Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 221 by Maxwel l Grant

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

CHAPTER XII. THE UNFORGOTTEN MAN.

Two days without a murder. Commissioner Weston felt that he had accomplished something, though how, he could not have explained. Nevertheless, Weston was willing to take the credit, just as a matter of policy. He felt that when the police claimed to be curbing crime, the claim itself would produce a restraining effect.

Weston mentioned these points to Cranston, and was rather annoyed when his friend showed traces of a smile.

The Shadow had valid reasons for taking credit to himself, though he was not doing so. Twice he had been an actual witness to murder, and on both occasions had nearly thwarted the so-called suicides that followed the assassinations.

Moreover, he recognized that those suicides were unintended, and had proven his point by actually tracing other persons in the game.

The set-to at the West Side garage had been The Shadow's open challenge to hidden hands of crime. If they had reported it to the head man who ruled them, that unknown master of evil might find it provident to postpone further strokes of death.

Still, The Shadow took no credit. Crime was too well covered. The details of Dreeland's widespread hotel business were too involved to offer any quick solution regarding his death. Similarly, Caythorn's vague talk of enemies, as reported by Cardona, was not enough to help. The affairs of Pan-Ocean Shippers would have to be straightened out before any clues could be obtained through that channel.

On one score only did The Shadow agree with Weston. He believed, as did the commissioner, that it would be wise to find Professor Murlock. But even there The Shadow disagreed with Weston's reasons for the hunt. The law regarded Murlock as indirectly responsible for murder, which The Shadow did not.

The Shadow's analysis was direct. Unfound, Murlock would remain a mystery figure. More assassinations would increase the storm against the professor. Should Murlock suddenly reappear, he might repudiate his teachings, in which case the murder ring would change its system. Such would nullify what gain The Shadow had already made.

Unquestionably, the unknown master of the murder game knew where Murlock was. Unless he had disposed of the eccentric professor, he was keeping Murlock for some future purpose. If the police

found Murlock, they would spoil it by publicizing the fact. The Shadow wanted to discover the professor and keep it quiet.

In his search, The Shadow was getting leads from the police. First, as Cranston, he heard Weston's opinions on the progress of the man hunt. Again, through Clyde Burke, The Shadow had access to the many reports that came to Joe Cardona. The police inspector was amicably disposed toward the Classic reporter, and therefore gave him inside facts.

The trouble was that several hundred people believed that they had seen Murlock, but none could prove the fact. From all accounts, he might be anywhere from Key West to Alaska.

All over the nation, elderly men of eccentric habits found people peeking in their windows. Teletypes were rattling constantly down on Centre Street, informing the New

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