'When you walked in, I knew that The Shadow was playing his part in the game. I knew that
he expected me to cooperate with you. I am ready to do so. With that understanding, I
should like to hear anything that you are permitted to tell me.'
'That fits in with my instructions,' replied Harry, in a frank tone. 'However, there is very little
that I can tell you. I was watching affairs at Cedar Cove. I found nothing to report. Then I
received instructions to prevent Commander Dadren from taking off with the plans.
'I faked a burglary in the commander's laboratory. Dadren thought enemies were about; he
gave me the plans that I brought here to Senator Releston. I thought that I was carrying the
plans complete. But there is something else, Vic. That robbery on the Northern Express, last
evening.'
'You were in the mess?'
'Yes—but I gave a name other than my own. I knew that Senator Releston would clear me if
the sheriff learned that I had given a fictitious identity. Those bandits, Vic, were after the
briefcase that I carried.'
'You knew them?'
'One of them.'
'Who was he?'
'Hasker, the mechanic who disappeared with Dadren.'
VIC MARQUETTE stopped his momentary pacing. He stared at Harry in amazement. This,
indeed, was news to the Secret Service operative. At last, Vic found his voice.
'Great work, Vincent,' he commended. 'Keeping that out of the news was a big help.
They've got Dadren. It's a sure bet they'll be after the plans that the senator is keeping here.
You heard me suggest that those plans be taken to the Navy Department.'
'I did. Do you intend to press the matter?'
'No. I have changed my opinion. I want the plans to remain here.'
It was Harry's turn to show surprise. Vic Marquette smiled. Then the Secret Service man
explained himself.
'The plans will stay here,' he declared. 'So will you and I. We'll work together watching them,
along with these subordinates whom the senator trusts. A lot of visitors come here, Vincent.
The senator has his regular offices over in the senate building, but he receives certain
persons here.
'We're going to check on every one who comes in. We'll see if the crooks show themselves.
When they do, we can trap them. I'll arrange matters with my department. So far as The
Shadow is concerned—well, it will be your job to keep in touch with him.'
Vic motioned Harry from his chair. The Secret Service man led the way back to Releston's
office. They found the senator seated at his desk. Stollart was in a corner, filing papers in a
large cabinet.
'I've been talking with Vincent,' declared Marquette to Releston. 'He tells me there was
trouble at Cedar Cove the night before Commander Dadren left. I think that we may be due
for trouble here, if you keep those plans in your safe.'
'I am following Commander Dadren's request,' returned the senator. 'He entrusted the
plans to me and specified that they should be kept here until -'
'I know,' interposed Vic, bluntly. 'But he also trusted Vincent; and I have my duties as a
Secret Service operative. That's why I'm suggesting that Vincent and I remain here while you
are keeping the plans in your vault.'
'An excellent suggestion!' commended Releston, warmly. 'I shall feel much more at ease if
you two are on duty. Arrange that as you see fit, Marquette. This apartment is a large one.
We shall have room for you.'
'Good!' declared Marquette. 'One more point, senator. We have every reason to believe
that Commander Dadren has been abducted. Vincent was aboard the Northern Express
last night. One of the unidentified bandits was Hasker.'
'What! The mechanic with Dadren?'
'The same. He was in the plot. He came with the gang because he could point out Vincent.
Those bandits were fakes. They were after the briefcase that contained the plans.'
'This seems incredible! Yet we can rely upon Vincent's statement.'
'Exactly, senator. It's a good break that the news was kept out of the newspapers. That's
why I want it all to remain quiet. Let the public think that Commander Dadren crashed.'
'But if he was actually kidnapped, the law should know -'
'The law does know. I shall report to my superior. Leave this to the Secret Service, senator.
It's our best chance to find Dadren.'
Senator Releston considered Vic's statement. At last, he nodded his consent.
'For the present, Marquette,' he said, 'I shall agree to your suggestion. If you fail to gain
results, I shall reverse my decision. The case is in your hands for the time being.'
Vic Marquette smiled in satisfaction. He nodded as he turned to Harry Vincent. The game
was on. Vic and Harry were installed. They had begun their duty as guardians at the spot
where new crime must surely strike.
CHAPTER XIV. REPORTS RECEIVED
FIVE days had passed since Harry Vincent's arrival in Washington. Air scouts had combed
the region south of Washington. They had gained no sign of Commander Dadren's lost
amphibian. The disappearance of the former naval officer was no longer news. It was
classed publicly as another tragedy of the air.
High in a Washington hotel, a calm-faced personage was seated at a table, reading a
message inscribed in blue-inked code. Keen eyes studied the written lines, eyes that
burned from a hawklike visage. They watched the bluish code words fade.
This was The Shadow. Registered under the name of Henry Arnaud, he was staying in
Washington. The fading message was a report from Harry Vincent. Like all communications
between The Shadow and his agents, it was written in ink that vanished, thanks to a formula
of The Shadow's creation.
As at Cedar Cove, Harry had found nothing amiss. He and Vic Marquette were constantly
on duty, along with Stollart and the servants. They had checked on the various visitors who
had come to Senator Releston's. None had aroused their suspicions.
Harry's report struck one sour note. That concerned the attitude of Senator Ross Releston. In
his agreement with Vic Marquette's plan, Releston had specified a temporary arrangement,
dependent upon progress in the finding of Commander Dadren. Vic, counting upon a move
by the enemy, had made no step in the search for the missing flier.
Hence Senator Releston had openly announced that the time limit was nearly up.
Soon—whether Vic liked it or not—the senator intended to make public certain facts
regarding Dadren's invention. The result would be a nationwide man-hunt.
Harry had passed this news along to The Shadow. It brought no worriment to The Shadow's
masklike visage. Dropping the blank report sheets into a wastebasket, The Shadow
laughed softly. Staring from the window, he studied the varied vista of the national capital.
His eyes gleamed.
Somewhere close at hand lay the master plotter. Well did The Shadow know that the
unknown enemy would not be far. Though Eric Hildrow had managed to keep his identity
from The Shadow, he had failed to cover up his methods.
At Death Island, at Cedar Cove, Hildrow had utilized an excellent spy system. Traitors had
