'Nobody.' The voice was Moe's. 'Any harm in my staying here?'
'Not if you don't mind us looking in and out of your hack. If you want to go chasing fares, you'd better get started.'
Moe had stalled the motor. He jockeyed with the starter, hoping that he might catch some flash from The Shadow, wherever his chief was.
As cops shifted into the passage, Moe heard a low, sibilant whisper, that seemed to come from somewhere above. An officer hurried back with the question:
'Did you hear that?'
'Hear what?'
The policeman looked around, saw no one. Moe started the motor and reached above his head. Moe's cab was of the latest type, with the sliding top that opened above the rear seat, in sunny weather. He slid the roof space wide. As the cab moved slowly forward, a figure swished from the ledge just above it.
Though the landing was a light one, Moe felt the slight jar. He swung the cab out into the street and drove away. Officers who had looked into the taxi allowed it to pass.
Meanwhile, another hand was sliding the roof shut. The last-minute passenger was obscured in the interior darkness. Moe heard the low whisper of The Shadow, ordering him where to drive.
The cab went past the last searchers, just as lights shone from the apartment house window, at the very corner where The Shadow had been.
Henshew's apartment was deserted except for two men. One was Henshew; Shark was with him. Shark had started to join the searchers in their hunt for The Shadow. It was Henshew who held him back. As they stood by a window, Henshew gave advice that Shark heard in the darkness.
'You can't get by with it, Shark. You've got to get out of here! Pick a new hideaway.'
'But The Shadow's making a getaway, chief -'
'He's made it!' Henshew's tone was rueful. 'Those dubs will never bag him. What's more, he's grabbed the jewels!'
Shark greeted that news with an ugly oath. Henshew was cooler. The master-crook was thinking ahead.
'The game's through, Shark,' he said. 'We could call it quits if we still had the gems.'
'You'll never get those sparklers from The Shadow.'
'Perhaps not.' Henshew's tone was speculative. 'He might drop them somewhere. If he does, I can reclaim them. If not -'
Henshew paused. Shark knew that an idea was due. He heard Henshew's low, gritted laugh.
'We can get something better,' declared Henshew. 'Leave it to me, Shark. I've got a plan for a final clean-up that will make up for the gems and give us cash besides. One that The Shadow will never guess is coming, after this.'
HENSHEW nudged Shark out to the stairway. On the way, Shark told him where the new hide-out would be. He said, though, that he was not going straight there. It would be better to shake off any bulls who might encounter him on the way. Henshew approved.
'You'd better show yourself, Shark,' he said, 'so there'll be no doubt that you were here. That will give me the alibi I need. Remember, though, The Shadow knows a lot. If you run into him -'
'I'll croak him!' Shark showed new boldness. 'And if I find any other guy that looks wise, I'll do the same for him. Count on me, chief. If you've got another job all figured, I'm for it.'
Shark went down the stairs. He saw a clear path through the lobby, with taxis on the front street. The chase had not caused commotion there. That was what Shark wanted. He made a dash through to the front, leaped into a cab and shoved a gun against the driver's neck. The cab started in a hurry.
Arriving police saw Shark and recognized him in the light; but he was away before they could halt him.
Shark abandoned the cab a few blocks away and jumped aboard a parked coupe of his own. He had a long start on the patrol cars that followed.
Moe's cab, meanwhile, had reached the hotel where Kent Allard was a guest. Commissioner Weston's big official car had just pulled up in front when the cab rounded the corner. The Shadow dropped off at the place he wanted. He had counted on Weston being a trifle late.
When Weston and Clyde Burke were admitted to the suite by one of the Xinca servants, Kent Allard appeared sleepily from a bedroom. He was attired in a dressing gown; but he became alert as he shook hands with his visitors. He invited them to stay an hour or so.
The visit, however, proved a very brief one.
The tingling of the telephone bell was answered by Allard. He heard a query for Weston and turned the phone over to the commissioner. Weston showed excitement at the news he received.
'An attempted robbery at Henshew's apartment!' exclaimed Weston. 'Inspector Cardona had just arrived there. I must go at once! Sorry to leave you, Allard. Perhaps Burke will stay -'
'Burke is a newspaper man,' smiled Allard. 'He would probably prefer to accompany you, commissioner.'
Clyde gave a nod of thanks for Allard's suggestion. He departed with Weston. Kent Allard remained alone in his chair by the window, staring out over the city. His eyes could note the reflection of the darkened pane. He saw the Xincas retire to their quarters, knowing that their master preferred to remain alone.
The whispered tone that came from Allard's lips was one that the Indians had never heard him utter in the jungle. It was like an echo of a strident mirth those same lips had delivered tonight.
The subdued sound was the laugh of The Shadow.
CHAPTER XIX. FACTS FOR THE LAW
THROUGH his penetrative knowledge of Madden Henshew's methods, The Shadow had put a bad crimp in the crime-leader's game. Moreover, The Shadow had gained insight into the plans of Michael Chanbury, the only other person who had been keen enough to suspect Henshew as the man behind robberies and murders.
Tonight, Henshew had received a sheer jolt, through the loss of the gems that had been his chief stock in trade. By lurking at Henshew's until the crook returned, The Shadow had impressed his identity on both Henshew and Shark Meglo.
There could be no doubt in their minds regarding the removal of the jewels. They would figure that those gems, in the possession of The Shadow, were beyond reclaim.
All that Henshew had gained was a temporary breathing spell. By posing as an intended victim who had luckily escaped death, Henshew would be firmly established with the law. Later, under pretext of an extended business trip, Henshew could decamp entirely from New York. In such event, Shark would join him elsewhere.
There remained one opportunity, however, that Henshew would never let pass. The Shadow had left Henshew the chance to launch Shark Meglo into one more crime; a stroke that would lift the total of their secret wealth to a level higher than ever before.
Henshew would go after Chanbury's uncut diamonds.
The move could not come tonight. Henshew was tied up with the law, giving details of the havoc at his apartment. Shark was dodging the police, shaking off trailers while he sought a new hide-out. Crime seemed settled for tonight.
Tomorrow, with full reports at his disposal, The Shadow could prepare against Henshew's last campaign.
Until then, he preferred to play the quiet part of Kent Allard.
Freakish chance sometimes disturbed a waiting game. On this occasion The Shadow could foresee no likely combination of circumstances that would cause trouble before tomorrow. Every one who might figure in later events was present in their proper place. Whatever their purposes, all should stay fixed.
It happened, however, that criss-crossed events were due to produce new tragedy; one wherein The Shadow would not intervene.
AT eleven o'clock, Michael Chanbury was aroused from bed by a servant's raps upon his door. There was a visitor very anxious to see him. The caller was Jim Tyrune.
Chanbury told the servant to take the detective to the portrait room. Donning a dressing gown and slippers, Chanbury joined Tyrune there.
'Why have you come so late?' queried Chanbury. 'If you wanted to see me, you should have called earlier. I have been home all evening, with not a thing to do. After I have gone to bed, you arrive.'
'I've got big news, Mr. Chanbury,' explained Tyrune, breathlessly. 'It couldn't wait! There was a robbery at
