The Shadow's Shadow

CHAPTER XXV THE DEATH ORDER

“WELL, Milbrook, let’s see the diamonds.”

There was an impatient tone in Stanford Devaux’s voice. Shelton Milbrook had arrived later than expected. It was half past nine.

In reply to Devaux’s request, Shelton Milbrook looked about the room. He studied the entire arrangement. There were two doors; one leading to the hall; the other to a side room which also opened into the hall.

Stanford Devaux, his daughter, and Douglas Carleton were all here. In addition, Milbrook had brought a man of his own choosing — a private detective who was standing silently by.

“Monroe” — Milbrook spoke to the detective — “see that the door to the hall is locked.”

The detective, a short, light-haired fellow, obeyed. He announced that the door was locked. Milbrook ordered him to stand beside the door, and to cover the doorway to the adjoining room. Monroe drew a stubby revolver.

“These precautions are necessary,” declared Milbrook, in a businesslike tone. “Remember, please, that these diamonds are worth millions.”

Stanford Devaux seemed unimpressed. Douglas Carleton stared in hostile manner. Virginia Devaux was seated in a chair, leaning forward intently. Her eyes were bright as she watched Milbrook.

The diamond agent opened his coat and vest. This action revealed a pair of revolvers hanging beside his shoulders. He lifted the weapons and placed them on the table in front of him. Then his hands went to his back as he loosed a belt which stretched across his shirt front. This belt contained the wealth of uncut diamonds.

“Quite an arrangement,” remarked Douglas Carleton.

Milbrook glanced toward the speaker. He detected something in Carleton’s eyes that made him immediately suspicious. He freed the belt just as Carleton spoke again.

“Two million dollars?” questioned Carleton. “You mean to say that you have diamonds there of that value?”

“Yes,” replied Milbrook as he placed the belt upon the table and began to open it. As the gems came into view, Milbrook was still watching Carleton.

The knob of the door from the hall was turning. Milbrook did not see it; nor did Monroe. Some one had silently unlocked that barrier. Now the door was opening. A hand entered the room; the muzzle of a revolver pressed against Monroe’s ribs.

“Up with your hands!” commanded a voice.

MONROE wavered. Another hand struck the revolver from the detective’s grasp. Helpless, Monroe raised his arms. Every one in the room had instinctively performed the same action. Shelton Milbrook, hands above his head, was staring with hostile glance toward the men who had entered.

They were obviously gangsters — three of them. But the man who stood behind the others had a more impressive appearance. Across his face, he wore a black cloth mask. Only Douglas Carleton recognized the features below it.

Felix Zubian was the leader of these raiders.

The room became an unmoving tableau. The purpose of the invaders was apparent. Within a few minutes, the diamonds that Milbrook had brought here would be gone. That fact gripped Virginia Devaux as she glanced toward Shelton Milbrook. The girl was amazed to see that Milbrook no longer faced the invaders. Instead he was staring at the spot where Douglas Carleton stood.

The young clubman was smiling. To him, this climax was the culmination of a coveted desire. His argument with Milbrook had been the signal for Zubian’s entrance. All had worked to perfection.

To Shelton Milbrook, Carleton’s treachery was apparent. In his anger, Milbrook was eager to shout the truth that all might know it. Whatever Carleton’s alibi might be, it would be shattered forever by Milbrook’s denunciation.

“This is your work, you crook!” cried Milbrook defiantly. “You are in back of this; you will pay for it! I call you to witness, Devaux—”

Milbrook’s tirade ended as he saw the face of Stanford Devaux. The millionaire had adopted an indifferent attitude.

A sudden understanding came over Shelton Milbrook.

Douglas Carleton was leering fiendishly at the man whom he had betrayed. But when Carleton caught a glimpse of Virginia Devaux, he realized suddenly that the farce was going too far. The girl did not quite understand; but if Milbrook mouthed further denunciations, she would know all.

The time had come to put an end to the man he hated. Carleton swung his eyes away from Milbrook’s defiant gaze and glanced at Felix Zubian. A smile flickered beneath the black cloth mask.

The three gunmen were covering the room. One was pointing his revolver directly at Shelton Milbrook. It was to this gangster that Zubian spoke. He leaned forward and uttered a low command.

“Kill him,” he said coldly. “Kill the man by the table.”

The gangster grinned and nodded. He had come, expecting difficult work to-night. This was an easy task, the shooting of a helpless man. Shelton Milbrook, still glaring at Carleton, did not know the danger that threatened him.

“You — you dirty crook!” he cried. “You’re not the only one—”

He stopped, sensing the menace of the gangster’s gun. Staring along the barrel, Milbrook saw the finger that was quivering on the trigger. He knew that he was to be shot down helpless because he knew the truth.

Calmly, the finger of the gangster moved backward, drawing the trigger with a squeeze that insured perfect aim. The gun was aimed directly toward Milbrook’s heart.

A shot resounded through the room. With it came the crash of breaking glass. The entire pane of the window hurtled inward as a black-gloved hand discharged its automatic.

The gangster who was about to slag Milbrook never fired the fatal shot. Instead, he toppled forward, felled by a bullet loosed by an unseen hand.

A wild cry came from Douglas Carleton. He had recognized the figure that was coming through the window — a black-cloaked form before which the invading gangsters fell away.

“The Shadow!”

That was the name which burst from Carleton’s frenzied lips. Only The Shadow could have performed this daring deed! Only The Shadow could have discovered the plans of those who sought to thwart him!