Until dusk, The Shadow worked at Denwood's desk, studying the locations of the previous robberies and asking about rumors that concerned the lake monster.
Recalling those rumors, Denwood realized that the monster had been seen on the evenings when Professor Scorpio had given seances, and could, therefore, be linked with the crimes.
So far, suspicion had attached only to Scorpio, because he had been in the homes where valuables had been missing later. Furthermore, Scorpio, despite his mystic claims, was a tangible thing, whereas the lake monster was commonly regarded as imaginary.
It was bold of Scorpio, Denwood decided, to talk openly about the thing seen in the lake. Since people who challenged Scorpio doubted everything he said, they would naturally reject the monster story more and more, every time Scorpio mentioned it.
By dusk, Denwood's chart was crisscrossed with lines, the main stem being the bearings that The Shadow had taken on the mountain peak the night before. The lines were a mere maze to Denwood, but he felt that The Shadow was tracking down the curious man-made creatures that actually glided through Lake Calada on nights when crime was rampant.
With Harry, The Shadow set out in the speedboat, but when they reached the Lodi dock they separated.
Harry took the path to the hacienda, while The Shadow circled through the woods. He wanted to take another look into the cellar, to see what evidence he might discover of a trapdoor in the charred remnants of the alcove floor.
Paula Lodi was in the living room, in a very weepy mood, but quite pleased because people had come to visit her. She was talking about Carradon in one breath, and Scorpio in the next. Both were 'poor dears,' in Paula's estimation, and she felt that they would eventually understand each other.
She was sure that Carradon would return, and she hoped that Scorpio would be well enough to give his lecture at the Community Center, which was scheduled for this evening. Unfortunately, Paula would not be able to go, but Professor Scorpio had sent a horoscope to cheer her.
Among those present, Harry saw Lois Melvin, who-to her credit-was not much impressed by Paula's weeping. But Harry was more interested in noting the servants; and he spotted the man he wanted, a stocky fellow named Rufus.
He was the only one who answered the description given by The Shadow; and his face was new to Harry. Evidently, Rufus had kept very much in the background the night before, which further identified him as the hammer man.
Cutting his visit short, Harry went down to the dock, but found the speedboat missing. He heard its thrum out on the lake and knew that The Shadow, not expecting him so soon, had gone on an excursion after finishing his trip to the cellar. Harry decided to wait on the dock.
A TRIP back to Paula's living room would have been preferable, for a reason that Harry did not guess.
At that moment, Paula, in her usual fluttery fashion, was handing the horoscope to Rufus, telling him to put it carefully away.
Carrying the printed paper, Rufus stopped near the fireplace; studied the horoscope by the light from the logs.
Only Lois noticed the servant's action. After Paula sent Rufus on some errand, Lois stepped to the bookshelf where he had tucked the horoscope, and obtained it. Since no one was near the fireplace, the girl copied Rufus' action of reading the paper by the firelight. She scanned one paragraph: A usual characteristic of this sign is medium height, few persons being over five feet nine. It is not meet for them to worry at trifles: they should watch their action, and place confidence in friends, before making decisions.
A change came over the paper. An invisible hand seemed to imprint it with dabs of brown. The thing was spooky, and Lois nearly lost the paper from he shaky hands. Then, steadying, she saw that the marks were numbers, each inscribed upon a word.
The paragraph then read:
A us(3)ual characteristic of this si(10)gn is medium height, few persons being over five feet ni(6)ne. It is not me(1)et f(9)or them to worry a(2)t trifles: they should wa(8)tch their action, a(7)nd pl(4)ace confidence in friends, be(5)fore making decisions.
In rotation, from one to ten, the words spelled a message:
Meet at usual place before nine and watch for sign.
Lois turned from the fireplace. Nearing the bookshelf, she glanced at the horoscope again. The brownish numerals had faded from the important paragraph. She recognized that they were in a sympathetic ink that appeared under heat but faded when the paper cooled.
Hurriedly thrusting the paper where she had found it, Lois went out to the veranda just as Rufus returned.
Lois linked the obvious. The chart was one of Professor Scorpio's. Rufus had held it by the fire to read it.
There must be some connection between Scorpio and Paula's servant. As for the meeting place in the note, Lois could guess it: Scorpio's Castle.
Starting down the path, Lois used a flashlight to pick a side route. It was a little-used path along the water, that led to the Castle, nearly a mile away, on this same shore of the lake. Lois knew the path, was sure she could cover the ground in ten minutes. She wouldn't have to worry about the flashlight, she thought, as she neared the Castle.
From the dock, Harry watched the light dwindle among the trees. He did not follow; instead, he sneaked toward the boathouse and produced his own flashlight, intending to signal The Shadow as soon as the speedboat came close enough.
Suspecting that the person on the path was Lois, Harry darted occasional glances to make sure that no light followed the girl's. He saw none; hence reasoned that she was safe for the time being. But Harry could not observe what happened in the Lodi hacienda.
Rufus had stopped by the bookshelf. He noted the horoscope turned askew; drew it out far enough to notice dim marks in brown, that should have faded completely several minutes before.
Unobserved by Paula, the servant entered a darkened room, looked off in the direction of Scorpio's Castle. He caught the last twinkles of Lois' flashlight.
Easing the door shut, Rufus sidled to a telephone and made a prompt call, speaking in a whisper that he confined to the mouthpiece. He reported that Lois had intercepted the message and had started for the Castle. Rufus finished that call with a low chuckle.
It was only eight o'clock, an hour before the scheduled meeting time. But there would be a meeting, and not a usual one, in advance of nine.
Others would be promptly on their way, to handle this emergency. If he could get away conveniently, Rufus intended to join them. Their new purpose would be to put an end to Lois' expedition before she interfered with previous plans.
On this occasion, Rufus was quite sure that neither he nor his comrades in crime would meet with interference from The Shadow.
CHAPTER IX. DOUBLE FLIGHT.
THERE were lights on Scorpio's dock when Lois neared it. The fact puzzled her, for the moonlight showed the professor's own speedboat moored off shore, and Lois could hear the lap of water against its sides. The Professor's craft was small and rakish, about the fastest thing on the lake. It was one that Paula had given him.
Stealing closer through the trees, Lois saw why Scorpio had no need for his own boat. A compact cabin cruiser was at the dock; it supplied the lights that Lois observed. Some of the professor's loyal disciples had come to take him to the lecture. He was standing there, wearing an oversized turban, his two Hindus with him.
Lois watched the cruiser chug away. She remembered that Scorpio's lecture began at nine, and would take at least an hour. He wouldn't be back until ten-thirty, and his servants would be gone that long, too.
It was rather puzzling, considering the secret message that had come to Paula's.
Suddenly, Lois had a likely answer.
Professor Scorpio was under suspicion; his servants likewise. He might fear that his Castle was being watched. If so, he would be making a grave mistake to meet with his accomplices. But that would not prevent them from meeting on their own, at his order. Perhaps special instructions awaited them in the Castle.
It might mean opportunity for Lois. With nearly a half hour to spare, she could enter the Castle; if she didn't
