The Silent Death

CHAPTER VI. THE PROFESSOR PLANS

A SEDAN turned from a Long Island highway and entered a driveway toward a gloomy mansion. It kept on past the house, and its brilliant headlights shone upon an oddly shaped structure that resembled a gigantic cheese box. A grumbled order came from the man who sat beside the driver.

“Pull up over there, Ricordo.”

The tones were those of Professor Folcroft Urlich. Responding, Larry Ricordo brought the car to a stop beside the circular building. He followed Urlich when the professor stepped from the sedan.

The mammoth cheese box, tucked out of view behind the old mansion, puzzled Larry Ricordo as he approached it. The gang leader studied every feature of the odd structure. Although circular, it seemed to possess a pagoda style, on a flattened scale.

First, Urlich and Ricordo entered a sort of portico that ran entirely around the building, under a low, extending roof, which was supported by iron posts set at intervals. Ricordo noted that the floor of this peculiar ground-level porch was formed of metal plates.

Professor Urlich pressed a button beside a double door at the front of the building. A few moments later, the two doors swung inward. They closed after the men had entered.

The pair now stood within a second circular passageway that had walls on both sides. It was a gloomy corridor that appeared to run completely around the building.

A single door showed opposite the portal they had entered. The professor ignored it.

As they walked along this strange hall, Ricordo noted again that he was treading upon plates of metal.

They circled halfway around; then stopped at a door set in the inner wall.

Here Professor Urlich pressed another button. The metal door slid upward, revealing a circular staircase that led both up and down.

Urlich conducted his companion upward, through a huge cylinder that resembled a water standpipe.

When they came to the top, they emerged into a large circular room, the second story of this odd building.

“My laboratory,” remarked Professor Urlich.

LARRY RICORDO blinked as they headed for another stairway in the center of the room. He saw all sorts of strange devices: crucibles, huge tubes, bottles upon shelves, machines, and models of all descriptions. Two silent men, clad in white coats and aprons, were at work there.

The outer walls of this circular chamber were windowless; but the outer rim of the roof was designed with skylights, and Ricordo noted workbenches set near the wall, so that they could gain illumination from outside during daytime hours.

The gang leader’s inspection ended as Professor Urlich conducted him up the central spiral. They reached a hall above; here were doors on all sides. The professor opened one and brought Ricordo into a small room that was equipped like an office. It had a single window.

Glancing from this opening, Ricordo made out the shape of the building. The first floor was like a huge cylinder of large diameter, but of stunted height. The second was of less diameter, for it had no portico.

The third, where they were now located, was even smaller in diameter.

This allowed for the skylights in the laboratory and made the building take on its pagodalike shape. Like an Egyptian pyramid, this odd edifice was built in steps, but it was circular, not square.

Ricordo found himself wondering what might be on that first floor, with the circular passage which they had followed. He asked no questions, however. Professor Urlich was speaking, and Ricordo turned away from the window to face the scientist.

“Tonight,” said the professor, “we encountered temporary defeat. When we saw police detectives enter Alfred Sartain’s studio, we knew that there was no further hope. That is why I told Thomas Jocelyn to go to his residence; it is also why I brought you here, Ricordo. It was not wise to remain in that office across the street.”

“You’re right it wasn’t,” returned Ricordo. “Not with The Shadow on the job. I’m worried yet, professor.”

Urlich indicated a telephone.

“Communicate with Slips Harbeck,” he ordered. “Call the number in the usual fashion. This telephone, Ricordo, is arranged on a special wire. It cannot be traced. It has the number of a telephone in a deserted house miles from here.”

Ricordo grinned and picked up the telephone. He called a Manhattan number, the underworld spot where Slips Harbeck made his headquarters. Professor Urlich went out of the room while the gang leader talked with his lieutenant. When he returned, he glanced inquiringly at Ricordo.

“THE SHADOW queered the job all right,” stated Larry. “He nailed those two gorillas in Sartain’s studio. He nicked the other pair, and he almost got Slips. The only reason they made a get-away was because Brooks put up a fight.

“Slips had a guy watching the apartment house. He says The Shadow got Brooks in the finish. The cops brought out the body.”

A quizzical frown appeared upon Professor Urlich’s forehead. The evil-faced scientist studied his ganglord aid. He put forth a question that startled Larry Ricordo.

“Tell me,” demanded Urlich, “who is this whom you call The Shadow? The one whom we saw tonight. Let me know all that you have learned concerning him.”

“The Shadow?” Ricordo’s question was tinged with awe. “Say, professor, I spilled a lot about him back there in the office — until you told me to let the matter rest until later.”

“You were excited then,” interposed Urlich. “At present, we are quiet. You can speak with calmness. What is The Shadow? Is he a gang leader, like yourself — or is he a detective?”

“No one knows what he is,” confessed Ricordo. “That bird must have a racket all his own. He crowds in on any good lay that he hears about, and puts the kibosh on it. He’s not hooked up with the bulls; he’s not a crook.”

“You mean,” quizzed Urlich, “that he is a roving personage of the underworld, seeking adventure through encounters with dangerous criminals?”

“That’s about it,” admitted Ricordo. “There’s plenty of big shots that have missed out when they met The Shadow. Plenty have checked out, too. He plays a cute game, professor. Lays back and lets a good lay get all set; then steps into it himself.”

“Remarkable,” observed the scientist. “I have heard of this person, but I preferred to regard him as a myth. However, after tonight—”

“Tonight!” ejaculated the gang leader. “Say, professor, you don’t realize what we saw tonight. We saw The Shadow at work! Get that? Saw him, and got away with it!”

“Is that unusual?”

“Is it unusual? Listen, professor, it’s lucky for us we were tucked out of sight across the street. You saw what he did to those two gorillas, didn’t you? Well, we’d have taken it, too, if he’d known we were around!”

“Do you think so?” Professor Urlich’s tone was ironical. “Well, Ricordo, I believe you are wrong. The Shadow — as you term him — is unquestionably a dangerous foe. I observed that fact tonight.

“At the same time, it is quite obvious that he utilizes the inferior methods that you employ: open attack, with apparent violence.

“Such cannot compare with the ways at my disposal. Silent death — subtle death — those are more dangerous than ordinary weapons. You saw my method this evening. It failed; but that was not Alfred Sartain’s doing. The intervention of The Shadow was the unknown factor that I had not anticipated.”

“Maybe not,” objected Ricordo, in a bitter tone, “but, just the same, The Shadow queered the works. What are we going to do about it? Old Jocelyn has lost out on his big deal, hasn’t he?”

“Jocelyn will not suffer,” returned Urlich calmly. “His holdings are sound. Perhaps he will lose something on them. That will not matter. He will regain the loss later on. Alfred Sartain was but one of those who are upon our list.”

“Now you’re getting there,” grinned Ricordo. “We’re going right ahead, eh? Well, we’re all right — providing The Shadow doesn’t muscle in again.”

“I am glad to hear you consider that possibility,” cackled Urlich. “It has much to do with the plans that I now contemplate. We are going to forget Thomas Jocelyn for the present. We will give him time to recuperate; both nervously and financially. In the meantime, we will render the future certain.”

“How?”

“By eliminating The Shadow!”

LARRY RICORDO spread his puffy lips as he heard the professor’s words. His expression was one of astonishment. Then the open mouth formed a broad, doubting grin.

“You won’t be able to do it, professor,” declared the gang leader, with regret in his tone. “How can you fight a man you can’t find? They’ve tried to get The Shadow before. He’s stopped every one that’s chanced it.

“When the big shots found that The Shadow was real, they framed every way they could think of. They even planted a bunch of gorillas around the radio studio where he broadcast. They never found him there.

“When he shows up any place, it’s like he did tonight — through a skylight — out of the air — from the middle of a mob—”

“They lacked technique,” interrupted Urlich impatiently. “I am different from those of whom you speak. I not only possess incredible methods of dealing with my enemies; I am also analytical. It is not necessary to find The Shadow. There is a simpler way.”

“What’s that?”

“Let him try to find us.”

“How?”

Professor Urlich smiled. He shook his head as he studied Larry Ricordo. The gang leader’s bewilderment was proof that his ability lay with guns and not with strategy.

“There is a cause for everything,” observed Urlich. “We must, therefore, seek the cause of The Shadow’s appearance tonight. In some fashion, The Shadow learned that Alfred Sartain’s life was in danger. How did he gain cognizance of that fact?”

“I can’t guess,” returned Ricordo. “Only The Shadow knows.”

“He did not learn of it through observing you, myself, or Jocelyn,” continued Urlich. “If he suspected any one of us, he would have struck in our direction before tonight.”

Larry Ricordo tightened his fists as he heard this theory. The gang leader did not relish the thought of being tracked by The Shadow.

“Had he suspected Duster Brooks,” analyzed Urlich, “The Shadow could easily have counteracted Duster’s activities as Sartain’s butler. This, therefore, eliminated all possibilities but one.”

“Slips Harbeck?”

“Exactly. Your unwarranted efforts to cover Sartain were the element which led to the failure of my perfectly-planned scheme.”

“Slips wouldn’t have let anything out,” objected Ricordo. “I just talked to him by telephone and he’s a wise bimbo. I can’t figure that, professor.”

“You lack analysis, Ricordo. Slips Harbeck, at your order, assembled a squad of gangsters. I assume that all of them were reliable men. However, your lieutenant must necessarily have done some talking in order to obtain his underlings.

“You speak of The Shadow as a constant deterring factor in the underworld. It is quite obvious that he learned of Harbeck’s activities, and promptly covered your lieutenant.”

“That would be The Shadow’s way!” blurted Larry Ricordo. “You’ve hit it, professor! Maybe he didn’t get onto Slips at first; he might have spotted one of the gorillas getting ready for a job.”

“Two men,” stated Urlich, “alone knew of your connection. One was Duster Brooks — now dead. The other is Slips Harbeck — still alive. I need you, Ricordo, and I need the services of your men. I intend to employ them in the trapping of this man you call The Shadow.

“There is a limit to the amount that any person can know. At present, The Shadow knows that Slips Harbeck is engaged in unusual crime. If we use some one in place of Slips, The Shadow may be clever enough to cover your new lieutenant. Slips is capable; we do not want another.”

“You’re getting me twisted,” inserted Larry Ricordo. “I can’t quite figure it, professor.”

“Wait until I have finished,” remarked Urlich. “We have one purpose at present: to end the career of The Shadow. Our way, then, will be clear. The Shadow, on the contrary, is seeking to prevent death. He succeeded by covering Slips Harbeck; therefore, he will continue to cover Slips.”

“And then—”

“He will seek to destroy any plot in which Slips is concerned. Therefore, I will plan an apparent trap — like the one I had for Alfred Sartain — which The Shadow will investigate.”

“Getting wise to it by watching Slips?”

“Exactly. But on this occasion, the trap will be set for The Shadow himself!”

A GLOATING grin appeared upon Larry Ricordo’s evil face. He saw the purpose now. Once again, Slips Harbeck would be summoned by his ganglord chief. But this time, Slips would be a cat’s-paw, the agent who would lead The Shadow into one of Professor Folcroft Urlich’s subtle snares!

“But if The Shadow is covering Slips,” said Ricordo, voicing a momentary doubt, “he’s liable to bump off Slips at any time—”

“Not a bit of it,” interposed Urlich. “He knows by now that Slips is merely a tool in the game. Why should he end the link that may lead him to those higher up?”

“To you and me,” growled Ricordo, in a troubled tone.

“To you, first,” stated Urlich. “But have no fear on that score. You have kept out of sight very effectively, Ricordo. You will continue to do so in even better fashion. You will remain with me. You will be safe here.

“Even if Slips Harbeck should reveal your name, it would prove to our advantage. I would like nothing better” — the scientist’s venomous smile proved his words — “than to have The Shadow visit me here. That, however, should prove unnecessary.

“Your first duty is to give Slips Harbeck instructions by telephone. Tell him to wait frequently at the place where he hears from you. Within a few days, the time will be ripe. You will be forced to leave here long enough to plant the trap; but no one will be the wiser, for you will do that work alone.

“Slips Harbeck knows nothing of Jocelyn. We need not fear that link. Furthermore, Jocelyn’s valet, Grewson, is secretly in our employ; and we can question him regularly regarding matters there.”

“If Slips is being watched by The Shadow,” declared Ricordo, “we might take a long shot and let Slips try to get him with a mob—”

“No,” stated Urlich decisively. “That shows your error, Ricordo. You lack tactical experience. Such action would not only reveal our purpose; it would also be futile. We can be sure that when The Shadow covers Slips Harbeck, he is prepared for emergency. Furthermore, we have no proof that The Shadow, himself, is the one who is observing Slips.”

“That’s a good point,” admitted Ricordo. “I’ve heard it noised about that The Shadow has some smart guys working for him. If one of his stool pigeons is on the job, we’d be wasting our time. You’ve got the right idea, sure enough. We’ve got to put a smooth one across on The Shadow, using Slips to do it.”

Professor Folcroft Urlich smiled and nodded as the gang leader voiced this final approval of the plan. He watched Ricordo’s face. He saw a perplexed expression come upon the hardened features. Calmly, he voiced the question that was in Ricordo’s mind.

“You are wondering,” said Urlich, “what method I intend to use to eliminate The Shadow.”

“I was thinking that,” admitted Ricordo.

“I shall show you,” smiled the professor. “Come with me, to the laboratory. After that, you can communicate with Slips Harbeck.”

The professor led the way down the spiral staircase. Larry Ricordo followed, still wondering.

Bewilderment was within the gang leader’s brain. Tonight, he had seen The Shadow act. Now, he was to see plans prepared for The Shadow’s doom!

Silent death! How did Professor Urlich intend to loose it now? Larry Ricordo wondered; and through his evil mind ran the thought that at last The Shadow would encounter a superman who would prove his equal!