Gray Fist

CHAPTER XXII GRAY FIST ARRIVES

LONG hours had passed since The Shadow’s interview with Yat Soon. Once again, the wise Mongol stood within the portals of his reception room. A clang at the door. Yat Soon opened the panel to admit Snakes Blakey.

Yat Soon’s expression showed that he had expected the sneaky gangster’s arrival. Snakes, feeling more confidence than he had shown before, began to speak as soon as the panel had dropped.

“It’s all set, Yat Soon,” he declared. “I got the message you left for me outside. I took it to Gray Fist.”

“He has agreed to the terms?” questioned Yat Soon mildly.

“Sure thing,” replied Snakes. “He’s got three prisoners. Two of them were guys that worked for The Shadow. The other is a dick named Joe Cardona. They’re all downstairs. We’re ready to bring them up.”

“Who is ready?”

“Ruff Shefflin and his gang. You said the prisoners had to be brought here. Gray Fist agreed. But he’s not going to let them out of sight of his crew — of Ruff’s crew.”

Yat Soon considered the statement solemnly. At last, he denoted his acquiescence. He pressed the switch; the panel opened. Snakes Blakey issued forth to follow the arrangements.

As soon as the mobster had gone, Yat Soon walked stolidly to the panel at the rear of the room. He paused there, in deep thought. At last, he pressed the switch and went through the rising opening.

He had gone to carry this word to The Shadow. Ruff Shefflin and a crew of mobsters had not been in the previous discussion. Nevertheless, Yat Soon apparently expected his prisoner to abide by the unexpected arrangements.

When the panel opened, a smile beamed on Yat Soon’s usually placid face. The red-robed master closed the panel of The Shadow’s prison. A clang from outside announced that visitors were at the brass gate. Yat Soon opened the portal.

Mobsters shuffled into the reception room. With them they had three prisoners. Jabbing revolvers kept Cliff Marsland and Harry Vincent in line, along with Joe Cardona. All were groggy. They had evidently been doped for this occasion.

THERE were half a dozen mobsters in all. Ruff Shefflin was their leader. Snakes Blakey was with the crew. They shoved their prisoners against the wall. Snakes Blakey faced Yat Soon.

“Here they are,” he snarled. “Two of them belong to The Shadow. These two — and we brought the other guy along for good measure.”

“Where is Gray Fist?” came Yat Soon’s query.

“He’s coming,” laughed Snakes. “We’ll wait for him. He’s the fellow that wants The Shadow — Gray Fist is.”

Harry Vincent and Cliff Marsland were staring wearily about them. Their faces began to register surprise at this strange setting. Joe Cardona, beside them, seemed more alive than The Shadow’s agents. Although he made no effort to defy the gun-wielding gangsters, the detective wore a challenging look.

In fact, Cardona became more alert and defiant, as slow minutes moved by. It was the clangor beyond the front panel that caused Cardona’s look to turn to one of intense interest. Then came words that brought the detective’s head up straight.

“It’s Gray Fist!” exclaimed Snakes Blakey.

The panel rose as Yat Soon pressed the switch. Into the room stepped a man clad in gray. Harry Vincent and Cliff Marsland stared. They recognized the figure that they had seen before. This time, in better light, the face was plain also. It was a face that neither could remember.

A startled cry of recognition came, however, from another quarter. Joe Cardona, staring madly, knew the man who had just entered. He had recognized Gray Fist! This man who was dressed in gray was Landis Glascomb!

THERE was no pitiful expression on the face of the financier. Glascomb’s features were tinged with evil. He made no pretense to cover up his fiendish character. He was gloating, in an hour of evil triumph — sneering as he glanced at Joe Cardona.

The detective, more alert than ever, knew the hideous truth. Landis Glascomb — as Gray Fist — had never trusted more than one minion. He had used Seth Cowry as an agent to gain power over men of big affairs — men whom Landis had studied, and whose weaknesses he knew.

Fearing betrayal by Cowry, Gray Fist had obtained Snakes Blakey. Through the sneaky mobster, he had gained the services of Ruff Shefflin and attendant gangsters. They had put Seth Cowry on the spot. Ruggles Preston had also served as a worker to keep the victims in line — but Preston had never known the true identity of Gray Fist.

With total ignorance of whom it was he served, Ruggles Preston had kept the name of Landis Glascomb on the list of victims. He had unwittingly watched his own chief all the while he watched the others!

Snakes Blakey had been the only go-between; with Ruff Shefflin at his bidding, the sneak had done his work well. The death of Preston, however, had been a blow to Gray Fist. The fiend had feared that Joe Cardona had uncovered the list. He had sent his victims out of town; but he, himself, had remained, playing a pitiful part to lure Cardona!

By learning that Cardona alone held the list, Gray Fist had been free to act. Snakes Blakey had been watching. He had posted mobsters. They had seized Cardona. Yet even had they failed, Gray Fist, as Landis Glascomb, could have proven his innocence of all wrongdoing. He would have appeared as the most unfortunate of all his own victims!

Wild thoughts ran through Cardona’s mind. His helplessness was the final one. The arch fiend stood free, proud of his villainy, so sure of his success that he made no further effort to conceal his identity.

Nothing could thwart Gray Fist now. Only vague hope seared through Joe Cardona’s brain. Then, the fantastic belief in some salvation ended as the detective heard the demand which Gray Fist made of Yat Soon.

“I have come,” sneered Gray Fist, “to hold you to your promise, Yat Soon. I have come for the prisoner you hold.”

“He is here,” came the Chinaman’s solemn reply.

A harsh chortle came from Gray Fist’s throat. This villain who was Landis Glascomb raised his right hand and clutched the air with a tightening gray-gloved hand.

“None can thwart me now!” he cried, for all the listeners to hear. “None! Gray Fist holds the master of them all! Gray Fist holds The Shadow!”