The Shadow made out a flattish shape that vaguely resembled a large porpoise finning through the water.
It answered the description of the mysterious lake monster mentioned by Professor Scorpio. Like all the professor's statements, this one was subject to amendment.
The thing that The Shadow saw was making too timely a trip to he some finny creature of the lake. It was a man-made contrivance, carrying away Carradon, along with his captors, the men who had gained the stolen jewels.
His eyes fixed on the whitish flecks, The Shadow traced the path of the strange, noiseless craft far out into the lake. He took bearings on a mountain peak that made a jagged dent into the starlit sky.
Pacing to the boathouse, where Harry and the rest had finished their search, The Shadow placed his cloak and hat beneath a convenient plank, to be regained later.
Once more in the guise of Lamont Cranston, The Shadow started up the slope to the hacienda, to rejoin the guests of Paula Lodi and hear their conflicting versions of how crime had occurred.
CHAPTER VII. PROFESSOR SCORPIO APOLOGIZES.
CLAD in spotless linen, Professor Scorpio sat in a deep-cushioned chair, his head swathed in white. He wasn't wearing a turban; his headdress consisted of bandages. Despite his black beard, the professor looked very pale, as though still suffering from injuries incurred the night before.
Scorpio was in the reception room of the bizarre house that he called his Castle. He was receiving a committee of wealthy neighbors, who had come to express their indignation over the theft of Paula Lodi's jewels and the abduction of her husband. They were finding, to their surprise, that Scorpio was quite as indignant as they were.
There were three men on the committee: Henry Denwood, Niles Rundon, and a man named Hugo Grendale. Denwood had been chosen, because he was generally liked by everyone in the colony.
Rundon represented the group who wanted action; he was known to be a go-getter, and was the one man who had actually managed to put up a struggle with Carradon's abductors.
As for Grendale, he was one of the wealthiest members of the Calada colony; therefore much esteemed in a community where money held the greatest sway. Moreover, Grendale had a domineering manner, that went with his big-jowled, beetle-browed face. He was the very sort to deal with a faker like Scorpio.
The committee had brought two others with them. One was Lamont Cranston, invited by Denwood, who felt that a newcomer's opinion might produce a fresh viewpoint. The other was Sheriff Kirk, summoned by Grendale, who wanted to show Scorpio that the law was on the side of the committee.
'No one can regret last night's events more than I,' spoke Scorpio in a silky tone. 'Miss Lodi was one of my most valued clients. It grieves me that she should have suffered financial loss.'
'I think I understand,' boomed Grendale, thrusting his heavy face forward. 'You don't like your clients to lose money, or any other valuables that they might hand over to you.'
'Exactly!' returned Scorpio, with a weary grin. 'Paula Lodi was one of my best patrons. Does it occur to you'- he tilted his head, wisely-'that she might have given me her jewels, eventually, as payment for my seances?'
'Tommyrot!'
Before Grendale's booming tone had faded, Scorpio was gesturing about the room. The place was decorated with valuable tapestries, jeweled lamps, carvings of jade and ivory. Even the floor was covered with rare Oriental rugs, so thick that they overlapped.
'All these,' declared Scorpio, blandly, 'are the gifts of those who believe in the stars, and word from the spirits who dwell in the beyond.'
'Which brands you as a swindler!' thundered Grendale. 'I'll drive you and all your sort out of this colony!'
'Begin with your own committee, then.' suggested Scorpio. 'You have quite a reputation as a financier, Mr. Grendale. I happen to know the inside of that story; how you bought up worthless lands, and then swung irrigation projects your own direction.'
'If you feel that I swindle the rich, I can only reply that you have swindled the poor. As for you, Rundon'- Scorpio swung to the square-jawed man-'you are quite young to possess a fortune, considering that you did not inherit one. I understand that you are a promoter who puts new inventions on the market.
You have found it a very profitable business, haven't you?'
'Yes. I have,' returned Rundon, hotly, 'because I do my best to give full value to the stockholders in every new company that I form.'
'But some of those companies have faded-'
'Because no one can guarantee the success of a new invention,' retorted Rundon. 'Since promotion is my business, I have to consider my own profit. But I can't pick sure things always.'
Professor Scorpio clapped his hands. Two darkish men appeared; both were tall and very thin, and clad in white like their master. They had the look of Hindus.
'Serve the refreshments, Chandra.' ordered Scorpio. 'Go to my study, Agbar, and bring me one of the astrological charts under the sign of Gemini.'
CHANDRA brought drinks, which Grendale and Rundon accepted gingerly, as though they suspected poison. Even Denwood was a bit apprehensive, until he saw Cranston smile and raise his glass. By that time, Agbar arrived with the astrological chart, which proved to be a large, handsomely printed sheet.
'For you, Rundon,' announced Scorpio, extending the chart with a slight bow. 'Your birthday happens to be on June 7th, which is under the sign of Gemini, or the Twins. The chart reveals that you have great ability as a speculator. Your danger lies in undertaking too many enterprises at the same time.
'Gemini people are clever'-Scorpio's eyes narrowed toward Rundon-'and highly aggressive. But they think too much of their own opinions. When they meddle with the affairs of others'-the professor's tone lowered to it's sepulchral pitch-'they are apt to bring disaster to themselves.'
Rundon's anger rose.
'If this is a threat, Scorpio,' he began, 'I warn you-'
'No warning is necessary,' interposed Scorpio, smoothly. 'I have simply quoted the chart that you hold in your hand. It was prepared long before I ever met you, Rundon. Remember, the stars never fail.'
Rundon's next action actually backed Scorpio's claim that the Gemini nature was twofold. Settling suddenly in his chair, Rundon forgot his anger and decided to treat the whole thing as a jest.
'The stars never fail,' he laughed. 'Neither does ice. Good work, professor. You've kidded us so far.
Let's go back to our real purpose. You say that Paula Lodi would have given you her jewels eventually, if she had managed to keep them.'
'Very probably,' nodded Scorpio, 'and of her own volition.'
'I guess your point is proven,' conceded Rundon, ruefully. 'Paula was even starting to hand over some of her rings to that spook that you produced-'
Rundon's pause tricked Scorpio. The professor thought that the speaker had finished his sentence; but such was not the case. Rundon was raising his glass, to help the pretense; and that clever touch brought just what he wanted-a triumphant grin from Scorpio's beard. Like a whiplash, Rundon snapped the rest of his statement.
'-when Carradon tried to stop her!' The glass aside, Rundon was thrusting his strong jaw forward, while his eyes showed an accusing blaze. 'That was the stumbling block, Scorpio! You'd never have gotten those jewels from Paula; not while Carradon was around!'
Scorpio began to fume denials; but Rundon held the upper hand.
'You even rang in a fake spook of Paula's first husband,' continued Rundon, 'figuring that was the only way of offsetting Carradon's influence. But Carradon spiked that game, the moment he saw it. He grabbed the phony ghost.'
'That's when your pals snatched the jewels. That's why they grabbed Carradon later. He knew that the ghost was cheesecloth, and that you were a faker. But even more important, he proved that he wouldn't let his wife remain a dupe.'
Totally outguessed by Rundon, Scorpio lost his head. He even forgot his weakened pose, by springing from his chair. In the light, The Shadow saw flecks of powder on Scorpio's beard; he had used it to make his face look pale. Forgetting discretion, the professor would have stormed some statements admitting his real racket, if another man hadn't entered the argument.
It was Grendale who interrupted. Overanxious to dominate the situation, the big-browed financier decided to force the issue, and, thereby, he unwittingly helped Scorpio.
