The Shadow - The Black Master Part 5

Cardona pulled a copy of the morning newspaper from his pocket and spread it before Doctor Zerndorff.

Great headlines told of the roundup of the bombers. Police, aided by government agents, had delved to the depths of the mysterious explosions.

"Tell me about it," said Zerndorff quietly. "I should rather hear than read of it."

"Well, you had the right dope, professor," said Cardona. "But we got a great break last night. You remember, I had a clue on the bombing at Grand Central Station? Big packages had been delivered there.

"Well, the bomb went in; it was in a box, and we found out who delivered it. An Italian named Bonzetti, on the East Side. He was working on the truck that delivered cigars.

"He would have got away with it, but there was a mix-up on a couple of big packages. The one intended for the Grand Central cigar store came back to the factory. He didn't know it.

"One of my men pinched him on suspicion yesterday evening. We gave him the third degree last night. He told us plenty."

"Just how much did he tell you?"

"Well, he admitted taking in the package, and after that it was easier. We made him spill some information we wanted and we landed two others of his kind - an Italian named Arno, and a Russian who calls himself Nick Michaels. His right name is Maklakov."

"Ah!" exclaimed Zerndorff. "He is linked with Pecherkin, yes?"

"Exactly! We grilled him and he came through with that information.

"We've got evidence now! More than that, we've pinched Sforza and Pecherkin - or Peterson, as he insists on calling himself."

"Have they talked?"

"Not yet."

"They would have - if they were in Italy or in Russia. It is too easy here." Doctor Zerndorff's face took on a sudden sternness. "But it will not be difficult! How is the evidence which you have found?"

"Well, we've got it on Bonzetti, right enough. He appears to have framed the whole thing. But he only planted one bomb.

"We figure that Arno placed the one in Wall Street. He looked a lot like a fellow who was seen downthere early yesterday morning. He's shifty when he talks, but we're getting it out of him.

"We've also got him tied up with the bomb at Columbus Circle, and the one in the office in the Financial Building. He must have had keys to the office of Barr Childs. Where he got them, we don't know.

"But here's the Nick Michaels angle. He was seen around the Cla.s.sic yesterday afternoon. We've been getting a real line on him.

"How do you think that bomb went up to Raynor's office?"

"How?"

"In a package of newspapers!

"Raynor had two hundred of each edition brought up to him each day when big stories were breaking.

We figure that Michaels planted a phony stack of newspapers, with the bomb in them. Then he ditched the regular stack. They were so busy around there that they thought he was just one of the workmen, didn't pay any attention to him.

"You see, the fellow that took up the stack to Raynor's office remembers this guy Michaels watching him.

We pinched Michaels last of all. We had a hunch that he had planted the Cla.s.sic bomb, because we had been accounting for the others.

"We rounded up the heads of different departments at the Cla.s.sic and got the right guy to identify Michaels."

"That is very good!" declared Doctor Zerndorff. "But tell me this. Have you found any word that brings in these two men who are the ones behind it. These men - Sforza and Pecherkin?"

"No, we haven't," returned Cardona uneasily. "That's the big trouble. We've linked Michaels with them.

Very strongly. We're getting evidence to tie up Bonzetti and Arno.

"But we can't get an admission from any of the three that Sforza and Pecherkin had anything to do with it!"

"How do those three defend themselves? You say they have admitted what they have done, yes?"

"Yes and no. Bonzetti says he delivered cigars. He admits he took in the wrong package. He said he was told to do so.

"Arno admits being around Wall Street, Columbus Circle, and the Financial Building, but he doesn't remember anything he did there.

"Michaels admits he was at the Cla.s.sic office. Says he was looking for a job. He asked for one - that's certain."

"Did you ask them who sent them there?"

"Yes. That's the strange part about it, professor. They say that someone ordered them - but they do not know who it was!

"They declare that neither Sforza nor Pecherkin gave them orders. Bonzetti - he's weakened most because we've had him longest - he let something slip, the word maestro, which means master.

"We've quizzed all of them along that line, and it looks like we may get somewhere with it. Either one oftwo things is certain - they are pulling a wonderful stall to save Sforza and Pecherkin, or else there is some mystery man mixed up in it - someone they don't know, but someone whom they obey!"

"That seems what you may call foolish!"

"I don't know about that, professor."

"What!" Doctor Zerndorff's voice indicated great surprise. "You would believe that there is one that they would call as master - one person that they would not know, and yet would do as he would say?"

Cardona paced back and forth across the room. He rubbed his chin speculatively, as though seeking a reply to Doctor Zerndorff's question. Then he turned and looked directly at the criminologist.

"I have heard of something as strange as that!" he said. "Yes, professor, right here in New York!

"You and I think in very practical terms. You have dealt with bombers - with men that hide and work like snakes in the gra.s.s. I have dealt with gunmen, who shoot in the open - anywhere.

"But I have encountered a man who is a master! No one knows who he is. Yet I have seen gangsters who have become like frightened children at the mere mention of his name!"

"Ah!" exclaimed Doctor Zerndorff. "And who is this so wonderful person?"

"They call him The Shadow!"

"The Shadow?"

"Yes!"

"What does he do? Is he one criminal like the rest? Could it be that he is the one of which they may speak?"

"No," said Cardona thoughtfully. "He is not a criminal - nor is he a detective. That is, so far as I know.

He may be one or the other. In fact, you can't really tell what he may be.

"He strikes in the dark. He has his agents, but we have never discovered them. He has been at war with crooks, and at certain times, they have fallen into our hands through his efforts. At the same time, he will not hesitate to battle with police and detectives if they interfere with his plan!"

"Why is he called 'The Shadow?'"

"Because that is what he is - The Shadow! He moves in the dark. He disappears like a will-o'-the-wisp.

His voice has been heard - over the radio. He has broadcast once a week over a national hookup."

"And yet you do not know what man he is?"

"How could we tell? We have wanted him at times; but have always found that we have been mistaken.

We have never been able to identify him enough to warrant an investigation.

"Some people have called him a myth - yet I know that he exists."

"You have seen him?"

"Yes! Always clad in a cloak of black, with his face hidden beneath the brim of a huge, turned-down hat.

Then he disappears. "Sometimes I have met men whom I believed were The Shadow. But there has been no proof."

"I should like to meet this man," said Doctor Zerndorff thoughtfully. "This one man that you call The Shadow. He must know the one way that is sure to deal with those that have brains bad with crime. That is to fight them without the law.

"It is the only way that is sure. I have been with the law for so many years that I have seen that! Very often, Herr Detective."

"You are right, professor," agreed Cardona. "Well, maybe we'll hear from The Shadow yet!"

"Ah! You think so, yes? Why is that?"

"This is a big case, professor. We've got the right men, all right, and we're going to hold onto them. But there may be more to it - gangsters and guns, as well as these bomb planters.

"If there are, it's big; and if it's big - well, that's when The Shadow may show up! If we've got to the heart of it, well and good; if we haven't - then - look for The Shadow!"

"The Shadow!" repeated Doctor Zerndorff.

Cardona nodded. He went toward the door.

"Well, professor," he said, in parting, "we'll need you any time now. The inspector will be up to see you.

We can count on you for full cooperation, professor?"

Doctor Zerndorff bowed.

The door closed behind the detective. Doctor Heinrich Zerndorff stood motionless. The eyes of the celebrated criminologist glowed with interest.

In all his years of warring against crime, this famous man had never before heard a practical-minded detective speak as Joe Cardona had spoken.

"The Shadow," said Doctor Zerndorff, in a low, thoughtful voice, with guttural accent. "I should like to meet this man that they call The Shadow. I should like to meet him, yes!"

He turned and went into his laboratory. There he encountered his serving-man, who questioned him in German.

"They have gone, sir?" the man asked.

"Detective Cardona has gone," replied Doctor Zerndorff, in the same language.

"But Herr Inspector?"

"I did not see him."

"He came a few minutes after Herr Detective -" The man's expression denoted bewilderment. "I told him to join Herr Detective, in the room upstairs, to await you!"

Doctor Zerndorff turned suddenly. He left the laboratory and went into the room where he had talked with Cardona.

The chair in which the detective had been sitting was turned with its back toward the door. It would havebeen easily possible for someone to have entered without Cardona's knowledge.

Doctor Zerndorff crossed the room and whisked aside a curtain that hung beside the window. He saw nothing but the wall. He glanced quickly from the window but saw no one in the street below.

Then he stepped across the room and studied the curtains that hung upon each side of the window. The top of the curtain on the right was stretched fully eight inches farther than the one on the left.

"Otto," called Doctor Zerndorff.

His man entered.

"The curtains are not even," said Doctor Zerndorff, in German.

"I am sorry, sir," came the reply. "I always keep them even, sir."

There was a slight look of puzzlement on the man's face. He arranged the curtains with his usual precision and Doctor Zerndorff noted that he narrowed the one on the right to conform with the one on the left.

The curtain which Otto moved was directly behind the chair which Cardona had occupied.

"This Shadow," murmured Doctor Zerndorff. "I think some day I shall meet him!"

CHAPTER VII. THE HUNTED MAN.

WHEN Joe Cardona had mentioned the name of The Shadow to Doctor Heinrich Zerndorff, he had obeyed a sudden impulse. This had not been due entirely to chance. Cardona had been thinking of The Shadow.