'I'm guessing. But it's a good guess. Suppose The Shadow discovered where you've
hidden Dadren. Would he be able to get him out?'
'Yes'- Hildrow was slow with the admission—'but when the crew found Dadren missing -'
'He wouldn't be missing.'
'Why not?'
'Because, chief, The Shadow could have taken his place. Armed and ready for immediate
action, he wouldn't mind a fight -'
'But Korsch knows what Dadren looks like.'
'So does Vincent. Better than anybody else.'
Hildrow whacked a big hand squarely upon Stollart's back. For once, the master plotter was
enthusiastic.
'You've got it, Stollart!' he exclaimed. 'The whole thing fits. The Shadow found the hide-out.
Got in with Dadren and talked to him. Dadren spilled the news about the letter that he had
sent to Releston.'
'That's the only way it could have leaked out,' put in Stollart.
'So The Shadow steered Dadren back to Washington,' continued Hildrow. 'The Shadow
stayed in his place. But even then, The Shadow was foxy. He told Dadren to get the plans
clear away from Releston's.'
'Because he suspected that you had a spy there,' added Stollart, in a troubled tone.
'Dadren didn't have to fool anybody. He was himself. But he fooled me. The Shadow had
tipped him to look for a spy, chief. The Shadow knew you were coming in as Dadren.
'That's why Dadren told me to work with him. I gave myself away, thinking Dadren was you.
He's ducked somewhere. He's waiting out of sight in Washington. Waiting for The Shadow
to show up.'
Grimly, Hildrow wheeled the car from the curb. He took a new course. Stollart, still troubled,
spoke as they rode rapidly along.
'You're not taking me back to Releston's, chief,' he pleaded. 'I tell you, I'll be a goner if you
do. I've worked with you. The jig's up. I've got to duck for cover -'
'That's what you're doing,' interposed Hildrow. 'I'm doing two jobs at once. We're heading
for the hideout where I had Dadren. It's a safe place.'
'Far from here?' Stollart was still troubled.
'Up the Potomac,' responded Hildrow. 'We're moving there fast. Not on your account,
Stollart—because you're safe enough. I'm out to get The Shadow before he makes trouble.
'Korsch is guarding the fellow that he thinks is Dadren. The Shadow will be smart enough
not to make a break until he knows Dadren is in the clear. I got in mighty close after Dadren.
The Shadow doesn't know how quick I worked.
'We'll be back at the hide-out before he pulls his get-away. Likely, anyway, that he'd wait
until nearly dark. Thinking I was buffaloed. Figuring me running around Washington like a
loon.'
HILDROW pressed the accelerator as they came to a clear stretch of road. The coupe
swayed along at terrific speed. The crook handled it with care at every turn. Soon he was on
the course that led above the Great Falls.
He did not speak again until they had reached the wheel tracks that led to the decrepit
bridge. Then the master plotter turned to Stollart, who was sitting, anxious-eyed, beside him.
'All quiet along the Potomac,' chuckled Hildrow. 'There's the old bridge. Korsch has a
cottage hidden on the island. We're here in time. We'll find our man.'
With this prophecy, Hildrow turned the car across the bridge. All was silent about the cottage
when the master plotter and his accomplice alighted.
Only the faint rippling of the river disturbed the peaceful scene. Korsch, coming from the
porch, stared in amazement as he saw a man whom he mistook for Commander Dadren.
The hatchet-faced man reached for a gun; then he caught a signal from Hildrow.
Korsch understood. Nodding, he preserved the silence as the two approached. In a whisper,
Hildrow introduced Stollart; then explained matters to Korsch. Quietly, they went into the
house.
The lull had been maintained. Eric Hildrow, craftier than ever, was preparing for a battle with
The Shadow.
CHAPTER XXI. THE SHADOW'S FIGHT
AS soon as the arrivals had entered the cottage, Korsch went into a room on the right. Three
men were lounging there. Korsch beckoned to them. Drawing his revolver, the hatchet-faced
man buzzed instructions to these underlings.
Korsch led the group upstairs while Hildrow and Stollart were entering the little office. Still
wearing the disguise that made him resemble Commander Joseph Dadren, Hildrow took a
chair behind the desk. Producing a revolver, he laid it beside him. The pair waited.
Upstairs, Korsch and his squad were cautiously approaching a closed door, where a guard
was on duty. Motioning this man aside, Korsch unlocked the door and opened it. He entered
a somber room. Its windows were closed with shutters; only the lifted slats admitted light.
A figure stirred on a cot. Korsch studied a dim face. This prisoner looked like Dadren, but
the light was too dim to be certain. Covering his quarry with the gun, Korsch ordered him
into the hall.
The prisoner stepped squarely into the path of looming muzzles. Surprised, he raised his
hands. Korsch tapped him for weapons and found none.
'March him downstairs,' he ordered. 'Hold him outside the office until I go in.'
The prisoner was conducted to the ground floor. Korsch paused by the office door. These
men of his had not seen Hildrow's face. Korsch explained.
'You'll see the chief behind the desk,' he stated, 'but he won't be wearing the beard. He'll
look like Dadren, just like this guy does. Keep the prisoner covered.'
Korsch entered. He took his stand by Hildrow. The plotter gripped his gun. Both he and
Korsch were covering the door when the other man thrust the prisoner into view.
Hildrow stared at the blinking countenance of Commander Joseph Dadren. The light was full
upon the prisoner's face. Hildrow saw a puzzled look in Dadren's eyes as the commander
stared at him.
The prisoner knew that this was Hildrow. Korsch's reference to the chief was proof of that.
But the astonishment that showed on Dadren's face was genuine. He had not expected
Hildrow to be in this disguise.
RISING from his chair, Hildrow stared across the desk. He examined Dadren's countenance
at close range. The others stared in unrestrained interest. Like a man inspecting his own
reflection, Hildrow was studying every detail of Dadren's face.
'Guns down,' ordered Hildrow, lowering his own revolver. 'There's nothing to worry about.
This is Commander Dadren, right enough. We still hold him'- a chuckle—'and Senator
Releston will pay high to get him back.
'Take him upstairs, Korsch, and keep a double guard. We thought you had fooled us,
Dadren. You made a good guess, Stollart'- without turning, Hildrow was speaking to the
man in the obscure corner—'but your hunch was wrong. The Shadow never located this
hide-out -'
Hildrow paused abruptly. Dropping back from the desk, he turned. With him swerved Korsch
