The Englishman shook his head.
'I learned that the second letter was a forgery,' he said. 'It was a snare to lure me to my death.'
Cooper's face betrayed signs of fright as he sank into a chair. He listened intently as Hubert Weston told the story in terse, cold words.
'So you did not go!' exclaimed Cooper when the major had finished his account. 'But what became of young Duncan? He could not have been foolish enough to have gone in your place.'
'We fear that he was,' said Weston in a hushed voice. 'He has been gone one week. Gone - perhaps to the same death encountered by the other four. You and I may be the sole survivors. We are indeed fortunate.'
'What shall I do?' questioned Cooper. 'Stay here with you to-night? I cannot go alone.'
'Stay here, certainly. That fits in with our plan. We attack to-morrow night. Three of us. We had hoped to have four - Duncan, as well as yourself. Even now we outnumber the two who are at the old ruin. I doubt that they have others with them, although there might be one extra man.'
'The ape-man is powerful,' interposed Vincent. 'Do not forget that. I have encountered him.'
'Why not go to-night?' questioned Cooper.
'We must abide by the decision of the man who is directing us. We are following our chief's plans.'
Garrison Cooper nodded. Then he addressed Major Weston.
'It is fortunate, after all,' he said, 'that you kept the messages which bore Prince Samanov's seal. I destroyed mine for a very definite reason. I had received a letter from Prince Samanov some time after the Russian Revolution. It was a very personal letter, and in it were instructions to destroy it and all similar communications. I considered these last messages as similar communications.'
'What was your connection with my friend, the prince?' asked the Englishman.
'I met him in France,' said Cooper. 'I loaned him a considerable amount of money, with no security other than his word. I supposed that at this meeting the debt would be repaid. I could see no danger in coming, but I did realize that there was need for secrecy, as Prince Samanov's agent might have had difficulty leaving Russia.'
'Have you come far?'
'From Providence, Rhode Island.'
HARRY VINCENT was busy with the wireless. Garrison Cooper was curious as Major Weston peered into the box that stood on the table. He waited until the message had been sent.
'What is that instrument?' he inquired.
'A static eliminator,' explained Harry. 'It was put in here the -'
'A very ingenious device,' broke in Major Weston. 'It was here when I came.'
'Yes,' agreed Harry. 'It was put in here by Duncan and myself the night we first came to the cottage. It was part of the equipment.'
He threw a thankful glance at Weston. Harry had caught himself just in time. Had he finished his sentence by saying 'the night that Duncan disappeared,' he would have revealed the fact that The Shadow had paid a mysterious visit to the cottage.
Bruce Duncan had described his adventure to Harry and Weston, during the rational moments that he had had. They realized the part that The Shadow must have played, and the wireless message the next day had explained why the new instrument had been added to the wireless set.
A reply came to Harry's message.
'Same instructions,' announced the young man. 'Let matters rest to-night. The fact that Cooper does not appear will not change matters in the least. The big event will be to-morrow night. Chefano must remain there to meet the agent of Prince Samanov.'
'But when will that man arrive?' asked Cooper.
'We don't know. Possibly in advance of midnight. We are to receive our final orders to-morrow afternoon.'
The three men drove to a town on the other side of the mountains for dinner. Harry advised against going to Culbertville. After they had made their trip, he urged his companions to remain in the new town during the evening. As a result, they did not get back to the cottage until after midnight.
'Well, that's over,' said Harry as they entered the house. 'I'm glad we were away from here at midnight.
I was afraid one of you might have become venturesome - as we presume Duncan did.'
'Poor Duncan,' said Major Weston. 'If he did fall into the trap, Chefano probably supposed that it was I. He may have been the fifth man that died.'
Garrison Cooper shuddered.
'I was to have been the sixth victim,' he murmured. 'I am glad it is past midnight!'
Cooper was to sleep in the room which Duncan had occupied. Major Weston went upstairs, leading the way. Harry Vincent remained by the wireless instrument, apparently to make a final call.
He remained there for a full hour. Then he tiptoed noiselessly upstairs. He listened at the two closed doors - first at Cooper's, then at Weston's. Assured that both men were asleep, he retired.
CHAPTER XXXVI. THE SURPRISE
WEDNESDAY was a day of waiting. After one o'clock in the afternoon, Harry sent a few calls, but did not receive a response until nearly six. He repeated the message to his companions:
'Further instructions will follow soon. Unless you are notified differently, follow this plan. Move at eleven o'clock, with Weston and Cooper. Surprise Chefano and the ape-man. Watch out for a third man called Frenchy. He may be in hiding. Wait outside the gates from nine o'clock on, in case the agent of Prince Samanov arrives early. Attack at eleven whether he has come or not. Then wait to meet him. You will not be aided. You three should be sufficient. Circumstances make assistance difficult. Report immediately after operations.'
Harry still kept the ear phones on his head in response to a 'Stand by' that had followed the message.
Code words came again, bringing unexpected instructions. Harry repeated the message aloud:
'Send Major Weston to look at the cabin in the woods. He must go immediately. Tell him to make sure that it is deserted.'
The Englishman left the cottage. Presently another message came.
If Weston has gone, call me to that effect. Be sure that the static eliminator is working. Tell Cooper to watch it.
Harry reached for the sending key. He motioned to Garrison Cooper and pointed toward the box on the table.
'Look in there,' he said. 'Be sure that the lights change regularly. The static must be bad.'
Cooper followed instructions while Harry called. Receiving the reply, he gave the information that Weston had left to investigate the old cabin. The answer came quickly: O.K. Stand by. Important.
Harry waved Cooper from the instrument on the table. He removed his ear phones as he noticed the man's lips were moving.
'I'm worried about Weston,' said Cooper nervously. 'Suppose I go out on the porch and watch for him?'
'All right,' said Harry. 'But stay there until I come. There's no danger at the old cabin. This is just a precaution, I suppose.'
He clamped the ear phones on his head as Cooper left by the front door. A few minutes elapsed. Then came another message:
Important. The stated time of operations remains the same. But immediately upon the return of Major Weston, tell Cooper that -
The message ceased suddenly. Something seemed to have gone wrong with the receiving apparatus.
Harry removed the ear phones and began an investigation. Then he went to the door. Cooper was standing on the steps, looking toward the woods.
'Something has gone wrong with the wireless,' said Harry.
'Have you found the trouble?' asked Cooper anxiously.
'No,' replied Harry. 'Have you seen Weston?'
'Not yet.'
