of my connection with the house. I shall not be there long.”
The car was swinging rapidly uptown. Desmond flung a glance over his shoulder. He could see Legira's
face, white and drawn. Desmond chanced a suggestion.
“I am going to stop at my apartment,” he said. “It would be best to make sure that all is well. I can call
Lopez from there if you wish?”
“Do not telephone to Lopez!” exclaimed Legira. “I have told you to hold no communication with him. It
is all right for him to call you and leave a message for me. I instructed him in that, by telephone. Stop at
your apartment, by all means, but only find out if Lopez has called you.”
Desmond grumbled an affirmative response. He piloted the car silently, and drew up before a tall
apartment building. He parked the machine near the entrance. He left the car and entered the building.
Legira was alone with Francisco. The consul, nervous and worried, seemed a changed man. In his hand
he held an automatic. He waited impatiently for Desmond's return. It was several minutes before the man
arrived.
“Message from Lopez,” announced Desmond, as he took the wheel.
“You did not call him?” quizzed Legira, sharply.
“Of course not,” rejoined Desmond.
“All right, then,” said Legira. “Let us move along, Desmond, there is no time for delay of any sort.”
The car pulled away from the curb. It sped toward the nearest corner, swerved and swung into the light
of an avenue. Hardly had it departed, before another car was in motion.
This was a coupe, that had been lingering in the darkness, parked beside the apartment house. It picked
up the pursuit as it reached the avenue. It kept a respectable distance in the rear of the speeding sedan.
The big car crossed the Queensborough Bridge and headed eastward on Long Island. Still, the coupe
followed it.
Alvarez Legira, with ten million dollars in his possession was hastening toward a spot of security,
confident that no one in all New York could know his destination, save those two who accompanied him.
Yet, hard on the heels of the fleeing men, another was following. Legira could elude his enemies. He
could evade the forces of the law.
But he could not escape The Shadow!
CHAPTER XV. THE SHADOW HEARS
THE tang of salt air was evident when the big sedan pulled into the driveway of a secluded house on
Long Island. Far from other dwellings, this building was not distant from the coast. The gleaming
headlights showed what appeared to be a deserted home. Thick gravel crunched as Desmond brought
the car to a stop.
“You have the key?” questioned Legira.
“Right here,” responded Desmond.
“Open the front door for us,” ordered Legira.
Desmond's big, pudgy form showed in the light as he crossed in front of the car and advanced to the
house. He stood on the porch while Legira and Francisco carried the heavy box between them. They
entered the house. Desmond followed and closed the door.
Darkness persisted for less than a minute. Then Desmond found a light and turned it on. He gazed
curiously at the box that had been deposited on the floor.
