Shadow's
appearance to-night. In some fashion, The Shadow learned that Alfred Sartain's life was in danger. How
did he gain cognizance of that fact?'
'I can't guess,' returned Ricordo. 'Only The Shadow knows.'
'He did not learn of it through observing you, myself, or Jocelyn,' continued Urlich. 'If he suspected any
one of us, he would have struck in our direction before to-night.'
Larry Ricordo tightened his fists as he heard this theory. The gang leader did not relish the thought of
being tracked by The Shadow.
'Had he suspected Duster Brooks,' analyzed Urlich, 'The Shadow could easily have counteracted
Duster's activities as Sartain's butler. This, therefore, eliminated all possibilities but one.'
'Slips Harbeck?'
'Exactly. Your unwarranted efforts to cover Sartain were the element which led to the failure of my
perfectly-planned scheme.'
'Slips wouldn't have let anything out,' objected Ricordo. 'I just talked to him by telephone and he's a
wise bimbo. I can't figure that, professor.'
'You lack analysis, Ricordo. Slips Harbeck, at your order, assembled a squad of gangsters. I assume
that all of them were reliable men. However, your lieutenant must necessarily have done some talking in
order to obtain his underlings.
'You speak of The Shadow as a constant deterring factor in the underworld. It is quite obvious that he
learned of Harbeck's activities, and promptly covered your lieutenant.'
'That would be The Shadow's way!' blurted Larry Ricordo. 'You've hit it, professor! Maybe he didn't
get onto Slips at first; he might have spotted one of the gorillas getting ready for a job.'
'Two men,' stated Urlich, 'alone knew of your connection. One was Duster Brooks — now dead. The
other is Slips Harbeck — still alive. I need you, Ricordo, and I need the services of your men. I intend to
employ them in the trapping of this man you call The Shadow.
'There is a limit to the amount that any person can know. At present, The Shadow knows that Slips
Harbeck is engaged in unusual crime. If we use some one in place of Slips, The Shadow may be clever
enough to cover your new lieutenant. Slips is capable; we do not want another.'
'You're getting me twisted,' inserted Larry Ricordo. 'I can't quite figure it, professor.'
'Wait until I have finished,' remarked Urlich. 'We have one purpose at present: to end the career of The
Shadow. Our way, then, will be clear. The Shadow, on the contrary, is seeking to prevent death. He
succeeded by covering Slips Harbeck; therefore, he will continue to cover Slips.'
'And then — '
'He will seek to destroy any plot in which Slips is concerned. Therefore, I will plan an apparent
trap — like the one I had for Alfred Sartain — which The Shadow will investigate.'
'Getting wise to it by watching Slips?'
'Exactly. But on this occasion, the trap will be set for The Shadow himself!'
A GLOATING grin appeared upon Larry Ricordo's evil face. He saw the purpose now. Once again,
Slips Harbeck would be summoned by his ganglord chief. But this time, Slips would be a cat's-paw, the
agent who would lead The Shadow into one of Professor Folcroft Urlich's subtle snares!
'But if The Shadow is covering Slips,' said Ricordo, voicing a momentary doubt, 'he's liable to bump off
Slips at any time — '
'Not a bit of it,' interposed Urlich. 'He knows by now that Slips is merely a tool in the game. Why
should he end the link that may lead him to those higher up?'
'To you and me,' growled Ricordo, in a troubled tone.
'To you, first,' stated Urlich. 'But have no fear on that score. You have kept out of sight very effectively,
Ricordo. You will continue to do so in even better fashion. You will remain with me. You will be safe
here.
'Even if Slips Harbeck should reveal your name, it would prove to our advantage. I would like nothing
better' — the scientist's venomous smile proved his words—'than to have The Shadow visit me here.
That, however, should prove unnecessary.
'Your first duty is to give Slips Harbeck instructions by telephone. Tell him to wait frequently at the place
where he hears from you. Within a few days, the time will be ripe. You will be forced to leave here long
enough to plant the trap; but no one will be the wiser, for you will do that work alone.
'Slips Harbeck knows nothing of Jocelyn. We need not fear that link. Furthermore, Jocelyn's valet,
Grewson, is secretly in our employ; and we can question him regularly regarding matters there.'
'If Slips is being watched by The Shadow,' declared Ricordo, 'we might take a long shot and let Slips
try to get him with a mob — '
'No,' stated Urlich decisively. 'That shows your error, Ricordo. You lack tactical experience. Such
action would not only reveal our purpose; it would also be futile. We can be sure that when The Shadow
covers Slips Harbeck, he is prepared for emergency. Furthermore, we have no proof that The Shadow,
himself, is the one who is observing Slips.'
'That's a good point,' admitted Ricordo. 'I've heard it noised about that The Shadow has some smart
guys working for him. If one of his stool pigeons is on the job, we'd be wasting our time. You've got the
right idea, sure enough. We've got to put a smooth one across on The Shadow, using Slips to do it.'
Professor Folcroft Urlich smiled and nodded as the gang leader voiced this final approval of the plan. He
watched Ricordo's face. He saw a perplexed expression come upon the hardened features. Calmly, he
voiced the question that was in Ricordo's mind.
'You are wondering,' said Urlich, 'what method I intend to use to eliminate The Shadow.'
'I was thinking that,' admitted Ricordo.
'I shall show you,' smiled the professor. 'Come with me, to the laboratory. After that, you can
communicate with Slips Harbeck.'
The professor led the way down the spiral staircase. Larry Ricordo followed, still wondering.
Bewilderment was within the gang leader's brain. Tonight, he had seen The Shadow act. Now, he was to
see plans prepared for The Shadow's doom!
Silent death! How did Professor Urlich intend to loose it now? Larry Ricordo wondered; and through his
evil mind ran the thought that at last The Shadow would encounter a superman who would prove his
equal!
CHAPTER VII. THE SHADOW LEARNS
SLIPS HARBECK'S favored underworld resort was a notorious dive known as Red Mike's. This place,
which gained its name from its proprietor, was a meeting place for gangsters that existed under police
tolerance. It was an underground speakeasy frequented by those members of the bad lands who were
temporarily free from trouble with the law.
'Red Mike,' the owner of the dive, was not a gangster. On the contrary, he did not side with the police.
He knew his customers, and let them come and go, provided that they watched their actions while on his
premises.
Hence the police preferred to let Red Mike run his joint; for it served as a constant attraction to mobsters
who were wanted by the authorities; and on more than one occasion, observant detectives had picked up
known criminals in that vicinity.
Slips Harbeck had chosen Red Mike's as his hangout because it made an ideal headquarters for the
