giving the heirs a receipt for the amount.
'In a sense,' purred Bradthaw, 'the funds will be insured. We shall take care of them and shall also arrange for your departure.'
To Strampf and Caudrey, that smug statement had a double meaning. The funds were insured; but Caudrey was the person who held the claim. As for the departure of the Melrues, that was to have a rapid sequel. Bradthaw intended prompt doom for the swindled dupes.
'There is just one point,' remarked Bradthaw. 'In undertaking custody of these funds, I must be sure that you have mentioned the money to no one.'
He looked from George to Francine as he spoke. It was the girl who answered:
'We have spoken to no one but The Shadow.'
'Only Francine talked to him,' added George. 'Since you are working with him, Mr. Bradthaw we are quite willing to entrust you with our wealth.'
George picked up the suitcase to hand it to Bradthaw. Francine stopped him.
'Wait!' Francine's tone was firm. 'We trust you, Mr. Bradthaw, but there is one thing that puzzles us. We expected to meet The Shadow here.'
George started to disagree with his sister. Bradthaw smilingly stopped George's objection.
'Of course,' agreed the master-crook. 'It simply happens that The Shadow was detained.'
'By whom?' insisted Francine
'By other business,' replied Bradthaw. 'That is why he left the matter entirely in my hands. I know what is in your mind, Miss Melrue. You fear that some impostor represented himself as The Shadow, in order to deceive me. Am I correct?'
'Yes,' said Francine, firmly. 'I feel that we should have sufficient proof of your connection with The Shadow.'
OBLIGINGLY, Bradthaw arose from his desk. He ushered the others out through the door that led to the short stairway. With George carrying the bag, they went up to the tower room.
There, Bradthaw pressed a switch that controlled the ceiling light. Francine and George stared at the black- walled sanctum.
'The Shadow's own headquarters,' expressed Bradthaw in a hushed tone. 'Something that he allows few persons to see. I felt that you - like Caudrey and Strampf - were among the privileged.'
Gawking, George Melrue asked:
'You mean that this Shadow chap actually works from here, Mr. Bradthaw?'
'Of course!' replied the smooth-toned crook. 'That is how he happened to become interested in your case. It began with the attempted theft of Miss Melrue's gems. You see' - Bradthaw turned to Francine -
'The Shadow foresaw that your gems might be stolen.'
'He mentioned that,' admitted Francine, 'but I did not know exactly why he was interested.'
'Because you had insured the jewels,' smiled Bradthaw. 'I shall divulge a secret. The Shadow is in the employ of the Solidarity Insurance Company.'
'But my gems were insured by another company -'
'Which we control. That explains everything Miss Melrue. Here is my receipt for three million dollars. Let us have the suitcase.'
George handed over the bag when Francine took the receipt. Bradthaw told Strampf and Caudrey to stack the funds on The Shadow's table. They counted the amount. It came to more than three million.
'That calls for a correction on the receipt,' remarked Bradthaw. 'Let me have the paper, Miss Melrue.'
Francine opened her purse and looked for the paper. She had trouble finding it. Bradthaw looked on indulgently. He had no suspicion of what was due. Francine's hand popped suddenly into view.
Instead of the receipt, the girl produced a gun. She pointed the small caliber revolver straight for Bradthaw. In quick tones Francine ordered:
'Raise your hands, Mr. Bradthaw! Don't make a move! That applies to your fellow criminals. One move from them, I shall shoot you dead!'
FRANCINE'S threat carried real weight. Bradthaw knew how valiantly the girl had battled crooks at her apartment. His hands came upward.
The moment that they rose, Strampf and Caudrey were left powerless. They depended entirely upon Bradthaw. Neither dared make a move while their chief was in danger.
Despite his startlement, Bradthaw was crafty. He actually smiled as he faced the muzzle of Francine's gun.
'You are making a terrible mistake!' reasoned the criminal insurance official as convincing as ever. 'It is dangerous to draw a gun without provocation. You are nervous, Miss Melrue. If your finger should tighten on that trigger, you might kill me!'
'Which is what you deserve,' Francine told him. 'Stand where you are! You are more than a thief. You are a murderer!'
Bradthaw's cold eyes became stern.
'The crime of murder will be yours,' he declared. 'This is a grave mistake, Miss Melrue. I advise you to put away that gun. I am sorry that I am not close enough to take it from you. If only I had the opportunity
-'
As he spoke Bradthaw looked toward George Melrue. The young man caught the significance of the statement that failed to impress Francine. George was close enough; with a quick grab, he seized his sister's gun.
Francine gave a startled gasp. She tried to shout a warning; but Bradthaw was upon her, silencing her cry with a firm-pressed hand.
Before George could understand, Strampf and Caudrey reached him. Strampf snatched Francine's gun from George's fist. Caudrey produced a revolver of his own.
Five seconds later, the heirs were helpless. Strampf had Francine covered. George was facing the muzzle of Caudrey's revolver. Standing back, Bradthaw surveyed the prisoners. His expression was no longer genial, nor was his tone friendly.
Eyes glinting, Bradthaw rasped:
'You have guessed too much! So I shall tell you more. I am the man who sought your wealth, because I insured it for Caudrey! It goes to him; not to you! I have saved myself a payment of three million dollars; and, in return, I acquire a premium of three hundred thousand!'
With that statement, Bradthaw's lips took on an insidious smile. To emphasize his declaration, he added:
'As for The Shadow, he is dead! He died before you ever went to the hiding place that he provided for you. Death will be yours as well! You shall die, because The Shadow is dead!'
Evil triumph marked the finish of Bradthaw's sentence. Black-curtained walls carried the echo of those words:
'The Shadow is dead!'
Marvin Bradthaw liked that echo. He took it as an excellent omen to accompany his decree of doom.
CHAPTER XXII. THE LAW LEARNS
DESPITE the menace that confronted her, Francine Melrue showed no terror. Bravely, the girl met Bradthaw's evil gaze; her chin showed its old determination. Turning away, Francine saw George, hopeless and bewildered.
'Don't worry, George,' pleaded the girl. 'It was my fault. I was too hasty, that was all.'
'If you had only told me more, sis,' interjected George, 'perhaps I would have understood. I thought that The Shadow -'
George hesitated. But in his words, Francine caught the very inference she wanted. For once, George was showing spunk where it was needed.
'Tell Mr. Bradthaw what you thought, George.'
Francine's statement caught Bradthaw's attention. He looked to George for the answer. Francine smiled as
