout.
side. Dead silence Then from below,
! Then faint and distant came a muffled
a dull, steady scrape echoed up through voice from some place below deck.
the manhole's hollowness. soft scrape A "Down here,
1

sarg," drifted the an-

as of canvas being drawn across rough swering hail. "Below here. Be care-
timbers. A slapping splash of water ful —somebody down here."
swallowed the sound. The sergeant moved deeper within the
The
sergeant straightened in disgust. galley. At the far bulkhead an open
"Say," he snorted. "Did you ever hear scuttle led below. Its cover was
of ships havin' rats aboard? Suppose thrown back. A
pit of darkness loomed
this tubwouldn't be like that.Snap out beneath. The sergeant threw the beam
of it. You're worse'n that Chinaman. of his light down.
Suppose you'll be seem' a devil next." A crouched figure poised at the lad-'

Still mumbling, the sergeant turned der foot. It straightened as the. ser-
again to the chart table. He opened a geant's light flooded the compartment
heavy book he had picked up at the mo- below.
ment of Sammy's interruption. A min- "Hold that light, sarg," the straight-
ute he read. ening figure of Gus at the ladder foot
"Brodderson's the skipper's name," lifted to shout. 'T dropped mine com-
the sergeant finally offered, absently. ing down. There's somebody down
 100 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
here, all right. Just knocked me off my you and Mac slide into headquarters and
pins." get the coroner. Get goin'."
A minute and Gus's fiat-nosed face Mumbling to himself, Gus started
was bathed in that light at the scuttle forward.
opening. "That chink saw sumpin The sergeant paused outside the gal-
move down here and bolted for Gus
it," ley a moment to sweep his light about,
shouted up in explanation. "Whoever then again started aft, Sammy at his
it was, took a pass at me when I dropped side.
my light. He's still down here. I took "The whole lot of you're goin*
a couple of shots at the ladder there so screwy," the sergeant scolded as they
he wouldn't make a break that way." climbed to the poop. "The Chinaman,
The sergeant was already descend- you, and now Gus. Ir I didn't know
ing. "Spotted the Chinaman on deck." that Swede, I'd say he was half scared."
the sergeant grunted in reply."Streak-
in' it for'd. You sure you got 'em cor- Still grumbling the sergeant crossed
nered down here?" the poop and descended through the
"Couldn't've got out without stoppin' hatch to the companionway below.
some lead," Gus's voice trailed, suspi- Sammy followed.
ciously low. "That vent in the back The heaped body still lay at the lad-
there is the only other opening. Too der foot. It reeked a ghastly forebod-
"
small for a man. Must've ing to the grim, shadowed passageway.
From the scuttle top above, Sammy Sammy stepped across it to reach the
watched the sweep of the flashlight sergeant's side.
beams below. The sergeant stood in a bent pose
Below the two officers combed the staring down. Sammy followed the
compartment. In through stacked rows sweep of his light beam along the com-
of stores they searched. A minute panionway deck. Again he felt a queer
passed. Suddenly the boom of the ser- uneasiness grip him.
geant's disgusted voice sounded up from There, upon the gray-white deck, a
below. trail of black wetness followed the
"Say, what the hell's the matter coaming line forward, as if some one
aboard here?" it bawled. "You goin' had dragged a wet mop along the deck
nuts, too. This place is empty's your baseboard. Forward it ran forward, —
head." toward the open chart-room door at the
"By gosh, there was sumpin down companionway end.
there knocked me over," Gus was mum- The sergeant's light swung to follow
bling as up the scuttle ladder he trailed the black, watery trail.His jaws set.
the sergeant into the galley. "I dropped "That track wasn't there a few min-
my light just when bottom there,
I hit utes ago," he mumbled more to himself
and sumpin dived between my legs like than to Sammy. "Now what the "
"
a greased hog. I The sergeant moved forward. Step
"Nuts," the sergeant barked. "You by step he followed the wet trail. For-
.tripped over your damn big feet. Say, ward along the deck it ran to lift itself
you seein' devils too. Get for'd there and cross the chart-room coaming. The
before I wrap sumpin around that sergeant touched his fingers to the coam-
square head of yours. Find that China- ing brass plate. It was wet. Beyond,
man and bring him aft on to the poop. the trail again showed plain. Across
There's a dead guy back there all right. the chart room it streaked beneath the
Skipper of the tub, looks like. We'll find chart table.
out from the Chinaman for sure. Then The sergeant bent to peer beneath the
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 101

table. A low grunt of surprise escaped up. The poor devil may have just got
his Hps. The watery trail crossed be- it down there. That could've been his

neath the chart table to abruptly dis- track leading up the companionway.
"
appear over the edge of the still-open That or
manhole leading to the bilge wells be- The sergeant silenced his own words as,
low. grunting laboriously, he lowered himself
Moving to the manhole edge, the feet first through the manhole. Down
sergeant turned his light down. The —
he sank down, until his feet evidently
musty tang of bilge stench lifted to securing a footing on the stringers be-
greet him. A dead quiet echoed from low, he carefully drew his head and
below. The sergeant bent lower. Ex- shoulders below the deck level.
tending his arm down through the man- "All right, lad," came the muffled in-
hole he played his light about. structions from below. "Steady that
Suddenly he dropped to his hands and line out."
knees. His head and shoulders cut the Obediently, Sammy knelt alongside
reflected light from below as he pushed the manhole and allowed the sounding-
them through the manhole opening. A rod line to run through his fingers.
—
minute and with lift of his body erect Below, the sergeant crawled cau-
a queer puzzled blankness masked his tiously across the stringer braces, his

features. Mouth agape he stared up at
Sammy.
"By gosh, you was right, kid!" he
whizzed in an awed gasp. "There was
sumpin below there. Looks like an-
other stiff. Take a look. It's wedged
over there against the transom beams.
You can see his head and hands."
The sergeant handed Sammy his
light.
Sammy dropped flat and, lowering his
head and shoulders through the man-
hole, swept the light about. The flesh
along his back tingled. Below, the light
rays caught and reflected upon the
scummy slick of bilge water.
There, a few feet back from the tran-
som beams, the half-submerged body of
a man lay wedged againt the bilge
stringers A distorted body, with head
! cure in the stringer bracing.
and shoulders above the glistening scum.
Sammy pulled himself erect. The
lift of the light in his hand reflected
the sounding rod and line,
against the bulkhead.
The sight of the rod's
caused the sergeant to step quickly for-
ward. "Here," he snapped at Sammy,
picking up rod and line. "I'll go below
and make the line fast. We'll hoist him
light playing upon the gruesome object
ahead.
In the chart room only the dull re-
flected glow from below dimmed the
surrounding blackness. An intense si-
lence from above blended with the puff-
ing pants of the sergeant below.
"Dead as a mackerel !" came the ser-
geant's hollow shout as he reached the
wedged body. "Must be the guy, Joe,
the Chinaman was talkin' 'bout. Wait'll
I make this line fast, then tug 'im your
way."
Sammy bent lower to watch the ser-
geant work. The body seemed as bone-
less as the one lying at the companion-
way endr Making the line fast was no
easy task. The sergeant puffed and
tugged. The body seemed caught se-
Sammy
shuttered involuntarily as the water-
soaked clothing gave and allowed the
dead man's head to drop back.
The ghastly, contorted features of the
propped man showed plain in the flashlight beam.
Purple-stained features —
stained with
stout line the congestion of strangulation. Eyes
popped in a ghoul-like death staxe.
Sammy made to ease his position at
the manhole. His upward shifted
glance caught the grotesque shadow of
 !

102 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE

his own crouched form upon the bulk- a crouch. The lunging monster raised
head. The wrapped darkness seemed to to his crouched level, Sammy's one arm
press about him.. A morbid sense of raised in an instinctive shield of de-
danger gripped him. It seemed poised fense. The hand gripping the cleaver
in the blackness about. poised back. A warning shrieked with-
Sammy stiffened himself with a flare in him. The heavy cleaver slashed
of disgust. Stiffened, then tensed alert. down Slashed to bury deep in squirm-
!

His ear had caught a familiar sound. ing flesh that yielded, gripped, then
A warning sound. soft,Asteady twisted with the strength of a phantom
scrape. A
scrape such as he had heard giant, so that the weapon was released.
once before, there above that manhole. An unseen arm lashed about his
A scrape as of canvas being dragged chest. Sammy felt himself bowled back-
across rough timbers. Dragged, but this ward to laud upon a second cushioning
time not below him. The sound came arm that caught his tumbling body and
from the darkness at his back. jerked it forward. He felt himself
Sammy quickly whirled! Whirled and lifted. Lifted and pulled down as the
choked at the muffled cry of terror that wrapping folds about him began, to
sputtered in his throat! Terror that tighten. Tighten as into the shaft of
froze him still, then jerked him erect in light reflected up from the deck man-
a frantic leap backward hole, a great square head shook itself in
His one hand clutched at the chart- the light stream to spray the yellowness
room table. Cold steel steadied his trem- with a shower of blood.
bling finger tips. Recognization to the Blood that spurted from a gapping
touch flashed. The galley cleaver he split in the head center. A split between
had left there on his first trip below. two angry eyes that glared pain mad-
Sammy groped for the weapon's handle. dened in fury of the wound his slash-
—
He gripped it secure gripped it and ing cleaver had opened. wound deepA
backed further toward the bulkhead. and wide. Deep in the skull of a
monstrous snake ! A
great king python
Theglowing disk of light, reflected with body round as a cargo boom, head
up through the deck manhole, barely big as a cat block.
The shad-
tinted the blackness about. Side to side in its poise above Sammy,
ows crowded. Now, phantom and ghost- the great head swayed. The monster
like in the weaving gloom, the chart- seemed blinded by the blood from its
room door was slowly swinging back. own wound, crazed with its pain. Pain
A frame of ebony outlined in its widen- that lashed anew as, tugging his one
ing wake. Black ebony, vacant save for arm free, Sammy again slashed down
two swaying disks of flame that caught with his cleaver. The python's great
the yellow, reflected glow from below tail lashed destruction about the chart

deck and amplified it into the glare of room! Wildly, Sammy chopped to
two blazing balls of agate. sever the creeping coil ever sliding
Higher they raised. Forward they higher about his body! He fought to
weaved. Eyes, piercing, ghoul-like eyes, regain his feet. A
second sliding wrap
swaying and swinging. Swinging, in of surging flesh was creeping about him.
the instant, to lunge forward like a The weight held him down. The coils

charging demon out of hell! Charging were tightening —constricting!

and hissing! A sputtering hiss that Sammy slashed the cleaver blade past
stifled the scream in Sammy's throat. his very throat. A seemed
rip of flesh

Sammy made to leap aside. The to give. Sammy's fingers clawed for
chart table trapped him. He dropped to grip-
 ! ! —
!

THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 103

The swaying" head above him arched guess not," he managed to say. "Where
back. —
lunged then twisted
Arched — —where is
-"

wildly in a plunge across the deck Sammy's eyes caught a heaped mass
Sammy's shoulders hit the bulkhead. of yellow coils, blood-spattered and
The blow dazed him. He relaxed his spotted. Against the bulkhead, its
grip on the cleaver. Feebly he clawed great head hung pinned fast with the
to retrieve it, but the weapon slid from lancelike sounding rod. The fire ax in
his finger tips. The wrapped coils about Gus's hand explained the rest. The
him tightened to roll him deeper into a veiled visions of a moment before
third wrapping fold dawned clear. The sergeant and Gus
The roar of slipping consciousness had arrived just in time.
pounded through Sammy's brain. A Still swaying, Sammy shook off the
sting of numbness tingled through his sergeant's supporting arm. "Where'd
—
body to his finger ends to the surging the devil come from?" he managed to
pulse of his juglar. Creeping numbness speak. "1 —
I didn't see him until he

that slipped him beneath a phantom veil. came through the door."
A veil of crushing destruction —scream- "We
followed that water track the
ing voices — flashing glares— ghoul-like wrong way, lad," the sergeant offered.
visions. "He's what Gus bumped into for'd at
A screaming form seemed to vault the galley. The thing must've crawled
from the very deck and, like some wild through the vent while Gus was huntin'
savage decked in a glistening shield of for big Hght, and then come up through
white, lunge forward, with poised the manhole there to hide out in one of
spear gleaming its lance-point threat! those cabins we left open aft. Gus
Then out of the blackness, a second saw the thing in the companionway when
savagelike form burst as from nowhere, he went to bring the Chinaman down.
swinging a barbaric battle-ax above his He run for an ax to tackle it with, but
—
head screaming as it lashed down between times it damn near got you."
Visions, all broken and distorted in "Yeah. Yeah," Sammy risked
the screams and chaos about. Screams weakly. "That chink was right about
that snapped Sammy back to conscious- his devil. What—where's he?"
ness at the very moment his benumbed "Cuffed to the wheel, topside," Gus
brain crooned death as a release to the broke in with his mumble. "The
horror of it all. heathen sap, if he'd told us when we
come aboard we'd know'd what to look
Dimly, Sammy heard voices, low in for. This tub just come in from Sin-
the sudden calm. He felt the shock of gapore with a zoo load of them foreign
cold water to his face. He opened his animals and snakes. This baby must've
eyes. A white-coated form was bend- got loose and they figured he went over
"
ing over him. A
second, grotesque form the side. I never seen
stood alongside. Dimly Sammy fum- Sammy had suddenly straightened.
bled to recognize them. The sergeant His eyes caught a new glow. He
and Gus. Both were standing over him. glanced at his wrist watch. The hand
The sergeant lifted him gently. reached out to grab the sergeant.
Sammy swayed as he found his feet. "Hey, sarg," Sammy rattled off

His breath was jerky. breathlessly, "it isn't eleven yet. I got
"You hurt, lad ? Anything smashed ?" time to beat the dead line. Send Gus
The sergeant's voice held a soothing in so I can grab a phone and get this
note. to the boss in time for the first-star
"
Sammy shook his head. "Guess edition. It's the hottest yarn since
104 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
Twenty minutes later Sammy had Say, where's the Black Cat Club?
the city desk. "Got a hot one, boss," he They just raided it and the boss wants
babbled over the dock telephone. "Lower names and numbers. Be a good scout,
Bay anchorage. It's a snake yarn. Gus. Get the central operator on the
"
The barkentine phone and locale it for me while I page
Sammy's voice went quiet. Twice he a taxi. This may be a hot yarn after
made to speak, but each time some com- all." Those societypunks always make
manding- word at the wire's opposite end good copy. Hurry it, will you, Gus."
seemed to silence him. Each time Solemnly, Gus turned to the telephone
Sammy's face went a trifle redder. as Sammy went racing up the dock ap-
When finally he spoke his tone was meek proach. Once his head shook gravely
and submissive. from side to side. As he did so his eye
"Yes, sir, yes, sir," his voice carried caught that of Mac's the engineman,
from the dock booth. "The Black Cat making toward him.
Crafc. I'll get right up there, sir. Yes, "Screwy." Gus mumbled, jerking
sir. I'm on my way." a thumb toward the disappearing
Sammy replaced the receiver upon its Sammy. "Beefm' all night 'bout sump-
"
hook. He turned to meet the inquiring about and now
in to write
stare of Gus. Mac had passed without seeming to
"Too late ?" Gus mumbled sympa- even hear. Gus shook his head sol-
thetically. emnly again. "Screwy," he spoke aloud.
"Too late, hell !" Sammy exploded. Then as the receiver at his ear clicked
"Did you hear what he told me. Told he hastened to apologize. The central
me I was seeing snakes to to — operator seemed to understand.

® © ®
MOUNTIES AND MOTORS
Civilization seems to be encroaching on one of the last out-
posts of police frontier—the Canadian Northwest where the
"Mountie" holds sway over thousands of miles of wild, unsettled
country. The Mountie is slowly but surely relinquishing his
famous horse, and taking to modern inventions the automobile —
and the airplane.
In days past when the Northwest had but few settlers in its
vast expanse, the Mounties could cover their beats with horses.
But to-day, with so many gold camps being opened and many
people settling on the frontier as a permanent home site, the
Mountie has need for quicker means to make his rounds. And as
more and more roads are being built, he turns from his horse to the
automobile. To cover some of the barren land of the Far North,
—
he resorts to the air covering in a few hours with a plane that
which would have taken him months with a horse or dog team.
However, in some parts of the Northwest, it is not feasible to
use either planes or automobiles. Then the Mountie turns to his
—
old stand-bys the canoe or boat in summer, and the dog team in
winter.
 105

But the pictures could

not have flown out
the window!

FLYING
HIGH
By Harly James
Detective Dan Connolly idly drew their most valuable paintings had been
figures on a scratch pad as the police stolen less than a year after the museum
commissioner was talking. Not bad was built and opened. Another reason
"
for Dan had a natural
figures, either, is that it would
flair for drawing. In fact, had his "Attract the attention of a lot of rich
family been possessed of sufficient men who have wanted those paintings
funds, Danny would have been sent to for themselves, and who wouldn't hesi-
art school in his earlier years. Instead, tate to put their money to work and
economic necessity had sent him to the try to get them back — for their own
police force, where, in the short space private collections," interrupted Dan.
of five years, Dan had become one of "Yeah, I know that gag. It's been done
the most valued members of the detec- several times in the past."
tive force. Old Silas Bronson, as a final gesture
"This case isn't going to be made of distaste for his few remaining rela-
public for some time," said Commis- tives,had willed his rather substantial
sioner Grayson. "It would give the fortune to a board of trustees, with in-
museum authorities a black eye, more structions that an art museum bearing
or less, to have it known that two of his name was to be erected. It was to
 106 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
house his own private collections of trance to the court was had by doors in
paintings, antique jewelry and other the inner walls of the building.
valuable works of art. There were fewer windows cut into
Other items of art were to be pur- this inside wall, thus allowing wall
chased from time to time by the space for the hanging of the larger
trustees. And to show his further dis- paintings. None of these windows were
trust of all mankind, old Bronson di- barred, thus giving a means of removing
rected that the trustees were to serve at least some of the art treasures in case
without pay. Their reward would be in of fire.

the credit that would come from ac-

cumulating an outstanding collection of
art w»rks. The actual handling of the
money was to be done by a. firm of pub-
He accountants. No firm was to act in
such capacity for more than one year.
And all of the accounts were to be re-
viewed by the Orphan's Court.
"Old Bronson seemed to
neighbors a whole lot less than he loved
himself," was Dan's caustic comment
when that information had been outlined
to him.
"The only thing he loved," replied
Grayson, "was art. And he'd turn over
in his grave if he knew that two of his
prize possessions had disappeared from
his collection."
The two pictures, one a famous Tin-
toretto, and the other an equally fa-
mous Muriflo, had been cut from their
frames and removed from the Bronson
Museum.
The imposing building which housed
the valuable pieces had been erected a
little over a year before. It was the last
word in the modern style of architec-
ture,two and a half stories in height,
with perfectly smooth walls of concrete
blocks,hand plastered, and every angle
worked to a smooth roundness that was
a delight to an artisan's eye. All win-
dows facing the outer world were barred
with artistic but practical grilling set in
the masonry. The removal of the
The robbery had been reported that
morning by the curator of trie museum,
and Commissioner Grayson had in-
stantly recognized the fact that here was
a delicate case —one which would re-
quire his most skilled men to solve.
Picture thieves were a clever lot. The
love his stealing and disposal of old masters was
not a thing to be handled by amateur
brains, for the simple reason that the
ownership of all the known works of
the world's great artists was a matter of
common knowledge. Any attempt to
sell a stolen old master would result in
instant arrest for the would-be seller.
But Grayson also knew that there
were many rich men who, from one mo-
tive or another, desired certain paint-
ings. True, such paintings, if unlaw-
fully acquired, could never be shown to
any one. They must always remain hid-
den away, with only their new possessor
to view them.
Vanity was usually the prime motive
in such transactions; jealousy, too, was
a motive, as was also the idea of having
"gotten ahead" of some possible com-
petitor for the possession of certain
paintings.
Dan Connolly was also aware of these
facts, but just now his job was to look
over the layout in an effort to discover
how the robbery had been effected. Why
it had been committed would come later.

grilles was impossible, short of blast- The recovery of the paintings and the
ing. arrest of the thief were more important
The building was in the form of a at this stage of the game than were the
quadrangle, and possessed an inner reasons for the robbery. A
strict ad-
court laid out in a miniature imitation herence to this principle had been re-
of the palace at Versailles, France. En- sponsible for Dan's rapid rise on the
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
force. Get the crook —then get the rea- with the watchman, whose name was
sons for his crime. Berger.
Arriving at the Bronson Museum, "Well," mused Dan, "nobody could
Dan was shown at once into the office of have reached those pictures without the
Murchison, the curator. aid of a chair or a ladder, could they?"
Murchison was a short, slender man, "No, sir," replied Berger. "They
immaculate in dress, nervous of manner, could not, that's a fact."
and, at the moment, apparently in a "And since they had to have a chair
state verging on mental collapse. He or a ladder, there wouldn't be much
seemed quite worried. chance of doing the job during the reg-
He answered Dan's questions at such ular visiting hours, would there?"
length and with so much immaterial in- asked Dan.
formation that Dan was almost at a loss "Not a chance," replied Berger, swell-
to separate the wheat from the chaff. ing with importance at being consulted
He'd have to do his own investigating by a detective, "especially as there's a
anyway, so he decided to let Murchison watchman goes through every corridor
get it off his chest, and then start anew once every ten minutes."
on his own hook. Ten minutes Dan smiled grimly to
!

"And now," said Dan, eager to get
away and begin his investigation, "I
don't suppose you've any objections to
my roaming about a bit. Alone, I
mean ?"
"Why, no," replied Murchison. "Cer-
tainly not. Of course, there are the
watchmen, you know they don't know ;
-"
you or your object, and they might
"I'll take care of them, all right," said
Dan, rising and walking toward the
door. Then he stepped into the corri-
dor, closing the office door behind him.
"Whew !" he said to himself. "I'd
hate to give that bird the third degree.
He'd have the police talking to
selves in less than no time."
He proceeded to the stairway leading
to the second floor of the museum,
which had been the scene of the crime.
A few moments later he was before the
spot where the stolen paintings had been
hanging. The empty frames stared down
at him from their places on the wall,
which was well out of reach of any hu-
man without the aid of a chair or a
ladder.
One of the museum watchmen was on
duty there. "Now that the pictures have
been stolen/' was Dan's half-humorous
thought.
Dan Connolly established his identity
himself. Granting that a crook would
be free from interruption, there was no
reason in the world why such a job
could not be executed in three minutes.
All the thief needed was some sort of
platform, a sharp knife; then a few
quick, accurate slashes with a knife and
the pictures. were his. But the matter of
a clean get-away was something else.
There was no possible guarantee of not
being interrupted during the visiting
hours.
"And that," decided Dan, "is a sure
sign that it was an after-hours job. No
picture thief is going to take a chance
them- he doesn't have to take. This was a
night job, sure as shooting."
Before entering the museum, Dan
Connolly had done a bit of scouting out-
side, but beyond the self-evident fact
that the museum had been placed within
an inclosure of stately Lombardy pop-
lar trees, and was further protected
from marauders by a high iron fence of
forbidding appearance, set about a dozen
feet distant from the building, he had
discovered nothing.
Dan sat down on one of the uphol-
stered and massive benches which were
placed at regular intervals for the com-
fort of visitors.
108 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
"Now," mused Dan,, "if some hefty museum employees who assembled be-
guy should happen to lug- one of these fore him when the main entrance had
benches over to the wall, he could easily been closed upon the last departing vis-
reach those frames." itors.
He arose and attempted to move the The had submitted in fairly
latter
bench. He discovered that he might as good humor to a perfunctory "frisking"
well try to move the Rock of Gibraltar. when the situation had been explained
The bench was bolted fast, and could to them.
not be moved. Dan issued his instructions tersely to
"All these benches bolted down ?" he the employees, who numbered almost
asked of Berger. fifty inall. They were to work in pairs,
"Yes, indeed. If they weren't, peo- and they were to take one floor, one cor-
ple would be dragging them all over. ridor, one room at a time.
You've no idea some of the fool things If any employee was "in" on the job,
people do in art museums," replied this was an
effective methodof pre-
Berger. venting the carrying away of the paint-
"No, I guess not," said Dan. Then —
ings if they were found in the build-
he lapsed once more into thought. ing.
It was impossible for any one to Never had any place experienced such
force an entrance at any of the win- a thorough searching as the Bronson
dows. The main entrance, Murchison Museum. Two hours after the inspec-
had told him, was guarded day and tion had been started, there was not a
night by watchmen who had been re- square inch of the building which had
cruited from a bonding company. No not been investigated. Even the coal
question as to their integrity. pile in the basement had been moved
"Nope," reflected Dan, "not much and sifted. The paintings were not in
use investigating them, except just in the building.
the line of duty. This is beginning to Murchison was more disconsolate
look like an inside job, though, at that. than ever.
If that's the case, the chances are that "It is "My repu-
terrible !" he wailed.
those paintings are still in the building, tation will be ruirfed. be the laugh-
I'll

waiting for the crook to come back and
pick them up after he's got everything
planned to get them out."
This idea struck Dan with such force
that he once more went to Murchison's
office, where a light of hope sprang in
the curator's eyes when Dan put the
idea to him.
ingstock of the art world. And what
is worse, I'll never be able to get an-
other position until the paintings have
been recovered."
"Well, if it's any consolation to you,"
said Dan, "you can think over the fact
that they haven't gone far. They
haven't had time. I'll be seeing you

"We'll be closing in a little while," to-morrow. Maybe we'll have some-

said Murchison. "We'll search every thing to work on by that time."
inch of the place." "I hope so," said Murchison fer-
Dan mentally calculated the size of vently.
the place. To make a real search would
require quite a force if they hoped to Dan returned to headquarters and
finish before darkness came on. Just spent several hours in idly running over
,

the same, it might lead to something, so the police-card index of picture thieves.
Dan sat back and waited for the closing Then he turned his attention to the gal-
hour. lery photographs of these personages,
He was surprised at the turnout of and studied them carefully. He'd re-
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 109

member these fellows if he ever saw any was ascending a rope ladder which hung
of them. from a trapeze close to the roof of the
But spring was in the air, and Dan main tent, while the
audience watched
could not concentrate on the dry-as-dust with bated breath. To most of them,
cards in front of him. Listening to even this much was a daring undertak-
Murchison's near- wailing had not ing, what with the rope ladder swaying
done anything better than weary him. under the weight and motion of his
"A movie or something is what I body.
need," said Dan to himself. "Then a Then the rope ladder came hurtling to
good night's sleep, and maybe I can get the tanbark.
somewhere on this case —providing I The Great Lassiter was perched on
can keep Murchison's tongue from wag- his trapeze, facing another trapeze lo-
ging too much. That fellow ought to cated some forty feet distant. Then the
be a radio announcer, or something." acrobat uncoiled a rope, perhaps fifteen
The detective opened a newspaper feet in length, from the bar of the
and searched the amusement ads. trapeze. He fastened one end of the
"Now, there," said Dan. "No movies rope to the crossbar, held on to the
for me to-night ; not when there's a cir- —
other end and jumped A
second later
!

cus in town. It won't hurt anybody to he was dangling high above the heads
turn into a kid again for a night.*' of the audience. He began gathering
So the 'Greatest Show on Earth' was momentum bade and forth, then
enriched by the price of Dan's ad- There were shrieks from women
mission. He entered whole-heartedly spectators, shoutsand groans from ex-
into the circus spirit, and enjoyed him- citablemen and youngsters The Great !

self as much as any youngster who was Lassiter was sailing through the air,
there. headed for the distant trapeze. Thun-
"And now, ladeez an' gentlemen," derous applause greeted him as he
came the stentorian tones of the master grasped the crossbar and pulled himself
of ceremonies, "I take pleasure in intro- up erect.
ducin' to you the Great Lassiter, the "And believe me," said Dan to him-
world's foremost flyin' trapeze artist, self, "that's some stunt." And so it
in his death-defyin' routine! Ladeez was.
and gentlemen, the Great Lassiter will Many performers worked the same
show you things that will open your trick from trapeze to trapeze but not —
eyesl You'll watch him in fear and from the end of a rope. That was Las-
trembling! But the Great Lassiter siter's own trick. No others cared to
won't be trembling! He doesn't know attempt it.
the meaning- of fear. Ladeez and gen- "The guy's got nerve," said Dan.
tlemen, the Great Lassiter!" And he got another thrill as the Great
With a grandiloquent bow and a ma- Lassiter repeated the trick, back to the
jestic sweep of his arm, and amidst the first trapeze. The trapeze was lowered
crescendo blare of the brass band, the toward the tanbark amid tumultuous
master of ceremonies indicated a per- applause.
former who was now entering the ring The Great Lassiter smiled and bowed
from the dressing tent. his thanks and turned toward the dress-
Tall, lithe, dark-haired, thin of face, ing tent. And in that instast, Dan Con-
the Great Lassiter strode to the center nolly thought he was dreaming.
of the ring, bowing to the salvo of ap- "I've seen that guy before," muttered
plause which greeted him. Dan. "But where? I'd know that face
An instant later the Great Lassiter —but where have I seen it?**
 110 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
He lost interest in the performance. "Maybe he isn't," agreed Dan, "but
Something was tugging at the back of the fact that the robbery was pulled off
his mind —
something that demanded ex- during circus week, plus the fact that a
planation. But none came. Dan Con- known picture thief is with the circus,
nolly went home and spent a night filled makes a pretty good circumstantial
with dreams of flying ropes and trapeze case."
artists. "Yes, it does," admitted Grayson,
"but we can't have any slip-up. We've
In the morning, Dan went to head- got to have real evidence and we've —
quarters once more. Again he took out got to get the pictures back."
the card index and photographs he had "I'm going out now to get the evi-
consulted the day before. Suddenly an dence," said Dan. "About the pictures,
exclamation was torn from his lips. I'm not so sure."
"That's it!" he said aloud. "That's "Well, good luck to you," was Gray-
it !" In his hand he held the photograph son's remark as Dan left the commis-
of a dark-haired, thin-faced man bear- sioner's office.
ing the caption: "Edward Lassen, age
36, held for complicity in theft of Connolly proceeded to the Bronson
valuable paintings from Norriton Mu- Museum. This time he did not enter
seum- convicted and served one year." the building, but spent his time walking
Quickly, Dan Connolly dug up the about the plot on which it was located,
card index on Lassen, who was none taking in all the details and endeavoring
other than the Great Lassiter he had to create a picture in his mind as to how
seen the night before. The details on the museum could have been entered by
the card were illuminating. the thief.
Lassen had been a ranch hand years Dan's eyes mildly inspected the row
before was an expert with the lasso,
; of Lombardy poplars. They were in-
and had acquired somewhat of a repu- terspersed here and there with enor-
tation as an acrobat and trick horse mous, sturdy oaks which had been per-
rider. mitted to remain as a mark of respect to
His record was blank for several Nature's great handicraft.
years after leaving the ranch, then he Dan noted that practically all of the
had turned up in bad company in Chi- trees were higher than the museum
cago; had left town, and joined a cir- building itself. Then one of the thick,
cus. Then came his arrest and convic- far-reaching branches of an oak tree at-
tion in the Norriton Museum case. tracted his attention.
Then came another blank, to be fol- The oak tree disappeared from his
lowed by the information that Lassen vision, replaced by a vision of a trapeze
was again arrested in connection with a high in the tent of the circus, a dangling
theft of old masters, but this time rope and a swaying man the swaying—
escaped conviction. Then he had joined man flying through space to another
the Greatest Show on Earth. Here the distant trapeze.
record ended. "If Lassiter pulled the trick, there's
"But, maybe," mused Dan, "there'll the answer!" said Dan enthusiastically.
be more to add to that." "He used the oak tree for a trapeze,
He made known his suspicions to and a pretty long rope, so's he wouldn't
Commissioner Grayson, but that per- have too dangerous a landing to make
sonage advised him not to jump at con- on the roof. Then he must have
clusions —
the Great Lassiter might not crawled over to one of the windows
be the man wanted. opening on the court. That must be it I"
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 111

He hurried inside the building and It was several hours before the
up to the second floor, Berger, the matinee performance was due to take
watchman, was again on duty there. place, and Dan walked unhindered about
"Good morning, sir," said Berger. the lot. He stopped one of the roust-
"On the trail?" abouts, and asked the location of Las-
"I think so," replied Dan. "Know siter's dressing tent.
anything about those windows?" He Outside the entrance to Lassiter's tent,
pointed to a window on each side of the Dan found a sporty-looking individual
space where the paintings had hung. lounging idly, smoking a long, black
"Were they locked the night before the cigar.
robbery?" "I'm looking for the Great Lassiter,"
"Positively !" replied Berger. "There's said Dan. "Is this his tent?"
a little gadget on each window that "Yeah," replied the sporty-looking
throws on a red light in the office when individual. "I'm lookin' for him, my-
'
the lock is closed. That's checked up by self. Anything I can do for you?"
Mr. Murchison, and none of the em- "Just want a little dope about him,"
ployees can leave if any of the windows replied Dan. "I --anta give him a little
don't show a red light. When every- write-up."
thing is O. K., they throw off the "Oh, newspaper guy," said the other.
switch until next day." "That's O. K. You've hit the right fel-
"Fine!" said Dan. "And how about low. I'm Potter, publicity agent for
the next morning?" the show. Cmon in."
"I discovered the robbery, sir, and They went inside the tent and sat
rushed right down to Mr. Murchison. down on a couple of wooden folding
He came up with some of his assistants, Dan could ask any
chairs and, before
and everybody was running around like questions, the publicity agent was mak-
wild." ing his spiel.
"Did any of them open the window?" The usual, routine stuff, Dan noted,
"Mr. Murchison did," replied Berger. as he made meaningless marks on the
—
Then, suddenly: "Say that's funny; I back of an envelope, so as to keep up
was right beside him when he opened it with the newspaperman idea which Pot-
— and he didn't unsnap the catch when ter had hung on him.
he pushed it up!" The detective's keen eyes made a co-
"Just what I thought," barked Dan. vert, but searching, scrutiny of the tent
He went swiftly to the window indi- interior. There was but a single place
cated by Berger, threw it up, and an in- where any pictures might be hidden,
stant later was perched outside on the and that was in the performer's trunk,
rather deep recess. He instantly per- the lid of which was raised, and the
ceived that the window had been jim- contents strewn helter-skelter about the
mied. sawdust floor. The trunk, Dan saw,
He came inside once more, but said was absolutely empty.
nothing to Berger of his discovery. Potter noted the detective's glance at
—
Stupid fools, he thought himself in- the strewn garments.
cluded. Why hadn't some one thought "Just like that guy," said the publicity
of the inside windows yesterday? He man, rising and beginning to throw the
must be getting old, to slip up on a articles back into the trunk. "Sloppiest
thing like that. dresser on the lot."
Well, there was nothing more to be Dan realized that nothing was hid-
done here, so Dan made his way to the den in the performer's costumes, which
circus grounds once more. consisted of tights, thin silk trunks, and
 ! —

112 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE

blouses and other articles which could Together, the detective and the pub-
not possibly conceal the missing pic- licityman left the circus grounds.
tures.
"What I'm after," said some- Dan, "is Dan Connolly was right on deck
thing unusual. Has he any hobbies, any after the matinee performance. In fact,
superstitions, or anything like that?" he was waiting for the Great Lassiter
"Well," replied Potter slowly, "yes, when the latter entered the dressing
he has." tent from the ring.
He went to the drawer of a rickety "What's the idea?" asked Lassiter as
dressing table, and pulled out a shallow he spotted Dan.
drawer, Dan watching intently all the "Just a little confab," replied Dan.
time. "I was here this morning with Potter
Potter lifted several sheets of artist's a little publicity stuff, you know."
board from the drawer. On them, the "Oh!" Lassiter looked his visitor
Great Lassiter had made several very over carefully. "Just a minute; I got
creditable copies of old masters in char- to inspect my trapeze." He turned and
coal. left the tent.
"He's doing this kind of stuff all the Dan followed him into the big top. He
time," said Potter. "These two he must thought it rather suspicious that the man
have made last night after the show." should speak a few words, and then
He held up two sheets of board. make an excuse to leave the dressing
Dan gasped They were charcoal
! tent. Maybe it was a get-away. That
sketches of the missing Tintoretto and would never do.
Murillo He had been shown photo-
! The Greater Lassiter walked quickly
graphs of the masterpieces, and recog- to the rope ladder and began to ascend.
nized them instantly. So he was on the Dan watched him as he climbed the
right track dizzy heights.
"But about superstitions," went on "Well, that's something I wouldn't
Potter. "I guess he ain't got any. He's do, unless I had to," said Dan to an at-
got nerves of steel. Except, maybe, one tendant who was standing near by.
thing—he don't trust anybody to put "Oh, not so bad after you get used
it's

up and take down his trapeze. Always to it," said the attendant. "Lassiter
does that himself. Says if anything don't give a hoot about anything like
happens, it'll be his own fault. Now that. He's more apt to throw a fit if a
that I think of it, he raised hell last speck of grease or something gets on
night after the show when one of the those sacred trapeze of his."
clearers began to let down one of the "Don't want anybody to touch 'em,
darned things." eh ?" asked Dan.
"Swell!" said Dan, certain now that "Won't let 'em," replied the attend-
he had located the man he wanted. "Got ant. "Not if he sees 'em first. He'll
to be going now. I'll stop back after raise hell when he gets up there and
the show this afternoon. I'd like to finds they were switched on him before
talk to him personally." the show."
"O. K. with me," said Potter. "I "How was that?" asked the detec-
gotta be gout* myself, now. Little work tive.
in the next town we hit." "Oh, the canvas men had to make
Dan was glad for this break; he didn't some repairs up there before the
want any one to tell Lassiter that a vis- matinee, and the trapeze had to be low-
itor had called —
or that the visitor would ered before they could do it. Lassiter
return. didn't notice the switch on account of
SHAD—7A
 !

THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 113

the natural excitement during a show. Then, before Dan was fully aware of
But he minute."
will in a what was happening, Lassiter had fast-
"How can he tell? They're exactly ened his length of rope to the crossbar,
alike, aren't they ?" asked Dan. taken hold of the end, and dropped,
—
"Yeah all but the crossbars. One's dangled for a moment, and then began
solid and the other bar's hollow. That to gather momentum. He was going to
trapeze he's climbin' to now has the do his act before an audience of one!
solid crossbar. It oughta be the hollow Apparently Lassiter cared nothing
one there. I'm beatin' it before he gets that Dan might be an enemy, and swing
an idea I made the switch." The at- the trapeze out of his reach as he let
tendant left the ring in haste. go of the rope and flew through space.
Dan looked after the man specula- But Dan could not do that. If Las-
tively. "Huh, this Lassiter must be a siter were killed, Dan would be re-
tough egg when he gets going," he re- sponsible.
flected. Then, suddenly "Great guns
: There was a jarring and swaying of
"
Maybe the trapeze stand. The Great Lassiter
The detective broke off his sentence; had made his landing and drawn himself
in a moment, he was headed for the up.
other trapeze. Then he was slowly Dan drew himself erect on the little
ascending the rope ladder which hung platform, and took a firm grip, one
by it. brawny arm around a wooden post, the
The Great Lassiter was evidently in a other ready for any emergency that
towering rage. He had discovered the might arise.
switching of the trapeze, and now was "Get down out of there!" hissed Las-
apparently addressing the wide world siter.
about it, but his back was toward Dan. "Sure," agreed Dan. "I'd like to—
As Dan reached the little wooden plat- but I ain't going until I get what's in-
form which afforded a resting place for side that crossbar."
a trapeze performer, the Great Lassiter "There's nothing in it," barked Las-
turned, and Dan, gazing across the in- siter.
tervening space, could see the acrobat's "You're a liar," calmly stated Dan.
face go pale. "It don't ring clear. I'm thinking
Lassiter motioned frantically for the there's a couple of paintings in there."
detective to descend, but Dan paid no "You're crazy," said the circus per-
attention. The detective was not used former. "What would paintings be do-
to such heights and scant support, and ing in there?"
he was plenty dizzy, not to say squeam- "I don't know," replied Dan. "They
ish around the stomach. Every move- shouldn't be there, that's true. And if
ment was dangerous for him; the slight- they are, I'm takin' them away with me.
est misstep meant that he would be And you, too. I'm Detective Connolly
dashed to the ring below, a drop of at from headquarters."
least seventy-five feet. "You're a fool!" yelled Lassiter.
Carefully Dan eased himself down so "Shut up! This is no place for an
"
that he was in position to examine the argument, an'
crossbar. With his penknife he struck Suddenly twisting one arm around
a sharp blow on the bar. It gave forth one of the suspension ropes, Lassiter
a dull dank. lashed out with other at Dan Con-
"Get the hell away from that trapeze! nolly.
Get down !" came the command of Las- Dan, ducking away, nearly lost his
siter, shrieking from the other trapeze. footing,and his heart came thumping
SHAD—SA
114 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
up into his throat. The breath seemed circus employees craning their necks,
to leave his body. But he had no time shouting and gesticulating. One of
for thought, for Lassiter struck out them began to climb the rope ladder.
again. "Get back !" shouted Dan. "Get
Dan leaned forward as far as he ready to lower the trapeze!"
could, and with his free arm took a shot The detective carefully braced him-
at the desperate man. The blow struck self with his awkward burden, stuck out
lightly on Lassiter's arm. one leg, and snared one of the suspen-
sion ropes. He managed to get this
For a minute the two men battled twisted around his ankle as he had seen
their one-handed fight high above the aerial performers do, and then heaved a
tanbark, where an instant's loss of their sigh of relief.
grip or footing meant hurtling to cer- He knew that even if he made a mis-
tain death below. play with his hands, that the rope would
Then Dan managed to put in a crack hold him tightly, and that the more
to the jaw which staggered Lassiter. weight he carried, the tighter the hold
The circus performer loosed his hold would be on that leg.
on the suspension rope, and moved to Just the same, he worked carefully
the far end of the crossbar, out of Dan's with his free arm, and finally managed
reach. There he glared madly at the to swing himself and his burden on the
detective, his breath coming in short, crossbar.
quick gasps that fairly hissed. To Dan, "Lower away !" he shouted to those
the glittering eyes of Lassiter, and his below.
hissing breath, seemed like a den of The trapeze began to descend slowly
venomous snakes. Then Lassiter's head to the ground.
began to sway slightly. A couple of minutes later, Dan Con-
"Just like a snake getting ready to nolly was standing in the tanbark ring,
strike," thought Dan. "And I'm think- looking up toward the top of the ridge-
" Carefully he wiped beads of
ing poles.
But Dan never finished that thought. from his face.
perspiration
Through the slight space that sep- "PhewT' he exclaimed. And again:
arated them, the body of Lassiter came "Phew !" Then he saw a police officer
hurtling in one swift leap, arms out- whom some one had summoned.
stretched to envelop Dan! It was the "Officer/' said Dan, "take that" —in-
desperation of madness itself. dicating the inert Lassiter—"to head-
But it failed of its purpose, for even quarters. To the commissioner's office."
while was leaping through
Lassiter Then opening his pocketknife, he began
space, Dan's arm cocked itself,
free cutting the ropes of the trapeze.
muscles flexed. Then it flashed out, "Since I went to all that trouble to get
straight to the jaw of the desperate man. this, Imight as well take it along with
As Lassiter's outflung arms draped me." He picked up the crossbar and
themselves over Dan's shoulders, his left the tent.
body went limp.
The arm of Dan Connelly must
free Commissioner Grayson listened qui-
have been expecting that, for it made a etly as Dan Connolly made his report.
frantic grab and encircled Lassiter "Like I thought, chief, this Lassiter
about the waist, as mingled shouts of used the branches of an oak tree just
surpriseand horror floated up from be- likehe did his act in the circus. He
low. got a good swinging start, and the*
Looking down, Dan saw a number of let go,landing on the roof."
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 115

"Suppose he had missed?" asked "But where are they? You said you
Grayson. could produce them," said Grayson.
"Just too bad, then," replied Dan. Dan handed over the trapeze crossbar.
"But that guy's got nerve. And he "Poke a ruler in there," he said. "Care-
didn't miss. He crawled over the roof, ful, now" —
as the commissioner began
eased himself down to the window re- ramming a desk ruler through the hol-
cess, jimmied the window, and in about low bar.
three minutes was making his way back In a moment something protruded
over the roof again with the stolen from the opposite end of the bar. Gray-
painting's." son carefully drew it out. The missing
Grayson interrupted. "But how did Tintoretto and Murillo paintings stared
he get off the roof? That's a puzzler." at him.
"No, it ain't, really," stated Dan, "Clever work, Dan," complimented
"When he made the first jump to the Grayson. "Clever work. Who put this
roof of the museum, he had another Lassiter on this job? Some rich man?"
rope wrapped around him." "That's the funny part of it," replied
"Yes, but what could he do with it? Dan. "I don't think anybody is in on
If he slid down to the ground, the it. Lassiter's a nut on art work. 'S funny

chances were he'd be seen." how some people's minds run. I'm sure
'
"Stare, he knew that. But, remember, he wanted them himself. I wouldn't
this guy used to work on a cow ranch. give a dollar a piece for 'em, myself."
He can chuck a lasso pretty swell, an' Grayson smiled.
that's what he He corralled a
did. "Well, here," he said, "keep the
branch with the when he was
rope, an' crossbar for a souvenir, or give it back
sure it was he does another swing-
tight, to the Great Lassiter."
in' act. Then he took both ^opes away "He won't need it," replied Dan.
with him. Simple. Then he went to "He'll have plenty of 'em for the next
the circus tent, and hid the paintings." few years."

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 116

Set for a dick,

it catches a
crook!

THE DEATH TRAP

By Robert N. Reeves
Detective Sergeant John Thorn- Lacey, his beaked nose, thin lips and
ton drove the motor boat for several inflexible jaw showing beneath his
miles along the bay shore where clumps slouch hat, sat for several minutes in
of stunted, twisted trees grew, distorted the boat after the shore was reached.
into fantastic shapes under the moon- He looked up and down the beach and
light. Farther up the shore he saw a inland toward the tall, dark fringe of
tree larger than the rest, gaunt and redwoods. Several times he glanced at
dead, that leaned out at an angle over his watch. Finally he picked up a
the water. shovel and suitcase from the bottom of
At the sight of it "Red" Lacey, seated the boat and leaped ashore in a hurried
in the bow, became silent and alert. manner.
"Slow her down," he commanded. "You stay here till I get back," he
Detective Thornton brought the boat gruffly commanded.
almost to a stop. Thornton, his broad shoulders
"Now nose her in there. Quick!" hunched over, his muscular hands grip-
ordered Lacey. ping the gunwales of the boat, followed
Thornton swerved the boat and with keen eyes the tall figure of his
headed straight for the shore. man. To hell with staying in the boat.
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 117

He'd jump out, throw off his mask of
stupidity, and go after Lacey with a
gun if he made, for the redwoods that
loomed in the distance.
Not far from the shore, behind some
naked brush, Lacey started to dig.
In the moonlight Thornton could see
He had come to Thornton's room and
asked him what he knew about running
a motor boat. When Thornton told him
that he knew all about it, a squint of
humor had come into Lacey's hard, gray
eyes.
"Don't ask me who I am or what I'm

him plainly. The detective settled back after," he said. "I might be a lucky
against the stern of the boat. There miner from Nevada, or I might be a
was a broad smile on his face. The sea captain that knows a bit of Cali-
thought of having Lacey digging there fornia history. What's to the point is

amused him. The fact that Lacey was that I've heard you're lookin* for a job
hard-boiled and would not later submit and I want to give you one to help you
to arrest without a battle, did not worry out."
Thornton. Together they had gone down to the
He had been in some hard battles with water front, where Lacey had advanced
desperate characters in his time. Most the necessary money for Thornton to
of them were now behind steel bars. hire a speedy motoT boat.In the night
The smile of amusement lingered on they had come across the bay to the
Thornton's lips, and this was the reason weird spot, where Thornton now sat in

of it: the boat, to search for treasure that

Some months before, "Puddy" Madi- Lacey claimed was buried there.
gan and pal had held up a train on the
outskirts of San Francisco and had Suddenly the smile faded from
robbed the express messenger of fifty Thornton's lips. He leaned far over in
thousand dollars in gold coin. Madigan the boat and watched Lacey like a hawk.
had been captured and sent to San Lacey had stopped digging and had
Quentin Prison for a ten-year stretch. thrown aside his shovel.
Not a coin of the stolen gold had been Thornton saw him light a cigarette,
recovered, and the tight-lipped Madigan puff at it a moment, then throw it aside,
had refused to divulge the name of his only to light another one and repeat
pal or tell what had become of the gold. the operation. He glanced often to-
Thornton, assigned to the case, had ward the redwoods as he paced back
learned that Red Lacey was the pal of and forth like a sentry walking a post.
Madigan on the night of the robbery, From out of the redwoods a soft
and that he had been the real instigator whistle reached Thornton's ears. It

of the crime. was answered by a similar one from

Unaware that he was suspected, Lacey.
Lacey had hung around San Francisco, Then, from the cover of the trees, the

seemingly supplied with ample funds,
though making no great display of his
wealth.
In an obscure rooming house where
Lacey lived, Thornton had rented a
room. In the guise of a mechanic out
of a job he had managed to scrape a
nodding acquaintance with Lacey. But
that was all. The wary Lacey had
shown no inclination to be friendly until
that very morning.
dark form of a man appeared. He sped
across the level space that lay between
the redwoods and the spot where Lacey
had been digging. As he reached
Lacey's side he tore the clothes from his
back. They were quickly replaced by
other clothes which Lacey handed him
from the suitcase.
In a flash Thornton realized what had
happened. Several miles up the coast,
he remembered, stretched a wilderness
 ! :

118 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE

of dune lands, beyond which lay San the boat straight for San Francisco,
Quentin Prison. whose glimmered in the distance.
lights

Puddy Madigan had escaped Lacey ! Out middle of the bay Lacey
in the

had lied about the buried treasure. tossed the shovel overboard. Then he
Without knowing it, he had used a de- picked up the suitcase and it followed
tective to aid in the escape of a con- the shovel, sinking with the speed of a
vict The thought struck Thornton like
! plummet. He glanced at Thornton as
a thunderbolt it disappeared, but the detective seemed

Instead of one desperate man to deal
with, be now had two. And that
not all. Suppose the prison guards or a
harbor police boat picked him up along
with Lacey and Madigan. What a scan-
dal it would create! The newspapers,
the public, even his fellow officers would
suspicion that he had been lured by
stolen gold to aid in the escape of a
convict. And if he could not explain
matters convincingly to his chief, he
would probably be subjected to criminal
prosecution.
For an instant Thornton was on the
intent only on the lights ahead of him.
was The act of Lacey apparently concerned
him not in the least, though he knew
that within that suitcase, weighed with
stones, was the prison garb of Madigan,
Three years of service on a harbor
police boat during his early years with
the department, had made Thornton an
expert in navigating the bay. Across
the intervening water, ferryboats were
plying. Shooting past these, keeping
clear of other craft, he kept the boat
pointed straight ahead toward the steep
hills beyond, where lights sparkled from

point of drawing his gun from his hol- the house windows high on the hills.
ster, strapped up under his left armpit. Soon he passed the long piers of the
But it was too late now. Besides the San Francisco water front that thrust
words of his chief rang in his ears themselves out into the bay in such close
"Find the gold, then arrest Lacey." And proximity, that they looked like the
he had not yet found the gold. teeth of some gigantic comb. Lime
Madigan, clothed in a dark suit and barks, lumber schooners, merchantmen,
carrying the shovel, was coming toward and ominous-looking battleships, an-
the boat. Lacey, at his elbow, was chored in the harbor, showed up mistily,
carrying the suitcase. Each held a gun and soon were left behind.
in his free hand. "Now swing to the south," com-
"A good friend of mine," volunteered manded Lacey.
Lacey as Madigan stepped into the mo- Thornton swung the boat, and with
tor boat. the propeller eating white water it beat
The lips of the convict twitched and down the south arm of the bay.
he grunted a surly greeting as he At midnight they ran into a little
glanced at Thornton's overalls and at cove beside a dilapidated, abandoned
his cap with its greasy visor. warehouse.
"Get the boat out of here in a hurry," The boat was beached in the sucking
Lacey commanded Thornton, huskily. ooze of the shore line, and Thornton
"Hit straight for Frisco. And remem- found himself on a dark and lonely
ber —
no light and no siren." spot with two as dangerous criminals
Thornton knew that wherever bound, as had ever crossed his path.
itwas going to be a hazardous trip for
him, fraught with impending disaster Off in the distance he could see a
to his life and reputation. But he was string of lights that marked a road
ready to take a chance. leading from the city. A pistol shot or a
Heeding Lacey's command, he headed dozen of them would be lost across that
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
barren stretch of land that lay between
the tumble-down warehouse and that
string of lights.
Several times, in coming across the
bay, he had caught the wicked eyes of
Madigan gazing at him
Suppose the two men took it into their
heads to search him. Suppose they
found the gun on him, a blackjack, and
a pair of handcuffs. It would mean the
fight of his life to keep from laying out
there on that desolate spot a corpse
when morning came.
Lacey, when he had hired him, had
told him he would pay him well for the
night's work. Yes, pay him with a bul-
let was the way Thornton figured it.
He became cool, more vigilant his ear
caught every wt'Txl, his eye every move-
ment of the two men.
"You wanted me to get you here in
a hurry, and you're here," he remarked
to Lacey, as he wiped his hands on his
jacket, close to where his gun reposed.
His hand was ready to seize it at the
slightest show of the two men putting
away their guns, which they now carried
in their hands.
"You didn't lie to me none when you
said you knew where to get a speedy
motor boat, and how to run it," replied
Lacey. "Come inside and have a drink
and somethin' to eat." He glanced sig-
nificantly toward Madigan.
They climbed up the soggy embank-
ment to the gloomy-looking warehouse,
with its hint of tragedy. Laqey un-
locked the door. Inside, he struck a
match and lighted the lamp standing
upon a small, improvised table.
Thornton realized that he was walk-
ing into the jaws of death yet, it was;
with seeming indifference that he fol-
lowed Lacey and Madigan. His eyes
roved around the place. They had a
sleepy look, but under the lowered lids
the glance they gave was none the less
penetrating and retentive.
He could see that the old,
structure had been falling to
119
years. The rafters were covered with
cobwebs, the floor and walls thick with
dust. Near the door was a pile of dry
tule grass, and over in a corner lay a
mattress with a few blankets upon it.
suspiciously. On the floor near the mattress was a tin
box. Lacey opened the box and brought
out a bottle of whisky, some rye bread
and a can of corned beef.
Thornton surmised that Lacey had
prepared the place as a hide-out for
— Madigan until they could safely reach
the railroad to the south, and make their
escape to some other part of the world.
There was no hiding place that he could
see for the stolen gold, unless it was
in or under the mattress. He was cu-
— rious to examine the particular spot
where the mattress lay.
"I'm as hungry as a wolf after that
drive across the bay," Lacey remarked.
He opened the can of beef, cut it and
the bread with his long-bladed knife,
and spread the food out upon a news-
paper which he had placed on the dirty
floor.
The three men squatted down, around
the newspaper and proceeded to devour
theirmidnight meal.
Lacey, however, ate leisurely, despite
his claim of wolflike hunger. His eyes
flitted from the face of Thornton to
that of Madigan. If Thornton did not
mistake his man, Lacey had marked him
for death, and was now debating with
himself as the best means of accomplish-
ing his purpose.
Thornton's brain worked fast to de-
vise some means of getting out of the
trap, and he was alert for any signal
that might pass between Lacey and
Madigan and that might spell death to
himself.
Lacey and Madigan took frequent
Thornton drank
pulls at the bottle, but
sparingly, and always with his eyes
upon the faces of the two men.
Now and then the lean, prison-white
wooden face of Madigan, with its cruel mouth
decay for and sinister eyes, would look up at
120 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
Thornton, but he said nothing. Finally,
his snakelike eyes lifted under the line
of black brows that met above his nose.
The whisky was beginning to take effect,
and the evil in him was beginning to as-
sert itself.
"Well, how long are we goin' to stick
around with this punk," he growled to
Lacey, with a nod of his head toward
Thornton.
Lacey took another drink from the
bottle, but did not reply. He slid back-
ward until his back rested against the
wall. Then he lit a cigarette, and his
eyes twitched as he gazed first at
ton and then at Madgian. His hard-
lined face was set in thought as though
pondering over something that was very
difficult.
Thornton was not slow in figuring out
what was troubling Lacey. He wanted
to get rid of him and seal his lips for-
ever as to the manner of Madigan's es-
cape; but he did not want to have a
hand, himself, in the killing of a good-
natured and somewhat stupid mechanic,
who had brought him safely across the
bay.
"Don't you think I had better look
the boat over and get it in good shape.
It wasn't hitting just right as we made
the last few miles of the run," suggested
Thornton, his face as blank as a China-
man's.
Lacey gave him a slow appraising
look. There was a vacant, almost stupid
expression upon the detective's face that
disarmed any suspicion that Lacey might
have entertained at Thornton's offer.
He glanced knowingly at Madigan, and
the latter seemed to understand the sig-
nificance of that glance. Lacey smiled
grimly.
"That a bad idea," he drawled,
ain't
after a pause. "But you'd better take
my pardner along in case you need
help."
Lacey got up and opened the door.
Madigan stepped out into the night, fol-
lowed by Thornton.
Lacey closed the door and went back
into thewarehouse to tune his ears for
the shot that would tell him that his
mechanic had gone to where his lips
would never reveal the manner of Madi-
gan's escape from San Quentin Prison.
Outside, Thornton kept several feet
behind the convict as they went toward
the boat, some two hundred yards away.
Surly and silent, Madigan slouched
ahead. He had his thumbs hooked in
his coat pocket, where a bulge told
Thornton a gun lay, ready to spit its
Thorn- message of death.
The detective knew that he must act
quickly. Unseen, his hand stole under
his jacket and he drew out something
dark, slipping it over the wrist of his
right hand.
They had almost reached the boat.
Madigan's hand was fumbling at his
coat pocket. Thornton's eyes were fixed
like a hawk upon that hand. The butt
end of a gun in Madigan's hand slid
slowly out of his pocket, and he whirled
around quickly.
An oath burst from Madigan's lips.
"
"Now, you
Quick as a flash Thornton swung the
blackjack. At the same instant he threw
an arm over Madigan's head, covering
his mouth to smother any groan. The
gun dropped from the hand of the con-
vict. He fell limp into the arms of
Thornton, who quickly dragged him to
a spot where a lone tree stood, with a
trunk not over four inches m
diameter.
He stretched the unconscious form upon
the ground with head touching the tree.
Then he drew Madigan's arms above
his head and backward until they en-
circled the tree. From somewhere under
his greasy mechanic's uniform Thorn-
ton brought out a pair of handcuffs,
snapped them on his prisoner's wrists,
and left him there, fastened as securely
as ever he had been fastened to the bars
of a "solitary" in San Quentin. The
job was done quickly and quietly.

THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
Gun in hand, he now stealthily ap-
proached the warehouse. He found the
door closed. He lifted the latch softly,
and pressed his hand against the door
and peered through the narrow open-
ing.
Hat off, Lacey was standing in the
corner where the mattress had been. He
was gazing down into a yawning hole in
the floor, its trapdoor thrown back
against the wall.
Thornton stepped inside and leveled
his gun at him.
"Up with 'em !" he commanded.
Lacey wheeled. With the speed of
lightning he had his gun out.
"Up with 'em!" he mocked.
They both fired at the same instant!
A bullet grazed Lacey's head, just as
another bullet from Lacey's gun tore
the end of a finger off of Thornton's
gun hand, sending the gun spinning to
the floor.
Upwent Thornton's hands.
But they did not go up in the way
that Lacey had expected. As his hands
shot upward, Thornton leaped forward
and caught Lacey's gun arm. The gun
exploded in the air, sending a bullet
through the ceiling!
With a quick twist of Lacey's wrist,
Thornton wrested the gun from his
grasp. Before he could get a firm hold
of it, Lacey had knocked it clattering
to the floor.
Lacey tore himself out of Thornton's
strong arms and backed away, slowly,
guardedly, toward the yawning hole in
the floor. ;
Thornton, determined that his man
should not escape by that means, leaped
forward. He shot out a powerful
right It was dodged by the alert Lacey,
! aside his blackjack when he had knocked
and they clinched again.
A kick in the shins sent Lacey to his
knees, but he was up again, apparently
invincible to the pain he must have felt.
He came at Thornton with a wild rush,
cursing, clawing, and groping for his
eyes.
!
121
Thornton, despite the wounded finger,
landed a blow that split Lacey's lips
Another swift blow, Thornton figured,
would prove a knock-out.
Lacey glared at the determined face
of Thornton with its square, firm jaw.
His eyes were glittering with malignant
fury. His mop of red hair seemed to
lift aggressively, and his nose seemed
more like an eagle's beak than ever. It
was a furious, devilish face that Thorn-
ton now confronted.
Lacey maneuvered around until the
tablewas between them. Suddenly, he
sprang forward and grasped the burn-
ing lamp, hurling it straight at Thorn-
ton's head.
With the speed of a panther Thornton
dodged the lamp. It struck the wall,
broke above the dry tule grass, and,
instantly, that part of the warehouse be-
came a mass of flames.
With an oath Lacey leaped toward
the hole in the floor, plunged into it,
and raised his hand to close the trap-
door.
Another second and Thornton was
upon him. He wrenched the hand of
Lacey from the edge of the door and
plunged into the hole after him. With
an ominous flump the door dropped
down above their heads, leaving them
to continue their combat in the darkness
of their subterranean battleground.
Thornton could hear the crackling of
the flames above them as they rolled
about in the dark, fighting furiously.
Both were soon choking from the smoke
that seeped through from the floor
above.
Thornton regretted that he had tossed
out Madigan. He could use it now to
good advantage. But the sinewy
strength of Lacey was beginning to be
sapped by the fury of the fight. Finally,
a well-directed blow on the jaw silenced
his cursing and snarling, and he lay
still.
122 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE
Thornton could hear the falling of For aninstant the flare of light from
burning timbers as they hit the floor the burning building, blinded Thorn-
above him. It would be only a matter ton's eyes as he crawled out of the dark
of a little time when the floor would tunnel. But the air, though hot, felt
give way and the tunnel would be filled good to his cheeks and his choking
with flames and debris. He coughed lungs. He staggered over to a log and
violently from the smoke that filled his sat down.
lungs. He knew that it would be death Huge tongues of flames were now
to attempt to escape from the place by bursting from all parts of the ware-
means of the trapdoor through which he house, casting a lurid light over the
had plunged. ground. Sparks showered down upon
Hehad not the slightest idea as to him. From somewhere in the distance
how he was to get out. He tried to there came the sound of a fire gong and
light several matches, but found that the roar of fire engines.
they had gotten wet during the drive Glancing off toward the long* line of
across the bay. All that he knew was road lights, Thornton saw the head-
that the tunnel was pitch dark, damp, lights of a fire engine rushing along the
filled with smoke, and soggy under road. It turned into a narrow lane
foot. that led to the warehouse. It soon came
He crept through tbe darkness, not clanging up to where he sat, followed
knowing what instant he might plunge by other fire apparatus and a police car.
through some opening into the bay. As It was a bloody-faced and clay-be-
he pressed forward the height of the smeared man that greeted the firemen
tunnel decreased, and he was obliged to and the police. Thornton quickly
assume a stooping position. Finally, his identifiedhimself, and while the fire-
foot struck what seemed to be a step men were tossing water on the burning
that led nowhere. building, he and one of the policemen
Heguessed the reason for its being descended into the tunnel with a lan-
there, ran his hand along the tunnel's tern borrowed from a fireman.
roof and it came in contact with another They dragged Lacey out and placed
trapdoor. He tried to shove it open, him flat on the ground. He was still
but it was immovable. Evidently it was unconscious, but soon came groaning
locked. to life.

Then he ran his fingers along the edge Thornton signaled to one of the po-
of it until they came to a bolt. He drew licemen to follow him. Together they
the bolt back, placed a shoulder against went to where Madigan was handcuffed
the door and heaved upward. It to the tree. Half dragging, half carry-
opened, a quantity of earth and small ing their prisoner, they got him to the
stones falling inside from the outside, police car and shoved him in.

thathad concealed the exit. He took a Then into tunnel

the Thornton
deep breath of the fresh air that struck plunged again —
time alone. With
this
his face. the aid of a lantern he searched the
Then he returned to where Lacey lay place. When he came out he carried a
and dragged his limp body through the large leather bag. He stooped down,
tunnel and left it face upward under ran his hands through Lacey's pockets
the open trapdoor, where there was no looking for a key. Finding it, he opened
likelihood of his being smothered to the bag and glanced at its contents.
death. Now that he had conquered his There was gold in it gold coin in —
man he wanted the satisfaction of taking canvas bags and loose.
him alive to headquarters. He told the policemen to put Lacey
 THE SHADOW MAGAZINE 123

in the car. Thornton climbed in be- "Must be tough eggs," remarked a

hind them, carrying the bag. policeman.
"Where to?" asked the driver. "They are," replied Thornton. "As
"To the Hall of Justice," answered hard-boiled as they make 'em. Now let

Thornton. "I want to plant these two me have your first-aid kit and I'll
fellows in the central lockup, where the bandage my hand. One of 'em nicked
chief can look 'era over in the morn- off part of a finger with his gun, and
ing." I'm beginning to notice it."

AIR POLICE
© @ ©
As an addition to their present police departments, many of
the larger cities bordering on water have added air patrols to the
force. This is necessitated by the extent of crime along the water
fronts. As the territory covered by the water front in most cases
is large, this means of policing has been quite successful. The
entire water front can be covered in a much shorter time than it can
be patrolled by a policeman on foot.
Although in the majority of cases the efforts of the air police
are limited to the locating of thieves escaping in boats, some un-
usual cases have turned up in the course of duty.
Recently, the yacht of a wealthy manufacturer was stolen from
its dock along the Atlantic Ocean. The yacht had just been
stocked for a lengthy cruise and th.e owner knew that if the boat
was not quickly recovered, it would soon be out of sight of land.
But, fortunately, a fog settled down soon after the yacht was
stolen. Although this prevented the owner from immediately
searching for his stolen boat, he was sure that the fog would also
handicap the escaping yacht.
The fog lasted for three days, but as soon as it lifted enough
to assure good visibility, the owner of the stolen boat hired an air-
plane to assist him in the search. After cruising for some hours,
the yacht was discovered a short distance out from shore. The
owner, after swooping low and identifying his boat by the color
of the paint, turned about and headed for the nearest airport, where
he could ask the aid of the police air patrol.
In a short time the police plane had overtaken the yacht and
landed in front of it. The men who had stolen the boat launched
a small boat and tried to escape in it. The police plane taxied
after the boat and the men could do nothing but surrender.

Only in THE SHADOW MAGAZINE can you read the

genuine experiences of The Shadow, strange creature of the night,
told by his exclusive Taconteur, Maxwell Grant. Have your copy
reserved.
124

THE THIRD DEGREE

A Department In Which Our Readers Face A Test
Of Brains, Skill And Common Sense

THE APARTMENT MURDER

On the door of the old brick building was the high-sounding name of "Royal
Apartments." Actually, however, it was nothing but a rooming house, long and
narrow, with doors set at regular intervals along the straight hallway, housing men
and women of little less than average means.

And there was a murder there —a murder that Detective Thomas was sent

to solve.

The killing was in a room in the front of the building. There were no
witnesses, no evidence to point to any particular person as the guilty one. Not
until the rest of the roomers on that floor were questioned.

,
One of them, Mr. Marvin, saw
living near the front of the building, said he
something that might explain the case. Early that morning about the time the —
—
murder was judged to have taken place he heard a door open. Out of curiosity,
he got up from his chair—he was reading, unable to sleep and looked out his —
door. He saw another roomer, Hennefin, going down the hallway to his room at
the end of the building. Hennefin was near his door, and Marvin could get only
a brief look before stepping back into his own room to avoid detection, but in that
one glance he saw blood on the front of Hennefin's shirt blood which must have—
come from the murdered man.

No other resident could give any information whatever about the case. The
murdered man's relations with the other roomers were negligible. No one seemed
to know much about him.

So Detective Thomas went to work to learn all he could about the victim and
the suspect. What he learned, and how he solved the case, you will see in the
next issue. <*

The answer to this will appear in the nest number oS

THE SHADOW MAGAZINE.
 : !

125

"The Third Degree" Solution

WHICH IS MOST LIKELY?

(The answer to the problem given in the previous issue of
THE SHADOW MAGAZINE.)
The case of the missing bonds which faced Detective Manson was not so
hopeless as might at first seem. It was not a matter of "your guess is as good as
mine," but a matter of judging the possible character of each individual in the case.
Eliminating the members of the small bond house, the detective reasoned as
follows
The stenographer, who was not even in the building at the time the bonds
were lost, was automatically out of it. Of course, it was possible that the time
of the loss was —
wrong but again, the house was so small that this was most
unlikely. Every one in the place knew where everything was, and the slightest
error would be easily and promptly detected.
The office boy presented a good possibility, but thorough reasoning would
relieve him of responsibility. Though the lad might well realize the worth of the
bonds, and the fact that they were readily negotiable, he would have a harder time
disposing of them than any one else, unless he had a confederate, or some one who
had forced him to the job. Outside crooks, however, find a small bond house
meager pickings, so the chances here were slight.
Of the four men, probably the one least in danger was the teller, who had
—
charge of the bonds. He could easily have taken them but he probably did not,
because he was fully responsible for them, and their loss, if unrecovered, would
reflect upon him. If he intended to steal, he would probably arrange things so
that the loss would come at a time, or apparently at a time, when he was not
responsible for their safe-keeping.
—
Last of the four the head of the house. He was stealing from himself if
he did it, but even so, he would profit by it, and he would be the one to profit most,
without risking too much.
Although the firm would lose by the theft, since the bonds were only partly
covered by insurance, he would still have the entire worth of the bonds, since they
were readily negotiable. Of all the suspects, he had best means for turning the
bonds, even though they would be listed as stolen, into cash. He would collect the
insurance. The firm would lose the difference between the face value and the
—
insurance but the head of the firm would still have the negotiable value of the
bonds, which would give him a neat profit over the loss.
—
The detective did some strict logical reasoning in the case and he was right
The head of the house was not as clever as he thought Himself, for the law got him!

There will be another problem to test your wits in the next issue of
THE SHADOW MAGAZINE.
126

Canine Police

NO one will ever forget the famous "bloodhound" scene from the stage
presentation of "Uncle
every place where drama
Tom's Cabin." That play, produced practically
is presented, has done more than anything else
to point out the use of dogs as an aid to the enforcement of law. Stories of the
perseverance of the bloodhound trail, of their infallibility, and of their uncanny
ability to pick out the guilty person, have become legion.
And yet, while people have marveled at the bloodhound, they have missed the
animal that is a real help to the police. It is not the bloodhound that proves the
—
best aid to cops to-day it is the police dog.
More and more, the extent of the police dog's use in modern police work has
been increasing. His efficiency has been tested in a number of different ways, and
it always proves to be better than was expected. The dog lives up to his title of
"police" every time he has the opportunity.

The Breed
This branch of police work is still very much in its infancy. There are only
a few police departments which have the dogs to serve any but an ornamental
purpose, therefore there remains some controversy as to the requirements, pur-
poses, and results of this phase of police work. Only in a few things are most
police officers who are acquainted with this work in agreement.
One of these points is that a pure breed is not essential. Instead of going
after the purest of police dogs, the officers seek out any police dog that seems to
appeal to the sense of the trainer. If they come up to all the other qualifications,
the breed becomes a matter of no importance.
The essential requirements are sound health and a strong body. Police dogs
are put under some mighty severe strains, and only those in the best of physical
condition can be used. This naturally excludes those of too large or too small
size, if that size serves as an impediment.

—
As far as intelligence goes most dogs, if properly trained, can do their work
to satisfaction. The smart dog is merely one which has, in some way or other,
received more training. The dogs selected for police work, therefore, owe all of
their knowledge and ability to their careful training.

"Rookie" Dogs 1

There are "rookie" dogs just as there are "rookie" cops, and the work of
both of them is about equal. The cop just on the job gets all the routine work
so does the dog. Unfortunately, no matter how much training the dog may have,
he must always continue in routine work.
 ;

THE SHADOW MAGAZINE

The dogs are taken when they are very young puppies, put in the training
kennels, and put through their paces. In the course of their training, they ar
put into positions which may arise in their later work hundreds of times, and
although the situation may not be exactly the same, the response of the dog mus
be dependable. To answer an alarm one time, and fail to heed it another, make
a dog entirely useless for police work. Such an animal would have its master
continually answering to false cries, and probably fail to alarm when the need
was greatest.
In the elementary training, the dog is taught to recognize signs of danger,
or conditions which are unusual. A house full of people going about their usual
tasks will not excite his suspicions, but a vacant house with one lone prowler will
excite his sense of danger.
Likewise, the casual stroller goes by unharmed, whereas the furtive passer-by
gets more than a casual glance.
Especially important is the training of these dogs in response to some out-
standing cues. A
shot, sign of danger to all officers upholding the law, is the most
important cue. A shot makes the good police dog the most alert thing on earth
brings his entire sense of hearing to focus upon the one point of the shot. Im-
mediate investigation, or immediate report to the dog's officer, is the response.
Equally important is the dog's response to a police whistle. This is not only
for the purpose of keeping the dog at all times within control, but also for the
sake of unusual contingency. There are times when an officer gets into a situation
in which he needs immediate help. If the dog which is on duty in his territory can
be called by the typical police summons, he may avoid serious consequences.
Another picturesque as well as important bit of training is the dog's response
to the time-honored method of police summons from one member qf the force
to the other —the pounding of a-nightstick upon the sidewalk. The police dog will
sense the for help even before the officer with the most sensitive feet can feel
call

the vibrations caused by his fellow officer's nightstick on the concrete.

"Teamed" Up
The police dogs are always teamed up, or paired off, with officers covering
their territory. Every day the dogs are sent out from their kennels and deposited,
with their accompanying officer, at their place of duty. The dogs are always
muzzled, for they take their work seriously, and the offender would not fare so
well if the dog's powerful muscles were left unleashed. And a prisoner brought
into headquarters in sections would not be so appealing.
On their beat, the dogs take to their work with as much proficiency as their
two-legged masters. Where the officer patrols only the main portions of his beat,
the dog is taught to go through all the nooks and crannies of the streets, covering
the ground with a speed not possible to the cop. The barking of the dog is
sufficient to attract attention when something is wrong. If that does not work,
the dog either takes a hand in the attack himself, or scurries away in search of the
officer.

There are stories to back up these statement^. One dog, spotting a broken
window in a vacant house, went in, finding a burglar in the basement. The
cellar
dog cornered the burglar and barked and barked and barked. At first he made
no move to attack the burglar, being content with the noise he was making as a
means of attracting the officer.
When the burglar attempted to draw a gun, the animal jumped upon the
 4- •

an's arm with such foree that he almost broke the arm, and stunned}ai^air
"<y the forceful jump. Thus the dog kept the victim for a lcti£ time, p'omieteg "
'ipon him whenever ite sought to arise from the ground, unfifthe officer came.

-Detective Work -
ff>

Net only in such forceful manner, but also in roofe subtle ways do these dogs
earn their names and. their 'reputation. They- are veritable bloodhounds, too, in
.

more than oneeease leading a police officer to a discarded weapon, or some stray
bits of ^evidence which their sensitive noses search out as evidence, while others
. «siverlook the article. The importance of a bit of real evidence can never be over- "''
'
estimated in tough police cases. ' .

Though there is a limit to the capabilities of these dogs, there is also a special-
need for them, and there is work for which they are admirably suited. In the
residential districts, they have proven their mettle as sound patrolmen, and wher-
ever they are in use, they have the hearty support of officers and residents alike.
Perhaps their scope can be extended with further .training. If so, it will be
a boon to police work.: In the meantime, those who work faithfully and con-
sistently in the training of these animals deserve iio less credit. . <

Meet "Monk"
His real name is Andrew
Blodgett Mayf air, and his
looks belie his profession as
they do his name. Monk is v

really a chemist one of the —

.five companions of the re-
markable Doc Savage. His ,

..JtejChemical ability serves to ex-

^tricate hia pal^from many
perilous positions, and fur-
jfjShes countless thrills for the
i^Sder of the exciting yarns
538i<Doc Savage's exploits. ..

-^-Go to your news dealer to-

* •

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this thrilling magazine; the
. DOC SAVAGE MAGAZINE,
in which you will find s book-
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group of men, Excitement,
adventure, suspense, mystery
—all these are packed into the
gages of this new, rnj^era
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Every Month 1
Ten Cents a. copy "*,
 .

He hacl^
Two Loves. .

u
Pi$tol Pete"

RICE
had just two
grea\ emotions
He loved
JUSTICE
AND
HIS MOTHER
Don't Miss the Adventures of this
GUM-CHEWIN', TROUBLE-SHOOIN'
SON OF THE ROARING WEST!

A STREET SMITH PUBLICATI

 IT TAKES HEALTHY NERVES
:
; ,, , ... g

TO BE A CHAMPION
BRONK RIDER!

RIDE 'EM COWBOY! It sure takes healthy

nerves to 6tay on board a fighting
bronk! " Camels are my smoke," says
Eddie Woods, cowboy champion.
"They never jangle my nerves."

AM NOT in the
championship
but I need
class,
healthy nerves.
Camels are the
mildest cigarette

E Eddie Woods,
'
all-round champion
'top hand" of the cowboy world, say s
I know!"

~"
:
ding an outlaw horse is about
.rdest punishment for a man's
s that anybody can imagine. To
t)iierves that can take it, I smoke
nly Camels. I've tried them all, but
— Camels are my smoke! They have a
i
":
atural mildness that appeals to me,
and I like their taste better. Camels
do not jangle my nerves, even when I IT IS MORE FUN TO KNOW
light up one after another."
'
Camels are made from
Your own nerves and taste will con- MORE EXPENSIVE tobacc
1 than any other popular brand
firm the fact vhat this milder ciga-
MATCHLESS
a made from costlier tobaccos,
retfc?, is
I1LEND
better for steady smoking.

CAMEL'S COSTLIER TOBACCOS Copyright, 1933,

NEVER GET ON YOUR NERVES NEVER TIRE YOUR TASTE R. J Reynolds
.

Tobacco Company

:•*