The Shadow - The Sledge Hammer Crimes Part 13

The Shadow had packed his cloak and hat in his portable briefcase. Pa.s.sing as a chance arrival at the Almeda, he took his place in a corner. He had postponed his trail. There were better possibilities if he remained at the hotel.

It was not long before a police inspector arrived. Afterward, a police surgeon put in his appearance.

About half an hour after The Shadow's arrival, a big car pulled up in front of the Almeda. Commissioner Weston stepped from the automobile.

This was the man whom The Shadow had awaited. As Weston came through the lobby door, he ran point-blank into a tall personage who was coming outward. Weston exclaimed recognition.

"Cranston! What are you doing here?"

"Good evening, commissioner," returned The Shadow. "I chanced to be at this hotel when the excitement happened. I supposed that you might be along. Some one spoke of murder."

"Come with me," suggested Weston, grimly. "You can see it for yourself."

The invitation was not a surprising one. Ralph Weston and Lamont Cranston had long been friends, though they saw each other but seldom. In fact, Weston had rarely seen the real Cranston. Most of his meetings had been with The Shadow, when the latter was posing as the millionaire.

On other occasions, Weston had taken his friend Cranston to the scenes of crimes; and he was quite gladto do so again. Somehow, Cranston's presence had frequently brought surprising finds, where murder was concerned.

THEY reached a room on the third floor of the Almeda. There they found the dead form of Thomas d.y.k.el. The tall man was lying face foremost on the floor, just inside the unlocked door. The back of his head was bashed and formed a gory sight.

d.y.k.el had been felled by an improvised weapon. The Almeda, an old hotel, was equipped with antiquated fire apparatus. The killer had wrenched the ma.s.sive nozzle from a fire hose in the outside hall.

This implement was lying on the floor by d.y.k.el's body.

Weston introduced The Shadow to the police inspector, a dapper-faced man named Gurney. The inspector gave the commissioner a brief report. Then Weston summed the situation.

"This is the second of two murders," he explained. "The first occurred in the offices of Jorn d.y.k.el. The killer entered there and slew Clinton Jorn. The death instrument in that case appears to have been the telephone that was on Jorn's desk.

"Inspector Cardona was called to that scene and I joined him there. There was gunplay at the office. A dangerous gunman named Shooter Hoyle opened fire from across the street. Some one-either Jorn or the murderer-managed to snipe Hoyle and tumble him into the street.

"Immediately after the report of Jorn's death, headquarters received a call from this hotel, stating that Thomas d.y.k.el had been found dead in this room. Here, we see that the killer detached the nozzle from the fire hose in the hall. It certainly made a formidable weapon. d.y.k.el must have left the door unlocked.

He was easy prey for the unknown killer."

WESTON began a new study of the scene. The fire nozzle showed no finger prints. Weston remarked that the same had been the case with the telephone at Jorn's.

"We are sure of one thing," he told The Shadow. "The murderer is the same man who slew Lewis Lemand and Rufus Moreland. You have certainly read about those deaths, Cranston?"

"There is a similarity," agreed The Shadow, quietly, "but where is the motive, commissioner?"

"Cardona sees one," explained Weston. "Lemand and Moreland were killed because they knew facts that concerned burglaries. Jorn and d.y.k.el could have died for the same reason."

"Yet there has been no new burglary."

"Jorn was a private investigator, whose ways were slippery. d.y.k.el was in his confidence. What is more, Cardona was lucky enough to gain a link this afternoon."

"A link between the crimes?"

"A link that concerned Jorn. Do you happen to know Elvin Lettigue, Cranston?"

The Shadow nodded.

"I have seen him at the Cobalt Club," he recalled. "An eccentric sort, Lettigue. What about him?"

"Cardona saw Jorn at Lettigue's this afternoon."

"Did he speak to Jorn there?" "No. Jorn left too quickly. Lettigue was not at home; nor has he returned. I think there may be -"

The telephone rang. Inspector Gurney answered it. He turned the telephone over to Weston, with the simple comment: "Cardona."

Weston held a terse conversation. He gave Cardona details of the death at the Almeda. Then he listened to something that Joe had to say. He agreed with Cardona on every point except one. To that, Weston said with a note of finality: "Don't take Burke with you."

WESTON stood pondering, after the call was finished. Then he looked about. Seeing no one except Gurney, Cranston and the police surgeon, Weston decided to unburden his mind.

First, he brought a flat book from his pocket and scanned its pages, then shook his head.

"I brought this, to study it in the car," he remarked. "It is Jorn's appointment book. But it is blank, so far as to-day is concerned. I left Cardona at Jorn's office; but he failed to find any immediate clues.

Nevertheless, he has gained one point.

"Cardona had intended to talk with a lawyer named Prentiss Petersham, who was connected with affairs at the Mayan Museum. Earlier to-day, Cardona called Petersham's office-Petersham is an attorney- and found that he was in Washington. Cardona left word for Petersham to call headquarters on his return."

Weston paused, to smile in satisfaction.

"Petersham arrived at his office only a few moments ago," declared the commissioner. "He called headquarters; he was transferred to Jorn's office. Cardona told him about the deaths of Jorn and d.y.k.el.

Petersham was much concerned. It appears that he knew something about the pair.

"Cardona did not give me details, except that Petersham had first called Lettigue's home for some reason, and had found out that Lettigue had come back to his house. Then Petersham proposed a plan that I told Cardona he could accept."

The Shadow's gaze was keen, although Weston did not notice it. The commissioner was reflective.

"Petersham says that an interview with Lettigue may solve these riddles," continued Weston. "But he also named a man whose testimony may prove important. So much so, that Cardona immediately sent Detective Sergeant Markham up to find the fellow.

"I refer to an old inventor named Sanbrook Greel. Cardona and Petersham are going to his apartment.

From there, they are going to Long Island, to meet Elvin Lettigue. I shall proceed there also. If Sanbrook Greel had testimony, it will probably be of a peculiar sort. Petersham says that he is a human oddity."

"He is," remarked The Shadow. "I have met Greel."

"You have?" queried Weston. "What do you know about him? Particularly his inventions? Petersham says they may have some connection with recent crimes. That is what Cardona told me."

"Greel invented an electrical device," stated The Shadow, "that produces remarkable internal vibrations. I have seen the machine in action." "How recently?"

"This afternoon."

Weston looked incredulous. The Shadow delivered a slight smile.

"Greel wanted to interest me in his invention," he explained. "He believes that it would be valuable in the demolition of buildings."

Weston's eyes narrowed. The commissioner was catching the connection.

"I came here shortly after I left Greel," added The Shadow, in an indifferent tone. "I intended to go back and see him to-morrow. If you wish, commissioner, I can accompany you on the present journey."

"I would appreciate it immensely, Cranston!"

WESTON held brief conference with Gurney. The Shadow strolled across the room and eyed d.y.k.el's body; also the heavy fire nozzle that lay beside it. The nozzle was of bra.s.s. Its pointed end tapered to a shape that would have made an excellent hand grip for the murderer.

The Shadow could picture a strong arm delivering a clean blow, wherein the weight of the nozzle figured through its sheer ma.s.s. His thoughts ran back to Jorn's telephone; to the lamp at Moreland's; to the Aztec mallet in the Mayan Museum.

He compared them with the broken sledge hammer that had been left at Clayborne's. Had the police known that that clue was a false one, they would have thought the same of these weapons. The Shadow was considering that angle of the case.

His thoughts, however, turned to other features; even though his eyes still looked toward the bra.s.s nozzle. The Shadow had postponed his trail because he knew that the murderer could be located later.

He held no great regrets for either Jorn or d.y.k.el; for they were crooks themselves. No other persons were in immediate danger; hence The Shadow had seen no need of speed. He had hoped to save d.y.k.el, despite the fellow's character; that failing, he had chosen his present tactics.

Now, into the situation had come a forcing of the issue. Prentiss Petersham, back in New York, had produced the unexpected. Greel had been brought from obscurity at Petersham's wish. Both were going to Lettigue's. Weston wanted his friend Cranston to be there. That pleased The Shadow.

The situation promised an immediate climax to the run of crime. Postponement was ended because of the coming journey. At Weston's invitation, The Shadow was taking up his trail again.

For The Shadow had gained his final conclusions concerning the perpetration of crime. Elvin Lettigue's home was the one place where he wished to go. For there, without a question, The Shadow would confront the man he sought.

The supercrook-plotter of burglary, master of insidious murder, would be present at the coming conference. There would The Shadow reveal the man of crime.

CHAPTER XVII. CRIME DENOUNCED.

LIGHTS were gleaming at Lettigue's when Weston's car arrived. Parked automobiles were in the driveway. Others had arrived before the commissioner and The Shadow.

Daniel, strained-faced, admitted the arrivals. He conducted Weston and The Shadow into Lettigue's s.p.a.cious study. There they found Cardona and Markham, seated opposite Elvin Lettigue, whose heavyface showed a glower.

Opposite were two others. Prentiss Petersham, whose eyes were sharp beneath his moppy hair; Sanbrook Greel, his withered face pale, his eyes perplexed.

Lettigue fairly bellowed a welcome when he saw Weston.

"Glad you're here, commissioner!" he roared. "What is this game? A charade of some sort? This upstart"-he motioned to Cardona-"this bounder has shown the audacity to order me about! Within my own home, mind you! With my dinner turning cold upon the table!"

"You have exceeded your authority, Cardona," rebuked Weston. "I gave you no right to place Mr.

Lettigue under technical arrest."

"Wait until you hear the story, commissioner," pleaded Cardona. "I told Mr. Lettigue he'd have to wait here until you came. That was all. This is the time for a showdown."

"Right!" grumbled Lettigue. "That suggestion has my agreement. How about my dinner, Daniel? Is it stone cold?"

"Yes, sir," acknowledged the servant from the door. "I fear so."

"Then heat it up again," ordered Lettigue. "This matter will be settled by the time it is ready. Come, commissioner. Order this subordinate of yours to deliver his comments."

Weston turned to Cardona. "Proceed," he instructed, sharply.

CARDONA hesitated under the commissioner's disapproval. Prentiss Petersham stepped to Joe's rescue.

"I am the one responsible," a.s.serted the lawyer, gruffly. "Let me do the talking, commissioner."

Weston agreed. He turned, saw The Shadow and motioned him to a chair, with the low comment: "Listen to this, Cranston. You may figure later."

"My story," declared Petersham, "begins with the burglary at the Mayan Museum. It was there that I gained certain suspicions regarding the murder of Lewis Lemand. I wondered if the curator had actually been slain with the Aztec mallet."

"I had the same doubt," put in Cardona. "If you want, commissioner, I can -"

Weston gestured for silence. He wanted Petersham to continue.

"It chanced that I knew Clinton Jorn," resumed the attorney. "He came to my office, voluntarily, soon after I had been to the museum to view matters there. Jorn stated that he would like to work privately on the case. He insisted, however, that I tell no one of his connections."

"Why?"

The query came sharply from Weston. Petersham had a prompt reply. "Because Jorn had a theory,"

declared the attorney, "that fitted with facts he claimed to know. He told me enough to make me believe that he would be valuable. I realized that if I refused his terms, he might say nothing."

"Go on," decided Weston. "What next?" "Jorn believed that some electrical device had been used for the destruction of the museum wall,"

explained Petersham. "He knew of such a contrivance. One that was being marketed by a concern called the Industrial Mining Corporation. Jorn gave me the telephone number of that concern."

The Shadow's lips held the slightest semblance of a smile. This fitted with his final theory of the call that had come to Petersham's office.

"AT Clayborne's," resumed Petersham, "I examined the shattered wall. I found powdery traces about the edges. They fell, as sc.r.a.pings, when I probed them. I doubted that they had been the result of strokes with a sledge hammer."

"Why did you not mention it?" demanded Weston. "I was there at Clayborne's."

"Jorn again," explained Petersham. "The fellow was parceling information piecemeal. He was doing investigating work independently of my own. I needed to know more before I spoke. Especially about- about -"

He paused. It was Lettigue who inserted an interruption: "About what, Petersham?"

"About the man concerned with murder," snapped the lawyer. "Jorn and I had theories. We wanted proofs."

"Did you get them?" questioned Weston, sharply.

"We did," returned Petersham. "But during the interim, Rufus Moreland met an unfortunate death. I was sorry then that we had not spoken sooner. But I felt that I could still rely upon Jorn; and he was sure that there would be no more deeds of death.

"Here, specifically, is what Jorn learned. Two corporations had been manipulated. One was the Century Burglary Alarm Co.; the other, the Industrial Mining Corporation. Both were operated by one rogue, through some proxy arrangement."

"To what purpose?" demanded Weston.