hand. That stone, shimmering with every hue of the rainbow, had long served as The Shadow's token.
The opal was a girasol, a gem of sparkling beauty, found only near Zimapan, in southern Mexico. There was a history to the unmatched specimen that The Shadow wore. For the present, he did not take time to relate the details to Slade Farrow.
The Shadow's girasol was the great 'eye-stone' of the Xinca tribe. Pressed southward, centuries ago, they had carried that gem to Guatemala as the symbol of promise, to be delivered to the great bird god who would arrive from the sky.
That Xinca legend involving the girasol probably had its origin in the Aztec myth of a white god who would some day visit them. The Aztecs had welcomed Cortez and the Spaniards, because of such a legend, and had suffered disaster thereby. The Xincas, persisting in a similar belief, had greeted Kent Allard.
He had been worthy of the legend. His coming had ended strife among the Xincas. Often had their white god left them; always had he returned. Ever from his finger shone the great 'eye-stone,' the Xinca gift that had awaited him.
A glove covered the girasol. Cloaked completely in black, Kent Allard was again The Shadow. In the guise that suited his return, The Shadow resumed the chair beside Slade Farrow.
The Shadow's past was told. He was ready to discuss the future. The Shadow was resuming the trail that he had left to others during his forced absence from New York.
CHAPTER XIV. CRIME'S NEXT STEP
FARROW had all the data that The Shadow wanted. Burbank had forwarded all reports to the criminologist, so that they could be in order when The Shadow returned. Producing his files, Farrow placed typewritten sheets upon the table, together with newspaper clippings.
Clyde Burke had culled a great deal of information. Going the rounds with Joe Cardona, the reporter had listed the names of many possible suspects - all jewel brokers or salesmen of doubtful repute. Cardona had quizzed a dozen or more; and news of the police search had traveled. The rest of the questionable group were becoming hard to find.
When he had finished his study of the scattered evidence, The Shadow questioned Farrow regarding an opinion. Farrow had one.
'I would say that Cardona has taken the wrong course,' he declared. 'It seems obvious that there is a crime leader behind Shark's raids. But there is no real evidence to show that such a person belongs to the particular class that Cardona supposes.'
'Cardona is following Henshew's advice,' reminded The Shadow. 'No one knows the jewel trade better than Henshew.'
There was a significance to The Shadow's tone that Farrow did not catch. Farrow was too concentrated upon his own ideas.
'Henshew knows the jewel market,' admitted Farrow, 'but that could indicate that he cannot see beyond it. He would naturally be prejudiced against unethical jewel brokers. That is why he suspects them.'
Farrow picked up a report of Clyde's visit to Henshew. Carefully, Farrow read over every statement that the prominent jewel broker had made.
'Logical enough,' commented Farrow, 'but too restricted. In effect, Henshew believes that some small-time jewel merchant has developed into a master-crook. My opinion would be just the opposite. I suspect that some big-time crook has learned the gem business sufficiently well to dupe such victims as Hugo Silsam.'
Farrow reached for lists of his own. He checked over names of known criminals. Some were swindlers; others racketeers. Any of them might have the capability that Farrow credited to them.
But Farrow admitted that the list did not satisfy him. He had been looking into the affairs of those criminals during The Shadow's absence. There seemed to be some flaw in every case.
'Perhaps I have missed on one of them,' said Farrow. 'What is more, I may be entirely mistaken.
Henshew's theory could be correct. Nevertheless, it is froth, whether right or wrong. It was Henshew's positive manner that convinced Cardona; not the man's accuracy in analyzing the case.'
SEATED, The Shadow brushed Farrow's documents aside. He drew off his right glove brought out a fountain pen and took a sheet of blank paper. He drew a circle near the top of the page in ink of vivid blue. In the circle, he neatly inscribed a name, using two lines: Hugo
Silsam
'Let us say,' suggested The Shadow, 'that the circle represents secrecy. That is why the victim was so completely enmeshed. Someone sold Silsam on the necessity of keeping his gem purchase as private as possible.'
Farrow nodded. He recognized that Silsam's name typified the others who had been robbed and murdered before him. The circle applied for all. Silsam stood as the latest example.
The Shadow drew a second circle, below and to the right of Silsam's. Within it, he placed the name: Shark
Meglo
No comment was necessary. The circle represented Shark's hide-out, the measure of protection that kept the killer safe from capture. Moving the pen to the left, The Shadow drew a third circle. 'This surrounds the master- criminal,' expressed The Shadow, in a sibilant tone. 'Possibly you can suggest the sort of protection that he would choose.'
Farrow hadn't thought of it in that fashion. It struck him instantly that he had missed a vital point. Yes, the supercrook would need protection of his own. Something different than the measure he had used to hold victims quiet and keep Shark hidden.
'He would need a strong position,' said Farrow, slowly. 'One that would enable him to divert the law's attention from -'
Farrow stopped. The Shadow had started to fill the circle. Before Farrow's eyes appeared the finished name, within the third ring:
Madden
Henshew
The chart told its story. Henshew, holder of the jewels, placed them with dupes like Silsam. His own persuasive advice - the very sort that had impressed Cardona - caused victims to keep their purchases confidential. That plus Henshew's high reputation. Next, the gems were seized by Shark; finally they came back to Henshew. The chain of circles was complete.
As if to prove The Shadow's analysis, the top circle faded. Its ink had dried; in that state it disappeared, for the fluid was the sort that The Shadow used in sending special messages.
For a final touch The Shadow made a new circle where Silsam's had been, but left it blank.
Shark's circle vanished. Henshew's followed. Only the ominous blank circle remained at the top of the page. It represented the mesh that would soon involve a new victim. The Shadow crumpled the paper before the circle faded. Farrow was awed.
'Do you think' - his question was a trained one - 'that Henshew will dare to attempt the game again?'
'If he does,' returned The Shadow, 'his move will be a daring one. His boldness is his greatest strength.'
The Shadow stepped away. He was gone, in the blackness beyond the lamp's range of light. Farrow heard the soft close of the apartment door. He knew that The Shadow had set forth upon a new mission.
A WHILE afterward, The Shadow arrived in a room that was almost totally darkened. Only the bare outline of windows was visible. A tiny flashlight flicked. It showed articles of furniture and finally reached an alcove; where it centered on a closed writing desk. Beyond was a bookcase built in a niche.
The Shadow was in the living room of Henshew's apartment.
The bookcase was far different from the flimsy one that The Shadow had seen at Shark's transfer place.
Its structure, however, had points in common.
Carefully, The Shadow removed volumes from their shelves. He found a panel, of solid feel; but The Shadow's probing fingers discovered the spring. The panel clicked open.
The Shadow's flashlight shone into the space that had so recently held Henshew's hoard of tainted gems.
As before, The Shadow was greeted with a barren discovery.
The hiding place was empty.
