The Black Master

CHAPTER XVII. DOCTOR ZERNDORFF IS AMAZED

A SMILE of satisfaction spread over the features of Doctor Heinrich Zerndorff as he read the evening newspaper. Clad in his dressing gown and reclining in his easy-chair, the great criminologist was enjoying the greatest triumph of his long career in behalf of justice.

The news that brought him such pleasure was the conviction of the five men implicated in the great New York explosions. The police had enmeshed these men in a web of evidence that was indisputable. All had been found guilty of murder, and had been sentenced to the electric chair.

Never had the wheels of justice moved so rapidly. The date of the executions had been set.

There had been little difficulty in convicting the three who had placed the bombs. The evidence was too strong against them. Witnesses, at first uncertain, had eventually given sworn testimony that was damning.

The men themselves had admitted their crimes, although they claimed that they had placed the bombs at the order of a superior who had not told them the work that they were doing. They disclaimed all knowledge of what the packages had contained. Such protests had made no effect upon the juries.

With Sforza and Pecherkin, the case had been different. They were radicals who had made threats against the government. They had known, and had dealt with, the three who planted the bombs.

But they disclaimed all connection with the tragedies, and their names were not mentioned directly by any of the three who were convicted for the placing of the bombs.

The fact was established, however, that both Sforza and Pecherkin had been seen in the vicinity of the house on the East Side where the three bomb-planters had gone for their instructions.

It was proven that Sforza and Pecherkin had known Vervick, the man who had made the bombs, although that finding was based chiefly upon their acquaintanceship when all had lived in Europe.

Sforza and Pecherkin were unfortunate enough to possess bad records. Popular antagonism had added to their plight. The absence of bomb killings since their imprisonment was unspoken testimony against them.

There had been a campaign of protest in their favor. An organization had been formed to appeal their case. Much had been written in their behalf but all pleas had failed. Their case was now beyond appeal.

The telephone rang while Doctor Zerndorff was still reading the final details of the convictions. Detective Joe Cardona was on the wire. The sound of his voice delighted Zerndorff.

"It is great work for you, yes!" he exclaimed. "Great work, Herr Detective! The evidence was good enough, yes! Ah, yes, I am pleased! The ways of these American laws are too difficult, yes! Those men were bad! I have known it all the time!

"These people who have had the doubt do not understand. They have never lived in Russia, nor in Italy. They have not seen, as I have seen. Ah, thank you, Herr Detective! It is to you the credit goes, yes, not to me! No. Gute nacht."

Doctor Zerndorff hung up the telephone and returned to his newspaper. His eye fell upon a paragraph on the front page. His forehead wrinkled. He recalled the name mentioned there.

The paragraph dealt with the affairs of the Banks estate. It referred to the millionaire who had murdered his valet and committed suicide, three weeks ago.

He remembered that Clifford Gage had spoken of a plot against Hubert Banks. He recollected the name of The Black Master. Clifford Gage had never returned. Had he met an unknown fate at the hand of some powerful foe?

"Perhaps," murmured Doctor Zerndorff thoughtfully, "we have not caught within the net all that we should have caught, yes? Some people have found fault, because they say Sforza and Pecherkin are fish that do not belong.

"Ah, those men should be within the net, yes. I have known them in the past. But I fear just this, that when the net was made, it should have done all its work, yes. One more could perhaps have been taken with it!"

He shook his head and laid the paper on the floor beside him. He closed his eyes and drowsed for a moment. Suddenly he became wide awake. He sat up straight and blinked. A man had entered the room and was sitting in a chair beside him.

It was Clifford Gage.

"How have you come in here?" Zerndorff demanded. Then his manner softened. "Ah, yes. Otto is not here. You have rung the doorbell, yes? I have not answered. I have been asleep!"

"The door was unlocked," said Gage quietly.

"I shall remember that," replied Doctor Zerndorff. "I shall tell Otto, yes. That should not be, when he is away!"

"It was important that I should see you," added Gage.

"You have seen the newspaper, yes?" inquired Zerndorff.

"I have," answered Gage.

"What do you think of it?"

"I believe that two innocent men have been sentenced to the electric chair."

"Two bad men, yes! Not two innocent men!"

"I do not believe they are guilty," returned Gage, in a firm tone. "There is one man responsible for all this! I have told you of him before. That man is The Black Master!"

"I believe what you have said about him," retorted Zerndorff, "but that does not change these two men, Sforza and Pecherkin. Perhaps it is that man called The Black Master who has made them do what they have done?"

"He is in back of it all!" declared Gage. "If I could find him — as I have hoped — I might prove his guilt and bring freedom to these other men. But so far, I have failed!"

"You must find him!" exclaimed Doctor Zerndorff. "You must find him, yes! If I am wrong about Sforza and Pecherkin, I shall say so — when I have the proof! But this man they call The Black Master. What has become of him?"

"I do not know," replied Gage frankly. "I can only tell you this. He has added to his list of crimes since I last saw you, yet I have been unable to find a single clue!"

"Why?"

"Because he is merciless. He destroys all his subordinates along with all his evidence!"

"He is stopping his crimes, then?"

"For the time. But he will begin again, Doctor Zerndorff!"

Gage picked up the newspaper. "You have seen this? An editorial, impeaching Sforza and Pecherkin. It says that their imprisonment has stopped explosions," Gage laughed mirthlessly.

"Stopped explosions! Yes! Until they have been executed! Then The Black Master will begin a new reign of terror!"

"You think so?" There was apprehension in Doctor Zerndorff's tone.

"I know it!" declared Gage emphatically. "Let me tell you of this man, Doctor Zerndorff.

"He sought the ruin of Hubert Banks. Four men were in his employ. After they had done his bidding, he destroyed three of them ruthlessly, murdering a score of innocent victims besides. Destroyed them by explosions that seemed designed for terror, yet which were really intended to cover up the murders of individuals! His bomb maker, Vervick, died in an explosion!

"The men he employed to place the bombs are sentenced to death! They are ignorant and blind. They have pictured him as a terrorist, fitting him in as he intended them to do, so that the crimes could be blamed upon Sforza and Pecherkin.

"One man escaped his toils — Perry Warfield. The Black Master employed Killer Bryan to get rid of him. Also Matthew Stokes.

"I have learned why that man died. He was doing private investigation for Hubert Banks. His work might have led to a discovery of The Black Master.

"It was Killer Bryan who was chosen to do away with Hubert Banks, after the millionaire had been driven insane by financial losses. But that was forestalled, thanks to you, Doctor Zerndorff. So — a new agent was employed — a man wanted by the police. His name was Howard Jennings.

"As valet to Hubert Banks, he worked within the man's home and did The Black Master's bidding, until Banks, virtually insane, killed Jennings and committed suicide.

"There again, we encounter the cunningness of The Black Master. Through his contriving, his own agent perished. Since then, he has worked entirely alone.

"In an effort to protect Hubert Banks, I sent a man named Harry Vincent to counteract the machinations of The Black Master. Vincent was lured to the den of this superfiend. There, in some hideous way, his mind was tortured.

"Vincent suspected danger and sent me a warning before he was captured. I arrived a few hours afterward. I found him in the midst of a deserted house, his mind in a daze.

"What had been a lair of The Black Master was nothing more than an empty building!"

Profound amazement was expressed on Doctor Zerndorff's countenance. His enthusiasm over the convictions of the bombers had been forgotten in the intense interest which had now gripped him.

He studied the face of Clifford Gage. The man showed unmistakable signs of weariness.

"What of this Vincent?" questioned Zerndorff. "He is still stunned, yes?"

"He is improving," replied Gage. "I have placed him in a private sanitarium. He will soon be well; but any reference to his terrible experience would shatter his nerves. He must not be questioned for months to come!"

"And this man you call The Black Master? Have you heard more of him, yes?" Zerndorff continued his questioning.

"I have not! That shows his cleverness. He is working entirely alone. I found one of his tokens beside the body of Howard Jennings. That proved my suspicions regarding the valet. Otherwise I am without a clue."

"He fears you, perhaps?"

"No," Gage answered. "He is waiting to begin again after his tools have gone to the electric chair.

"Still, I am working — with a single hope."

"What is that?" Zerndorff asked.

"That he shall make a move to trap me. I, too, am playing a lone hand now. It is because of his craftiness that I may succeed."

"How so?"

"He knows that I will go to any measure to defeat him at the earliest possible moment. I am the attacker. I must move. He can receive my attack when I am at a great disadvantage. That is one reason why I have come to you." Gage's tone was deeply earnest now.

"To me, yes?"

"To you, Doctor Zerndorff, because at any time, I may meet with unexpected danger that will result in death. Remember all that I have told you, because it will be your fight later on, if I meet with failure now!"

"There is one thing," declared Doctor Zerndorff thoughtfully, "that makes me feel so strongly that this man is active in these bombings. Perhaps it will be a clue, yes. I shall tell you."

There was a definite assurance in the criminologist's tone. Despite Gage's weariness, his eyes sparkled.

"It is about these bombs," continued Doctor Zerndorff. "I have not yet discovered what it is that has made them operate.

"It is not the fuse. It is not the timing. It is not the radio."

"You have constructed duplicate bombs?"

"Yes. But it is of no use. I thought that the radio was the method. I have found the wonderful radio operation for bombs, yes. But it is not the way. Not with the bomb that Vervick has made.

"There is something that is missing! Something which I cannot understand! It must be that there is some sensitive object, of an active agent, like radium, that has discharged those bombs!

"In my search, I have sought many places. I have found that special bits of delicate machinery were bought at certain places. They were ordered sent away.

"The police have investigated, but have learned nothing. They have been satisfied because they have found the extra pieces in the shop of this man Vervick. That has been all they have needed."

The German arose and went to a desk in the corner of the room. He brought out a folded sheet of paper and handed it to Gage.

"Here are the lists that I have made. Perhaps, through these, you may find the clue to The Master. It is probable that he has bought these things and has given them to Vervick. You think so?"

"It is highly probable, doctor!" Gage was enthusiastic. "This may be exactly what I need! After three weeks of hopeless effort, I am anxious to find any clue!"

Doctor Zerndorff bowed.

"Let me say one thing," he remarked. "You must be careful. Remember" — he tapped his forehead — "you are to fight against the brain. The man you seek is waiting. I should not like to see you lose your life. I can see the great dangers before you!"

"Dangers. Yes." Clifford Gage smiled wanly. "But there is one danger that I do not fear."

"What is that?"

"Bombings!" Clifford Gage arose and walked to the door. "I won't be blown up — that much is certain. Not for a while, at least. That work is ended — until these convicted men have been electrocuted.

"After that — well, doctor, I advise you to learn even more than you now know about bombs. You will need to know everything!"

With that, Clifford Gage was gone. The door closed behind him almost before Doctor Zerndorff realized it. The criminologist went to the window. He turned out the lamp beside him and stood staring into the street.

No one appeared there. A long, black shadow flitted beneath the glare of an electric light. Doctor Zerndorff's keen eyes sought to find a form beside it. But no one was visible.

Silently, mysteriously, Clifford Gage had vanished into the night. Once again he had assumed the unknown personality of the strange being called The Shadow.

Doctor Zerndorff remained beside the upstairs window. Staring and motionless, he waited while long minutes went by, until, at last, he heard a knock at the door of his room.

Otto entered.

"You have not seen anyone downstairs?" questioned Doctor Zerndorff.

"No, Herr Doktor," replied Otto.

Doctor Zerndorff shook his head.

"It is wonderful, yes," he muttered. "They call him The Shadow. He is the man that seems like he is of the night. He brings me the amazement!"