'I guess this spoils our surprise for Henshew,' declared the commissioner. 'Henshew will back out, when he reads how boldly Shark murdered Tyrune.'
Weston was rising. Chanbury stopped him. The grizzled art collector showed a look of inspiration.
'Why not call it suicide?' questioned Chanbury. 'Shark was smart enough to think he managed to deceive us. Henshew will believe that Shark actually did handle it cleverly.'
'Great!' approved Cardona. 'The best idea yet! What do you say, commissioner?'
'Very, very good,' approved Weston. He thrust out his hand. 'Congratulations Chanbury! Your foresight assures me that tomorrow's plan will work to perfection. Just one thing' - Weston turned to Cardona:
'You must see to it that Burke does not learn about it. He is downstairs.'
CLYDE was in the lower hall, when Weston and Chanbury went through. Before Clyde could follow, Cardona stopped him. Joe led the reporter back to the rear hall, where Tyrune's body still lay. Joe gave a thumb jerk as he shook his head.
'A suicide,' said Cardona, sorrowfully. 'Too bad! Poor Jim was a good guy. Just thought he was a failure because he flopped on that jewel robbery investigation.'
'What about the note he left?' queried Clyde. 'I suppose you found one up in his room?'
'No. There wasn't any note. Jim just said he felt like ending it all. He told it to Mr. Chanbury.'
'Can I use Chanbury's name in the story?'
'Sure! Go ahead.'
Cardona smiled as he turned away.
That was a neat touch - getting Chanbury mentioned. It would be just the sort of stuff for Henshew to read in the newspapers. Strolling out the door, Cardona was highly pleased with the way he had handled Clyde.
Joe was sure that Clyde had not seen the smile; and in that, Cardona was right. What Clyde did see was the corner of a blue bandanna handkerchief poking out of Cardona's coat pocket.
When Clyde called Burbank, he mentioned that detail. But he did not include it in the story that he wrote for the Classic. The fact that Cardona had gone in for blue bandannas was an exclusive piece of information, intended only for The Shadow.
CHAPTER XXI. MOVES AT DUSK
THE thwarted robbery at Henshew's made big news the next morning, for it involved Shark Meglo, Manhattan's chief public enemy. The newspapers had it all wrong, thanks to the excitement of the persons who had hunted Shark.
It was Shark who had staged the running fight through the apartment house; that, at least, was the opinion of those present. The proof lay in the fact that after the roving battler had disappeared on the second floor, Shark made his break through the lobby. He was credited with doubling his trail, to make a bold escape.
Henshew had prompted that theory, by giving the coolest testimony of any. He swore that he had seen Shark shoving a man ahead of him, to make a pretense of surrender; that both had entered the fray afterward.
Henshew's shout, as he described it, was: 'Get the man in back!' and the story was so good that other witnesses supported it.
Evening newspapers played second fiddle to the morning sheets by reporting the tragic aftermath of Shark's raid. They had a good human-interest story in the suicide of Jim Tyrune.
The private dick, it seemed, had taken the man hunt as his own crusade, ever since Shark's murder of Silsam. Jim's failure to anticipate Shark's latest raid had caused the private detective to consider life no longer worth while.
Henshew digested that chunk of news along with his lunch. He was most pleased to learn that Tyrune had visited Chanbury, to voice his morbid sentiments. Henshew remembered Jim at the apartment; the fellow had certainly looked gloomy.
At the office, Henshew found that Chanbury had telephoned. He called the art collector, and heard Chanbury's sad comments on the Tyrune tragedy. Changing the subject, Chanbury asked if Henshew could call at nine that evening. The jewel broker agreed.
Chanbury mentioned that he was dining with the police commissioner, to give a word-for-word statement of Tyrune's glum talk; but he would be home by nine.
Hanging up, Henshew had a definite hunch that Shark had bumped Jim Tyrune. Shark had picked the right man at the right time and place.
Deciding not to return to his apartment after work, Henshew used the privacy of his office to engrave a microscopic message on a coin to Shark. It read:
Chanbury. Side door. 9:30 unless -
Shark would know what 'unless' meant.
LATER that afternoon, Clyde Burke called Chanbury's. Eleanor answered; since Chanbury was present, she said very little, except to inform the reporter that Chanbury was dining with Weston at the Cobalt Club and intended to be there by five o'clock. She added - at her employer's suggestion - that the dinner was to be private.
When Clyde called the house at five, he learned that Chanbury had left for town and had taken his secretary with him. That apparently blocked Clyde's chance for a talk with Eleanor. Clyde, however, was to have his opportunity later, under the best of auspices.
At quarter of six, Chanbury told Eleanor that she could go back to the Long Island mansion, and have her dinner there. He instructed his chauffeur, Klander to take Miss Merwood straight to the house; and added that no one was to know she had returned. Servants were still to answer calls.
The big car hadn't gone two blocks before a rear tire flattened. As Klander stepped out to look over the tire, a taxi wheeled up. The driver pointed out a convenient garage and suggested that the chauffeur have the mechanics change the tire. He also suggested that the lady travel by cab.
Since Eleanor was due on Long Island, Klander agreed.
Clouded skies had brought an early dusk; Eleanor could scarcely see the interior of the cab when she entered it. She was amazed, almost terrified, when the cab swung a corner; for a light showed that she was not alone.
On each side of her were solemn-faced passengers who looked like grotesque statues. The taxi driver must have heard Eleanor's gasp, for he thrust his head into view and spoke:
'It's all right, lady! Just a couple of Indians. A friend of yours sent 'em for a gag.'
The cab was Moe's; its occupants, the Xincas who had come from Guatemala with Kent Allard. The presence of the stolid, silent Indians evoked Eleanor's wonderment and seemed to make objection impossible. Eleanor might have insisted on leaving the cab, had she not been in awe of those stony-faced sentinels.
Moe drove to Allard's hotel. He opened the cab door and Eleanor alighted with the two Xincas. She went into the hotel between them and they entered an elevator. The adventure was so uncanny that the girl decided to see its finish, particularly since no one in the hotel seemed surprised to see the Indians.
They reached Allard's apartment; there, Eleanor gave a happy exclamation when she saw Clyde awaiting here.
'So it was you!' she exclaimed. 'But I'm not supposed to see you, Mr. Burke!'
'You're not seeing me,' inserted Clyde. 'You're meeting Kent Allard, the famous explorer! A friend of mine.'
CLYDE introduced Eleanor to Allard and the girl was immediately impressed by the famous personage.
What Clyde did not explain was that he had arranged this visit at The Shadow's order.
Clyde had told Allard that he wanted to see Eleanor and had asked if the meeting could be here. The explorer had agreed; and had suggested sending the Xincas in a cab. Clyde thought that a grand idea, for Moe's cab was outside.
In a way, The Shadow had tried the plan as a test. He wanted to note if Clyde connected him, in any way, with The Shadow. Such a link had obviously not occurred to the reporter. Nor was it to strike Clyde later, despite the amazing thing that occurred.
Speaking for Clyde, Allard remarked that the reporter wanted some facts on the Tyrune suicide, which Clyde had mentioned. Before Clyde realized it, Eleanor's reluctance had gone. She was telling Allard everything she knew. Meeting the compelling gaze of these clear, steady eyes, the girl felt that she was talking to a friend.
Clyde listened, dumfounded, drinking in the whole story of tonight's plan. When Eleanor had finished, Allard asked questions; the girl answered.
She told how Chanbury had retired early, to be awakened by Tyrune's arrival. She repeated the signed
