The Embassy Murders

CHAPTER XVI THE TRAP THAT FAILED

DARVIN ROCHELLE, most insidious of schemers, had laid a perfect death trap for Croydon Herkimer. Through it, the supercrook had dealt doom to a lesser exponent of evil. Herkimer had been willing to countenance death. His own demise was scarcely undeserved.

While Rochelle was still gloating over the crafty fashion in which he had disposed of the profiteer whom he no longer needed, another trap was awaiting a victim — elsewhere in Washington.

In the apartment on the third floor of Athena Court, Vic Marquette and Harry Vincent were lying in wait for Alvarez Menzone. Had Darvin Rochelle known this, his gloating would have turned to apprehension. Alvarez Menzone had become a most important cog in the criminal mechanism controlled by Rochelle.

Vic Marquette, swearing in Harry to service, had assumed full charge. Picking Menzone’s living room at the strategic point, Vic had posted Harry behind a table opposite the door. In turn, Vic had chosen a corner by a bookcase. Vic had provided Harry with a revolver. Waiting, the pair was ready to trap Menzone the moment that he might appear.

Through the hush of the room came Vic’s inquiring undertone — a question addressed to Harry Vincent:

“This Filipino of Menzone’s — can he make trouble?”

“No.” Harry’s whisper was reassuring. “Jose is always asleep. We have not disturbed him. We can handle him easily if we raise a commotion in capturing Menzone.”

“All right.” Vic seemed satisfied. “I’m going to cover this fellow Menzone the moment he walks in. You back me up — and be ready to handle Jose if he appears.”

“There’s a back door,” remarked Harry. “It leads to a hall by the fire tower. Jose could scramble that way; but he’ll have to come into the passage from his room.”

“Watch the passage then,” ordered Vic. “After we bag Menzone. We’re going to haul in the Filipino, too — even if he is stupid.”

MINUTES ticked by. Vic had raised a window to a space of several inches. He heard a sound from the street. He motioned to Harry.

“Sounds like a taxi,” warned Vic. “Maybe it’s Menzone coming home.”

“Listen for the automatic elevator,” whispered Harry.

A minute; then came the dull, mechanical sound of the elevator. Both Harry and Vic were timing it. Both were sure that the elevator had reached the third floor when it stopped.

Had Alvarez Menzone returned? Or had some other dweller on this floor come up by the elevator? No footsteps could be heard. The answer depended upon whether or not the click of a key would sound at the apartment door.

A full minute. Harry and Vic decided that Menzone had not arrived; nevertheless, they were tense. Some trifling delay might have caused the South American to pause outside the door of his apartment.

Then came the unexpected. Harry Vincent, startled by the sound of a fierce snarl, turned quickly toward the opening to the passage that led by Menzone’s study. Vic Marquette copied Harry’s example.

Both men were staring at a tall, sallow-faced intruder who had appeared from the passage. It was Alvarez Menzone!

In his hand, the South American held a stub-nosed revolver. From his position, he had Harry Vincent and Vic Marquette on an almost direct line. The gleaming grin on Menzone’s face; the fierce challenge that showed in his eyes — these were sufficient.

Helplessly, Harry Vincent and Vic Marquette dropped their revolvers and raised their hands. The trappers were trapped. Menzone’s sneaking arrival had caught them unaware. The South American had entered from a direction that Vincent and Marquette had not considered.

“Ah, senores.” Menzone’s velvet tones showed hidden venom. “You have been awaiting me? Very kind of you. I regret that I was unable to oblige you by entering through the door which you were watching.

“Sometimes, senores, one remembers a trifling mistake that may cause trouble. Tonight, I recalled a little book which I had left in my desk. What if someone should have found it!

“Ah, senores, that is why I decided to come in from the back door, after I had ascended in the elevator. I was wise, eh? I have found a traitor and an enemy.”

Menzone was moving into the living room as he spoke. An emphatic gesture of his gun hand brought understanding to Harry Vincent and Vic Marquette. With hands raised, the trapped trappers followed a beckoning motion. Menzone stepped aside and herded his prisoners toward the passage. Keeping them constantly covered with his revolver, he marched them into the study and forced them up against the wall.

Standing beyond the open door, Menzone uttered a sharp, hissing call for Jose. He repeated the cry. Its noise was penetrating. Menzone stepped into the study as Jose appeared. The Filipino entered, sleepily rubbing his eyes.

“Be ready, Jose,” ordered Menzone, in Spanish. “I shall need you.”

CALMLY keeping Harry and Vic covered, the South American seated himself at the desk. He called a number on the telephone. His eyes gleamed as he recognized the voice at the other end.

“Alt Mode,” announced Menzone. These words, Harry recalled, were letter symbols of the Agro alphabet. A. M. - evidently an initialed proclamation of Menzone’s identity.

“Boda co kye kye,” stated Menzone. “Rike… Ode alkro gomo… Fee… Teeba alk alk kye kye?… Sovo… Bole feer co kye kye…”

Harry was grasping the meaning as Menzone hung up the receiver. The South American had been talking to his chief. This was the import of his words:

“Two men. Here… At my house… Yes… Shall we question them?… Good… You will send men…”

Vic Marquette stared blankly. He had not examined the Agro code book closely enough to gain even a crude understanding of the phonetic language. Menzone smiled. With a bow, he explained:

“You are fortunate, senores,” he declared, in a sarcastic tone. “I have just talked with a man who is interested in your capture. He likes my suggestion that you be sent to him. He is making the necessary arrangements.

“You will have the pleasure, senores, of being present at a most important meeting that will be set for midnight. I shall be there — with many others. You will be questioned at that time. Perhaps, when persuaded, you will find it wise to talk.”

He turned and spoke to Jose. The Filipino went from the study. He returned, bringing two lengths of rope, which Harry remembered having seen about a large, old-fashioned trunk in Menzone’s bedroom.

Gripping Jose’s right hand with his own left, Menzone drew it to his gun hand; with a deft movement, he passed the short-barreled revolver to Jose without uncovering the prisoners.

While Jose held Harry and Vic at bay, Menzone went to each in turn. With rapid skill he trussed the prisoners and left them seated on the floor. He whisked handkerchiefs from a desk drawer and used them as gags.

Vic Marquette recalled the bound attache whom he had seen at the legation. He realized how cleverly the bonds had been applied to that man. He knew that Menzone was unquestionably the robber who had opened the ambassador’s vault.

“Guard them,” ordered Menzone, speaking in Spanish to Jose. “I shall leave the back door open. Men will come to take the prisoners. Remain here, Jose, until you hear from me. Be careful not to harm these prisoners. They will be needed later.”

Jose grunted his understanding. Alvarez Menzone turned and leered viciously as he faced Harry Vincent and Vic Marquette; then his suave smile returned. The shrewd South American bowed ironically and strolled from the study, leaving Jose in charge. Harry and Vic heard the front door close, announcing his departure.

Vic Marquette’s prediction was to be realized. Through an encounter with Alvarez Menzone, he and Harry Vincent were to meet the conspirator behind the schemes in which Menzone had played a single part. But they were not to meet that enemy as Vic had hoped. Helpless prisoners, they were to be carried to his domain!

Harry Vincent’s thoughts were bitter. If only he had been able to notify The Shadow. Harry did not know that The Shadow had been here. He did not realize that he and Vic Marquette had been left to prepare their trap for Alvarez Menzone.

Two against one: snarers in ambush! The odds — seemingly — had been with Harry and Vic, yet the waiting pair had failed.

How much had The Shadow banked on their success? That was a question. The fact remained that Alvarez Menzone was unconquered.

Darvin Rochelle’s lieutenant would keep the midnight meeting with his chief, despite the efforts of Harry Vincent and Vic Marquette. The two men upon whom The Shadow could most certainly rely had failed to ensnare Alvarez Menzone!