The Silver Scourge

CHAPTER XIV THE GIVEAWAY

EARLY the next evening, Detective Donald Cady dined in a little lunch wagon located in the settlement near Foulkrod Kendall’s factory. The sleuth chatted with the man behind the counter, and also talked with a man who was seated on another stool.

Browsing around in this vicinity was part of Cady’s duty. There was nothing surprising in the occurrence. When trouble started at the settlement, the New Avalon police were always summoned by Kendall’s private officers. Hence, Cady had made it a practice to check up on conditions at regular intervals.

Tonight, Cady was playing a careful game. The detective felt a keen sense of responsibility, since he had agreed to work in behalf of Vic Marquette. His stroll about the settlement had been carefully planned. His inquiries had been neatly worded. The upshot had been satisfactory results.

Cady had learned that two new night workers were living in a little cottage on the outskirts of the settlement. No one seemed to know much about these men. It was supposed that they went on duty after eight o’clock. Hence Cady, as he finished his repast, was planning to watch that cottage.

When the detective left the little lunch wagon, he glanced cautiously about him to make sure that no one was observing his actions. He started on a circuitous course that would bring him to the cottage. As the sleuth walked along, another figure followed. Cady knew nothing of the presence that was close behind him.

Small wonder! The fitting figure that took up the detective’s trail was a veritable phantom of the darkness. When Cady passed lights, his own form was visible, but the ghostly shape behind him gave no other token than a splotch of blackness that appeared as a lengthened silhouette upon the ground. The Shadow, silent and invisible, had picked up the detective’s trail.

The Shadow’s plan was a wise one. He had let Cady investigate by day; now, after nightfall, he, too, was interested in matters hereabout. That Donald Cady had learned something was evident. Soon, The Shadow, too, would know as much — if not more.

THERE were dry bushes near the isolated cottage. Cady crouched in the brush and waited. He could see a light glimmering in one window — a glare that was dimmed by a drawn shade.

As Cady stared, a cloud seemed to pass across that square of illumination. The detective could not understand the phenomenon. He gazed steadily until it disappeared.

Cady had seen The Shadow — but he had not recognized the master of the night as a living being.

While Cady waited, The Shadow had approached the cottage, to make his own observations. Lifting sash and raising shade an inch, he had spied two men within — Cyrus Barbier and Tony Cumo. The pair of rogues were about to leave for the silverware factory.

Cady, too, learned of this a few minutes later. The cottage light went out. Two vague forms appeared against the whiteness of the porch. The men were following an accustomed path.

Cady took up the trail.

The sleuth was a capable worker. Neither Barbier nor Cumo sensed that a man was following. Cady also was in ignorance that some one was on his trail. Like a haunting specter, The Shadow followed close behind the detective.

The two men reached an obscure spot at the side of the factory. Cady heard their mumbling talk as they unlocked a little door.

It was here that the detective played a game that was both daring and successful. Slipping through the dark, he arrived at the door just as the men entered and let it come shut on a spring.

Cady’s hands were gloved. The detective let his fingers serve as a door stop. The ruse was painful, but it kept the door from closing tightly.

The Shadow saw this from the dark. Less than a dozen feet away, he observed the detective’s hand against the edge of the dim door. He watched Cady enter.

When the door closed again, The Shadow stopped it more efficiently than had the detective.

Following the trail of the men ahead, Cady was surprised to find himself in the dimness of a large private office. He passed into a corridor, caught a glimpse of Barbier and Cumo, and kept onward until he saw the men disappear through a heavy door in an obscure corner of the factory building.

Here, Cady lingered. He could not pass this door; he was sure, however, that something important lay beyond. Minutes went by while Cady laid his ear against the door.

Suddenly, the detective raised his head. He had heard no sound, but he had felt the vibration of what he thought must be machinery!

Could these men be the counterfeiters? Had they deliberately installed themselves in an unused portion of Foulkrod Kendall’s plant? Cady stepped away from the door, and hurried back to the private office. He tried the telephone, found that it was connected, and called the New Avalon Hotel.

THE SHADOW, all this while, had shaded Cady with amazing skill. Not once had the black-garbed form appeared in complete view. A splotch of black upon the floor — a strange silhouette against the wall — a solid shape that seemed a part of ordinary darkness — such were the manifestations of The Shadow’s presence.

Concealed in the gloom of Foulkrod Kendall’s private office, The Shadow heard Cady inquiring over the telephone for Mr. Marquette. He was evidently informed that the man was out, but would soon return. In a low voice, Cady gave instructions for Marquette to await his arrival.

The sleuth seemed pleased when he had completed the call. Evidently, Cady did not like the atmosphere of this office because of the possibilities that he might be discovered. He stole away toward the outer door. When the detective had disappeared, the atmosphere of the room seemed to fill with a sinister shudder.

The silent laugh of The Shadow! The master of darkness knew where Donald Cady had gone. The sleuth had left a car not far from the factory; now he was on his way to visit with Vic Marquette.

That was to The Shadow’s liking. The black-garbed phantom knew well that Marquette would not act with haste. No one would be molested here tonight.

The pending interview between Cady and Marquette was not important to The Shadow. The master had other work to perform. Vincent had discovered Marquette; Marquette had called on Cady; Cady had found two potential men of crime. The Shadow intended to learn more.

Quickly, though silently, The Shadow moved toward that obscure corner of the plant where Cyrus Barbier and Tony Cumo had gone.

The soundproof door was a formidable obstacle. It had two massive locks, but these were no barriers to The Shadow. The click of steel was audible as the black-gloved hand pressed a thin, pointed implement against the lock. Less than a minute later, the first bar was opened.

With the same precision, The Shadow picked the second lock. The door moved slowly open. Sharp eyes saw another barrier. The Shadow advanced.

Here was another lock. The Shadow handled it silently, although his ears told him that the men within could not hear him at work. The dull rumble of machinery was apparent from the outside of this second door.

The inner barrier opened inch by inch. The Shadow’s eye spied through a tiny crevice.

Barbier and Cumo were in sight. Goggled, the old man was watching the machine. Tony Cumo was bringing up a new supply of silver for the stamping process.

Glittering disks were bouncing in a silvery flood. The sight of the white metal was enough. The door closed and locked. The Shadow’s laugh was low, yet unrepressed.

He had discovered the lair of the counterfeiters. The Shadow knew the game in which Foulkrod Kendall and Silk Elverton were engaged together as partners!

Swiftly, The Shadow departed, past the outer barrier, through Kendall’s private office, out from the factory. His gliding form swung through the darkness, along the road, to a secluded spot where a trim coupe was parked off the side of the highway.

A gibing laugh resounded through the night.

The Shadow’s taunt was well timed. He had uncovered the tools of crime; he had not disturbed them in their work. His course was taking him to the home of Foulkrod Kendall.

From now on, this millionaire plotter would be The Shadow’s quarry. The mansion was the home of crime.

In that surmise, The Shadow was correct. An unexpected turn of circumstances was developing new consequences.

Before this evening ended, the hand of crime was destined to reveal itself!