'You have tried to trick us,' he declared. 'Professor Whitburn had duplicate plans. Those
have been destroyed. Possibly they were the originals. It is also possible that another set
exists. These tracings do not satisfy me.'
Dadren remained unresponding. Hildrow recognized that he could not combat the
commander's iron will. Turning to Hasker, Hildrow snapped a new question.
'Where are the originals?' he demanded. 'Back in the office at Cedar Cove?'
'I don't think so, chief.'
'Why not?'
'Because the skipper—Dadren, here—told Wilkins to end the patrols while he was away.
Last night somebody—I don't know who it was—tried to break into the lab. If the originals
were back at headquarters, Wilkins would still be patrolling -'
'That's enough. It is apparent that nothing can be learned at Cedar Cove. Do you think that
these tracings are the only plans?'
'I guess they are, chief. Unless they -'
'Unless what?' demanded Hildrow, as Hasker paused.
'When we were ready to hop off,' remarked Hasker, in a reflective growl, 'Dadren here said
something to his secretary. Told him to come up to Washington. To bring papers with him.
Vincent is leaving on the afternoon express. I was just thinking, chief, that maybe Vincent -'
'Never mind the 'maybe', Hasker,' sneered Hildrow, still staring squarely at Commander
Dadren. 'You told me all I need to know. That fellow Vincent is the man we want.'
Turning, Hildrow buzzed instructions in Korsch's ear. The hatchet-faced man nodded, as he
turned the car on to a main road. One mile further on, he took another side road and pulled
up beside an old house where a coupe was standing.
As Hildrow alighted from the sedan, Korsch gave a signal. A couple of tough-looking aids
stepped from the coupe.
Hildrow beckoned Hasker from the sedan. One of Korsch's men entered the back and took
his post beside Commander Dadren. The other took Hildrow's place in front. Hildrow gave
an order to Korsch.
'Take this man up the river,' ordered Hildrow, indicating Dadren. 'Hold him there until you
receive further orders. I am taking the coupe. Send a man in to get it from the usual
Washington garage.'
THE sedan pulled away. Hildrow watched until it was out of sight. Then the false-bearded
plotter beckoned to Hasker. The two entered the coupe. Hildrow took the wheel; as the car
started toward the main road, he spoke to Hasker.
'I am taking you to Tarksburg,' declared Hildrow. 'There we shall make new contact with
Wenshell. You will operate with him. We are going to capture those missing plans.'
Hildrow continued to talk in a cold, harsh tone as he guided the coupe along the high road.
As the plotter talked, Hasker listened, signifying his understanding by occasional nods.
Spellbound by Hildrow's cleverness, Hasker was hearing the scheme whereby his evil chief
expected to gain new success.
CHAPTER X. THE SHADOW'S TURN
WHILE Eric Hildrow was planning to follow up the capture of Commander Joseph Dadren,
he was doing so with the confidence that, thus far, his methods had been entirely successful.
Hildrow was sure that he had disposed of troublesome persons on the night before.
The arch-plotter would have been astounded could he have looked in upon the house of
Professor Arthur Whitburn. The building on the wooded isle stood serene amid the morning
daylight. Death Island had lost its sinister aspect. Within the house itself was a scene of
quiet comfort.
Professor Whitburn was in his study. The white-haired inventor was working at his
flat-topped desk. He had cleared away books and papers in order to make room for Quex.
The big tiger-cat was lapping up the contents of a large bowl of milk.
Bragg had returned that morning. He had found the note on the cat's collar when he had
discovered Quex at the front door. Bragg had descended to unlock the door of the
submarine chamber. Professor Whitburn and Stephen had accompanied him up the stairs.
Bragg had not seen The Shadow. That spectral visitant had remained silent and motionless
in his place by the torpedo tube. His keen eyes had been fixed upon Bragg when the man
entered; but Bragg, horrified at the sight of dead bodies, had never glanced in The
Shadow's direction.
Professor Whitburn had left the door open after he and Stephen had joined Bragg. Up in his
study, the old inventor had given Bragg a brief description of what had occurred. He had
given credit to himself and Stephen for thinking out the scheme of putting Quex through the
periscope tube. Furthermore, he had motioned to Stephen to say nothing to the contrary.
Stephen had gone to the laboratory. Bragg had returned to the motor boat to get some
packages that he had brought from the mainland. Professor Whitburn had said that he
wished to be alone. The old man had an idea that he would soon receive a visit from The
Shadow.
A SOUND from the door caused Quex to look up from the bowl of milk. The professor stared
in the same direction. His face showed annoyance when saw Bragg standing in the
doorway.
'I did not tell you to come back here, Bragg,' declared Whitburn. 'Moreover, you must knock
when you wish admittance to this room.'
No reply. Whitburn stared at the placid, rounded face of his subordinate. Bragg was a man
with a somewhat owlish expression. His lips had a solemn droop that they maintained while
Whitburn stared.
'What ails you, Bragg?' demanded the professor. 'Why do you stand there staring like a
lout? Speak up, man!'
A soft laugh came from Bragg's drooping lips. The sound brought Whitburn to his feet.
Though the laugh was no more than a whisper, it carried an echo of the mirth that the old
professor had heard within the walls of the submarine chamber.
This was not Bragg. It was The Shadow!
The thought was startling as it drove through Whitburn's brain. The professor understood
what The Shadow had meant when he stated that he would like to see Bragg after the man
returned.
The Shadow had come from the submarine chamber. Ascending to the roof, he had
obtained a suitcase from the autogyro. In the lonely tower room, he had made himself up to
resemble Bragg. The rest of his plan was apparent to Professor Whitburn.
Looking to the desk, the old inventor picked up the note that Polmore had written for Bragg.
It had not been opened, for Bragg had come directly to the submarine room after
discovering Quex outside the front door.
The Shadow took the message that Eric Hildrow had dictated to Polmore.
He read its contents; then returned the note to Whitburn.
The message instructed Bragg to come the Hotel Halcyon, in New York; there to inquire for
Professor Whitburn. Its tenor indicated that the professor had left for an important
conference; that he wanted his aids there to listen in on the discussion of some new
experiments.
'Do you intend to go in Bragg's place?' inquired Whitburn, looking up at The Shadow.
'Yes. I shall leave immediately.' Whitburn was astonished at The Shadow's excellent
