reached a hall above; here were doors on all sides. The professor opened one and brought Ricordo into
a small room that was equipped like an office. It had a single window.
Glancing from this opening, Ricordo made out the shape of the building. The first floor was like a huge
cylinder of large diameter, but of stunted height. The second was of less diameter, for it had no portico.
The third, where they were now located, was even smaller in diameter.
This allowed for the skylights in the laboratory and made the building take on its pagodalike shape. Like
an Egyptian pyramid, this odd edifice was built in steps, but it was circular, not square.
Ricordo found himself wondering what might be on that first floor, with the circular passage which they
had followed. He asked no questions, however. Professor Urlich was speaking, and Ricordo turned
away from the window to face the scientist.
'To-night,' said the professor, 'we encountered temporary defeat. When we saw police detectives enter
Alfred Sartain's studio, we knew that there was no further hope. That is why I told Thomas Jocelyn to go
to his residence; it is also why I brought you here, Ricordo. It was not wise to remain in that office across
the street.'
'You're right it wasn't,' returned Ricordo. 'Not with The Shadow on the job. I'm worried yet, professor.'
Urlich indicated a telephone.
'Communicate with Slips Harbeck,' he ordered. 'Call the number in the usual fashion. This telephone,
Ricordo, is arranged on a special wire. It cannot be traced. It has the number of a telephone in a
deserted house miles from here.'
Ricordo grinned and picked up the telephone. He called a Manhattan number, the underworld spot
where Slips Harbeck made his headquarters. Professor Urlich went out of the room while the gang
leader talked with his lieutenant. When he returned, he glanced inquiringly at Ricordo.
'THE SHADOW queered the job all right,' stated Larry. 'He nailed those two gorillas in Sartain's studio.
He nicked the other pair, and he almost got Slips. The only reason they made a get-away was because
Brooks put up a fight.
'Slips had a guy watching the apartment house. He says The Shadow got Brooks in the finish. The cops
brought out the body.'
A quizzical frown appeared upon Professor Urlich's forehead. The evil-faced scientist studied his
gang-lord aid. He put forth a question that startled Larry Ricordo.
'Tell me,' demanded Urlich, 'who is this whom you call The Shadow? The one whom we saw to-night.
Let me know all that you have learned concerning him.'
'The Shadow?' Ricordo's question was tinged with awe. 'Say, professor, I spilled a lot about him back
there in the office — until you told me to let the matter rest until later.'
'You were excited then,' interposed Urlich. 'At present, we are quiet. You can speak with calmness.
What is The Shadow? Is he a gang leader, like yourself — or is he a detective?'
'No one knows what he is,' confessed Ricordo. 'That bird must have a racket all his own. He crowds in
on any good lay that he hears about, and puts the kibosh on it. He's not hooked up with the bulls; he's
not a crook.'
'You mean,' quizzed Urlich, 'that he is a roving personage of the underworld, seeking adventure through
encounters with dangerous criminals?'
'That's about it,' admitted Ricordo. 'There's plenty of big shots that have missed out when they met The
Shadow. Plenty have checked out, too. He plays a cute game, professor. Lays back and lets a good lay
get all set; then steps into it himself.'
'Remarkable,' observed the scientist. 'I have heard of this person, but I preferred to regard him as a
myth. However, after to-night — '
'To-night!' ejaculated the gang leader. 'Say, professor, you don't realize what we saw to-night. We saw
The Shadow at work! Get that? Saw him, and got away with it!'
'Is that unusual?'
'Is it unusual? Listen, professor, it's lucky for us we were tucked out of sight across the street. You saw
what he did to those two gorillas, didn't you? Well, we'd have taken it, too, if he'd known we were
around!'
'Do you think so?' Professor Urlich's tone was ironical. 'Well, Ricordo, I believe you are wrong. The
Shadow — as you term him — is unquestionably a dangerous foe. I observed that fact tonight.
'At the same time, it is quite obvious that he utilizes the inferior methods that you employ: open attack,
with apparent violence.
'Such cannot compare with the ways at my disposal. Silent death— subtle death — those are more
dangerous than ordinary weapons. You saw my method this evening. It failed; but that was not Alfred
Sartain's doing. The intervention of The Shadow was the unknown factor that I had not anticipated.'
'Maybe not,' objected Ricordo, in a bitter tone, 'but, just the same, The Shadow queered the works.
What are we going to do about it? Old Jocelyn has lost out on his big deal, hasn't he?'
'Jocelyn will not suffer,' returned Urlich calmly. 'His holdings are sound. Perhaps he will lose something
on them. That will not matter. He will regain the loss later on. Alfred Sartain was but one of those who
are upon our list.'
'Now you're getting there,' grinned Ricordo. 'We're going right ahead, eh? Well, we're all
right — providing The Shadow doesn't muscle in again.'
'I am glad to hear you consider that possibility,' cackled Urlich. 'It has much to do with the plans that I
now contemplate. We are going to forget Thomas Jocelyn for the present. We will give him time to
recuperate; both nervously and financially. In the meantime, we will render the future certain.'
'How?'
'By eliminating The Shadow!'
LARRY RICORDO spread his puffy lips as he heard the professor's words. His expression was one of
astonishment. Then the open mouth formed a broad, doubting grin.
'You won't be able to do it, professor,' declared the gang leader, with regret in his tone. 'How can you
fight a man you can't find? They've tried to get The Shadow before. He's stopped every one that's
chanced it.
'When the big shots found that The Shadow was real, they framed every way they could think of. They
even planted a bunch of gorillas around the radio studio where he broadcast. They never found him there.
'When he shows up any place, it's like he did to-night — through a skylight — out of the air — from the
middle of a mob — '
'They lacked technique,' interrupted Urlich impatiently. 'I am different from those of whom you speak. I
not only possess incredible methods of dealing with my enemies; I am also analytical. It is not necessary
to find The Shadow. There is a simpler way.'
'What's that?'
'Let him try to find us.'
'How?'
Professor Urlich smiled. He shook his head as he studied Larry Ricordo. The gang leader's bewilderment
was proof that his ability lay with guns and not with strategy.
'There is a cause for everything,' observed Urlich. 'We must, therefore, seek the cause of The
