Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 093 by Maxwel l Grant

Author:Maxwel,l Grant
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf

CHAPTER XIX. THE SHADOW DECODES

KERRY, alone, had trailed Jack Freth tonight. The Shadow had been absent; so for that matter, were his agents. Moe Shrevnitz, with his taxi; Hawkeye, the clever spotter - either of these could have covered Freth with ease.

There were reasons why The Shadow had let Freth go his way unwatched. Chief among these was the fact that The Shadow had located Dirk Bardo. He knew where the murderer was; he knew where the murderer would stay. In Suite 2600, almost above the ceiling of The Shadow's room at the Hotel Framton.

The Shadow had set himself to a task that required no assistants, other than Clyde Burke, who had served although a prisoner. Agents, tonight, might produce complications. The Shadow had no reason to cover anyone - not even the big shot behind the murders.

For The Shadow knew that Pete Tarmagan's code was the key to ultimate crime. He had gained a copy of that code, from the ledge of the twenty-fifth floor. Along with Clyde Burke's message, the square-blocked paper was lying on a writing table in 2504.

Open crime would be forestalled until that code was solved. Should The Shadow gain the solution before Dirk Bardo, he could perform a double task. First, he could secretly remove Tarmagan's millions from their hiding place. Second, he could turn the hiding place into a trap. Crooks would come for swag. They would find trouble.

THE SHADOW had already arranged matters so that he would be the first to gain the secret of the code. If Curtis Fribbs should succeed, he would keep his knowledge secret. That assured The Shadow of time to solve the code himself; then complete his plans.

The rescue of the upstairs prisoners would not be a great problem if all went well. The Shadow had a definite idea concerning Dirk Bardo's plans. Murder would not follow as soon as Fribbs produced a decoded message for Dirk.

It would be policy for Dirk to leave Bert guarding the prisoners. The killer would not want a new trail of murder until after he had gained the swag. Dirk would go out alone, pull the job with others, then come back to handle the three captives who knew too much about him.

To offset such procedure, The Shadow intended to return to the Framton after completing all arrangements for Dirk's capture. A radioed message would tell Clyde Burke to have Fribbs end his delay. The expert would finally solve the cryptogram. The Shadow would be outside the window when Fribbs had the decoded message ready.

If Dirk should seek murder first, The Shadow would be there to balk him. Should Dirk go along his way, The Shadow would wait and deal with Bert Hagrew alone. That would leave The Shadow free to follow after Dirk Bardo. If all went well, the murderer would lead others into the trap along with himself.

The big shot? Perhaps he would be snared with Dirk. If not, The Shadow could reach him later. Last night's events had shown The Shadow how cleverly the master crook was covering his ways.

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