Mox

CHAPTER XIX CARDONA’S PLAN

JOE CARDONA stayed at the Darport Inn that night. So did Joe Neswick, Cuthbert Challick, and Clyde Burke. The four were to testify at the coroner’s inquests the next day.

They formed a friendly group, these four: two inventors, a reporter, and a detective. All the while, Joe Cardona maintained his thoughts. His plan was formulating hour by hour.

When the inquests ended the next day, and the four men returned to the inn to pack up, the time had come for Cardona to begin his action.

There was a subtle message which Cardona intended to convey. Because of the friendship which he had formed with his three companions, he decided to confide with them in a group. At the inn, he found Challick in the lobby, and signaled the inventor to come with him. In an upstairs room, he discovered Neswick packing. Clyde Burke was there, chatting with the second inventor.

Cardona closed the door. He made a dramatic gesture, and his companions turned in his direction. Neswick stopped packing. Cardona began to talk.

“What I’ve got to say is confidential,” he declared. “That applies to you in particular, Burke. I know you well enough. You’re too smart a reporter to kill a story before it breaks.”

“Spill it, Joe,” suggested Clyde.

“I am convinced,” declared Cardona firmly, “that Hoyt Wyngarth was not Mox.”

Looks of surprise came from the other men.

“Who do you suspect, Joe?” quizzed Clyde. “Irving Salbrook?”

“No.” Cardona shook his head. “I’m not naming anybody. I’ve just got a general sort of hunch that’s all. Do you want to hear it?”

“Sure thing.”

“First of all,” asserted Cardona, “Mox had his agent, Schuyler Harlew. He was the fellow who kidded you, Neswick, and you, Challick. Mox had a bunch of henchmen, too, a regular mob, in that old house of his. One of the crew was this mug Sulu.

“I think Mox killed Peter Greerson and others, too. Anyway, there was some hook-up between him and both Wyngarth and Salbrook — enough to let him heave the blame on one or the other of them when the crash came. That’s just what he did — lay in on Wyngarth, by means of that note that Junius Tharbel showed us.”

“But what about the note you got?” queried Burke.

“Somebody planted it in my pocket,” announced Cardona. “Somebody must have seen Tharbel’s note, and copied it. There’s a mysterious figure in this game — a fighter that’s out to get Mox. He’s the one who rescued you, Neswick. He brought Salbrook into the picture just to kill Mox’s plot against Wyngarth.

“I’ll tell you what Mox did. He had Sulu bump off Wyngarth. He had the dwarf ready on the job for just what happened. He was hoping that the case could be closed by Wyngarth’s death. It was.”

“Why don’t you quiz Salbrook?” suggested Burke.

“Because Mox would try to get him if I did,” returned Cardona. “If Salbrook goes free and keeps mum, he’ll be all right. It’s a lucky break for him, the way things have turned out.”

“But if Mox came after Irving Salbrook—”

“I know; I could be there to try and save him. But I didn’t save Wyngarth, did I? You weren’t even able to do that, Challick” — Cardona spoke approvingly — “although you made a great attempt to do so when you spotted Sulu in the tree.

“No, sir. This time, Mox would try the job himself. Even in New York, Salbrook wouldn’t be safe. He wouldn’t talk in New York; he wouldn’t have to. We’ve got no charge against him there, outside of some petty racketeering.

“But I’ve figured a way to make Salbrook talk. That’s to meet Mox myself. Maybe I won’t be alone. Maybe The — the hidden player will be in the game, too. But here’s how I’m going to work it. The State police have left that old house.”

“I see,” observed Challick, with a slight smile. “You believe in the old theory of a murderer returning to the scene of his crime.”

“Bunk, as a rule,” returned Cardona. “But not if the murderer knows that there’s chance for another murder waiting him!”

Eyebrows raised. Cardona’s scheme was just beginning to make itself apparent. The detective continued.

“Mox murdered at midnight,” he declared. “I’ll bet the fox still can get in and out of that house without being seen. So I’m going over there tonight. Going alone, understand. You two will be out of town” — he nodded toward Neswick and then Challick — “and you’ll stay out of the thing, Burke. Understand?”

“All right, Joe. I’ll keep away from the old house.”

“When I get there,” resumed Cardona, “I’ll meet Mox. I’ll get him; he won’t get me. We’ll find out who Mox is, after I’m through with him.”

“But how,” questioned Challick thoughtfully, “can you give Mox the idea that you’ll be there?”

“Leave that to me,” laughed Cardona. “He’ll find out quick enough, if he’s anywhere around. I’ve spoken in confidence. Don’t say anything to any one. There’s only one other whom I intend to see about this matter.”

“Junius Tharbel?” questioned Clyde Burke.

“Yes,” replied Cardona. “I’ll speak to him when he shows up from the hunting lodge. He’s due in this evening. I’ll get his permission to visit the old house. Just a matter of formality, you know. Courtesy.”

“Suppose he refuses?”

“He won’t.”

“Maybe he’ll want to go with you.”

“Not a chance. He’ll laugh at me. But I’ll have the last laugh before I’m through.”

“Cardona,” said Neswick seriously, “I’m going out on the next train. I’ll have to hurry to make it. I’m glad you told me about this. Do you actually know who Mox is?”

“I ought to know,” returned Cardona wisely. “I’m a detective. Sometimes very obvious things escape notice. Some detectives are not logical. Take Tharbel, for instance. He figured the dog test was great stuff at first; afterward, he said it was only good when it worked with Hoyt Wyngarth.”

Clyde Burke’s lips parted. The reporter restrained the words that he was about to utter. Instead, he turned to both Neswick and Challick.

“Cardona is a keen fellow,” he explained, “and he has tact. I see his point. It doesn’t do to throw accusations — particularly when they involve a person of importance. We’ll let the matter rest for a while. Wait until he meets Mox.”

Neswick nodded and went back to his packing. Challick strolled from the room. He spoke to Cardona after he had passed the door.

“I expect to take the evening train,” he said. “We can dine together — you and I and Burke.”

“All right,” agreed Cardona, “but mum will be the word from now on.”

“Absolutely.”

NESWICK took his early train. Challick and Burke joined Cardona at dinner. Afterward, the inventor went up to pack. Burke offered to drive him to the station in the coupe. Challick thanked him, but said that he had already summoned a cab.

After Challick’s departure, Cardona said that he intended to call on Tharbel. Burke offered to drive him there. This invitation was accepted. They reached Tharbel’s house, and went in to see the county detective.

Tharbel seemed rather surprised to see the visitors. His hatchet face hardened. Nevertheless, he assumed a friendly attitude.

“Thought that you fellows would be gone,” he said, “now that this Mox business is ended.”

“It’s not ended,” returned Cardona seriously. “I believe that we’ve missed an important bet. The old house.”

“It’s been searched from top to bottom!” exclaimed Tharbel. “You saw the secret rooms that we uncovered. This is a ridiculous idea, Cardona.”

“The house is unguarded now,” affirmed Cardona. “I want to be there at midnight.”

“You don’t believe that Wyngarth was Mox?”

“I’m not saying that,” returned Cardona, wisely appeasing Tharbel’s wrath. “I just figured that there may be something we don’t know about. Maybe the answer can be found at midnight — when the place is empty.”

“You’re crazy,” decided Tharbel.

“Maybe,” said Cardona calmly. “Just the same, I’d like to go there. I’m here to ask your permission to do so.”

“Is that all? Go right ahead. Maybe you’ll find some spooks in the place. Take a look upstairs. Go through the place all you want.”

“Thanks,” said Cardona, rising. “How was the hunting?”

“Punk,” growled Tharbel. “Fatty Harman wants me to come back again tomorrow, but I guess I’ve had enough. Wade Hosth pulled out this afternoon, too. Say — just a minute. Are you taking Burke along with you tonight?”

“No.”

“All right, then. You can go to the place, as a police officer. The risk is yours. But I don’t want any reporters or others around the place. The State troopers might just happen to drop in for a final inspection. Your badge will make it all right for you, but the State police are strict, and it might mean trouble for any one else.”

Joe Cardona and Clyde Burke departed. The reporter was thoughtful as they rode back to the inn. He had called Burbank before dinner. He had received instructions to be on hand at the inn. Clyde wanted to be alone in case of another call.

“Think I’ll nap to midnight,” remarked Cardona. It was just the break that Clyde Burke wanted. “I’ve got an alarm clock, and I’ll set it for quarter of twelve. I’ll walk to the old house, Burke. Remember — you’re out of this.”

“I’m not going there,” Clyde assured the detective. “I’ll be turning in by nine o’clock myself.”

It was nine when the two reached the Darport Inn. They parted, and each man went to his room. The two were located on the third floor.

Joe Cardona smiled as he set his alarm clock for quarter of twelve. He placed the clock beside the bed, and lay down to think. He was ready for tonight’s adventure.

For Joe Cardona’s hunch was working to perfection. He was positive that he knew how matters lay. His conversations, first with Burke and the inventors; second, with Junius Tharbel had been delivered with a subtle purpose.

Joe Cardona knew that his intentions for tonight had certainly reached two persons. One was The Shadow. The other was Mox. Joe had arranged his actions so that both would know; and he was sure that he had succeeded.

At midnight, Cardona reflected, he would keep an unscheduled appointment with the murderer, Mox. When the fatal hour struck, The Shadow would be there!