Doc Savage All-New Wild Adventures 14 The Sinister Shadow by Kenneth Robeson

Author:Kenneth Robeson [Robeson, Kenneth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Action and Adventure
Publisher: Altus Press
Published: 2015-07-04T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter XXXV

SURPRISE VISITOR

AT DOC SAVAGE’S headquarters, the bronze man handed Monk the now-blank sheet of paper and requested, “See if you can bring out the lost writing with chemicals.”

“Gotcha.” Monk ran the note into the big laboratory and began mixing solutions.

Meanwhile, Doc Savage sat down at his desk table, drew a pad of paper and applied sharp pencil lead to it.

Working entirely from memory, he transcribed the enigmatic message exactly as it stood before it had faded into oblivion.

The rendering was perfect. Doc had mimicked the handwriting, too, in case it would prove significant. His memory was phenomenal.

Then, working silently, he attempted to crack the code. It was not simple, nor was it terribly hard. It was a variation on a known substitution code, which permitted a knowledgeable reader to translate it rapidly, but was designed to defeat unfriendly eyes by virtue of the fact that the writing vanished within a minute of perusal.

Translated, it read:

Doc Savage

If you are reading this, you richly deserve your reputation.

Although you rebuffed George Clarendon’s overtures, we have common cause. As a gesture of my goodwill toward you, I share the following.

The Funeral Director is known to me. There is a clue to his identity in his chosen profession.

Beware of visitors bearing unexpected tidings.

I await Marsland’s safe return. Permit no harm to come to him while in your custody.

The missive was unsigned.

Doc’s startled trilling brought Monk Mayfair running.

“What’s up, Doc?”

The bronze man handed him the translated message.

Monk whistled, whether in admiration of the bronze man’s mental feat, or from the contents of the translated message, was uncertain.

“What’s he tryin’ to tell us?”

“That The Shadow is one step ahead of us.”

“Slippery cuss.”

“The Shadow is an exceedingly cunning individual,” admitted Doc. “He will be difficult to run to earth.”

“I didn’t get far with the piece of paper,” Monk reported. “That vanishin’ ink is special stuff; the usual reagents won’t bring it out again.”

“No matter.”

THE PHONE rang. It was Mike Durwell.

“A visitor to see you. Says he’s related to an old friend of yours, a gent named Coffern.”

Doc brightened uncharacteristically. “His full name?”

“Ernest Coffern, brother to Jerome.”

“Send him up,” directed Doc. “But look into his background and report what you discover.”

“Already did. A man by that name is listed in the telephone directory. Lives out on Long Island. City Directory says he’s retired.”

“Thank you,” said Doc, hanging up.

“Since when is Durwell screenin’ our visitors?” wondered Monk.

“It is part of his job,” supplied Doc. “He has established a screening office to intercept unwanted visitors.”

“Yeah, we’re gettin’ quite a rep at that. Say, wasn’t Jerome Coffern that chemistry tutor you had, the one that got killed a while back?’’

“Yes, but I was not aware that he had a brother.”

“You think he’s a phony?”

Doc Savage said, “Let us see what he has to say, before jumping to hasty conclusions.”

WHILE they waited for the visitor to ascend in the elevator, Doc Savage got busy at the great table which served as his desk. Moving an ink blotter aside, he revealed a square of frosted glass—an ingenious television receiver.

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