Crime Circus

CHAPTER XII ONE MAN MISSING

WHEN Sheriff Howard returned to the office he promptly began to issue orders to Cap Guffy and Stuffy Dowson. The veteran showmen listened soberly while Howard explained his plan for rounding up the bank robbers.

“Run the circus as usual,” the sheriff said to Stuffy. “You do the same with your show, Captain. My posse will see to it that everybody stays on the lot. Meanwhile, I’ll be strolling around with the watchman and a couple of my deputies.”

“Looking for the crooks?” questioned Stuffy.

“Yes,” replied Howard. “We’ll go into the circus tent like we were regular customers. Give us seats in the box right in front of the main ring. We’ll be looking over the whole tent. If we don’t see the men we want, we’ll go to the other shows and look in the concessions.”

“And if you don’t find them then?”

“We’ll scour the lot. Line up everybody. I could do that to begin with; but I don’t want to. It’s better as a last resort. You see” — Howard paused craftily — “I reckon that those robbers don’t know the watchman saw them. If they’re here with the circus, they’ve probably got the swag hid somewhere. So they’ll try to stand pat, not knowing that we’ve got the goods on them.”

Cap Guffy was seated at a desk. He was weighing the sheriff’s words. Cap had no comment. He kept strumming on the woodwork while he stared toward the speaker. Stuffy Dowson, however, did not keep silent.

“Say” — Stuffy wagged a finger toward the sheriff — “maybe those roughnecks was in on that bank robbery. There was five of ‘em blew on the night we was leaving Burnsville.”

“Last night, eh?”

“Yeah.”

“Are they back with the show?”

“I don’t know. We can’t keep tabs on them roughnecks — leastwise, I can’t. But the five of ‘em was supposed to tear down Cap’s top. They wasn’t there when we needed ‘em.”

“Are they back with your tent now?” questioned the sheriff, turning to Cap Guffy.

“No.” Cap shook his head emphatically. “The boys that set up my top was the ones that Stuffy brought up instead of the bunch that blew.”

“Where would the fellows be then, if they returned?”

“I don’t know.”

“Maybe with the big top,” put in Stuffy. “They could have slid in with that crew. If they don’t know nothin’, you’re likely to see ‘em while the show is on.”

“Good,” decided the sheriff. “Now we’ve got to do something to explain why I’ve got a posse here. You two chaps go out and spread the news that this town is hot. Tell your people that a lot of toughs tried to bust up a carnival that played here a couple of weeks ago.

“Tell them that’s why I’m on the job. I want to stop any riots that may start. That’s why all the circus folks have got to keep in bounds. We’re protecting them as well as the town people.

“That story ought to hold them — all except the five guys that we’re after. And if the five try to beat it, we’ll nab them easy. And listen: while you’re spreading the news, check up and see if any hands are missing.”

THE three men left the office. Stuffy headed toward the big top. Cap went in the direction of the Ten-in-One. He spoke to concessionaires as he passed them. He stopped and talked to the ticket seller outside of Jubo’s tent. This fellow nodded and went inside to speak to the geek.

When he reached the Ten-in-One, Cap found a few of the freaks gathered inside. He made a general announcement for their benefit.

“We’re opening late tonight,” said Cap, gruffly. “The ‘tin star’ is on the lot and he’s got a bunch of deputies on the job. He thinks there’s going to be trouble, so he’s looking out for us. Some of these townies think they’re tough and the tin star wants to make it soft for us. Guess he’s afraid we might yell a ‘Hey Rube.’ So keep on the lot — all of you.”

The freaks nodded. Since the show was opening late, they began to leave the tent. Cap went over to Cleed’s platform, where the pasty-faced man was lying on his cot. Cleed was the only one who had not heard Cap’s announcement.

After Guffy spoke to him, Cleed arose lazily from the cot and nodded. While Guffy remained alone in the silence of the tent, Cleed followed the other freaks. They had gone out through the back canvas.

TEN minutes later; Cliff Marsland, carrying a bucket past the big top, was encountered by Hank. The big mobster spoke to Cliff in an undertone.

“Shove that bucket,” he ordered. “Cover by the truck. There’s a meeting in the tent.”

Cliff nodded. He stowed the water bucket under the stake puller. He made for the truck and took his stand there. Dusk had settled early, for the day was cloudy; yet the gloom was not thick enough to risk another crawl to the dimly lighted tent that stood one hundred feet away.

In fact, Cliff fancied that he could make out the figures of other roughnecks whom Hank had posted as a cordon. His watching eyes caught sight of a stooped form crouching outside the circle. It looked like Jubo the Geek. Cliff saw the figure move away.

Then his eyes became transfixed. Moving along the ground within the circle was a splotch of blackness. It was a strange, uncanny shape that suddenly passed from view. When Cliff glimpsed it again, the shape had become a motionless streak against the side of the lighted tent.

No challenge came from any watcher. Cliff realized that he alone had seen that weird manifestation of a living being.

Cliff smiled grimly. He had not dared venture toward the tent; but there was one who had taken the chance, with success. The Shadow had slipped through the cordon of mobster roughnecks. The master of darkness was listening in on the new conference.

INSIDE the little tent, Cleed was talking in the growl that characterized Croaker Zinn. Luke and Princess Marxia were listening to his statements. Their faces showed apprehension; but Croaker’s faked countenance was emotionless.

“You heard the story that Cap Guffy is passing around the lot,” stated Croaker. “Well — we know the real dope. Cap’s just handing out the line that the hick sheriff told him to spread. They’re really after the bunch that pulled the robbery in Almsburg. I know it and so does the big shot.

“We’ve got to give those five gorillas a break. At the same time, we’re not going to bust up the racket on their account. I saw this coming; that’s why I had the five cover up those red circles by letting you use the blue needle, Luke.”

“I figured that,” responded the tattooed man. “Say — it had me stumped when the first guy came in. But after that — after you gave me the nod—”

“Never mind,” interrupted Croaker. “Let’s talk about tonight. Those five gorillas have got to stick together. We’ll let them fight for themselves and scram together. If they have trouble getting away, we’ll shout a ‘Hey Rube.’ But I don’t think we’ll need it.”

“Why not?”

“I’ll tell you. First of all, you pass the word to Hank. He knows who the five gorillas are. Have him shove them on the cat cage.”

“For Wernoff’s animal act?”

“Yeah. There’s plenty of guns used in that part of the show. They’re to keep under cover until Wernoff goes on. They’ll be the crew that rolls the cat cage into the room. Then when—”

Croaker broke off suddenly. He had heard a noise outside. He sprang to his feet and turned off the light. He growled to Luke to beat around the side of the tent.

The Shadow was moving away before Luke acted. He, too, had heard the noise. What was more, he had located it. Moving stealthily along the ground, The Shadow could see a crawling figure making its way toward a stack of crates.

Members of the cordon were closing in, following the signal of the extinguished light. Motionless, The Shadow saw the figure rise from among the boxes. He recognized the bouncing gait of Jubo the Geek.

The prowler had slipped past the cordon. It was The Shadow’s turn to do the same. He moved toward the truck where Cliff Marsland had been stationed. He gave a low hiss as his agent came in toward the darkened tent. Cliff paused as The Shadow glided past.

One minute later, the light clicked on in the little tent. Croaker and his aids were resuming their interrupted conference. Roughnecks moved back to their posts. Two minutes followed; again the lights went out.

Once more the roughnecks inspected; then moved away. This time, the freaks stole from the tent. Croaker had completed his instructions. The Shadow had not gained the opportunity to hear the final statement of the mobleader.

A soft laugh came from beside the truck that Cliff had left. The Shadow had no need to return. He had heard enough. His keen brain had divined the rest. Noiselessly, The Shadow glided away from the truck.

THE freaks were returning to the Ten-in-One. Marxia and Cleed were preparing to enter through the back canvas. The snake charmer paused to speak to her companion.

“What about the swag?” she whispered, “If those five have to scram with—”

“The big shot’s got the swag,” came Croaker’s low growl. “Don’t worry. He’s taking care of it. The sheriff may make trouble for the gorillas, but he won’t find the swag on this lot. Keep mum, Marxia. Remember: I’m Cleed; not Croaker.”

The two entered the tent. Another figure moved from twenty feet away. It was Jubo the Geek.

Scarcely had he departed when Luke arrived and entered the back of the tent. The tattooed man went to his platform. He nodded as he looked toward Cleed. It was Luke’s signal that he had seen Hank. The orders would be followed.

Cap Guffy was striding along in front of the rail. He was wearing a frown as he looked toward the platform next to Luke’s. He turned to the tattooed man.

“Where’s Zoda?” demanded Cap.

“Haven’t seen him,” returned Luke.

“His outfit ain’t here,” snorted Cap. “Say — I bet that guy blew the show. I’m going to find out.”

Cap strode toward the entrance. A tent flap rose as he neared the spot. In stepped the sheriff. Cap stopped short.

“What about your crowd?” asked the sheriff. “Checked up on them?”

“There’s one man missing,” replied Cap. “I was just coming to tell you.”

“Who is he?”

“Zoda, the mind reader. A new act. Came on the show back in Burnsville.”

“Do you think he’s on the lot?”

“No. He must have cleared out with his stuff before you put the posse on the job.”

“Where do you think he went?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he headed for the station. Tex started early for that train. It hasn’t gone out yet. Say — suppose I run down there in my car and see if Zoda is waiting for it.”

“Where’s your car?”

“Right out back.”

“All right. Take one of my deputies with you.”

Cap and the sheriff moved out through the back canvas. They found Cap’s car — a coupe — standing near the tent. A wardrobe trunk was resting in the rumble seat.

“Say” — Cap turned to the sheriff — “I’d forgot about that trunk. It gives me an idea. It belongs to a pair that jumped the show — The Solvas — and I got a letter from them asking me to ship it to New York.”

“Well?”

“Well — I ain’t had time to ship it. Suppose, now, that Zoda is down at the station. He may be on the look-out. But if he sees me drive up to the baggage room and unload this trunk, he won’t think I’m after him.”

“What then?”

“I can sneak out of the baggage room and squint along the platform. He won’t know it.”

“That sounds all right. Wait here until I get a deputy.”

Cap Guffy grinned as he looked at the trunk in the rumble seat. His idea evidently appealed to him. The sheriff’s approval seemed to his liking. The deputy arrived promptly; he and Cap entered the car and started for the station.

CAP pulled up at the baggage room. He and the deputy unloaded the trunk. Cap checked it and dropped the check in his pocket. He watched the trunk go aboard the baggage truck. The baggage master started the truck along the platform just as a whistle sounded to announce the approach of the train. Rails began to click.

“What about the fellow we’re looking for?” questioned the deputy, anxiously.

“Now’s the time to spot him,” responded Cap. “Come with me.”

The pair edged to the platform just as the train arrived. Brakes brought the string of cars to a grinding stop. Cap saw Tex Larch step aboard, lugging his heavy bags. He looked in the opposite direction and observed the trunk going in the baggage car.

“All aboard!”

The conductor’s cry brought a shake from Cap’s head. The owner of the Ten-in-One turned to the deputy and spoke in a disappointed tone.

“Zoda didn’t get on that train,” he announced. “I’d have spotted him, sure. We’ll have to look for him back on the lot.”

“And if he isn’t there?”

“One man missing,” stated Cap, as he took the wheel of the coupe. “It’ll be the sheriff’s job to find him.”

Cap smiled grimly as he phrased this decision. The deputy nodded as they started back along the road to the circus grounds. Cap’s manner seemed to indicate that the disappearance of Zoda was a matter of grave consequence.

A watching figure was shrouded in the darkness behind the Ten-in-One. Keen eyes saw Cap Guffy wave the deputy away. They watched the showman lift the canvas and enter the rear of the tent.

Those were the eyes of Zoda, the missing mind reader. They were also the eyes of The Shadow. Noiselessly, the blackened figure moved away. The Shadow was heading toward the big top, where the shouts of barkers were urging the slim crowd into the show.

The sheriff and three other men were entering the main tent when The Shadow spied them from a darkened spot near the office. Two of the sheriff’s companions were deputies. The other was a squatty individual — the bank watchman who had come to identify the robbers.

A soft laugh whispered from hidden lips as The Shadow circled past the big top. Grim duty faced The Shadow. He was seeking a wedge with which to plan a counterthrust to coming crime.