CRIME CIRCUS................................................................................................................................................1

Maxwell Grant.........................................................................................................................................1

CHAPTER I. THE SHADOW'S SEARCH .............................................................................................1

CHAPTER II. THE SHADOW'S AGENT ..............................................................................................6

CHAPTER III. ON THE LOT ...............................................................................................................13

CHAPTER IV. THE PASSWORD.......................................................................................................19

CHAPTER V. THE RED CIRCLE.......................................................................................................23

CHAPTER VI. SPIES OF THE NIGHT...............................................................................................28

CHAPTER VII. THE GAME BEGINS .................................................................................................33

CHAPTER VIII. AT THE HOTEL.......................................................................................................37

CHAPTER IX. WORD TO THE SHADOW........................................................................................41

CHAPTER X. MOBSMEN MOVE......................................................................................................46

CHAPTER XI. CRIME'S AFTERMATH .............................................................................................51

CHAPTER XII. ONE MAN MISSING .................................................................................................56

CHAPTER XIII. THE SHADOW'S CHANCE .....................................................................................61

CHAPTER XIV. SAWDUST AND SHOTS .........................................................................................65

CHAPTER XV. GATHERING CLOUDS............................................................................................70

CHAPTER XVI. PLANS FOR CRIME................................................................................................75

CHAPTER XVII. THE NIGHT BEFORE............................................................................................79

CHAPTER XVIII. THE SILENT SHADOW.......................................................................................83

CHAPTER XIX. MEN ACCUSED .......................................................................................................88

CHAPTER XX. THE MOB BREAKS ..................................................................................................93

The questioner was a stocky, swarthyfaced man. He was seated behind a battered desk in a small office.

Detective Joe Cardona at present an acting inspector was quizzing a pastyfaced, rateyed little fellow

"Yeah. Dombo's in town." The little man whined the statement. "But don't let nobody wise that I told you,

"You're safe, Dowdy," growled Cardona, impatiently. "We pulled in fifty others like you with the dragnet.

Nobody will know who talked. That is" Cardona's gaze narrowed "nobody will know anything if you tell

"I'm tellin' you, Joe," pleaded "Dowdy" earnestly. "Honest, I am. I seen Dombo Carlin aroun' at a coupla of

the joints. He was smart enough to dodge the net, that's all. He an' those three gorillas that are stickin' wid

"Sure. But don't use the net. He's too wise for that, Joe. But don't ask me to go with you. I ain't no stoolie."

"You'll stay here" Cardona eyed the little man steadily "until after we've checked up on what you've told

The ratfaced speaker stopped suddenly. He was staring at the detective across the battered desk, where the

scratched woodwork showed the dull reflection of the ceiling light above. Into the sphere of light had come a

shade of fleeting blackness. It was like the passage of a cloud in front of a brilliant sun.

TALL, stoopshouldered, the intruder bore a dull face as pasty as Dowdy's own. The man was clad in old

"He's the regular janitor," returned Cardona. "Going his usual rounds." Then, to the stoopshouldered arrival:

Dowdy was watching as the janitor spoke. He observed the man's expressionless stare. He saw the fellow

clank bucket on the floor and lift the mop to begin his scrubbing in the corner.

Fritz had moved from the central range of light. Yet his tall, stooped figure still caused a manifestation of his

presence. Stretching across the floor beside the bucket was a long streak of blackness that ended in a hawkish

silhouette. Dowdy failed to see the darkened splotch. He was studying the janitor's face.

"Don't mind Fritz," came Cardona's injunction. "All places are alike to him. He wouldn't know the difference

The expressionless tone curbed Dowdy's qualms. The ratfaced product of the underworld turned toward

"I'm going to get Dombo Carlin," announced the detective sternly. "I'm sending out thirty men to look for

him and his gorillas. I'll be on the job myself. It's going to mean a lot of trouble, Dowdy. If the tip you've

"It ain't phony, Joe," insisted Dowdy. "I tell you, I seen Dowdy an' I know he ain't worryin' about no

"He has, eh?" Cardona's gaze narrowed. "So there's more than what you've already told me? I thought so.

"I don't want to make trouble for nobody," whined the ratfaced prisoner. "But I ain't tryin' to stall you,

neither. I thought maybe you'd know why Dombo was stickin' aroun' town, Joe. He's after Beef Malligan."

"Beef Malligan?" Cardona laughed gruffly. "Say, Dowdy, what's this you're handing me now? Beef Malligan

"Croaker got out, Joe, but Beef didn't. He's still here in town, hidin' out somewhere."

"What's he hiding out for? I'm not looking for him or Croaker, either. I thought the two of them had dived

for the sticks, along with those mugs that used to work with them before their bum racket busted."

"Croaker cleared out," explained Dowdy, "an' so did the muscle men. I don't know where they went, Joe.

"To send the gorillas along to Croaker. They've been sorta slidin' out one at a time. It looks like Beef has been

"And sending the old boys along the line, eh? Well, that doesn't bother me. The more that clear out, the

"I get you now, Dowdy," nodded Cardona. "Why didn't you spill this story in the first place? Let's see" the

detective paused thoughtfully "first the racket goes haywire. Croaker Zinn leaves town. He finds some

happy hunting ground and Beef Malligan stays here to steer the mobsters along to join Croaker."

"And all the while, Beef is hiding out. He's afraid of Dombo Carlin. Now we're looking for Dombo and his

best bet is to take it on the lam. But he's sticking around a while hoping that he can take a shot at Beef."

CARDONA arose and paced across the floor. Dowdy eyed him with an anxious gaze. All the while, Fritz

"It looks that way, according to your story. If your dope is correct, Dowdy, Dombo is likely to come out of

some dive with three gorillas at his heels. He'll be starting on the warpath to get Beef Malligan."

The detective paused abruptly. He stalked to the door and shouted for Sergeant Markham. A burly detective

"Take this fellow back to a cell," ordered Cardona, indicating Dowdy. "We're giving him another night's

"Maybe," responded Cardona. "It will probably be healthier for you tomorrow, Dowdy."

"That I'm following your tip. I'm leaving the joints alone. But if Dombo Carlin and his gunners start out to get

Cardona was chuckling at his own plan while Markham was leading Dowdy away. The clatter of a bucket

handle reminded the acting inspector that he was not alone in the office. Cardona turned to see Fritz picking

CARDONA thought no more of Fritz. Joe had important plans that now concerned him. The capture of

The dragnet had failed to land the wanted crook and his three gorillas. Raids on underworld dives would

probably prove fruitless. But to intercept Dombo and trail his crew while they were seeking Beef Malligan

While Cardona was planning this procedure, Fritz was shambling along the dismal corridor. The janitor

reached a secluded spot. He opened a locker, removed his overalls and placed them on a shelf.

Hands drew black cloth from the locker. Rising arms released a garment. The folds of an inkyhued cloak

settled over stooped shoulders. Then a slouch hat topped the bowed head. The faint whisper of a laugh

A transformation had taken place. No longer was Fritz, the janitor, in view. In his place stood a tall, spectral

With gliding, noiseless tread the phantom figure moved from the locker. The whispered laugh was repeated

as The Shadow made his way to a side exit. A blackened shape merged with the darkness of a street. From

HALF an hour later, a stalwart man of chiseled countenance entered an obscure store near an East Side

elevated. He stepped into a telephone booth and dialed a number. A voice came over the wire:

"Instructions." Burbank's voice was a monotone. "Watch Dombo. He and his mob are after Beef. Learn if

Leaving the store, the stalwart young man wended his way through the darkness of narrow streets that were

walled with decadent buildings. Cliff Marsland, agent of The Shadow, was well acquainted with the

underworld. Cliff had a rep among mobsters. It enabled him to keep tabs on new gang movements.

Yet until tonight, Cliff had gained no lead that might enable him to locate "Beef" Malligan. Cliff knew

certain facts that Dowdy had reported to Joe Cardona, namely, that Beef was hiding out and that he was

evidently sending gorillas to "Croaker" Zinn. But the news that Beef was evading "Dombo" Carlin was

Cliff reached the Black Ship. The place was a notorious dive. Cliff had left the joint earlier in the evening; his

return excited no comment, for he was known in the place. There was nothing extraordinary in the fact that

Cliff chose a table close by a corner where Dombo Carlin and three cronies were gathered.

Minutes passed while Cliff sat stolidly staring toward the wall. He could hear Dombo's growl; at times, he

glanced sidewise to observe the man's ugly, unshaven countenance. Then came a query from a gorilla that

"Not for a half hour yet," was the growled response. "It ain't far over to Clipper's."

"Sure. That's where he is, ain't it? On the second floor? Keep your shirt on, mug. I'm running this."

Cliff Marsland shoved away a bottle and glass. He arose and strolled from the Black Ship. "Clipper's," to

Cliff, meant an old hotel near The Bowery. It was called the Hotel Santiago, but mobsters called the place

Cliff had never thought of the Santiago as a potential hideout for Beef Malligan. The crumbling hotel was

but one of many others in its vicinity. Dombo Carlin had not mentioned Beef Malligan's name, but Cliff, with

IT took Cliff seven minutes to reach a secluded telephone. In the quiet corner of a little cigar store, Cliff

called Burbank. He passed the word to the contact man; then hung up and leaned against the wall in response

Five minutes passed. Cliff lifted the telephone receiver a second after the bell began to ring. He spoke in

monosyllables to acknowledge Burbank's instructions. Sauntering out into the night, Cliff headed in the

The Shadow's search was ended. For two weeks, the blackgarbed master had been keeping Cliff Marsland

on duty to gain some trace of Beef Malligan's whereabouts. Through Dombo Carlin, Beef's hideout had

Joe Cardona sought Dombo Carlin. Hence Joe would be in the game tonight, with detectives at his heels. But

The Shadow's quest concerned Beef Malligan. The Shadow was depending upon Cliff Marsland as his lone

Amid these different purposes, Dombo Carlin and his gorillas were out to get the man whom The Shadow

sought. Plans and counterplans were in the making; and the Hotel Santiago was to be their focal point!

HALF an hour had elapsed since Cliff Marsland's departure from the Black Ship. During that interval,

nothing had occurred to disturb the quiet that surrounded the old Hotel Santiago.

Situated on a side street, half a block from The Bowery, the old brickwalled hotel stood away from the

rumble of traffic and the clatter of the elevated. Staring from its plate glass window was Clipper, the

Though riffraff formed the patrons of the Hotel Santiago, the challenging proprietor was strict regarding

guests. Clipper knew many mobsters by sight. If they were wanted by the law, they were not welcome in his

It was because of this policy that Beef Malligan had chosen the Santiago as his place of residence. Seated in a

tawdry upstairs room, Beef was smoking a cigarette while he read the contents of a letter. Thicklipped and

Beef was not wanted by the police; nor were the gorillas who had previously formed his racketeering crew.

Hence Beef enjoyed security and had the privilege of receiving the visitors whom he desired.

Those whom Beef did not want to see specifically, Dombo Carlin and his crew were in wrong with the

law. Hence Clipper, with no welcome for Dombo and his ilk, was unwittingly serving as a sentinel in behalf

Beef Malligan knew of the rear entrance to the Hotel Santiago. He had, however, given it but little thought.

Confident that no one had breathed the news of his whereabouts, Beef felt quite free from intrusion.

In fact, he saw no reason to lower the torn shade that was rolled above the only window in his room. The

window opened on a low roof at the side of the building, and Beef was convinced that no prying eyes would

Blackness alone greeted Beef's gaze as the thicklipped ruffian happened to glance toward the window.

Rising from his chair, Beef tore up the letter that he had been reading. He applied a match to the fragments

and crumpled the ashes after the flame had died. He turned to let the charred remnants fall into a lopsided

It was then that eyes appeared where blackness had been. Blazing orbs flashed from the darkness beyond the

opened window. Vaguely, the outline of blackness upon blackness manifested itself in the form of a sinister

EYES vanished as Beef made a turn toward the window. The exracketeer saw nothing there but blackness.

Then his stare turned suddenly toward the door. The sound of a muffled footstep caused Beef to become

Beef had left the barrier unlocked. Impelled by instinctive nervousness, he stepped forward to turn the key.

A sour twist showed on Beef's thick lips. With Beef's expression came a snarl from the door. A heavy,

unshaven intruder shouldered his way into the light. Beef Malligan was face to face with the man who sought

"So this is your hideout, eh?" growled Dombo. "Figured I wouldn't get by Clipper, did you? Well you

Beef had no reply. He could see other men beyond the doorway. He knew that his enemy was backed by a

"Guess you thought I'd taken it on the lam," sneered Dombo. "Well that's just what I'm going to do after I

finish with you, mug. Maybe I'll run into that sidekick of yours, Croaker Zinn. If I do, I'll hand him the same

"Lay off, Dombo," pleaded Beef, in a hunted tone. "I ain't doin' nothin' to queer your game."

"You're right, you ain't," rasped Domino. "You did enough you and Croaker when you muscled in on my

"Yeh? Says you? I thought it was good enough. When you guys queered it for me, I had to go into the

stickup game. That's why the bulls are on my trail. That's why I've got to head for Chi but I'm squaring

"That won't do you no good, Dombo," Beef continued though pleading seemed useless. "If you put me on the

"Huh?" Dombo snorted. "Listen, bimbo, you won't be the first mug that got the works from me. The bulls

didn't wise up the last two times. They won't wise this time. Three is my lucky number."

Beef stared as he saw Dombo coolly raise his gun to a steady level. For the first time, he had learned that

Dombo was a murderer. Quaking, Beef eyed the muzzle of the .38. He saw an eager finger resting on the

trigger. He stared into Dombo's sullen, evil eyes. To his amazement, Beef saw those optics bulge with sudden

Dombo Carlin was staring past his victim. A chance shift of gaze had enabled him to see the figure that Beef

had not observed. Beyond the opened window, Dombo caught the glare of burning eyes; he saw the outline of

LIKE other hardened rogues of scumland, Dombo knew the menace of The Shadow. He had heard gasped

utterances of rats who had tried to combat this superfighter. He had listened to coughed stories from dying

lips tales of an avenger clad in black who had struck down those who deserved to die.

With a snarl from his ugly lips, Dombo Carlin raised his gun. His aim was shifting from Beef Malligan to that

figure at the window. Dombo's finger yanked the trigger. The .38 crackled its prompt message. A bullet,

whistling past Beef's ear, found its resting place deep in the battered woodwork of the window frame.

Dombo's shot had come from a moving gun. The crook had fired before the muzzle was squarely toward the

window. With a quick snap of his recoiling wrist, Dombo sought to despatch another bullet, less than a

The action was too late. The Shadow, dealing in split seconds, sent his answer within the brief interval. An

automatic roared from the darkness of the window. Dombo faltered. His revolver fell from his hand. His

Three gorillas were springing in to their leader's aid. While Dombo Carlin staggered, half slipping toward the

floor, flashing revolvers showed in the hands of uglyfaced mobsmen who had seen The Shadow at the

Revolvers barked quick, wild shots. Like Dombo, these minions were shooting while they aimed. But The

Shadow's response was perfect in both timing and precision. The staccato bursts of his automatics sounded a

One mobster staggered back toward the door. A second slumped to the floor. The third was marked for doom

when Beef Malligan, leaping desperately forward, locked in conflict and tried to wrench the gorilla's revolver

An arm swung. Beef rolled away as the gun glanced from his head. Dropping behind Beef's slumping form,

An automatic spoke from the window. The gorilla sprawled to the floor. In aiming, he had peered from beside

Beef Malligan's shoulder. He had received The Shadow's bullet through his brain.

The first mobster, wounded in the left shoulder, had jumped for the hall under cover of the struggle between

Beef and the third gorilla. Out of The Shadow's range, this mobsman raised his gun to fire at the stairs, where

It was Cliff Marsland, armed with an automatic. Cliff's arm came up with the speed of the gorilla's. Revolver

Either because of haste, or weakened by the wound that he had received from The Shadow, the gorilla fired

wide. Cliff's shot, however, was well placed. The last of Dombo Carlin's crew rolled on the floor.

Cliff reached the door of Beef's room. He saw Dombo Carlin and two gorillas lying motionless. Beef

Malligan, on hands and knees, was trying to rise from the floor. He was groggy from the blow that he had

Then came the blare of a whistle. Shouts from outside. Pounding squads at the rear door of the old hotel. Cliff

knew the answer. Police, trailing Dombo Carlin and his crew, had heard the gunfire. Bluecoats and detectives

A HISS came from the window. Cliff stared. He saw the figure of The Shadow. A pointing finger, projecting

into the room, was directed at Beef Malligan's form. With a nod, Cliff grabbed the exracketeer under the

The Shadow gripped the burden. With a quick sweep, he whipped Beef's body through to the darkness of the

roof. Cliff scrambled after. He could see The Shadow's shape, silhouetted against a dull glow from the front

street. Across the blackened shoulders was the form of Beef Malligan. The Shadow was carrying Beef like a

Following, Cliff reached an opened window in an old house at the other side of the low roof. He dived

through the opening. The window sash came down with a dull thud. The Shadow's hand drew Cliff away

The action was timely. Already, police had reached Beef's room in the Hotel Santiago. Flashlights were

sending sweeping gleams across the roof. A glare focused through the window of the old house and made a

luminous circle on the further wall; but it revealed none of those who had arrived there. The beam moved

In response to The Shadow's whisper, Cliff groped his way through a door and down a flight of stairs. A door

swished open; Cliff found himself stumbling across the cracked cement of an abandoned court; then through

Another path through darkness. Then came a hand that stopped Cliff. The Shadow's agent heard Beef

"A coupe in the alley." The Shadow's whisper was close to Cliff's ear. "Take him to your place. Await

A slight swish as The Shadow moved away. Groping, Cliff found a door. He threw his arm around Beef's

body. As he raised the exracketeer, he heard Beef grumble incoherently. Then, with Beef stumbling beside

The coupe was standing beside the door. With an effort, Cliff hoisted Beef into the seat. He slammed the door

of the car, hurried around, and gained the wheel. The motor purred as Cliff presser the starter. The car moved

Cliff jammed the accelerator as he heard the call. A police whistle blared two seconds later. But Cliff had

already picked his spot. Negotiating a swift left turn, he cut across the path of a looming truck and sped to

IT was a quick getaway and Cliff followed it with a tortuous course that he knew would baffle any pursuers.

He turned corners, doubled on his course and threaded a speedy way among the East Side streets that he

At last he reached the quiet of an isolated street and brought the coupe to a stop. He nudged Beef Malligan.

He shoved Beef from the coupe, grabbed the man before he fell and dragged him through a secluded

stairway; then up a flight of stairs to a room on the second floor. This was Cliff's lodging in the underworld.

Beef slumped in a chair as Cliff guided him to it, but when Cliff turned on the light, Beef seemed very much

alive. He stared at the man who had brought him here. His eyes widened with recognition.

"Say" a gleam showed on Beef's face "you're the bird that plugged Dombo Carlin. Ain't you?"

Cliff nodded. He was standing by the door. Beyond Beef, who was facing the door, was a window that led to

"He was goin' to croak me, Dombo was," announced Beef. "Only you come in an' handed him curtains. Him

"Never mind the thanks, Beef. I had it in for that false alarm. I wasn't going to see him hand you a final ticket.

Getting Dombo wasn't the tough part, though. I had more trouble pulling you out before the bulls arrived."

"Not much chance. But Joe Cardona was with them. I heard his voice. He'll be looking for me."

"Because I came through the front." Cliff made this statement so emphatic that Beef nodded in belief.

"Clipper saw me. That was while Dombo and his gang were coming through the back."

"Well, keep this place then. You'll be safe here. But two of us well, that would be taking too big a chance.

Beef rubbed his bruised head. He smiled. He preferred to hide out alone; the offer was to his liking. He saw a

"He ought to. I saw him at a lot of places while you and he were working together."

BEEF MALLIGAN motioned to a chair by the door. Cliff Marsland sat down to listen. Beef leaned forward

"I'm stickin' here, Cliff," he explained. "because I'm still workin' with Croaker. He's in on the best racket you

ever heard of. I've been diggin' up the old mob, one by one, an' sending 'em along to Croaker. He needs some

"I was waitin' for a guy to show up tonight. I won't see him on account of what happened. So the job's yours

Beef dug in his pocket and pulled out a small envelope. He handed it to Cliff, who opened it. Cliff stared as

"Passes to a circus," returned Beef with a grin. "That is, one of 'em is a pass to the circus; the others will take

"Larch Circus and Greater Shows," read Cliff, as he looked at the slips of paper. "Pass one. This one is signed

"The circus is playin' at a town called Marlborough," broke in Beef. "That's where you go, Cliff."

"No. Somewhere along the line, you will hear somebody say the word 'Ceylon'. That's your tipoff. You ask

"Listen Cliff" Beef's tone was impatient "this is on the level. Maybe it sounds screwy, but it ain't. I'm

lettin' you in on a racket that's got a load of gravy. I've sent plenty of the real guys along to get in on it. This

Cliff Marsland stared toward his uglyfaced companion. But his gaze saw more than Beef's thicklipped

countenance. Beyond the racketeer, framed in the opened window, was a shrouded figure of blackness. The

A gloved hand projected into the room; instead of pointing, it moved up and down. The action symbolized a

"All right, Beef," he declared firmly. "You're on. It sounds like a good lay even though I don't know the

"Keep this hideout. I'm beating it. The sooner I get started, the better before Joe Cardona gets on my trail."

Cliff thrust out a hand. Beef shook it. The Shadow's agent turned and opened the door. He closed the barrier

CLIFF was wearing a smile as he reached the coupe. He had no fear of Detective Joe Cardona. His pretence

Following The Shadow's lead, Cliff Marsland had learned facts that he had previously known only as rumors;

More than that, Cliff had carved his way into the select outfit. He had taken credit for The Shadow's work. He

A secret agent of The Shadow, Cliff Marsland was on his way to learn the inside working of hidden crime.

As The Shadow's emissary, Cliff would send back word of the game which concerned the notorious Croaker

Cliff Marsland had received the order of The Shadow! While Beef Malligan remained secure in the hideout

which Cliff had offered him, The Shadow's agent would be at work uncovering crime instead of abetting it.

Such was the work of The Shadow's agent. Behind it lay the strategy of The Shadow himself!

"THIS way to the big show! Buy your tickets to the big show! Only five minutes before the show starts!"

The barker's cry rose strident above a medley of sounds. The mechanical music of a carousel; the puffing

motor of the Ferris wheel; the wheezy tones of a calliope all became a background to the call.

People were moving along the "midway" that formed an avenue to the big tent. The circus was the magnet

that was drawing the crowd at present. The other shows, housed in smaller tents, were quiet while the barker

The Larch Circus and Greater Shows formed the chief attraction in the town of Marlborough. Yet of the

many people who had been drawn, mothlike, by the attraction of the lights, few were actually buying tickets.

Most were idlers who had merely come to look on. The actual customers formed a mere trickle past the ticket

Back near the entrance to the circus grounds, two men were alighting from a large sedan that was parked

behind a fringe of tents. One was a grayhaired individual, whose face showed a stern dignity. The other was

a stubby, silent fellow who wore a chauffeur's cap. Both were looking toward the circus tent.

"Come along, Lennox," ordered the grayhaired man. "Be sure to lock the car first."

The chauffeur performed the action; then jaunted to catch up with the grayhaired man, who was choosing a

"There's the office car," remarked the older man, as the chauffeur caught up with him. "See it?"

"A little further on," said the grayhaired man, "and I can cut through to go directly there. I don't want to be

"This is the best time to come," added Wilbart. "Every one is inside, or busy, so there is less chance of talk. I

don't care to have all the people with this show telling that Jonathan Wilbart came to hold another conference

"They might think that I was overanxious to buy this show, Lennox," added Wilbart, pausing as he stepped

between two small, darkened tents. "Well I'll buy it on my own terms, or not at all. It's a tawdry outfit,

Lennox. It does not compare with the smallest circus in my chain. What do you think, Lennox?"

"You always do, Lennox," chuckled Wilbart. "Well look around the midway until I come back. The

ballyhoo will begin on the smaller shows after the circus gets started in the big top."

STROLLING out into the midway, the grayhaired man shouldered his way past clustered idlers and crossed

Attached to the truck was a trailer that looked like a small, shortened bus. This car had a rear door marked

Reaching his objective, Jonathan Wilbart ascended the steps and opened the door. The interior of the car

formed a larger room than one would have expected from a view of the exterior. It was furnished with seats

attached to the wall; at the front end were two desks also fixed in position, beyond them a small, curtained

A broadshouldered man was seated at one of the desks. He heard the door close as Wilbart entered. He

swung around and showed a thickjawed countenance, with pudgy nose and quick eyes.

"Hello, Stuffy," rejoined Wilbart, advancing to receive the man's handshake. "Where's Tex Larch?"

"Again?" Wilbart's tone seemed incredulous. "It seems as though I never manage to find him with the show.

"He isn't exactly in New York tonight," corrected Stuffy. "He's on his way here, Mr. Wilbart. Might be in at

"I'll stay a while," interposed Wilbart. "What are you doing, Stuffy? Running things while Tex is away?"

"Kind of," replied Stuffy. "It ain't exactly my regular job, but I'm sort of a head handy man with the outfit.

He reached in his pocket and pulled out some printed cards. He handed one to Wilbart, who had seated

"Everybody knows me as Stuffy," remarked the general agent. "Wouldn't do to have put my real moniker on

a card. Everybody in the show business would have thought it was someone else. They've called me Stuffy

"I envy your past, Stuffy," commented Wilbart. "I came into the circus business as an owner only a few

years back and I am scarcely used to the smell of sawdust. The real way to learn a business is to grow up

"Maybe so, Mr. Wilbart," returned Stuffy, as he stepped toward the door of the office. "But I notice that some

of the old timers in the game are finding the sledding tough, while your shows are bringing in the dough. It

looks to me like the fellow that knows business better than he does a circus is the best guy to run a circus

With this statement, Stuffy opened the door and stepped toward the ground. He motioned to the visitor to

"I'll be back in ten minutes," informed Stuffy. "Just going out to pass the word to the shows. They can start

STUFFY closed the door as he reached the ground. The show had started in the circus tent; only a few late

A big, glowering man was standing on the platform in front of the side show, ready to start a ballyhoo. Others

"Hello, Tex." Stuffy stopped as he recognized his chief. It was "Tex" Larch, back from New York. "Say

Tex stared from beneath the broad brim of a felt sombrero. His gaze was quizzical. Cold gray eyes flashed

"Wait 'til I start the talkers, Tex," pleaded Stuffy. "They're sitting tight until I flash the word for the bally."

With these words, Stuffy hurried out to the midway and waved his arms toward the man on the platform in

front of the sideshow. Immediately, the big fellow began a sonorous spiel, while idlers gathered to form a

crowd. Other talkers followed along the line. The midway became a babble of barkers.

"Cap Guffy was waiting like a hawk," chuckled Stuffy, as he rejoined Tex. "Did you see him there, outside

the TeninOne? Say he can't wait for the show to start in the big top. I never saw a guy like him "

"All right, Stuffy," interrupted Tex, standing with a suitcase in his hand. "Forget about Cap Guffy. What's the

matter in the office? Some rube sheriff putting up a squawk? I paid a fixer to square things in this town "

"The sheriff ain't in there, Tex." It was Stuffy's turn to interrupt. "Everything's jake. Wheels running like

TEX'S stare became a glower. It was plain that he was not pleased by the information. Stuffy watched a grim

"I told him you was in New York," began the general agent. "Then I said you'd be back tonight. Wilbart said

"You're a fine palooka," sneered Tex. "I told you to keep your mouth shut about where I'd gone."

"I ain't told anybody on the lot, Tex. But I thought you wouldn't mind Wilbart knowing "

"Wilbart! He's the biggest heel in the business. He don't belong in the show game. I missed him the last two

times he was here. But there's no chance to dodge him this trip. What does he want? Trying to buy my show

"That's what he's after. He's a fox, that guy is. It's just like him to blow in while playing a bloomer. That's the

Stuffy waited while his boss stared speculatively toward the door of the office. Then Tex Larch shrugged his

"Lug this kiester over to my tent, Stuffy," ordered Tex. "I'm going in to see what Wilbart wants."

Stuffy nodded as he took the suitcase. He headed off among the tents while Tex ascended the steps and

The fragrance of expensive tobacco brought a sniff from Tex. Wilbart, seated at the side of the office car,

"Hello, Tex," greeted the visitor, dryly. "I've been waiting to see you. Stuffy told me you would be in from

"Stuffy's a good talker," returned Tex, removing his big hat and tossing it on one of the desks. "Maybe I

Wilbart smiled at the suggestion that Stuffy had talked too much. He watched Tex go to a desk and look over

mail that was lying there. He waited for some remark. None came; so Wilbart made one of his own.

"Take a look for yourself," rejoined Tex. "The door slides to the right. You can see the whole midway."

"I don't know. I just got in from New York. Maybe you can figure it better than I can; you were here while

Wilbart smiled but made no comment. Tex turned from the desk and faced his visitor. Wilbart returned his

The two men formed a contrast as their eyes exchanged a steady gaze. Tex Larch looked the part of an

outdoor showman. His face, toilworn and deeplined, seemed to tell the story of a rigorous career. Jonathan

Wilbart, dignified even to his mode of puffing his cigar, gave the impression of a successful business

It was Tex who broke the silence. He studied his visitor coldly; and his eyes flashed with an iron glint as he

THE visitor chuckled. He seemed to enjoy the blunt manner in which the circus owner had come directly to

the subject. Wilbart pulled a cigar from his pocket and offered it to Tex. The circus owner grunted; then

"I want to buy your show, Tex," stated Wilbart, quietly. "I know that you don't want to sell. You told me that

before. But people have the privilege of changing their minds, even when they are in the circus business."

"I own five shows, Tex. I can use yours. You should be glad to receive an offer, with the poor business that

"Maybe you've been checking up. All right, Wilbart, have it your own way. We've had some bloomers on this

"I wish you luck, Tex. It's preferable to make money on the lot than to run into New York looking for new

Tex scowled. The remark had hit home. Wilbart had made the logical assumption regarding his trip to New

"So you think I'm on the rocks, eh? This show looks like a bum bet, does it? Well, if that's the way it is, why

do you want to buy the outfit? You've got five shows of your own. Why look for another headache?"

"The headache is yours, Tex," remarked Wilbart. "I am trying to ease it for you. I do not intend to keep this

"Precisely. You only own the circus. The other shows are independent, although they are presumably under

"You've hit it, Tex," smiled Wilbart. "They are what I am after. I want the two main acts. To obtain them, I

"I thought so." Tex chewed savagely at the end of his cigar. "You won't be satisfied, Wilbart, until you've

crowded all the real showmen out of the circus business. There were a lot of good small shows working until

"There were small shows starving," commented Wilbart. "I took them over and put them on a paying basis.

Acts like Eric Wernoff and Lucille Lavan would bring money to one of my shows. But they aren't drawing

"Why waste time, Wilbart?" questioned Tex, in a challenging tone. "Eric Wernoff, the Animal King, stays

with the Larch Circus. So does Lucille Lavan, Queen of the High Wire. That's final!"

"Even if you have to go to New York," smirked Wilbart, "when you need money to move the show."

"So that's what you think, eh?" demanded Tex, suddenly. "Well, take another guess. I'm raising dough

you're right about that but the reason is that I'm expanding. I've got this outfit motorized. That was my first

step. My next is to buy Cap Guffy's TeninOne and some of the other shows on the midway. The Larch

Jonathan Wilbart rose, smiling quietly. It was plain that he did not believe Tex Larch's statement. He made no

"I shall visit you again, Larch," he remarked. "I think that you may decide to change your mind. Particularly"

Wilbart's smile broadened "after your show arrives in Hamilcar. That town is the worst bloomer on the

map. You will have to dig deep in the savings fund if you have one to move out of Hamilcar."

TEX LARCH stood glowering while his visitor stepped from the office. Jonathan Wilbart closed the door

behind him; still smiling, he strolled across the midway. Lennox joined him near a small tent. The chauffeur

"No," responded Wilbart. "Tex Larch refuses to sell. Evidently he has found an angel in New York."

"I know it." Wilbart smiled. "Well, he may have to make some more trips there before he is finished. How

"Yes, sir. There were plenty of 'shills' going through. But they didn't bring many followers."

The two men reached the parked sedan. Lennox unlocked the car and Jonathan Wilbart entered. Then Lennox

Wilbart looked toward the rear seat; his gaze followed through the back window for a last glimpse of brilliant

"I would like to know the game that Tex Larch is playing," was the magnate's final comment to Lennox.

"That show of his is not breaking even. There is something in back of his persistent refusals to sell."

The car turned a curve in the road. The lights disappeared from view. Jonathan Wilbart settled in his seat with

a grunt that Lennox understood. The utterance was more than an expression of disappointment. It was an

Lennox knew the persistence of his employer. The chauffeur was convinced that his purpose would not end.

Sooner or later Lennox was positive the Larch Circus and Greater Shows would be under the banner of

WHILE Jonathan Wilbart was taking a last glimpse of the circus which he hoped to buy, another man was

gaining his first view of the Larch Circus and Greater Shows. This was Cliff Marsland, newly arrived in the

town of Marlborough. The Shadow's agent was passing beneath the canvas arch that marked the entrance to

Hands in coat pockets, Cliff was thumbing the paper slips that Beef Malligan had given him. Cliff had

reached Marlborough later than he expected. He knew that it was too late to see the circus. The passes to the

"Step in folks! See the strangest freak in captivity! Jubo, the wild man from Java! Jubo, with his friends the

Cliff stopped beside a small tent where the barker was ensconced in a high ticket booth. A light showed

through the canvas; long, raucous growls were coming from within. Curious passers were idling by the

"Jubo the wild man! Jubo and his hideous reptiles!" The blatant cry persisted from the ticket booth. "See

Two men were standing close by Cliff. They looked like circus roughnecks. Listening Cliff overheard their

"Wait a couple of minutes," rejoined the second. "Give the talker a chance to get 'em started."

"That guy? Say he's the cheesiest talker on the lot an' that's sayin' plenty. If we don't shill pretty quick, there

"You don't need a good talker on a geek show. See 'em gatherin' around? Those hicks are listenin' to the

Cliff decided that the 'squawker' must be the device that was producing the fierce, prolonged growls from

within the tent. His conjecture was proven by the next statements that he overheard.

'They keep on fallin' for the squawker," laughed one of the roughnecks. "It's a great gimmick. A guy sittin'

out of sight at the front of the pit, pullin' on a tarred rope hitched to a keg. You wouldn't think it would make

"Some punk that was hangin' around the lot. The talker slipped the kid four bits for the evenin'."

THE roughnecks started for the ticket booth. Cliff pulled his passes from his pocket and found one that was

marked 'Jubo.' He followed the other two men and stopped while they reached their hands up to the counter to

"Shill," Cliff heard them say. The ticket seller nodded and motioned toward the tent. He resumed his talking

The growl of the squawker became louder as Cliff entered the little tent. As the roughnecks had remarked, it

came from the front of a pit. The ropepuller was hidden from view by canvas curtains. The pit was also

surrounded by old, grayish canvas. Cliff leaned on a wooden rail to survey its occupants.

Jubo the Geek, as the roughnecks had termed him, was seated on a torn canvas that lay on the ground. He was

a wildlooking monstrosity, clad in black tights. His face and hands were a deep brown; Cliff fancied that it

A mop of crinkly hair showed on the wild man's head. His eyes stared vacantly at the handful of people who

watched him and his lips kept spreading to display an idiotic grin. Half a dozen snakes were squirming lazily

The geek, in the midst of his facial contortions. broke suddenly into an apish chatter and pounced upon one of

the reptiles. The snake's wriggling indicated that it was anxious to get away from its captor.

Jubo babbled as he twisted the snake about his arms and neck; then, like a child tired of a toy, he threw the

Cliff watched the inane proceedings for five minutes. A few customers had filed into the tent; it was plain

that Jubo the Geek intended to do no talking other than his inarticulate gibberish. Cliff strolled from the tent.

A ballyhoo was ending at the big sideshow. Cliff joined the throng, just as a cortege of freaks stepped from

the platform and went back into the tent. Over the entrance, Cliff saw the statement:

A lumbering man was still standing on the platform; his yachtsman's cap indicated that he must be Captain

Guffy. Guffy appeared to be the talker as well as the manager, for he was winding up a fervent spiel that

THE crowd was pressing close. Captain Guffy gave a sweeping gesture. Two ticket sellers took up his cry

from their booths. Cliff saw the men who had shilled at Jubo's show as they went up and pretended to buy the

They were followed by others also shills and the regular customers began a march as Captain Guffy

Cliff pulled out a pass marked 'Circus Sideshow.' He delivered it to a ticket seller and moved inward with the

throng. He decided that Captain Guffy's ballyhoo must have been a good one, for this show was drawing in a

The interior of the TeninOne was divided lengthwise by a wooden rail. Beyond the barrier were the freaks,

all but their heads obscured from view by canvas that hung from the railing. Captain Guffy was approaching

one end of the tent; the crowd was following. Gawky customers thronged about as the manager began his

Baby Liz was the first freak. Guffy described her as the "fattest of all fat women" and went into particulars

regarding her age and weight. Baby Liz smiled complacently from above a triple chin and nodded in response

When the 'Captain' moved along to the next platform, Baby Liz began to talk in a highpitched voice,

Cliff lingered; then moved along to the platform where Guffy was discoursing on his "Happy Family." He

had reference to a large cage which contained a jabbering monkey, a sadeyed poodle, a Maltese cat, a white

rabbit and a squawking parrot. The fact that these creatures behaved in friendly fashion seemed sufficient to

While Guffy was talking, the monkey made a bound toward the cat. The parrot squawked and Guffy grabbed

a stick to deliver a savage poke into the cage. The monkey jumped back to a corner and the cat settled down

On the next platform, Cliff observed a most curious individual. A pastyfaced man was reclining on an army

cot. His eyes were half closed; when they opened at Guffy's urging, the man gazed indolently at the

He reached to his lips and weakly removed a cigarette stump that clung there. He let it drop into a metal

Captain Guffy plucked a fresh cigarette from a large box and placed it between the reclining man's lips. An

attendant sprang forward with a light. Eyes closing, the pastyfaced occupant of the couch began to puff new

"This is Cleed," announced Captain Guffy, in a sorrowful tone. "Behold him, ladies and gentlemen: Cleed,

the Cigarette Fiend. His story is a tragic one. He is a freak with a strange history. The child of a wealthy

"Nicotine took complete hold of his system. He is saturated with it, folks. His growth was not affected; nor

was his constitution weakened. But his senses dulled. His craving for tobacco became a mania. Look at him;

you see him as he is. In every waking moment, he demands a puff of the weed. Only when stupor seizes him

As Guffy completed his blatant lecture, Cleed finished another cigarette. The glowing stump dropped from

his hand. The attendant hastened to place a fresh cigarette between the pasty lips. Cleed puffed as though his

"Hokum," growled someone in the crowd, as Guffy moved on to the next platform. "That story don't go with

"Maybe the fellow's a dope fiend," suggested another spectator. "It looks like something was wrong with

"He's been smoking steady ever since we came into the tent," remarked a third spectator. "Looks like he can't

"Quiet, please!" came Guffy's call. "Here we have Luke, the Tattooed Man. He is a living picture gallery,

Cliff studied the tattooed man while Captain Guffy continued to spiel his story. No grumblers classed Luke as

a fake. The man fitted the description that Guffy had given him: he was a living picture gallery.

Removing his shirt, Luke revealed a broad back that was covered with samples of tattooed art huge designs

in blue and red. Facing the spectators, he displayed a goldtoothed grin; then exhibited arms and legs to show

COMPLETING his lecture with the statement that Luke was a specialist in tattooing, Guffy proceeded to the

next platform. Luke, still smiling, looked for customers among the crowd. Two men began to bargain with

him. Cliff listened to their conversation; then strolled to the next platform in the line.

Here, Captain Guffy introduced a man who wore a tawdry dress suit. This was Professor Solva. The professor

drew back a curtain; a tall, thin woman appeared to take a bow. She was introduced as Madame Solva.

The pair put on a mind reading act that lasted for several minutes. While they were selling horoscopes to the

crowd, Guffy approached a pit. Cliff joined the early arrivals and saw a woman seated on a chair, a snake

"Princess Marxia," introduced Guffy. "Queen of the Reptile World. No poisoned fangs can harm her.

Mankilling snakes obey her word. Step this way, folks. Princess Marxia is about to begin her astounding

The snake charmer was a hardfaced woman. Her eyes carried a glare that seemed as venomous as the beady

optics of the snake that writhed from her arm. After allowing several snakes to crawl about her head and

shoulders, she cast the reptiles aside and lifted a box that lay in a corner of the pit.

The sharp crackle of a rattler came in immediate response. Princess Marxia stepped back and pointed to the

coiled snake that had been beneath the box. She did her own talking to the crowd.

"The rattlesnake," explained Marxia, in a harsh voice, "carries deadly poison in its fangs. The noise that you

With that, the woman approached the snake step by step. The rattler steadied its beady gaze; yet it did not

strike. The charmer apparently knew the danger point; yet she deliberately persisted in her effort to arouse the

"The rattlesnake strikes quick," came Marxia's harsh announcement, "but those who know its ways can

The woman swung quickly toward the snake. A hiss came from the reptile. Its head shot forward with a swift

stroke; but Marxia was speedier in her twist. While the crowd murmured in amazement, the snake charmer

Stepping away from the corner where the angry snake remained, Marxia opened another box. She reached in

and began to draw out the form of a huge black reptile. The creature responded slowly; then its large head

"This is the terrible python," declaimed Marxia. "Its coils can crush the body of a tiger. Human beings are

helpless in its grip; but I have power over the python. It will obey me this big snake from Ceylon."

Cliff Marsland stared. The python was slowly uncoiling. Princess Marxia was forcing its twisted shape back

into the box. The customers were moving toward the next exhibit, in response to Guffy's call. Cliff, however,

That was the password that Beef Malligan had ordered Cliff to heed. It had come from the lips of Princess

Marxia, the socalled snake charmer. All others had moved along. Cliff stayed. He knew that from Princess

Princess Marxia turned toward the front of the pit as she heard the question. She stared at Cliff Marsland, the

"I heard you mention that the python came from Ceylon," responded Cliff. "I wondered where Ceylon was.

"Do you see that fellow over there?" questioned Marcia, pointing as she placed her elbow on the rail of the

"Yeah," stated Marxia. "Well, that guy's been everywhere. His tattoo marks prove it. He's been to Ceylon,

along with other places. He can tell you all about it. Go over and talk to him."

Princess Marxia grinned as Cliff strolled toward Luke's platform. She looked up to observe Madame Solva

staring at her. The snake charmer nudged her thumb in the direction that Cliff had taken.

"I heard," Madame Solva nodded. "What makes all those mugs ask about Ceylon? He ain't the first that

"You can't figure these hicks," decided Marxia, eying the mind reader shrewdly. "I guess it's the python that

"That guy kids 'em," replied Marxia, approvingly. "He's got a gift of lingo, Luke has. He gets talking about

places where he's been and sells 'em a tattoo job. You keep watching you'll see him do some needlework on

CLIFF, meanwhile, had reached Luke's platform. The tattooed man was seated beside a table that bore his

electrical equipment. He was arguing price with a prospective customer. The haggling reached its finish while

"Well?" quizzed Luke, as he stared toward Cliff. "So you want some designs done?"

Luke stepped from his chair and dropped over the edge of the platform. He eyed Cliff as if The Shadow's

The effect of the question was electric. Luke made no immediate reply. Instead, he beckoned Cliff up to the

platform. He pointed out a chair beside his own. Cliff sat down with the tattooed man.

"I see. Well" Luke raised his voice "maybe I can talk it over with you while I'm doing your design. Take

As Cliff stared at Luke's arm, the tattooed man turned his own gaze toward the platform on his left. Cleed, the

cigarette fiend, was puffing away in his incessant fashion. He was apparently oblivious to the world about

him; yet he caught the rise of Luke's voice. Cleed's head turned sidewise. His eyes opened.

It was not toward Luke that Cleed looked but toward Cliff Marsland. Squarely against the black curtains of

the mind reader's platform, Cliff's profile formed a perfect outline. Cleed studied the chiseled profile of The

Slowly, the cigarette fiend rubbed his cheek against the canvas of his cot as he delivered a nod. Luke gave a

"That's the one you like, eh?" he questioned. "All right. Pull up your sleeve the left one. I'll get to work."

Cliff looked puzzled as Luke took the design book from his hands and began to prepare an electric needle.

Nevertheless, he drew up his sleeve as Luke had ordered. The tattooed man poised the needle over Cliff's

"I thought so," whispered the tattooed man. "Well, this is part of the racket. Hold your arm steady. I won't

THE needle began its jabs. Each puncture of the implement left a tiny dot of red. Cliff watched the procedure

while he listened to Luke's next statements. The buzz of the electric machine covered Luke's subdued voice.

"This puts you in the outfit," informed the tattooed man. "You're just a hometown guy from here in

Cliff nodded. The needle was moving along the arc of an imaginary circle, forming the beginning of a red

"Hoof it down by the big top," resumed Luke. "Ask for Hank. Tell him you want to join up. Just another

roughneck for the crew. Let your sleeve slide up while you're talking. Then Hank will know you're with it.

"Don't go shoving this mark around under people's noses," warned Luke, as he continued with the needle.

"Just keep flashing it, here on the lot, whenever you run into a new gazebo. Let the guy lamp it if he's looking

"Then you won't need a visiting card. Get me? You'll know the crew and they'll know you. If any trouble

starts, roll your sleeves up. Then's the time to make sure we all know each other. But in the meantime, just

pass along any word when you get it and be on the job when you're needed. That's the why for this red

The buzz stopped as Luke finished speaking. On Cliff's arm was an indelible circle of red. Luke made a

"Come around tomorrow if you want any more work done," informed Luke, again using his louder tone. "We

ain't moving for a couple of days yet. If there's any local boys want some good work reasonable, tell them to

Cliff slid down from the platform and sauntered to the entrance of the TeninOne. The show had finished;

Captain Guffy had returned to the platform to begin another bally. With him were The Solvas, and Princess

Marxia, and other performers whom Cliff had not seen during his interrupted trip.

REACHING the midway, Cliff paced toward the circus tent. He glanced at the huge painted banners outside

of the TeninOne as he walked along. Luke, Cleed, Princess Marxia, Baby Liz all were portrayed in

Cliff passed concession tents where "percentage" wheels and other games were drawing customers. He

watched patrons make unsuccessful attempts to knock down tenpins with swinging bowling balls. He saw a

big farmer swinging a sledge hammer against the springboard base of a "high striker."

Cliff smiled. It was a far cry from the badlands of New York. There was something wholesome in this

outdoor atmosphere. Cliff could feel the lure of the show business. He realized that there were rackets among

the concessions; that con men might be among the crowds, looking for dupes. But it all seemed mild

This feeling persisted in Cliff's mind as The Shadow's agent swung from the beaten path of the midway and

headed off toward parked trucks at the side of the circus tent. Then, in a twinkling, Cliff was carried back to

the realm of the underworld when a burly figure blocked his course and a snarling voice demanded:

Cliff eyed his challenger. The burly man had stepped from behind a truck. He was evidently with the circus.

But his speech and his manner were those of a gangster. Cliff sensed that the fellow must be one of the

"I'm looking for a guy named Hank," retorted Cliff. "They said I'd find him down here by the big top."

The challenger let Cliff go first. That was another indication of the fellow's origin. The typical circus

A hardfaced, sweatered man was standing by the entrance of a lighted tent. The circus grounds were wired

with electricity from the Marlborough plant; a cord, hooked to the tent pole, showed the features of this

individual. Like the roughneck who was following Cliff, the standing man looked like one of Beef Malligan's

The Shadow's agent nodded. He decided to forget the fellow who was trailing him. He approached the man

"They call me Cliff. I'm from here in Marlborough. Thought I'd like to join up with the circus. Any kind of a

Other men had appeared while Cliff was talking. Two of them looked like mobsters; the others were

apparently bona fide circus roughnecks. Cliff paid no attention to their arrival. As he spoke of doing heavy

work, he made a natural gesture of drawing up his sleeves. He flashed the red circle that Luke had tattooed on

HANK spotted it. He nodded. Methodically, he began to roll his own sleeve. The rising sweater enabled Cliff

The man who had followed Cliff was stepping into the light. His sleeves were already up. He shifted his arm

with the palm outward, so Cliff could catch the quick sight of another circled token.

"Guess we can use you, bud," growled Hank. "The old man don't kick if we take on a few extra roughnecks

They passed another hardfaced fellow as they neared the fringe of the light. Cliff saw Hank make a gesture

toward his sleeve. The man flashed a red circle. Cliff did the same. Then came a stretch of darkness. Hank

Yet there was grimness in Cliff's expression. Already, he was learning the inside of the game. Planted with

the circus, traveling with the midway, were agents of crime. Tattooed circles of red were the recognition

marks that kept this compact band together. Cliff knew of the comradeship that ruled circus folk; he realized

He also knew that Croaker Zinn must be the head of this secret crew. He had not noticed Croaker on the

circus lot; probably the mobleader was keeping out of sight. Hank, Cliff decided, was just one of the gang

who had stepped to a position of small authority with the circus. He was the fellow who took on the

When they reached the office, Hank entered without ceremony, beckoning to Cliff to follow him. Stuffy

Dowson was just inside the door. Hank greeted him by his nickname; then spoke to Tex Larch who was

"I'm hirin' another roughneck," informed Hank. "Brought him up here with me, Mr. Larch. This is the

"We can use him. Looks like a couple of roughnecks are gettin' ready to blow. We may need more before we

Tex wheeled back to the desk. Hank nudged his thumb toward the door. Nothing further was necessary. Cliff

Outside the office, Cliff and Hank bumped into Captain Guffy coming over from the TeninOne. As they

sidestepped Guffy, Cliff paused to let a girl walk by. She, too, was bound for the office. Her attractive face

and her red hair brought a recollection to Cliff. He fancied that he had seen the girl before.

"Who was the girl?" Cliff questioned Hank, as they were walking toward the circus tent.

"Lucille Lavan," informed the mobster. "The skirt that does the high wire act in the big top."

Cliff nodded. He had seen Lucille's picture on the billboards, coming into town. That was why he had

recalled her face. Then his thoughts of the girl dwindled. Cliff's brain pondered on a more immediate subject.

Cliff had reached his goal. He was a member of the crooked band traveling with Tex Larch's circus. Tonight,

he would find opportunity to slip down to the town of Marlborough and send a wire to New York.

For Cliff Marsland sensed that crime was already brewing. Wise to the ways of crooks, he could tell that the

atmosphere was already charged with some lawless game. More than that, Cliff could see the menace of the

Word to The Shadow! That was Cliff's next step. From the inside of the racket, The Shadow's agent was

It was Tex Larch who spoke. Stuffy Dowson nodded. He stepped from the office and closed the door behind

him. Tex Larch was alone with the two persons who had just entered: Captain Guffy and Lucille Lavan.

Guffy put the question as soon as Stuffy was gone. He knew that Tex wanted privacy to talk some business.

"Nothing to worry about, Cap," responded Tex. "Just wanted to talk things over with you. Jonathan Wilbart

"Jonathan Wilbart in person," declared Tex. "Wanted to buy me out. Like he tried to do before."

"You did right, Tex!" put in Lucille. "The nerve of him! After all the years you've been in the show business!

"He would have liked to talk with you, Lucille," returned Tex, with a slight smile. "You're one of the two

"Hmm." Cap Guffy was the one who spoke in response to the girl's outburst. "What do you have against

"I don't." Lucille pouted wistfully. "I know I'm wrong. I wouldn't mind Wilbart if he wasn't trying to buy Tex

out. You know how I feel about it, Cap. Tex is well, he's been like an uncle to me and I know what this

show means to him. It's not Wilbart I don't like it's anybody who'd try to take me away from this show."

"You'll never fold. You've got too many friends in the business, Tex. If you really had to find money well,

"I believe you would, Lucille. I know you would. Well Wilbart's not buying this outfit. Just the same, it's

"I'LL tell you why," returned Tex. "Wilbart is a man who goes after business in a big way. He deals fair

enough; but he gets what he wants. That's why he worries me. He wants this show.

"He says he needs Lucille and Wernoff wants them for star acts. Wants to put them with his other shows.

That part's on the level. But he also says that he would scrap this outfit if he bought it he didn't say 'scrap';

"I don't think so. That's where he's trying to bluff me. I think he'd keep on running this show as a smalltime

"Well, that would be his privilege if he bought the show. So he keeps coming around here and he picks

every week that looks like a bloomer. What's the answer? He knows I'm losing money, Cap. He's figuring

that I'll have to sell. So pretty soon he'll get the idea that I don't want to sell to him. He'll think I've got a

"I don't want to, Cap. If Wilbart thinks that I'm prejudiced against him, he'll try some other stunt. That's what

"Right. Those concessions are paying for their privileges. Suppose they hear that they can open with one of

Wilbart's circuses play better towns and fork over less dough. How long do you think they'd stick with

"A couple of weeks, maybe. That's all. What if Wilbart offered to buy your TeninOne?"

"Suppose, Cap" Tex eyed the sideshow owner steadily "suppose I offered to buy your TeninOne.

"Well, suppose you found you had to quit. Would you let me take over the TeninOne?"

"That's all I want to know. Listen, Cap: you're doing business even if I'm not. These crowds that pass up the

big top seem to like the TeninOne. They're bum burgs for a circus, but they're good spots for a sideshow."

"Well suppose I gave Wilbart the idea that I'd bought out your TeninOne. Suppose I told him that what I

was losing in the big top, I was making up along the midway. That might make him think a bit."

"All right. Give me an option on the TeninOne. I'll give you a thousand dollars as a deposit. Call it a

tentative sale. Date the papers back a couple of weeks. We'll put you down in the pay book as sideshow

"I get the idea, Tex. You'll make Wilbart think that you were bringing in the green before he came around to

make his offer. Then he'll watch the business at the TeninOne. Figuring that you shoved out dough to buy

"That's it. What's more, Cap, he won't try to buy you out. The option will scare him off."

"Not with the concessions; but maybe with the rides. I think they'll help me out. They're doing pretty fair

business. If Wilbart thinks I'm buying up the whole outfit, he's liable to pull in his horns. At least, he will

"All right, Tex." Cap stared stolidly at the circus owner. "I'll think it over. But remember I'm keeping my

TeninOne. It means as much to me as the big top does to you. If all you're trying to do is cover up the real

"Wait a minute, Cap." Tex's voice was hard as Guffy stepped toward the door. "Get this straight. The reason I

"No," admitted Tex, "but it didn't sound so good the way you spoke. Maybe I could ask why you're so

Guffy's fists tightened. Lucille stepped in to prevent an altercation. Tex had risen in challenging fashion; the

"Run along, Cap," she said to Guffy. "Put the freaks to bed and see that the rattlers are tied up for the night.

"All right, Lucille." Guffy stared hard at Tex as he spoke. "I'll forget it. Guess there ain't no use in being

"GUFFY'S hard to figure out sometimes," growled Tex, as the door closed behind Cap. "If he's so

independent, why don't he buy up a few shows and go out on his own? He's socked away some dough, to hear

him talk. What does he want to travel along with me for, if he could be the big shot of his own outfit?"

"Cap likes to bluff, Tex," decided the girl. "He always acted like he had money, even when you knew he

"Yeah." Tex nodded. "I liked him because he minded his own business and didn't butt into mine. He was the

first sideshow man that was satisfied to run his own top. Maybe it was time I cut him loose. I wonder "

"Well" Tex was speculative "I ain't just satisfied with the way things are going on the lot. Cap Guffy may

"He would be, if Cap Guffy wasn't around. That's the trouble with promoting a fellow like Stuffy. The gang

"Maybe that would do." Tex nodded, then shook his head. "I guess I'll have to let things slide along, Lucille.

The season's pretty well through. I'll make out until we close. Cap will get over his huff "

Tex paused suddenly as he heard a slight scruffing sound outside the office car. He shot a look at Lucille;

The roughnecks hardfaced fellows sprang into the darkness beside the trailer. Tex stepped back into the

office to find Lucille standing beside the little window between the front desks.

"I don't think so," replied Lucille. "The glass is out of this window, though. Somebody could have been

"Sounded like a snooper coming up," declared Tex. "We would have heard him climbing out of the truck if

he'd been there at the window. No I don't think anybody was listening in. Come on. We'll see who the

THE two men whom Tex had despatched for a search had reached the front of the truck while the circus

owner was talking to Lucille. There, in the darkness, they had encountered a human form. One brawny,

barearmed ruffian was clutching a crouching figure while the other turned a flashlight on the pair.

"Say!" The exclamation came from the roughneck who had made the capture. "It's Jubo the Geek! What're

Jubo was showing his teeth in a fierce grin. His eyes glared downward toward the arm of his captor. The geek

Wriggling his own hands free, Jubo pulled up the left sleeve of his black jersey. His captors exchanged stifled

utterances as they saw the same symbol on the geek's forearm. Jubo was obviously a member of their band.

Jubo nodded. As the other roughneck released him, the geek slunk off into the darkness. The two roughnecks

turned and walked back toward the trailer. A flashlight blinked in front of them. It was Tex, coming from the

"We didn't find nobody," growled the roughneck with the light. "Guess maybe it was just some guy cuttin'

Gloom persisted beside the truck. Then, from the darkness of the vehicle came a swishing shape. A spectral

figure reached the ground and stood silently against the darkened side of the office trailer.

Staring toward the glow of the midway, sharp eyes saw a stalwart figure moving past the steps of the office.

A soft, sinister whisper sounded beside the trailer. From his vantage point in the rear of the truck, this

invisible watcher had heard the conversation in the office. He had seen Jubo the Geek prowling by the truck;

he had witnessed the encounter between the mobsters who passed as roughnecks and the slinking wild man

Weirdly, a spectral shape moved forth into the darkness. Again, a whispered laugh was confined to a small

area. That laugh was a token which none but its author heard. Yet it symbolized strange understanding.

The Shadow had not waited to hear from Cliff Marsland. He had followed his agent to the town of

Marlborough. Like a phantom of the night, he had come to the circus grounds to begin a secret investigation

The Shadow had listened. The Shadow had watched. Already he had formed conclusions to carry him along

BRIGHT lights glittered along the midway. A new night had come. Business was good for the Larch Circus

and Greater Shows. The outfit had struck a "red one" a town where customers had cash that they were

Marlborough had been a "bloomer" for Tex Larch. He had welcomed the move to the next town on his route.

The tents were pitched on the outskirts of Burnsville, a small but thriving city.

Thanks to a "fixer," the concessions were running at full blast. Percentage wheels were clicking profits for

their operators. Crowds were jamming the rider carousel, Ferris wheel and whip. The circus had done good

business on its opening and Cap Guffy was jamming them in at the TeninOne. The smaller shows like

A tall, hawkfaced man was strolling along with the crowd that was coming from the circus tent. He had seen

the show in the big top. Like others, he seemed to be looking for new amusement. His keen gaze took in

The stranger paused to light a cigarette. He was jostled by passers in the crowd, so he stepped aside and

stopped by a ticket window where a seller was counting up receipts. His tall form cast a curious shadow

along the grounds. It was a splotch of blackness that ended in a sharp, well defined profile.

This stranger was The Shadow. Tonight, he had temporarily abandoned his garb of black. He had become a

patron of the circus grounds; already, he had found events of interest. The spot where he had stopped was

Two men were standing near the ticket window. They were not circus folk; nor were they part of the

pleasureseeking crowd that thronged the midway. Like The Shadow, these sternfaced individuals were

here with a purpose. Moreover, they had managed to render themselves inconspicuous.

A dart game was operating in a concession booth close to the ticket window. The Shadow stepped in that

direction to watch the customers throw feathered pointers at tags that were supposed to bear lucky numbers.

A SHILL was having great luck. His wellaimed dart landed on a card that hung from the board behind the

counter. The operator pulled out the dart and turned the card to show the number 21. He took a huge kewpie

doll from his display and handed it to the shill. A sucker stepped up to aim darts at the tag which the

The question came in a woman's voice. The Shadow let his keen eyes turn toward the ticket booth. Madame

Solva had come over from the TeninOne. She was holding a large stack of onedollar bills.

"Sure thing," responded the ticket taker. "How many ones have you got there, Madame?"

Casey took the ones and shoved out the required bills. Madame Solva started for the other side of the

The Shadow saw one watching man nudge the other. A nod; one fellow kept his eye on Madame Solva while

the other stepped up to the ticket window. Casey was counting over the bills that the woman had given him.

"Say, Bud," remarked the man who had approached, "give me change for a five spot, will you?"

Casey nodded and counted off five from the bundle of ones. The man passed in a fivedollar bill; then

returned to join his companion. Out of Casey's sight they were at the closed side of the booth they turned

The Shadow saw the bills go in one man's pocket. He noticed grim, knowing nods. Then the two sauntered

An argument was starting at the counter of the dart game. The sucker had landed a pointer in the lucky card.

"Number twentyseven," he was saying. "Well, friend, that wins you a tin whistle."

"Twentyseven?" The angry customer growled. "Say when the last guy stabbed that card, it was

"You must be mistaken," informed the operator. "Look at the card yourself. Number twentyseven."

The sucker held the card in stupefaction. The Shadow smiled as he stepped toward the midway. He had seen

When the shill had landed the card, the operator had displayed it as 21 by holding his thumb over the bar of a

7. Thus the sucker, after aiming a few dozen darts for what he thought was a sure win, now found himself

holding a tag that actually bore the number 27. He was grunting in disgust as the operator handed him a

The Shadow, meanwhile, was nearing the center of the midway. He saw the destination that the sternfaced

men had chosen. They were picking their course to a little tent off in back of the TeninOne.

While the pair stopped in front of the closed flaps, The Shadow circled around another tent. He wound up in

back of the tent that the two men were watching. He found a hole in the canvas and peered through.

THE SOLVAS were alone in the tent. The professor had opened the drawer of a wardrobe trunk. He was

taking the money that his wife had brought. He put the large bills in one partition of the drawer; from another

"Here's two hundred more," he said, in a low tone. "Take them out and peddle them around the concessions.

The professor broke off suddenly. His jaw dropped. His wife turned to find him staring at the front of the tent.

The flaps had opened. The two sternfaced men had entered. One was holding a levelled gun while he

"Got you, eh?" growled the intruder. "Well come along. Grab that queer, Dunham. Take the whole

The second man nodded. He shoved The Solvas aside and pulled out stacks of onedollar bills. The mind

"No talk from you two," he ordered. "You're coming with us. Quietly, too. You and your phony mazuma.

"Our car's off past this tent," informed the man with the gun as he eyed The Solvas coldly. "Dunham will lead

The Shadow watched The Solvas make their forced departure. A soft laugh came from his thin lips after the

mind readers and their captors were gone. The Shadow had spotted the sternfaced men as secretservice

agents. He had guessed their purpose here; he had witnessed the culmination of their efforts.

Looking for passers of counterfeit money, the federal men had found The Solvas. Quietly and efficiently,

THE barker at Jubo's tent was shouting out his spiel as The Shadow again appeared upon the midway. Still in

the character of a visitor to the circus grounds, The Shadow walked up and bought a ticket. He entered the

The hidden squawker was giving raucous roars from its hiding place beneath the canvas. Jubo was grinning

The Shadow watched the antics of the geek. He studied the brownstained face. A smile appeared upon the

Leaving the geek show, The Shadow strolled toward the bannered front of the TeninOne. Captain Guffy

had just finished his last bally. The crowd was entering for the final show. The Shadow bought a ticket and

Inconspicuous in the crowd, The Shadow listened to Cap's lecture on the various freaks. He eyed Cleed, the

languid cigarette fiend. He studied Luke, the tattooed man. He noticed Cap Guffy's glower when the lecturer

Abruptly, Cap passed on to the snake pit occupied by Princess Marxia. He continued his lecture; but all the

while, he kept watching for the return of The Solvas. When he reached the last exhibit, he spoke to an

attendant who was standing there. The man nodded and left the sideshow. The Shadow knew that Cap had

The attendant returned as Cap finished his lecture. Guffy caught a shake of the fellow's head. He promptly

The Shadow, however, remained. He watched while Cap Guffy approached Princess Marxia and pointed to

the platform where The Solvas should have appeared. The snake charmer shrugged her shoulders. Luke, the

The Shadow drew closer. He could hear Cap Guffy's growl. The owner of the TeninOne was angry.

"I thought they were ready to blow," asserted Cap, "Well that's the end of 'em. Nobody ever jumps a show

Cap turned about. He stopped, face to face with The Shadow. He eyed the countenance before him. He stared

at the firm, masklike visage of the waiting stranger. He caught the steady burn of eyes that peered from either

"Huh?" Cap seemed surprised. "Say you're just the guy I want to talk to. Where's your partner?"

CAP stared. This was a new one on him. He was used to double acts on the mind reading platform. He was

"You're in," he announced. "You can use the tent The Solvas lived in. I'll shove their stuff in one of the

"I'll send a punk to get the kiesters. What about books? You'll need 'em won't you?"

"Over here" Cap led the way to the curtained platform and opened a box at the rear edge. "Here's some

horoscope books The Solvas were using. I bought the books myself, along with a lot of slum. The Solvas

"You'll work on salary. Twenty a week and cakes. I was paying The Solvas thirty; but there was two of them.

"All right, Zoda. Any time you want to scoff, go down to the cook tent and charge it up to me. The grub's

"No, thanks. I had dinner in the town. Show me the tent and I'll move my stuff in."

Cap led the way to the tent that The Solvas had occupied. He shouted for a couple of roughnecks. A thin

smile appeared upon Zoda's lips as Cliff Marsland appeared with another man. Cap Guffy pointed the trunk

that stood in the tent. It was closed; a detail to which the secretservice men had attended before leaving with

"Shove this on one of the trucks," ordered Cap. "Send some punk in here. I want him to bring some kiesters

TEN minutes later, Zoda, the mind reader, stood alone in the tent. His suitcases were lying in a corner. His

eyes turned in that direction. His lips formed a thin smile. His hand turned out the light that hung fastened to

Then came the click of an opening bag. After that, the swish of cloth. Two minutes later, a ghostly figure

emerged from the tent and moved in spectral fashion away from the closing midway.

The gliding form reached a parked coupe. It entered. The motor buzzed. The coupe rolled away. As it struck

the road leading into Burnsville, a soft laugh came from the darkness of the car.

Zoda had become The Shadow. Unseen, unnoticed, he was leaving the circus lot upon a secret errand.

A TOWN clock was chiming midnight when The Shadow's coupe rolled to a stop on a side street in the town

of Burnsville. Few people were abroad. All the night owls of this nineo'clock town had gone to the circus

The only buildings that still showed lights were a small lunch room and a decrepit hotel which bore a battered

sign proclaiming it as the "Depot House." Railroad tracks, half a block away, showed the reason for the

Shrouded in the darkness of a side street, The Shadow moved alongside the old hotel Looking upward, he

spied a pair of lighted windows on the third floor. A long arm swished upward and caught the swinging

Reaching the third floor, the invisible prowler entered by a fire exit and moved softly along a dim corridor.

He passed two doors; then stopped at a third. Cautiously, he applied a keylike instrument to the lock. The

A tiny flashlight beamed. It showed that the room was empty. The Shadow edged toward a door in the corner.

Again, his key did its work. The door opened by inches. The Shadow spied the blocking back of a huge

People were talking as The Shadow slipped into the hiding place that so neatly suited his convenience. He

closed the door under cover of the wardrobe. He moved to the edge of the big object and found a wide space

between the wardrobe and the wall. From this vantage point, he commanded a good view of the room.

There were four occupants. Two were Dunham and Slade, the secretservice operatives. The others were The

Solvas. The mind readers were sitting sullenly in chairs while they faced their inquisitors. Slade was

"So that's all you've got to say, eh?" he demanded. "Well we'll see. You'll have a chance to tell your story

Brief minutes passed. Then came a cautious knock at the door. Dunham opened it to admit a stocky,

heavyset visitor. This was the man whom the operatives had expected. His stern features; his square jaw and

THE SHADOW knew the identity of the arrival. This man was Vic Marquette, one of the most capable

operatives in the secret service. His path had crossed The Shadow's in the past. The Shadow had expected Vic

to appear tonight. He knew that operatives such as Dunham and Slade would be waiting for a chief.

"Hello, Vic," greeted Slade. "Here's a pair we pinched up at the circus. Grabbed them in a tent, along with a

He eyed The Solvas as they spoke. The woman began to squawk a denial. Her husband growled for her to be

"You got us with the goods, all right," admitted the man who styled himself Professor Solva. "But we don't

know where the stuff come from. We got horsed into the racket, that's all. It came out of a clear sky and it

"We was working in the TeninOne show. Had a platform there, along with a boxload of books. The

Madame, here, went to get some books one night and found a note, along with a onedollar bill. She showed

"It told me the dollar bill was phony. It said that for every ten bucks of real mazuma I could get fifty of the

queer. Told me to put the good money in the book box and leave it there after the show. Said that I'd find the

"Sure. We loaded up with the counterfeit stuff. Took the phony ones and kept them in our tent. Every night,

my wife would go around the grounds and hand out onespots for bigger bills. We was building up big when

"Harry Gruck. I call myself Professor Solva. This is my wife, Mamie. She's Madame Solva."

"Listen to me, Solva. I want to know who gave you the queer money. It will be easier for you if you tell me

"Wisht I could." Solva spoke in earnest. "I ain't got no love for the guy that horsed me into this mess. But I

don't know who he is. Honest, I don't. We fell for the gag my wife and I but we played it straight because

"All right." Vic Marquette was standing with hands in pockets. "Take them away, Slade. I want to talk with

Handcuffs clicked as the lesser operatives applied them to the wrists of the prisoners. Vic Marquette alone

remained in The Shadow's view as Slade and Dunham led The Solvas into an adjoining room. Then came the

"A FINE pair, you two," spoke Vic Marquette to the other operatives. "One more big mistake to your credit. I

"What could we do, Vic?" protested Slade. "You didn't show up here last night like we expected. We went

out to the lot just to look around. We happened to see the dame shoving the queer and "

"So you grabbed her and the man," interposed Vic. "Why didn't you leave them alone? They would have kept

until tomorrow. Listen, boys. The first pinch was all right. You took in a concessionaire four weeks ago. You

"Yes," responded Vic. "So you went back two weeks later and picked a fellow out of the cook tent. He gave

"Well, that was when I told you your mistake had been proven. But you were still itching to make another

"Of course they were, you simpleton. But they aren't in the know. They're like the others that you grabbed

nothing but blinds. All the while I'm trying to spot the real people in the game you're making it harder for

Vic paused to pace back and forth across the room. He waved his fellow agents to the chairs that The Solvas

"There's a ring behind it, men," voiced Vic. "They are operating with the Larch Circus. They have flooded

every town with plenty of the queer. It goes out through ticket windows. It shows up in salaries. It passes over

"There are dozens in the racket and they know we're after them. So to cover up, they pick dupes. Like the

concessionaire you grabbed. Like the fellow at the cook tent. Like these people The Solvas.

"The crooks figure out just what operatives like you would do. They knew that you would come to the circus

lot and look for somebody who was passing the queer. You did; you grabbed the ignorant dupes.

"Suppose you had pinched fellows at the ticket windows? Suppose you had questioned others like the

concessionaires? They would all have given you the same story. They would have said that people like The

"Don't you see the game? Take that fellow at the ticket window tonight. You saw him get the queer from The

Solvas. You figured that he was all right. Maybe he is. On the contrary, maybe he belongs to the

"If he does, he's getting plenty of the queer and passing it out from his booth. But if you grabbed him right

or wrong he'd give you the one story. He would protest his innocence and back up his statement by pointing

Silence followed Vic's denunciation. Slade shifted uneasily and grumbled. Dunham echoed his companion's

"I KNOW you're right, Vic," he admitted. "Come to think about it, there's so much queer around these towns

we've been to that we can't lay it all on the suckers that we grabbed. But what are we going to do? Pull in the

"No!" Vic was emphatic "We're going to the heart of the thing. Let me tell you something. This gang is

organized. It's loaded with thugs. They're ready for business. It's like a mob, with a leader passing word

"But in back of it" Vic paused to wag a knowing forefinger "is a hidden big shot. He sees that the queer

starts its rounds. He collects the real cash that the mob turns in. It's all done between the mobleader, who is

"I don't know," admitted Marquette. "What I'm trying to find is the mobleader. It's like an endless chain, that

ring of crooks. If I can really spot the one man who sends orders around the circle, I can concentrate on him.

By watching the mobleader alone, I'll find the big shot when the two make contact."

"It was great, Slade, before you two fellows made this bull tonight. I don't know what will happen now."

"Why not? The game will go on, won't it? It kept on after we grabbed the first fellow and the second "

"I'm afraid this grab is one too many. The ring quit shoving the queer after you took in the fellow from the

cook tent. That is, they quit for a few days. I think they'll quit again this trip. If they do, I'll have to wait a

"Sit tight. Follow the show wherever it travels. Don't make a move until you hear from me. If the ring keeps

The other operatives nodded sheepishly from their chairs. Vic Marquette paced toward the door and stood

"Hold The Solvas," he ordered. "Make them write a letter to Captain Guffy, who runs the sideshow. See that

"Have The Solvas tell Guffy that they jumped because they had a better offer. Tell them to send money along

so that their luggage can be shipped to New York. Use an address where Guffy can send the baggage checks.

General delivery in some small town between here and New York would be the best bet."

"All right, Vic," responded Slade. "We'll do it right. Nobody on the circus lot will know that The Solvas were

"They may not know it," retorted Vic, "but they will suspect it. Just the same, it's the best that we can do to

With that, Vic Marquette opened the door and stalked from the room. The closing barrier was the final mark

But Vic was not the only one who chose a convenient portal through which to leave the room where Slade

Silently, The Shadow had opened the door behind him. Like a gliding specter, he passed through the

unoccupied room and made his way to the fire escape. He descended by the fire tower and formed a

A laugh came from that same car as The Shadow rode in the direction of the circus grounds. The master

sleuth was returning to resume his role of Zoda, the new mind reader. Like Vic Marquette, The Shadow was

ANOTHER prosperous evening had ended on the circus lot. The remnants of the crowd were strolling from

the midway. The front of the TeninOne was closed. Freaks and performers had left their platform, with the

exception of the new mind reader. He was arranging his books while Cap Guffy was closing up.

The flaps at the entrance were pushed aside. Guffy, about to bark a challenge at the intruders, stopped as he

saw Tex Larch coming in. With the proprietor of the circus was Lucille Lavan. Following them was a

"Hello, Cap," greeted Lucille. "We just came up from the office. I wanted to see this new mind reader that

"He's finished his act," informed Cap, gruffly. "There he is, though, over on the platform. Come on over if

Cap took the visitors to the platform. Zoda gave a profound bow as he was introduced to Lucille Lavan. The

"We've heard a lot about your act," she said. "They say that you work it single. How in the world well, how

do you manage it without someone in the crowd to have people ask them questions?"

"I let persons write their questions," came Zoda's steady response. "For instance" he reached to a table on

the platform and stepped down to the rail "take this pad and pencil. Write any question that you wish. Then

"No. Keep the paper in your own hand. That's right. Look at the words that you have written. Raise your hand

The girl followed the directions, keeping the writing toward herself. Zoda shook his head. His lips formed a

"A bit higher." He reached forward and grasped the girl's right wrist lightly. "On a level with your eyes so

A mirror glimmered from the palm of Zoda's left hand. The mind reader was the only one who saw it; for the

back of his hand was toward the others. His keen eyes saw the reflection of the words that Lucille had

written. They were in reverse; yet Zoda read them with a glimpse. He stepped back to the platform.

Lucille nodded and copied Zoda's action. While she held the paper slip, Zoda stared steadily toward her eyes;

"Your question," he stated, "is a simple one. You wish to know if the future holds luck for you. I can answer

it. Your fortune is already made. Others know what you have not yet learned. That is all."

"Wonderful!" exclaimed Lucille. "This slip of paper was never out of my hand! What do you think of it Tex

"Very goot," responded Eric Wernoff. "I haff seen nothing so clever before this time. Very goot."

IT was plain that the animal trainer had not detected Zoda's smooth trickery. The action of touching Lucille's

Tex Larch was baffled also; but it was plain that he was thinking of something that Zoda had said. His

weatherbeaten face was stern as his shrewd eyes studied the masklike visage of the mind reader.

"Let's go back to the office, Lucille," suggested Tex, gruffly. "I've got some business there. Come along.

"I'll walk along with you," responded Guffy. "I'm going down to scoff. I'll keep on to the cook tent."

He started to follow the others; then paused and waved them ahead. He turned back to speak to Zoda.

"Those boxes of yours are in town," he told the mind reader. "They came into the station tonight. I'll send

down for them in the morning. What're you going to do? Rig up this platform different?"

"Yes. I intend to place pillars by the rail; with steps leading down to them. My act will be different then. I

"That sounds like a good flash. Your act is a knockout, Zoda; it was a break for me when The Solvas

"Yeah. They wrote in saying they were going to join up with another outfit. Said I'd hear from them later, so I

"Mr. Larch has left," reminded Zoda, in his eventoned voice. "Weren't you going with him, Cap?"

"No," responded Guffy. "I was going along down the midway; that's all. I changed my mind, though. I'm not

talking much with Tex Larch right now. He's a good scout a trooper like myself but he's got his business

"Sorry," replied the mind reader. "I am very seldom hungry after the show. I shall see you later, Captain."

Guffy left the tent by himself. Zoda remained on the platform for a short while; then followed and made his

WHILE The Shadow as Zoda had been demonstrating his act to Lucille Lavan, other events had been

moving on the circus lot. Cliff Marsland, down by the circus tent, had run into Hank, the first man who had

"See that tent?" Hank pointed out an isolated spot where a faint glow showed through brownish canvas.

"We're covering it. Sneak over to the side of that first truck. Don't go any closer to the tent and see that

Reaching the truck, The Shadow's agent posted himself as a member of the guarding group. He knew that

others who carried the red circle must be in the vicinity. Most of the lights had been turned off along the

midway; pitch blackness reigned in this portion of the lot, except for the dull light from the secluded tent.

Until tonight, Cliff's only inkling of crime had been the presence of the mobsters who formed part of the

circus crew. He knew that some of the MalliganZinn gang were established as ticket sellers and

concessionaires. Cliff knew nothing about the counterfeiting end of the game, for the roughnecks were not

Cliff had decided that Croaker Zinn was with the outfit. Yet Cliff had not seen the mobleader. The only two

persons who might have contact with Croaker were Luke and Princess Marxia, for they had steered Cliff into

the red circle. Mobsters all pretended roughnecks were covering the lighted tent. To Cliff, that meant that

a meeting must be under way. Hank's order not to approach too close to the tent was indication that even the

mobsmen were to remain in ignorance of the persons at the meeting. Cliff knew that the mobsmen would

That was the very reason why Cliff decided to approach. He was one of a cordon stretched around the tent.

The darkness was thick. It offered opportunity. Easing away from the truck, Cliff dropped to his hands and

He reached the tent without encountering any obstacles. Crawling with hand against the canvas, Cliff found

the flap as he listened to the mumble of voices from within the tent. Lying flat on the ground, Cliff raised a

Facing him was Luke, the tattooed man. At Luke's side was the woman called Princess Marxia. Cliff was not

surprised to see them here. But the sight of a third figure brought a silent gasp to his lips. Seated crosslegged

The man began to speak as Cliff watched. The harsh tone of his voice it was giving the first words that

Cliff had ever heard Cleed utter was enough to reveal the man's identity. Cleed, the pretended dope, was

CLIFF suddenly realized why his acceptance into the band had been a prompt one. Cleed's platform was next

to Luke's. Thus Croaker Zinn, disguised by his pasty face, had looked Cliff over and passed the word of

"The Feds are watching all right," came Croaker's growl. "They grabbed The Solvas like they did the other

"The Solvas can't tell 'em nothing," put in Luke. "I don't see how it hurts us. Leave a note for another sucker,

with one of those phony dollar bills. How about one of the guys on the Ferris wheel?"

"We've got to quit shoving the queer," decided Croaker. "The Feds ain't dumb, like dicks. Getting the same

story from three people will show them that there's something bigger than they thought.

"We're laying off on the queer until I talk it over with the big shot. The vacation won't hurt anybody. We'll

"But you've got to keep on feeding dough to your gorillas," protested Luke. "Sending real mazuma around the

circle ain't going to please the big shot while he's got nothing coming in. I know he's leaving you handle the

mob so he don't have to look like he's with it; but he didn't pin any medal on you the last time you quit

"No?" questioned Croaker. "Well, guess again, Luke. I'm handling things with the big shot. I'm close to him.

We figured this would be coming. We've got something else beside the queer. Listen these gorillas that are

working as roughnecks ain't just ornaments. It's going to be their turn while we're laying off the queer."

"You know the password both of you. The one I told you to keep until you needed it. Well, I'll tell you

when to start it. When it goes round the circle, there'll be five gorillas who will know what to do. Neither of

you know the game that I've been holding up my sleeve. It's just as well you didn't.

"We don't have to shove the queer. This new gag will do the business. You'll get my tip in a couple of nights,

Luke. Pass it to Marxia; then both of you shoot the word along. We'll pull in as much dough as we've been

Croaker arose. He reached for the light. Cliff Marsland wriggled away from the tent as Luke began to ask

some question. Cliff was almost back to the truck when the light went out. He gained his objective and

A sound came to Cliff's ears. The Shadow's agent fancied that he heard someone moving near the truck. Was

it a spy, sent around the cordon, to make sure that all the watchers had remained at their posts? As Cliff

listened, the creeping ceased. Then came a flashlight, blinking toward the truck.

It was Hank's voice. Cliff grunted an affirmative response and received a growled order to move along. Hank

went on his way. Cliff realized that Hank had been watching the light in the tent. He had allowed time for the

LUKE and Marxia, with Cleed otherwise Croaker were waiting somewhere in the darkness. With the

cordon gone, they would sneak back toward the TeninOne, unseen by friends as well as enemies. Cliff

Heading toward a tent that he occupied with other roughnecks, Cliff stopped suddenly. He was sure that he

heard footsteps following his own. He moved along and stopped again; once more, he sensed an echo.

When he reached the tent, Cliff turned on a light and looked around. None of the other roughnecks were here.

Empty cots, suitcases and boxes were all that Cliff saw. After a suspicious glance toward the flap that he had

closed behind him, Cliff pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket. Producing a fountain pen, he wrote a coded

The envelope lay before him as Cliff was putting the pen back in his pocket. A faint rustle showed at the tent

flap. Forgetting the envelope, Cliff pounced to the front and thrust his body through the canvas. He seized a

Catching his antagonist off balance, Cliff whirled the fellow around and sent him sprawling into the tent.

Pouncing in, Cliff crouched above the man whom he had captured. He found himself staring into the

As Cliff stood ready to resume the attack, the grinning wild man plucked at the sleeve of his jersey. As the

garment crept up, Cliff saw a red mark on Jubo's arm. It was the circle that showed its owner to be one of

Cliff pulled up his own sleeve, Jubo saw the tattoo mark. Rising, the geek grinned again as he moved in

crouching fashion toward the tent flap. Cliff allowed him to go unmolested. He heard Jubo slink off through

Cliff was perturbed. Why had Jubo followed him here? Until this encounter, Cliff had not suspected that Jubo

belonged to the crime crew. Cliff's worry began to increase. It was possible that Jubo had been working as a

Against this was the fact that Hank had made no provision for such a prowler. Jubo in circling the conference

tent, would naturally have been challenged by every one on watch. Then it occurred to Cliff that Jubo might

have been another watcher. The geek could have heard Cliff crawling by the truck and followed him to make

Cliff smiled. He felt that his red circle had squared him with Jubo, just as the geek's tattoo mark had made it

right with Cliff. That point settled, The Shadow's agent remembered his important envelope. He swung

A hand had raised the side of the tent by the box. An arm was coming inward from solid blackness. Gloved

fingers were resting on the envelope. As Cliff watched, the hand moved away, carrying the envelope with it.

The Shadow! Cliff's chief had come to gain the report prepared for him. He had been waiting to get this

A smile of confidence crept over Cliff's features as the side of the tent dropped to cover the departing hand.

With The Shadow close at hand, Cliff felt ready for any emergency that might arise.

Five minutes later, a swishing sound occurred in a small tent. Then came the clicking of the clasp on a

suitcase. A hand pressed the light switch. Zoda, the mind reader, was revealed by the glare. His hands opened

an envelope and read an inked message. The writing faded. Zoda tore up the blank sheet.

The Shadow had received Cliff Marsland's message. He had learned that Cleed and Croaker Zinn were one.

He had gained a report of the conference in the tent. Cloak, hat and gloves were packed away. As Zoda, The

IT was the last night in Burnsville. Business was good in the TeninOne. Zoda was working with his newly

arranged platform. He was the big attraction in the sideshow. Wearing a turban above his full dress suit, the

"Whisper a question to any of your friends," he told the throng. "Let them be ready to confirm the thought

that is in your mind. That is all I ask, as I stand here upon my small platform. Proceed "

Zoda indicated a lady in the audience. The woman spoke in the ear of a man beside her. A suave smile

"That gentleman is your husband, madame," announced the mind reader. "You mentioned the name of your

child and wondered if I could catch the thought. The child is a girl. Her name is Myrtle."

A buzz passed among the spectators as the woman's gasp showed that Zoda's answer had been correct. The

"Choose someone," ordered Zoda. "Tell that person your name the date of your birth any bit of

Thus speaking, Zoda turned to pick up a crystal ball from its pedestal. Staring into the clear sphere, he

"You are thinking of your birthday, sir. September the twelfth, 1897. You are also concentrating upon your

name. Since you have mentioned it to the person beside you, I shall announce it. Your name is Herbert"

The man nodded. There was further buzz. Zoda singled out more persons and answered their questions. Then

as Cap Guffy signaled from beside Princess Marxia's pit, Zoda produced his supply of books and began to

One man remained after the others had passed along. It was Cliff Marsland. He had come into the

TeninOne as a shill. He had also started the book sale by making one of the first purchases. He was

reading his horoscope as he stood by one of the pillars that Zoda had set up in front of the platform. The mind

reader, up on the platform, was arranging his books on a table at the rear curtain.

"The password went around." Cliff moved his lips in a faint whisper. "Everybody in the circle sent it along.

The word was 'pyramid.' I don't know what it was for, or who was supposed to act on account of it. But I

Cliff thrust the horoscope book into his pocket and strolled along past Marxia's pit.

EVERY word that he had whispered had reached The Shadow's ears. For Zoda, the mind reader, was wearing

Wires ran beneath his suit to metal plates on his shoes. These formed contact with copper nails in the

platform. The nails, in turn, were connected by wires to microphones in the pillars out in front of the

platform. The tiniest whisper from near those pillars was audible to the mind reader.

This was the secret of the startling act that The Shadow had performed in the guise of Zoda. He had arranged

the hook up while the TeninOne was empty. But his work had not stopped with the placing of the

Along the ground ran other wires. One terminated in a mike by Marxia's pit; another was set beneath Luke's

platform; the third was under the little stage where Cleed was resting. Thus The Shadow was ready to hear

He knew that the word had been passed along. Just after the first show, he had caught a low grunt from

Cleed. Luke had left his platform to sneak to Marxia. Both had spoken individually to lounging

Hence Cliff's report had been unnecessary. It had told The Shadow neither more nor less than he had already

heard. No one had given any explanation for the word "pyramid." It had merely been started along the chain,

A roughneck was approaching Luke's platform. Zoda moved away from the table with the books. He sat

down in a chair and let his feet rest upon a definite spot. Words clicked through the earphones, muffled by the

"Sure." The roughneck laughed. "That's your work, ain't it? Get busy. I'm the first, I guess."

The buzz of the electric needle began. The smile showed on Zoda's thin lips. The Shadow knew from Cliff's

previous report that tonight's plans were between Croaker Zinn and certain mobsters whom he had probably

prepared in advance. The chosen ones were the only members of the circle who had understood the meaning

of "pyramid." They were following instructions. For some reason, they were having the red circles

A few minutes later, Cap Guffy came along the line, followed by Princess Marxia. He noticed that Zoda had

become suddenly busy with his books. Cap passed the mind reader's platform. He stopped to watch Luke at

"Go ahead, Luke," decided Guffy. "I was going to use you on the bally stand; but since you're doing a job,

CAP moved along to Cleed's platform. Zoda, obscured by a curtain, promptly moved to a new location. The

conversation that followed was audible through the earphones. It was an odd conversation, for Cap Guffy was

the lone speaker. He was talking to Cleed and the answers from the pastyfaced man were nothing more than

"Come on, Cleed. I'll use you on the bally... What's that?... No?... When I say come along, you come along...

Don't want to, eh? Well I get the idea. You're supposed to be too dopey to get up... That's right. You gave

me the nod that time... Well, keep on nodding. Get off that cot. You can act like you are a hophead when

you're on the bally platform... Still saying no, eh? Listen. I'll call a couple of punks and have them grab you

Zoda was looking from his platform when Cap Guffy conducted Cleed toward the front of the tent. The

Cigarette Fiend was leaning heavily on Cap's shoulder. Cap was talking to him as they walked along. Cap's

words, however, were inaudible to The Shadow, for they had passed the range of the microphone.

Luke had finished his tattoo job when the acts came back from the bally platform. Cleed had evidently pulled

his collapse stunt, for two roughnecks were carrying him into the tent. Customers were buying tickets in

The roughnecks dropped their burden on the army cot. One of them sauntered away. The other climbed up on

Luke's platform. Again, the earphones served The Shadow. This fellow wanted a new design to cover up the

red circle. He was showing Luke a butterfly design on his right forearm. He wanted it matched with one on

THE show went on. Luke paused in his tattooing to display his pictured back to the crowd while Cap Guffy

lectured at the platform. Then, as the throng moved along, Luke resumed his work. When the round had been

The snake charmer brought along a pair of bull snakes. Zoda looked impressive with turban and crystal ball.

Cap, as an afterthought, added Cleed and instructed the fake freak to "do another flop."

Luke was again eliminated. He had finished with his second customer; but a third had promptly arrived. The

bally finished; and another show went on. The procedure continued. When the last show was in progress,

Luke had supplied five roughnecks with new tattoo marks to cover their red circles.

Cliff Marsland was a shill on the last show. He lingered in front of Zoda's platform and whispered his report

into the mike. Cliff had been watching the roughnecks along the midway. He had not witnessed the tattooing

"Five of the mob have slipped out," informed Cliff. "I watched them pull away in an old car. I don't know

There was no response from Zoda. Cliff went back to the midway. He was needed at the circus tent, for

roughnecks were getting ready to pull down the big top and load it for tonight's jump.

A recent message from The Shadow had instructed Cliff to pass his information to Zoda. Hence Cliff had a

hunch that Zoda and The Shadow were the same. He realized that to play his part successfully, The Shadow

had been forced to let the five mobsters embark upon their trip. Cliff, however, could see purpose in The

Already, the counterfeiting game was known. But it had been put on the shelf, at Croaker's order. The best

way for The Shadow to learn Croaker's new game of crime was to let it go unmolested on the first attempt.

THE big top was coming down. Cliff joined other roughnecks on the stakepuller. This was a long shaft that

projected from an axle between two wagon wheels. A roughneck grabbed a chain that hung from the other

side of the axle and wound it around a stake that had been driven deep in the hard ground.

Then Cliff and the others grabbed the high end of the shaft and bore it downward. The leverage yanked the

heavy stake clear of the ground. The wheels revolved as the roughnecks rolled the stake puller along to make

While Cliff was aiding on this job, the last show finished in the TeninOne. The freaks departed from their

While Cap Guffy was out calling for roughnecks, Zoda remained alone. Unobserved, he detached the

microphones and packed them. Then he strolled out along the midway, where the concessionaires were

Jubo the Geek was working with the ticket seller who ran his tent. He had become a very tame wild man; but

that excited no comment among the circus folk. They knew that all geeks were fakes. Thus Jubo, rolling

canvas, was an object of interest only to the few townsfolk who were staring from the fringes of the circus

As Zoda's tall figure stopped near a tent close by the office trailer, Cap Guffy strode into view. Tex Larch

was talking with Stuffy Dowson outside the office. Cap came up with an angry scowl on his face.

"Say, you!" he hurled his challenge at both Tex and Stuffy. "What about them roughnecks that's supposed to

Tex Larch stared. Neither he nor Cap Guffy had patched up their differences since they had left Marlborough.

Both had been reasonably cordial, but Guffy's outburst looked to Tex like an effort to widen the breach.

"Don't stand there like a couple of hicks," roared Guffy. "Where's the roughnecks? It's your job to supply

"What about the roughnecks, Stuffy?" questioned Tex, turning to the general agent.

"They ought to be up at the TeninOne," returned Stuffy. "I had eight men on Cap's top."

"Hear that, Guffy?" challenged Tex. "You've got eight roughnecks waiting for you."

"Have I?" demanded Cap. "Have I? Well, you go up and count them. Maybe you can make two and one add

up to eight. There's three roughnecks using the stake puller. That's all I've got."

Neither Tex nor Cap knew that Zoda was watching them as they resumed a silent feud. Each showman was

curbing his temper. Cap Guffy stared sullenly while Tex Larch bit the end from a cigar and applied a match

"Nothing much," retorted Tex. "When you need roughnecks, ask for them. If you give us reasonable notice,

"I didn't know they were gone," growled Cap. "I saw them around a while ago. They came in the

TeninOne. They shilled for the shows. They didn't blow until the top was ready to come down."

"That's just the time when they would blow," returned Tex, coolly. "Go down to the big top, Stuffy. Yank

five roughnecks off of it and send them up to the TeninOne. Does that suit you, Guffy?"

"All right." Cap's tone seemed mollified. Turning on his heel, the owner of the side show stalked back toward

Zoda was not the only witness of the scene. Peering from between two trucks, another person was looking on.

The keen eyes that burned from Zoda's masklike countenance saw the pasty face of Cleed. The man whom

The Shadow knew as Croaker Zinn turned suddenly and headed back toward the TeninOne.

Cliff Marsland, coming up with four other roughnecks whom Stuffy had delegated to the TeninOne was

just in time to observe Zoda's tall form moving into the tent that had once been The Solvas'.

But neither Cliff nor any of the others saw the tall, blackgarbed figure that later emerged from the canvas

flaps. When they had finished tearing down the TeninOne, they dropped the small tents also. Zoda's bags

Once more, The Shadow was strolling unseen about the circus lot. His figure was invisible as it kept away

from the scattered spots where lights aided the roughnecks who were loading the trucks.

Five men had left the lot tonight. The Shadow knew that they had fared forth on crime. But The Shadow was

unperturbed. Like Vic Marquette, he was biding his time. Like Vic, The Shadow was waiting to spot the big

Cap Guffy made the statement from the front of the TeninOne. The show was on the new lot, outside the

"There's an hour yet before the big show starts," observed Stuffy Dowson. He was standing beside Cap

"Yeah?" questioned Cap. "On opening night? Say this midway ought to be jammed. Look at it, though.

There ain't a wheel clicking. Listen, Stuffy; sometimes I've squawked because Tex wouldn't let me start my

show until after they got going in the big top. But I ain't kicking tonight. It won't need big figures to count up

"Tex wants to see you down in the office, Cap," remarked Stuffy, in a conciliatory tone. "Thought maybe I'd

"All right by me," returned Cap. "Say does Tex think I'm still sore about them roughnecks? I ain't. This new

"That's good, Cap. No, the roughnecks don't matter with Tex. I guess some of the five that blew are back

"Moving around, eh? Well, that's the way with roughnecks. You can't count on them."

"Hank may have taken on some new ones," admitted Stuffy. "He's the guy that keeps tabs. Well it's up to

As Cap Guffy strolled in the direction of the office, keen eyes spied him from a tent beyond the TeninOne.

That was Zoda's tent; but it was a different shape than Zoda's that moved forth into the thickening gloom.

A blackened shape against the darkening sky, The Shadow was moving toward the truck to which the office

trailer was attached. He was choosing that vantage point to observe what happened in the office.

Other forms appeared among the tents after The Shadow had followed Guffy's path. One was that of Jubo the

Geek. Another was the figure of Cleed. Passing roughnecks chanced to observe these prowlers. They paid no

attention to them. It was customary for the freaks to stay away from the midway while the crowds were

CAP GUFFY entered the office with a bang. He let the door slam as he closed it. Tex Larch looked up from

one of the desks and gave an affable nod. He laid a newspaper aside. Cap approached and glanced at it.

"Reading about that Almsburg robbery, eh?" questioned Guffy. "Say those birds pulled something, didn't

they? Got away with about fifty thousand bucks. Almsburg's near here, ain't it?"

"About thirty miles away," responded Tex. "I wasn't reading about the robbery, though. It don't interest me.

"Maybe you was reading about this," chuckled Cap. "More hokum about that missing heiress, Lucy Aldon.

Girl out in Cincinnati claims to be the girl, eh? Well, it don't look like she's getting away with it. Here's a

He yanked the newspaper from Cap's hands. Guffy's fists began to clench. Tex pulled a cigar from his pocket

"Getting kind of grouchy, eh, Tex?" quizzed Cap. "What's the idea grabbing a newspaper while I'm reading

"She ain't the gal," returned Tex, crumpling the newspaper and throwing it under a desk. "That lawyer with

the funny name said she ain't. It's just some more of that bunk you read in the papers. That robbery don't

mean anything to us, either. Almsburg's thirty miles away. Those fellows that blew the bank safe won't be

"Guess you're right about that, Tex," declared Cap, forgetting his animosity as he grinned. "We'll be lucky if

we pull in a crowd from right here in Hamilcar. Say, Tex how long have you been in the show business?"

"Well, I just figured it would take experience to pick a bloomer as bad as this one. I couldn't do it."

"It's worse than I expected," admitted Tex. "It's mighty bad, Cap. That's why I wanted to talk to you. It's no

"Yeah. I'm leaving on the next train. But I'm not telling Stuffy where I'm going."

"Because he don't know how to keep his mouth shut. He's all right with the folks on the lot, but he begins to

"I see." Cap sat down and nodded speculatively. "You're expecting Wilbart, are you?"

"I am," announced Tex. "That's why I'm leaving tonight. I want to be out of here when he comes around. I'm

going to tell Stuffy to let him talk to you. Remember that proposition, Cap, that we were talking about when

"That's it. Well there's no papers to show it, but you stick to the story, will you? Maybe you're still sore at

"I know. We're both showmen and Wilbart ain't. I get it, Tex. Well, I'm agreeable on that score. If we've got a

grudge, it ain't big enough to keep us from helping the other guy kid Wilbart. That's settled, Tex. What do

Cap stopped as the door slid open. It was Stuffy. Another man was following the general agent into the

TEX LARCH stared as he saw Jonathan Wilbart. The circus magnate had arrived sooner than Tex had

"No," growled Tex. "Slide out, Stuffy. Stay here, will you, Cap? Sit down, Wilbart."

"It doesn't look so good on the midway,"' observed Wilbart, as he settled in a seat. "I told you this would be a

"Maybe this town won't turn out bad," was Guffy's comment. "You can't never tell, Tex."

"You are both optimists," decided Wilbart. "Well if you feel that way, Tex, I suppose there is no use trying

"Not tonight or any night," retorted Tex. "I'm staying in the business, Wilbart. With this show, too. In fact"

"A sideshow," answered Tex. "Cap Guffy's. I'm taking over his TeninOne. I've got an option on it."

"It didn't come in through your turnstiles," argued Wilbart. "What's more, you can't tell me that the

"I'm making money out of this show," asserted Tex, emphatically. "I'm satisfied with business. If you want to

stay around town until we move, you'll be here to see me hand one thousand dollars to Cap Guffy."

"So you're making money, eh?" chuckled Wilbart, wisely. "That's a good one, Tex. Best I've heard yet. All

right. I shall take your word for it. The Larch Circus is showing a profit. That is established. That means the

"You're making money, are you, Guffy?" questioned Wilbart. "Then why are you selling out to Larch?"

Tex scratched the lobe of his left ear. He looked at Cap Guffy, who had no reply. Then he turned to Jonathan

"Cap's ready to retire," explained Tex. "Figures that he's been in the show business long enough. How about

"That's right," responded Cap. "I've made my sock. With what Tex is offering, I won't need to stay on the

"That is another excellent story," commented Wilbart. "If you have money, Guffy, it didn't come through the

front of your TeninOne. Well" Wilbart paused to nod "it's possible that one of you is right."

"Well," resumed Wilbart, "you may have struck a gold mine on one of the circus lots. Maybe you do have

money, Tex. Or" Wilbart turned to Cap "perhaps you are the man who has been finding nuggets, Guffy."

Cap shrugged his shoulders. He did not appear uneasy. Jonathan Wilbart arose. He stepped toward the door

"I shall come back, Tex," he declared. "Perhaps you will have a different decision before you have finished

with the town of Hamilcar. Or" the smile increased "should I say before Hamilcar has finished with you?"

ALTHOUGH angered by Wilbart's friendly sarcasm, Tex seemed unable to make a retort. He shifted uneasily

by the desk. Cap Guffy said nothing. He seemed to be thinking deeply as Jonathan Wilbart prepared to leave.

Before the magnate had reached the door, however, the barrier slid back and a burly, big fisted man stamped

He put the gruff question to Jonathan Wilbart, who shook his head. The magnate pointed to Tex and stepped

"Who is this gentleman?" questioned the sheriff. He indicated Wilbart as he spoke to Tex. "Does he have

"He wants to buy it, that's all," replied Tex. "He's Jonathan Wilbart. Owns five shows of his own. Just came

"That's all right, then," acknowledged the sheriff. "Sorry to hold you back, Mr. Wilbart. Wait a minute." He

scrawled with a pencil on a slip of paper. "When you get outside the grounds, hand this to one of the men that

Wilbart looked perplexed. Then, seeing that Howard was waiting for him to leave, he nodded to Tex and Cap.

"What's the trouble, sheriff?" inquired Tex, affably. "You aren't going to slough the wheels, are you? I

"That's not what I'm here about," stated the sheriff. "Who is this fellow here with you?"

"All right. He can hear what I have to say. Nobody's going off this lot tonight without my permission."

"There's no more coming in. We've looked over the ones that are here. They're mostly folks from Hamilcar.

"The men in my posse. I've got sixty of them, all around the grounds. Just posted them."

"What's up?" demanded Tex, furrowing his forehead in worried fashion. "I don't get it, sheriff."

"There was a bank robbery in Almsburg last night," explained Howard. "The robbers got away; but a

watchman saw them. He took the number of their car. We found it this afternoon, near this lot. We think the

"No?" queried the sheriff. "Well, I think different. You've heard my orders. You can tell your people to stay

"I can't tell them anything," pleaded Tex, suddenly. "Listen, sheriff. This show is going broke. I don't want it

to fold. I have to go into New York on the next train to see if I can raise some money. It's all the more

important, now that you're killing the little business that we might do tonight."

"Go ahead," agreed the sheriff. "I'll let you past. You're the head man of the outfit. You can leave. Will

"Yes," replied Tex. "He and my general manager, Stuffy Dowson. Wait a minute. I'll call Stuffy."

He stepped to the door and called for Stuffy. The general manager appeared for instructions. The sheriff

"Get my kiesters, Stuffy," ordered Tex. "They're all packed. Hurry them up. I'm leaving town."

"One of my men will drive you to the station," informed the sheriff. "Come along with your bags. We can get

Stuffy showed up with the suitcases. There were two bags; both large and heavy. Tex took one and ordered

Stuffy to carry the other. Cap Guffy waited at the door of the office while the sheriff walked with Tex and

INTENT as he watched Tex's departure, Cap Guffy did not sense a slight motion at the window in the front

of the office. Nor did he see the phantom shape that reached the ground beside the truck.

That form was still invisible when it reached the fringe of the circus lot. Enshrouded in gloom, The Shadow

watched Tex and Stuffy place the heavy bags into the rear of a parked sedan. Tex took the seat beside the

Pacing men with rifles formed a large encircling cordon about the circus lot. The glare of the lights was

sufficient for these sentinels to distinguish moving figures. But their eyes failed them when a spectral shape

glided noiselessly toward the roadway. In the gloom, that form was nothing more than an elongated splotch

A creature of the night, The Shadow was proving his power to pass unseen. His soft laugh was no more than

a whispered echo. It marked the end of Zoda. The Shadow had resumed his cloak of blackness.

Finished with his temporary role, informed of the situation which existed, The Shadow was ready for the

aftermath of crime. On the lot and off, he was preparing to play his part in the events that were due tonight.

Circling the pacing members of the posse, The Shadow again displayed his uncanny spell. With the glide of a

grim ghost, he chose another opening and retraced his course back toward the office where Cap Guffy

WHEN Sheriff Howard returned to the office he promptly began to issue orders to Cap Guffy and Stuffy

Dowson. The veteran showmen listened soberly while Howard explained his plan for rounding up the bank

"Run the circus as usual," the sheriff said to Stuffy. "You do the same with your show, Captain. My posse

will see to it that everybody stays on the lot. Meanwhile, I'll be strolling around with the watchman and a

"Yes," replied Howard. "We'll go into the circus tent like we were regular customers. Give us seats in the box

right in front of the main ring. We'll be looking over the whole tent. If we don't see the men we want, we'll go

"We'll scour the lot. Line up everybody. I could do that to begin with; but I don't want to. It's better as a last

resort. You see" Howard paused craftily "I reckon that those robbers don't know the watchman saw them.

If they're here with the circus, they've probably got the swag hid somewhere. So they'll try to stand pat, not

Cap Guffy was seated at a desk. He was weighing the sheriff's words. Cap had no comment. He kept

strumming on the woodwork while he stared toward the speaker. Stuffy Dowson, however, did not keep

"Say" Stuffy wagged a finger toward the sheriff "maybe those roughnecks was in on that bank robbery.

"I don't know. We can't keep tabs on them roughnecks leastwise, I can't. But the five of 'em was supposed

"Are they back with your tent now?" questioned the sheriff, turning to Cap Guffy.

"No." Cap shook his head emphatically. "The boys that set up my top was the ones that Stuffy brought up

"Maybe with the big top," put in Stuffy. "They could have slid in with that crew. If they don't know nothin',

"Good," decided the sheriff. "Now we've got to do something to explain why I've got a posse here. You two

chaps go out and spread the news that this town is hot. Tell your people that a lot of toughs tried to bust up a

"Tell them that's why I'm on the job. I want to stop any riots that may start. That's why all the circus folks

"That story ought to hold them all except the five guys that we're after. And if the five try to beat it, we'll

nab them easy. And listen: while you're spreading the news, check up and see if any hands are missing."

THE three men left the office. Stuffy headed toward the big top. Cap went in the direction of the

TeninOne. He spoke to concessionaires as he passed them. He stopped and talked to the ticket seller

outside of Jubo's tent. This fellow nodded and went inside to speak to the geek.

When he reached the TeninOne, Cap found a few of the freaks gathered inside. He made a general

"We're opening late tonight," said Cap, gruffly. "The 'tin star' is on the lot and he's got a bunch of deputies on

the job. He thinks there's going to be trouble, so he's looking out for us. Some of these townies think they're

tough and the tin star wants to make it soft for us. Guess he's afraid we might yell a 'Hey Rube.' So keep on

The freaks nodded. Since the show was opening late, they began to leave the tent. Cap went over to Cleed's

platform, where the pastyfaced man was lying on his cot. Cleed was the only one who had not heard Cap's

After Guffy spoke to him, Cleed arose lazily from the cot and nodded. While Guffy remained alone in the

silence of the tent, Cleed followed the other freaks. They had gone out through the back canvas.

TEN minutes later; Cliff Marsland, carrying a bucket past the big top, was encountered by Hank. The big

"Shove that bucket," he ordered. "Cover by the truck. There's a meeting in the tent."

Cliff nodded. He stowed the water bucket under the stake puller. He made for the truck and took his stand

there. Dusk had settled early, for the day was cloudy; yet the gloom was not thick enough to risk another

In fact, Cliff fancied that he could make out the figures of other roughnecks whom Hank had posted as a

cordon. His watching eyes caught sight of a stooped form crouching outside the circle. It looked like Jubo the

Then his eyes became transfixed. Moving along the ground within the circle was a splotch of blackness. It

was a strange, uncanny shape that suddenly passed from view. When Cliff glimpsed it again, the shape had

No challenge came from any watcher. Cliff realized that he alone had seen that weird manifestation of a

Cliff smiled grimly. He had not dared venture toward the tent; but there was one who had taken the chance,

with success. The Shadow had slipped through the cordon of mobster roughnecks. The master of darkness

INSIDE the little tent, Cleed was talking in the growl that characterized Croaker Zinn. Luke and Princess

Marxia were listening to his statements. Their faces showed apprehension; but Croaker's faked countenance

"You heard the story that Cap Guffy is passing around the lot," stated Croaker. "Well we know the real

dope. Cap's just handing out the line that the hick sheriff told him to spread. They're really after the bunch

"We've got to give those five gorillas a break. At the same time, we're not going to bust up the racket on their

account. I saw this coming; that's why I had the five cover up those red circles by letting you use the blue

"I figured that," responded the tattooed man. "Say it had me stumped when the first guy came in. But after

"Never mind," interrupted Croaker. "Let's talk about tonight. Those five gorillas have got to stick together.

We'll let them fight for themselves and scram together. If they have trouble getting away, we'll shout a 'Hey

"I'll tell you. First of all, you pass the word to Hank. He knows who the five gorillas are. Have him shove

"Yeah. There's plenty of guns used in that part of the show. They're to keep under cover until Wernoff goes

Croaker broke off suddenly. He had heard a noise outside. He sprang to his feet and turned off the light. He

The Shadow was moving away before Luke acted. He, too, had heard the noise. What was more, he had

located it. Moving stealthily along the ground, The Shadow could see a crawling figure making its way

Members of the cordon were closing in, following the signal of the extinguished light. Motionless, The

Shadow saw the figure rise from among the boxes. He recognized the bouncing gait of Jubo the Geek.

The prowler had slipped past the cordon. It was The Shadow's turn to do the same. He moved toward the

truck where Cliff Marsland had been stationed. He gave a low hiss as his agent came in toward the darkened

One minute later, the light clicked on in the little tent. Croaker and his aids were resuming their interrupted

conference. Roughnecks moved back to their posts. Two minutes followed; again the lights went out.

Once more the roughnecks inspected; then moved away. This time, the freaks stole from the tent. Croaker

had completed his instructions. The Shadow had not gained the opportunity to hear the final statement of the

A soft laugh came from beside the truck that Cliff had left. The Shadow had no need to return. He had heard

enough. His keen brain had divined the rest. Noiselessly, The Shadow glided away from the truck.

THE freaks were returning to the TeninOne. Marxia and Cleed were preparing to enter through the back

"The big shot's got the swag," came Croaker's low growl. "Don't worry. He's taking care of it. The sheriff

may make trouble for the gorillas, but he won't find the swag on this lot. Keep mum, Marxia. Remember: I'm

The two entered the tent. Another figure moved from twenty feet away. It was Jubo the Geek.

Scarcely had he departed when Luke arrived and entered the back of the tent. The tattooed man went to his

platform. He nodded as he looked toward Cleed. It was Luke's signal that he had seen Hank. The orders

Cap Guffy was striding along in front of the rail. He was wearing a frown as he looked toward the platform

"His outfit ain't here," snorted Cap. "Say I bet that guy blew the show. I'm going to find out."

Cap strode toward the entrance. A tent flap rose as he neared the spot. In stepped the sheriff. Cap stopped

"No. He must have cleared out with his stuff before you put the posse on the job."

"I don't know. Maybe he headed for the station. Tex started early for that train. It hasn't gone out yet. Say

Cap and the sheriff moved out through the back canvas. They found Cap's car a coupe standing near the

"Say" Cap turned to the sheriff "I'd forgot about that trunk. It gives me an idea. It belongs to a pair that

jumped the show The Solvas and I got a letter from them asking me to ship it to New York."

"Well I ain't had time to ship it. Suppose, now, that Zoda is down at the station. He may be on the lookout.

But if he sees me drive up to the baggage room and unload this trunk, he won't think I'm after him."

"I can sneak out of the baggage room and squint along the platform. He won't know it."

Cap Guffy grinned as he looked at the trunk in the rumble seat. His idea evidently appealed to him. The

sheriff's approval seemed to his liking. The deputy arrived promptly; he and Cap entered the car and started

CAP pulled up at the baggage room. He and the deputy unloaded the trunk. Cap checked it and dropped the

check in his pocket. He watched the trunk go aboard the baggage truck. The baggage master started the truck

along the platform just as a whistle sounded to announce the approach of the train. Rails began to click.

The pair edged to the platform just as the train arrived. Brakes brought the string of cars to a grinding stop.

Cap saw Tex Larch step aboard, lugging his heavy bags. He looked in the opposite direction and observed the

The conductor's cry brought a shake from Cap's head. The owner of the TeninOne turned to the deputy and

"Zoda didn't get on that train," he announced. "I'd have spotted him, sure. We'll have to look for him back on

"One man missing," stated Cap, as he took the wheel of the coupe. "It'll be the sheriff's job to find him."

Cap smiled grimly as he phrased this decision. The deputy nodded as they started back along the road to the

circus grounds. Cap's manner seemed to indicate that the disappearance of Zoda was a matter of grave

A watching figure was shrouded in the darkness behind the TeninOne. Keen eyes saw Cap Guffy wave the

deputy away. They watched the showman lift the canvas and enter the rear of the tent.

Those were the eyes of Zoda, the missing mind reader. They were also the eyes of The Shadow. Noiselessly,

the blackened figure moved away. The Shadow was heading toward the big top, where the shouts of barkers

The sheriff and three other men were entering the main tent when The Shadow spied them from a darkened

spot near the office. Two of the sheriff's companions were deputies. The other was a squatty individual the

A soft laugh whispered from hidden lips as The Shadow circled past the big top. Grim duty faced The

Shadow. He was seeking a wedge with which to plan a counterthrust to coming crime.

THE path which The Shadow had taken was fraught with danger of discovery. Tenseness ruled the circus lot

tonight. Flashlights glimmered here and there about the big top as roughnecks maintained a ceaseless vigil.

This was the circus custom. It was the duty of the roughnecks to keep a clear space about the big top.

Usually, they nabbed boys who were trying to crawl under the canvas. Such captures were followed by

admonitions of "Beat it, you punk." But the roughnecks whether genuine circus folk or camouflaged

The fact that the circus lot was virtually under quarantine had caused much speculation around the big top.

Stuffy had instructed all the roughnecks to grab any one who had no business near the main tent. This had

followed a suggestion by the sheriff. It was a ruse to cover up the fact that he was searching for crooks among

The Shadow, as he glided onward, was cunning in his stealth. He was seeking to avoid any encounter; as a

result, he chose a zigzag path to escape the patrolling roughnecks. A light glimmered from ahead; one

Human beings had not discerned The Shadow's presence. But in his present move, the blackgarbed venturer

came within sight of huge green eyes that glowed from within the cage. A roar resounded in the night.

"Ganges," the ferocious tiger, knew that someone was lurking close by. The rumble from his furry throat told

of his discovery. The vicious growl was repeated. Then came a low hiss that reached the tiger's ears.

The creature dropped back from the bars. The hiss came again, in a low, commanding tone. Muffling his

growls, Ganges backed angrily away from the bars. He did not roar again. His eyes were blinking as he

A GLOVED hand rattled the padlock that held the door of the tiger's cage. A steel pick clicked while The

The door of the cage moved inward. Ganges growled but made no move as The Shadow silently closed the

The hiss sounded close beside the tiger. With a catlike whine, the big beast shifted its position. It raised one

paw, as though in final protest. The hiss was repeated. Ganges moved to the bars and settled there; his striped

Four roughnecks had reached the cage. Their flashlights glimmered upward between the bars. They revealed

the crouched body of Ganges; but they did not show the shaded figure that was stooped against the solid back

Sight of the new intruders inspired Ganges to lift his head and show his teeth in a whining growl. He clattered

"Look out for Ganges!" The tone showed dread. "He's a maneater, that cat. Even Wernoff has trouble

"He's a killer," came another comment. "So it's Ganges that was growlin', eh? Huh. He'd raise a roar if he saw

Lights were sweeping along the ground about the cage. Every bit of area was being covered. The roughnecks

"With Ganges?" The man who answered gave a snort. "If he did, there's no use botherin' about him. He's

The men moved away. As the lights flickered, Ganges arose to deliver a parting roar. He paced angrily. Then

came the commanding hiss. The roughnecks were too far away to hear it. They were also too distant to

As a blackened hand loomed before the tiger's nose; as hidden lips repeated their weird hiss; as burning eyes

met the tiger's greenish gaze, Ganges cowered in complete submission. He watched the eyes move backward

toward the door. He heard deft hands click at the lock. The door opened as The Shadow moved outward. The

The master of the night was gone; yet Ganges remained cowed. The tiger was a killer; like humans who dealt

in death he had felt the dominating power of The Shadow's amazing presence. Other animals in nearby

cages seemed to know that Ganges had been vanquished. Complete silence persisted as The Shadow moved

NEW glimmers blinked as The Shadow neared a long, low, lighted tent. The Shadow avoided them by raising

These were set across the end of the tent. The curve of the canvas wall produced a space between the trunks

and the end of the tent. Thus The Shadow was totally concealed as he listened to voices from the other side of

Clowns were making up. They were talking among themselves as they painted their faces in front of mirrors

that were attached to trunks and boxes. Then came an interruption. It was the voice of Stuffy Dowson:

"Hi there, Stuffy," responded a chuckling voice. It was "Koko" Thoden, the chief clown. "What's on your

A buzz began as soon as Stuffy had gone. Mumbles included mention of the sheriff; then the posse; finally

someone spoke of "bank robbers." It was plain that the clowns had guessed the reason for the quarantine.

"Say, gang." The buzz stopped as Koko spoke. "Maybe that yap with the tin star does have the idea that some

safe crackers are hiding out with this show. All right. If he does, let's kid him. I've got a stunt that I've been

"You know that old dummy safe we used to use?" questioned Koko. "Well a couple of you fellows dig it

out. Have it ready while Lucille is doing the aerial act. That's when we come in."

"Right. Go ahead and do your regular stuff. Then four of you put on bandanna handkerchiefs for masks and

"I'll be by the safe. I'll give you the word when to start with it. Then I'll follow you, with a couple of guns."

"No. I've got a better gag than that." Koko arose and unlocked a drawer of his trunk. "Did you fellows ever

"Sure. We've read about him. He's the bird with the creepy laugh. Goes around in a black cloak and hat.

"You've got it right," declared Koko, as he opened the drawer. "Well, gang, take a look at this layout."

"Say!" came an exclamation. "Ain't that a daisy. You've got a black cloak a hat even a pair of gloves.

"You guessed it," affirmed Koko. "I'll duck out while you boys are clowning. I'll put on this rig and come

"You'll have to work quick, Koko. They won't hold up Wernoff's act just for us."

"That won't matter. You fellows keep on lifting the safe and setting it down whenever I come close to you. I

"If they turn out the regular lights and throw the spot of Wernoff's cage before we get in front of the boxes,

"Then as soon as the cat act finishes and the lights come on, we'll pick up where we left off. That way we

A call came from the front of the tent. Clowns sprang to their feet and finished their makeup. They jogged

forth toward the big top, ready to begin their first array of stunts. The big show had begun.

The steamy melody of a calliope came faintly to the emptied tent as a figure arose from behind the row of

trunks. The head and shoulders of The Shadow loomed and cast a shaded silhouette upon the opened drawer

The burning eyes of The Shadow spied the blackened garments that the clown had laid upon a chair. A soft

laugh sounded in uncanny tones from the hidden lips beneath those blazing optics.

Koko's stunt had gained the approval of the clowns. It had won The Shadow's approval also. Chance had

served to aid The Shadow's plans. Within this very tent, The Shadow would make his first step to counter

"THAT'S Lucille Lavan, eh? Boy! Look at the way she balances on that high wire!"

The speakers were two deputies, sitting beside Sheriff Howard. Their comments brought a growl from their

chief. He and the squatty bank watchman were watching the rings not the high wire.

"We're looking for some tough guys," the sheriff informed his deputies. "You won't see 'em up there at the

The sheriff turned to the watchman beside him. The squatty man needed no injunction. His one purpose here

"Not one," returned the watchman, soberly. "I could tell any of the five, sheriff. I saw them clearly when they

"I was excited, sheriff. I saw them unexpectedly while they were escaping. But tonight" the man shifted his

"If we see them," returned the sheriff ruefully. "It looks like we'll have to search the grounds after this show

is over. There's been a lot of faces out there; but you haven't picked even one."

The sheriff's sentence ended just as an outburst of applause came from the small audience. Lucille Lavan had

completed her act. Dropping from the high wire, the slim girl landed in a net. Her red hair formed an

As Lucille walked from the ring, shouts arose and a flock of clowns came bounding along the track. The

spectators began to laugh at their capers all except the sheriff and the bank watchman. The sheriff's face

was steady; the watchman studied every clown without a smile. He was looking for the robbers in this band

"Say," growled the sheriff. "If those robbers are working as clowns, it's going to be tough to spot them. You

couldn't recognize your own uncle in back of a lot of paint like that. If we don't see the birds we want, the

The watchman nodded. He was forced to admit that the painted makeup made it impossible for him to view

the clowns successfully. Yet he persisted in watching their merrymaking. He was studying the gait of

different clowns, trying to find some token of identity that might enable him to pick a rogue from among

ROUGHNECKS were rolling in the big cage. Then came the smaller cages, with the lions, tigers and

leopards. Eric Wernoff appeared; he was greeted by applause. While attendants aided him, he saw to the

One by one, the growling "cats" responded to his prods. Armed with sticks and gun, Wernoff was forcing his

This work completed, the smaller cages were wheeled away. Wernoff, sternfaced and imposing, was ready

to enter the big cage. He was eying Ganges while he waited. The big tiger, usually defiant, was acting in

Cavorting clowns were finishing their stunts. They were scamping along the track, getting out of the way

before the animal act commenced. The spectators were already forgetting them. The ring master was waiting

Off by the runway, four clowns were mumbling among themselves. They had placed blue bandanna

handkerchiefs across their eyes. They were peering through holes that they had cut in the cloth. Beside them

"Don't ask me," growled another. "He ought to have been here three minutes ago. Say maybe we ought to

The other clowns turned as the last one spoke. They stared at sight of the blackcloaked figure that had

appeared in the runway. Tall and sinister, the mysterious form of The Shadow stood before them. A gloved

A LAUGH greeted them from a sprinkling of spectators. The clowns faked a stumble and dropped their

burden. They looked over their shoulders. The cloaked figure was following them. Frantically, the clowns

"Like I was scared!" retorted the first. "Say if I wasn't sure Koko was under that cloak I'd be so scared I'd

The clowns did another stumble further along the track. Laughter was greeting them. It died as the spectators

spied the pursuing figure. Something in the carriage of that swiftly stalking shape made the observers stare in

"Say" a clown gasped as he helped hoist the wooden safe "Koko's working it good. He's got the hicks

The others looked back as they prepared to run. One of them spoke in a voice that sounded serious.

"He's got me woozy, the way he's comin' after us," the funmaker declared. "That walk of his! He's comin' as

The next stumble was a brief one. The cloaked figure was looming closer. Gloved hands were swishing from

"Lug it 'til we get in front of the cage," gasped a clown. "That's where he's goin' to spring the 'shootin'."

The clowns were only a dozen yards from the box where the sheriff was seated with his deputies. The

officials were turning to view the cause of excitement on the track, when the lights were suddenly

DARKNESS was only momentary. An instant later, a mammoth spotlight hurled its brilliant glare from

across the ring. The steel bars of the cage glistened. The ring master mounted a pedestal and waved toward

"Ladies and gentlemen!" came the ring master's bellow. "Before you stands the king of all wild animal kings.

He is the celebrated trainer whose name is known throughout the civilized globe whenever "

The four clowns were not listening to the coming introduction. They had dropped the wooden safe at the very

fringe of the spotlight's glare. They formed a clustered, whispering group as they gazed toward a spot a dozen

There, at the inner edge of the track, stood their blackgarbed pursuer. His vague form was barely discernible

in the rim of brilliant light. There was something spectral in the figure's bearing. The clowns could catch the

"Look at the way the light hits him," gasped one clown. "Say his eyes are brighter than the big tiger's!"

"Whew!" exclaimed a second, mopping his painted brow with the bandanna that he had wrested from his

The other clowns laughed at the suggestion; but their mirth was feigned. Something in the statement worried

them. They gathered close about the wooden safe. Not for an instant did they cease to gaze at the strange

"Presenting the same famous performance" the ring master's announcement had reached its highest pitch

"that he has given before the crowned heads of Europe and Asia. Ladies and gentlemen. I take pleasure in

Cheers and handclaps came with enthusiasm. The ring master stepped from his pedestal and mopped his

forehead with a huge silk handkerchief. Wernoff gave a short bow; then turned to enter the cage.

Roughnecks who wore the coats of uniforms approached with poles and revolvers, to take their stand about

the cage. Wernoff entered a door and closed it behind him. He was in a little compartment. He received a

A lion opened its jaws to growl. A leopard leaped down from its pedestal and prepared for a spring. Wernoff

snapped his whip. The lion's growl ended; but the leopard remained crouched. Another whip snap failed to

make the beast retire. Wernoff fired a blank straight for the spotted cat's face. The leopard snarled; then

Even the sheriff had forgotten his mission here. With the deputies, he was staring tensely at the cage. The

watchman alone remembered his appointed purpose. He plucked the sheriff's sleeve.

"Look!" he exclaimed. "That man at the side of the cage! Outside by the right corner "

"Yes. He's one of the robbers. And the fellow next to him the one turning this way he's another of the

The sheriff was rising. His badge caught the flash of the spotlight and returned it with a brilliant glitter. The

Eric Wernoff was cracking his whip with savage fury inside the cage; but the act no longer thrilled the sheriff

The sheriff had growled a command. Deputies and watchman were reaching for their guns. Their rising forms

were conspicuous before the spotlight. They did not realize the mistake that they were making.

THE roughneck who had turned uttered a sharp cry. Like a flash, his four companions turned toward the box.

Gleaming revolvers showed in their fists. One gun barked its first, quick warning. A bullet whistled past the

The roughnecks had become furious, leering mobsmen. Hardfighting gorillas, they were whirling to beat the

sheriff and his men in a quick duel of shots. The guns that they held were not charged with blanks. They were

A second shot ripped splinters from the back of a chair beside the watchman. The sheriff and his aids were

caught flatfooted, with their hands fumbling for guns. They were helpless targets for desperate murderers.

Three of the clowns by the fake safe had turned toward the ring at the sound of the first gunshot. Only the

fourth man had still kept his eyes upon the blackcloaked figure that they thought was Koko. It was his cry

As gorillas fired, the tall black figure stepped suddenly forward. Above the crackle of revolvers; above the

roars from the big cage came a laugh that rose with weird crescendo. Like a mammoth moth within range of

It was The Shadow not Koko. The flames that belched from his huge automatics were tokens of that truth.

An aiming mobster slumped as he turned to meet the menace that the taunting laugh had warned was present.

The gangster had picked the sheriff's glittering badge as his target, but he never fired the shot that he

The other gorillas snarled as they swung their leveled gats. Revolvers crackled while the automatics

thundered. Certain in aim, The Shadow dealt with crooks as they deserved. One two went down as their

As the last pair aimed, shots burst from the box ahead. The sheriff and a deputy had gained their revolvers.

Their bullets dug up sawdust in front of the big cage. These were hasty shots that went wide of the fighting

The Shadow was dealing with spreadout foemen. Had the mobsters been clustered, his rapid fire would have

vanquished them entirely. These last two gorillas, however, had gained the edge while The Shadow was

The fire of the sheriff and the deputy gave The Shadow a momentary respite. Both mobsters faltered for an

instant as the new shots broke in their direction. The Shadow, acting in fifth of seconds, performed a sidewise

drop as the gangsters pressed triggers with fingers that had rested for a fractional interval.

Bullets whistled past the tall form as it rolled in the sawdust of the track. The shots were high as they sped

above the cloaked left shoulder. Yet, as he performed his fadeaway, The Shadow guided the sweep of his

left hand. Its automatic barked as The Shadow struck the ground. One mobster staggered, wounded.

The other swung to new aim. He was twenty paces distant from his pal. The Shadow's right hand poked its

The Shadow's aim, however, was not directed toward the last gorilla. In the split second that he had to fire, he

GLASS shattered as the light went out. The last mobster blazed away in darkness. He was shooting at the

spot where he thought The Shadow was; but the total blackness played havoc with his aim. His shots found

Chaos reigned within the big top. Shouts of men screams of women the roars of maddened beasts within

the cage above all these came the barks of guns as the desperate mobsman turned his aim toward the box.

Shots from the sheriff, the watchman and the deputies delivered toward the ring were answered by the

Flashes of guns were the only targets for these fighters who numbered four against one. Yet the gorilla held

the advantage. His enemies were clustered in the box. He was moving across the ring. A deputy groaned as

The mobster thought that he had finished with The Shadow. He was wrong. An unseen shape was moving

from the sawdust. The Shadow was picking the moving target by the spurts of the revolver. Cool amid the

An automatic spoke. Its flash came an instant after a shot from the ring. Sheriff Howard and two companions

kept up their fusillade. There was no reply from in front of the big cage. A weird laugh whispered from the

Flashlights were appearing. Their beams swept toward the ring, the center point of all attention. Then, of a

sudden, the tent lights came on. Gasping spectators stared toward the ring. It showed a scene that captured all

Eric Wernoff had gained the safety of the little entry to his cage. He was away from the roaring, snarling

beasts that were fighting and sprawling in the space behind the bars. On the sawdust in front of the big cage

lay three motionless mobsters. Two others were on hands and knees, seeking to regain their guns.

The sheriff and the unhurt deputy came leaping from the box. The wounded gorillas tried to aim at them.

Sheriff and deputy each picked a man. As mobster guns came up to fire, the men of the law shot pointblank.

Riddling bullets dropped the two crooks whom The Shadow had crippled in the final moments of his fight.

Standing in the ring, the sheriff looked all about. So did the four clowns who were cowering by the wooden

safe. Spectators followed their example. They were looking for the weird, blackclad warrior who had brought

None found the object of their search. The Shadow had departed. Blood stained the sawdust where dead

gorillas lay; but no token remained of the one who had vanquished the bulletriddled crooks.

The trailing laugh had marked The Shadow's swift passage to the runway. He had left the big top just before

the lights came on. The results of the brief warfare remained as evidence of his mighty prowess.

Coming from darkness, The Shadow had won the conflict singlehanded. He had left the fruits of victory

represented by the murderous gorillas where the law could find them. The sheriff had found the robbers

The Shadow his work accomplished had returned to the darkness from which he had emerged to strike

"It's time he made up his mind about it. The crowd or what there is of it won't stick around much longer."

The conversation was taking place in the office of the Larch Circus and Greater Shows. Cap Guffy and Stuffy

Dowson were done. One day had passed since The Shadow's battle with the mobsters in the big top. A new

"You can't blame the tin star, Cap." Stuffy Dowson spoke as Guffy was about to leave the office. "He's a

"We ain't stopping him, are we?" growled Cap. "Say what does the yap want? He landed the five bank

"He searched the lot, didn't he? Him and them rube deputies say, they even tapped the tent poles to make

sure they weren't hollow. That swag's off this lot, Stuffy. The tin star might as well make up his mind to it."

"On account of that fellow Zoda," stated Stuffy. "It looks sort of phony, Cap, that guy blowing the way he

"That's a fact," declared Cap. "I told the sheriff about it, though. He thought it was worth looking into, but

"He was still thinking about the robbers," explained Stuffy. "It wasn't until after he'd nabbed those five heels

that he began to worry about the swag. Let me give you the lay, Cap. I ain't had a chance to talk much about

"You heard about the trouble in the big top. That fight was a pip. It would have been too bad for old tin star if

"We don't know. He was gone when the lights came on. Four of the clowns said he was supposed to be Koko.

So we went over to the dressing tent and the first thing we seen was a guy in a black cloak and hat, laying in a

"No. We thought so at first. I figured he'd got shot during the fight. We grabbed off his cloak and who do

"Yeah. But he wasn't the fellow that had been in the big top. It was Koko that we found; and he was tied up

with a couple of belts. He had a bandanna gagging him. He couldn't tell us what hit him. He said he'd been

going to pull a stunt on the track. He was supposed to be a guy called The Shadow, chasing four crooks. Just

when he was leaving for the big top, somebody landed on him like a load of bricks. It was another guy with a

"Guess it must have been only we don't know who The Shadow is. Well, after we found Koko, the tin star

decides to search the lot. There wasn't nobody had got away. The fight in the big top was over quick; the

sheriff's crew was still on guard. The bank watchman picked the five dead heels as the robbers. So the search

"You got to hand it to the tin star, Cap. There wasn't no chance for any swag to go off this lot. They watched

all the townies that left. They've been searching all day. But still they ain't found the dough they're after."

THE door was opening as Stuffy spoke. Cap turned to see Sheriff Howard. The official's face was gloomy. A

"Yes," responded the sheriff. "I've given the word that the search is over. Start your shows when you want."

"Yes. Enough of them to be ready if there's any trouble. There's just one guy they're looking for."

"That's right. If they get any suspects, Captain, I'll bring them for you to look over."

"How're we going to find him?" demanded the sheriff. "We didn't get a look at his face. What's more, he was

"I've been talking with this fellow Hank that works for you. He looked over the five dead men. He says they

look like the bunch that jumped the show and came back. The watchman says they're the robbers.

"Hank gave me their names. He told me the towns where they joined. I've sent fliers out to those towns to get

a line on them. I don't think it will do much good though. The whole five were probably traveling under fake

Neither Cap nor Stuffy had any comment to offer on this subject. When Stuffy spoke, his words related to a

"I'm going down to the big top," he informed. "Got to get ready to put on the show tonight. See you later."

"I'm heading for the TeninOne," decided Cap. "Those freaks of mine don't know there's going to be a

Both men left. The sheriff remained alone. His face retained its glumness. At times, he muttered to himself.

The failure to regain or trace the spoils of the bank robbers was wearing on Sheriff Howard. He had felt

elation after the battle in which the five gorillas had been slain. His triumph, however, had faded.

"If only one of them was still alive," muttered the sheriff. "One that could talk "

THE door opened as the sheriff mumbled this wish. Howard looked up to see Tex Larch.

"Yeah," returned Tex, "but I read about the trouble in a newspaper. First time anything like it has ever

"I was talking to a couple of the concessionaires when I came along the midway. They told me you'd quit

"Sorry you had bad luck, sheriff." Tex turned toward the door, just as Stuffy reentered. "Hello, Stuffy. Say

"Sure thing, Tex." Stuffy picked up the suitcases. "Your old friend just blew in, Tex. Do you want to see

Stuffy departed and Wilbart entered a minute later. Tex shook hands with the magnate. Wilbart nodded to the

"Yes," responded Wilbart. "That is why I came to see you. I thought perhaps that it might temper your

"Maybe it will," remarked Tex, in a meditative tone. "But I can't talk about it tonight, Wilbart. Things are in a

"Well, that's a help," declared Tex. "Listen, Wilbart: suppose we talk matters over some other time. How

"Very well, Tex. I shall remain at the Hamilcar Hotel for a few days. You can communicate with me there, if

Tex nodded. He turned and left the office. He failed to close the door behind him. Wilbart and the sheriff saw

"I am glad that you are letting Tex open his show tonight, sheriff," observed Wilbart. "He certainly needs

"Not far from it. Of course" Wilbart smiled "if Tex has poor business this week, he may be more willing

to sell his show to me. However, sheriff, I do not care to profit by another man's misfortune."

"Of course," resumed Wilbart, "I am counting on his misfortune in a sense. Tex Larch has been experiencing

poor weeks 'bloomers,' we call them and I have considered that fact in making my offers. But those are

natural hazards, actually of the man's own making. Poor business judgment is different from unexpected

"I've given Larch a break," announced the sheriff. "We've been searching the grounds here and we haven't

found the money that was stolen from that Almsburg bank. By right, I could close this show. Instead, I'm

"Only to preserve order. Also in case some clew bobbed up. But I don't think there will be any. We got the

"Yes. I'm looking for one fellow a mind reader called Zoda who might have been in with them. But he's

JONATHAN WILBART nodded. He extended his hand and received the sheriff's shake. He walked from the

office and was joined on the midway by his chauffeur, Lennox. The two men went between tents toward the

A few minutes later, Sheriff Howard stepped from the office and looked along the midway. Tex Cap

Stuffy all had gone their separate ways. Ticket sellers were raising their raucous cries. Scattered groups of

Turning, the sheriff saw a tall, firmfaced stranger who was standing a few feet from the entrance to the

office. The sheriff's gaze met those of a pair of steady eyes that peered from a masklike countenance. The

stranger raised a cigarette to his thin lips and drew a long puff as the sheriff turned and walked away to talk

In that moment, the sheriff had unwittingly glimpsed two personages, both of whom he would like to have

met. One was Zoda, the missing mind reader whom the sheriff sought; the other was The Shadow, who had

The sheriff had never dreamed that Zoda and The Shadow could be one; nor did he realize that this

keeneyed observer who looked like neither Zoda nor The Shadow was the double personality who had

Two men were stopping near the spot where The Shadow stood. One was Cliff Marsland; the other was

Hank, the pretended roughneck. Hank's low growl came clearly to The Shadow's ears.

"Stick by the truck," the big man was informing Cliff. "Wait until you see the light in the tent. It's comin'

Cliff nodded. He and Hank were pulling down their left sleeves. In accustomed fashion, they had flashed

their red circles. The two men moved away. A smile appeared upon the thin lips of the watching stranger.

The Shadow knew that last night's battle had not marked the end of crime. New clouds were gathering;

Cap Guffy asked the question as he stood in the TeninOne tent. The other freaks and performers were

present, clustered about the platform where Baby Liz, the fat lady, sat in solemn state.

When the gang joined in powwow, they chose Baby Liz's platform as a meeting place. It took three men to

hoist the fat lady to her platform; once there, she remained. Hence, social gatherings among the freaks were

"Cleed?" Luke, the tattooed man, echoed Cap's question. "I seen him around about twenty minutes ago.

"We're going to open tonight," growled Cap. "I hope Cleed ain't off the lot. With Zoda walking out on me and

Luke scrambled from the fat woman's platform. So did Princess Marxia. Cap beckoned to the snake charmer.

"I'm driving down to the depot," announced Cap. "They sent word up about that crate of rattlers. They came

"Time we got some more," returned Marxia. "You should have ordered them a couple of weeks ago, when we

"Couldn't get 'em," informed Cap. "These are the kind you want the ones that ain't had the poison taken out

"That's all right." Marxia looked into the snake pit. "I've got enough of the harmless ones to last for this stand.

"It's better to extract the poison ourselves," insisted Marxia. "Them saps that shift the rattlers don't always do

the job right. When Luke and I get through with a rattler, we know he ain't going to hurt nobody."

Cap nodded. He looked about but saw no sign of Cleed. He was frowning as he walked toward the closed

entrance of the TeninOne. Marxia strolled to the back of the tent. She raised the canvas and ducked out, as

ACROSS the midway, Cap saw a crouching figure moving on the far side of a tent. He thought it was Cleed;

he watched as the figure stopped. Then Cap realized that the stooped form was Jubo the Geek.

Oddly enough, Jubo was also looking for Cleed. He was noting a figure behind some tents further down the

midway. As Jubo watched, he saw Cleed slink into view from in back of Tex Larch's tent.

Cleed straightened. He dropped his slinking role long enough to move across the midway, avoiding people

who were going into the big top. Then he resumed his slinking pace past tents and trucks as he headed for the

Jubo turned and headed toward the midway. His own tent was beside a concession booth. Jubo ducked under

the canvas just as Cap Guffy recognized him. Cap was still eying Jubo's tent with keen suspicion when the

Cap turned to see Cleed peering from the opening. He turned and walked into the tent, growling as he joined

"Time you showed up," Cap announced, as he closed the flap behind him. "We ain't opening for half an hour

yet, but I wanted to make sure you was around. I'm going down to the depot to get a box of snakes that come

Jubo the Geek, when he had ducked into his tent, had not entered the pit. Instead, he had gone to the front

flaps. Peering through the opening, he had watched the man who had been observing him. Thus Jubo had

seen Cleed's face at the flaps of the TeninOne. He had seen Cap Guffy turn to go in with the cigarette

Jubo remained on watch. His eyes roved from left to right. They saw Cap Guffy's car roll into view from the

left side of the TeninOne. They also noted Cleed sneaking forth from the other end of the tent.

Shifting his position, the mopheaded geek looked toward a distant tent that he could barely see from the

new angle. It was the isolated canvas wherein Cleed and his cronies met. While Jubo watched, a light

The glare of the midway was tempered by the pinkish rays of sunset. Jubo could distinguish forms of

roughnecks moving to form a loose cordon about the tent from which the signal had come. The meeting was

an early one. There would be little chance for prowlers to escape the observation of the guarding roughnecks.

CLIFF MARSLAND, standing beside the truck where he was stationed, had come to the same decision as

Jubo. Cliff could see the lighted tent plainly; also the ground between his position and the meeting place.

Though dusk was settling rapidly, Cliff felt that tonight's watch was a mere routine.

Should any prowler appear; should any roughneck move from his position, every member of the cordon

would promptly notice it. This fact, to Cliff, was alarming. He sensed that this meeting must be important. He

was positive that The Shadow even if present on the lot would be unable to approach the watched tent.

Something stirred in the truck above Cliff's head. The Shadow's agent did not notice the fact. No sound

betokened the unseen movement. Crouched behind the sides of the truck was the tall stranger whom the

sheriff had noticed near the office. This uncanny personage was drawing a small flat bag from beneath a seat

Blackness enveloped the crouching form. Cloak and hat made the stranger a form of darkness. Groping

toward the rear of the truck, The Shadow dropped easily to the ground without a sound. Crouching, he began

the task that Cliff Marsland had classed as impossible. The Shadow was making his way toward the meeting

Of all the watchers, Cliff alone saw moving blackness on the rough ground. Yet the form that he observed

was no more than a shapeless, crawling mass. Cliff saw this token of The Shadow because he was watching

more intently than the other roughnecks; also because he was closest to The Shadow.

Wisely, The Shadow had chosen to begin his creep from the spot where his own agent was established. But as

The Shadow progressed; as dusk brought a slightly deeper gray to the terrain, Cliff lost sight of the form that

INSIDE the tent, Cleed had dropped his air of silence. Again, he was talking in the evil snarl of Croaker Zinn.

Luke and Marxia were listening intently to his words. None realized that The Shadow was without.

"So we're quitting the racket this week," Croaker announced, with emphasis. "Those five mugs queered it.

They got what was coming to them for being so dumb. If that watchman hadn't seen them, they'd never have

"We were going to play the racket all along the line. Those five gorillas knew their stuff. I had them set to

crack a crib each time the show made a jump. Out and back the same night. But they pulled a boner on the

"It's lucky you had me change them tattoo designs," put in Luke. "Say those red circles would have made

plenty of trouble. But those butterflies and other junk didn't mean nothing to the sheriff when he saw them."

"Of course not," declared Croaker. "Tattoo marks are common on a circus lot. But it wasn't luck, Luke. I saw

what might be coming. That's why I had you cover up the red circles. What's more that's not all that I

"Those five gorillas handed me the swag after they brought it into camp. I had it ready for the big shot. When

the yap sheriff showed up and put his hick guards around the place, it looked like we were getting in a swell

"But I slipped the swag to the big shot. He took it out right under their noses. So when the sheriff finally got

around to looking for it, it wasn't on the lot. The big shot's put the swag in a safe place."

Croaker paused to laugh harshly. Then an evil laugh came from his lips. It was an odd laugh for one who still

"The sheriff is a sap," decided Croaker. "He figures somebody must have copped the swag. He's dumb

enough to think it might be Zoda. He hasn't got brains enough to dope out who Zoda really was."

"Yeah, The Shadow!" spat Croaker. "Maybe he's still around here, figuring that there'll be another gang go

out to crack some crib when we move. But The Shadow, even, won't wise up to what we're going to pull

"You bet. First of all, we're going to start shoving the queer, beginning late tonight."

"They won't wise up. We'll use some sap for a blind. Like we did before. Then I'll have the cash we take in

and any queer that's left all ready for the big shot to lug off the lot the night we finish this stand."

"Later. After the big shot gets clear, I've got another job to pull. Listen, both of you, and keep mum. You've

"Sure." Luke nodded. "Lot of talk about her in the papers. Some lawyer offered five thousand berries to

anybody who'd locate her. What's the gag, Croaker? You figurin' a way to collect that dough?"

"FIVE grand!" Croaker snorted. "Say that Aldon moll is heiress to a million. Listen. I know where she is. I

"Beef Malligan is coming here to Hamilcar. He'll be on the lot, the last night. After I pass the coin to the big

"We'll head for a place where nobody will find us. When we get there, Lucy Aldon will be with us. Then

we'll get some guy to act as the voice and we'll tell that old lawyer we've got the milliondollar moll.

"He'll have to come to terms. We'll be sitting pretty. He's never seen the girl get the idea? How can they

find a moll when they don't know what she looks like when they don't know anything about her?"

"Say!" Luke was keen with his exclamation. "How did you get wise to where this Aldon gal is?"

"The big shot tipped me off," explained Croaker. "He had sort of a hunch to begin with. He used his bean and

"When Beef and I beat it, the rest is up to you. As soon as we get clear, everything has got to go haywire on

this lot. Inside of half an hour after we've done a scram, you start a riot, Luke."

"Yeah. The mob will do their stuff. There'll be a lot of people missing after that scrap is over. Nobody's going

"What's the 'Hey Rube' got to do with you and Beef grabbing the Aldon gal? Where are you goin' to snatch

Croaker laughed as he arose and extinguished the light that hung from the tent pole.

"You don't get it, Luke," he growled in the darkness. "Well, it's just as well you don't. I practically put you

wise to the lay yet you and Marxia don't get it. Well, if you don't, after what I've told you, nobody else

The discussion was ended. As roughnecks prowled from their posts, the three freaks emerged from the little

tent and moved toward the TeninOne. They were no more than skulking figures in the deepening dusk.

Silence reigned by the deserted tent. Then came a whispered laugh. It was the suppressed mirth of The

For The Shadow had divined what Luke and Marxia had been unable to guess. He had sensed the important

Tonight, counterfeit money would begin a new flow through the circus lot. Its circulation would persist until

the final night in Hamilcar. Then would come a stroke of crime that would concern a girl named Lucy Aldon.

The laugh of The Shadow faded. His tall form merged with the descending night. As he had struck before,

LIGHTS had dulled along the midway of the Larch Circus and Greater Shows. The last of the crowds had

departed. Automobiles were heading townward. Tomorrow would begin the last day of the stand in Hamilcar.

Among the cars that were rolling from the circus lot was Cap Guffy's rickety coupe. Like other vehicles, it

was heading toward Hamilcar. When it arrived there, it pulled up in front of an old brick hotel The

Two men alighted. One was Cap Guffy; the other, Tex Larch. Gloomily, the showmen entered the lobby of

the old hotel. While Cap strolled about, Tex approached the desk and spoke to the clerk.

"Tex Larch" the showman paused, then spoke again as the clerk pushed in a switch and raised a telephone

Tex stood glumly while the clerk phoned the message. The call completed, the clerk turned and nodded. He

pointed toward the stairway, to indicate that Wilbart would receive the visitors.

Two guests were in the lobby when Tex and Cap went up the stairs. One was a tall, steadyfaced individual,

who had registered under the name of Lamont Cranston. The other was a stalwart young fellow who had

Lamont Cranston was The Shadow. Harry Vincent was his agent. The Shadow had summoned this new aid

from Manhattan. Like Cliff Marsland, Harry Vincent was one upon whom The Shadow could depend when

Within two minutes after the pair of showmen had gone upstairs, Lamont Cranston arose and followed the

same course. He did not, however, go to his own room. He chose Harry Vincent's, which was on the second

The tall stranger did not turn on the light. Instead, he groped across the room and found a suitcase that lay

beneath a bureau. Black cloth swished. A shape appeared by the open window. Weirdly it moved outward. In

batlike fashion, the figure of The Shadow crept along the brick wall at the side of the hotel.

Soft, squdgy sounds announced the progress. With rubber suction cups attached to hands and feet, The

Shadow was making safe advance along the vertical surface. His passage ended outside an opened window.

Voices sounded from within a room. Jonathan Wilbart was talking to his visitors.

"WHAT is your decision then?" Wilbart was questioning. "Are you ready to sell, Tex?"

"I don't know," Tex spoke in gruff rejoinder. "This stand has been a 'bloomer,' Wilbart. Worse than I

"Not until I hear from New York. I sent a letter there. I ought to have a wire by tomorrow night."

A pause followed. Jonathan Wilbart was speculating on the possibilities. He put another question.

"Suppose, Tex," he suggested, "that you receive no word from New York. Does that mean you will sell?"

"It means that I'll have to go to New York," responded Tex. "I can't sell until I get some word."

"I see." Wilbart nodded as he spoke. "Then I can remain here in Hamilcar and receive your answer."

"Very well. Then the best time for me to see you is just before train time. Is that right?"

"Yes. I'll be in the office up to the last minute. If I have to go to New York, I won't leave until after the big

Wilbart puffed at a fat cigar while he studied Tex. Then he seemed to remember that Cap was also present.

"What if you sell?" questioned Wilbart. "Where does Guffy's show come in? Does it go along with the deal?"

"It don't." The answer came from Cap. "That option is off. I'm keepin' my show. Tex Larch ain't got nothing

"Lay off the squawks, Cap," growled Tex. "Nobody's trying to do you out of anything."

"You're right they ain't," asserted Cap. "Wilbart might as well know the facts. That option business was a

"Yeah," acknowledged Tex. "Cap didn't have to come in here and yell it out. But there's no harm done. He's

just sore because this week's been a 'bloomer' for him. He can't take it, that's all."

"I ain't used to squawkin'," put in Cap. "I can take tough sleddin' any time. But this wasn't a bloomer this

town wasn't if you hadn't made it one, Tex. Them crooks wouldn't have been along with your show if you'd

"I'm through with your outfit, that's all. My show is packin' up tomorrow. I'm takin' the road on my own. I've

got enough dough to handle the 'nut' for a month, anyway. If I have to hook up with another guy, I'll find one

"My show won't open tomorrow night. It goes on the trucks and it moves out when it's packed. Not your

TEX LARCH was wearing a scowl. Cap Guffy's bluff face was challenging. Jonathan Wilbart prevented

"I shall see you tomorrow night, gentlemen," he remarked. "Let me suggest that you forget your difficulties in

the meantime. You have been on the road together for the past season. Why not part good friends?"

While Tex and Cap were giving their gruff agreement to Wilbart's suggestion, The Shadow had turned his

gaze back toward the window from which he had come. A tiny glow was showing at the opening. It was the

Harry Vincent had come upstairs. His cigarette was a signal that concerned The Shadow. Slowly, the

blackened shape shifted along the wall. Then the form moved upward. Following a vertical angle, The

New voices low in tone greeted The Shadow as he reached his objective. His keen eyes, peering inward

from the blackness of the night, discerned three men. Two were the federal agents: Dunham and Slade. The

Harry's signal had announced Vic's arrival. Harry had seen the secretservice operative pass through the

lobby. Thus The Shadow had left one finished conference to listen in on another that was just beginning.

"So you've been out on the lot again, eh?" Vic was questioning. "And you'd like to grab the fellow that runs

"He's shoving the queer, Vic," insisted Slade. "Doing it just like the mind readers that we took in."

"I was watching him count queer bills," argued Slade. "I stood there for five minutes, while Dunham was

"Trying to land one over the knob of a carving knife," admitted Dunham. "There was a .45 hanging from it. I

"Just a couple of saps," snorted Vic. "That game's 'gaffed'; yet you walk in and try to play it."

"Sure. The heads of those knobs are turned away from you. You couldn't drop a ring on one of them in a

"Of course he did; but he twisted the knob to the front when he chucked the rings. But that's not the story.

We're going to forget the fellow with the knife rack. We're going to get the real people."

Vic spoke with confidence. His statement silenced his companions. While The Shadow listened, Marquette

"I've been watching that circus lot," he stated. "I've been there every night. I know the inside of the outfit

that's handing out the phony mazuma. I told you that before. I told you there was one man in charge a

"I've located the first man. I'm going to watch him. Tomorrow night. You fellows be there, alongside the

Ferris wheel. When I slip you the word, be ready. I'm not going to talk to you. I'll send someone with a note.

"Yes. HogLatin for 'blow.' That word won't sound funny along the midway. So when some fellow no

matter how funny he looks says 'oblay,' you ask him why. Then he'll say 'opskay'."

"You're getting the lingo." Vic laughed. "Then you ask him for the lay and he'll either tell you or slip you a

note. Follow instructions and you'll find the queer. If the big shot isn't there, wait for him to show up. Get

"Stick tight," added Vic. "Because there's a riot due tomorrow night. lt's liable to come pretty quickly after

Vic Marquette's instructions were complete. Brief words followed; then a closing door announced the

operative's departure. The Shadow was already moving along the wall. His creeping form arrived, beetlelike,

A soft laugh sounded from the darkness of Lamont Cranston's room. The last pieces in the picture had been

set in place. Others had stated their plans. Others were ready. So was The Shadow!

THE show was on in the big top. It was the last night of the circus in Hamilcar. Straggling groups were

drifting along the midway. They were the remnants of the small crowd that had gone into the circus tent.

Most of those who had come to the lot were idlers. Some of the concessions were doing business; but several

of these "joints" were packing. In this, they were setting the example of Cap Guffy. The spot where the

TeninOne tent had been now formed a barren stretch of ground. Idlers were watching Cap superintend the

Tex Larch had supplied the roughnecks for the loading. Cliff Marsland was among this crew. He was the only

one who wore the tattooed red circle. The others were genuine roughnecks, not members of Croaker Zinn's

"Cap's started it by pullin' out," one fellow said to Cliff. "Look over there. Jubo the Geek is packin'. When

Cliff nodded. He saw the ticket taker pulling down the geek's tent. Jubo was aiding while a wisecracking

group of town boys commented on the tame appearance of the wild man from the snake pit.

"There's another 'grifter' foldin'," continued Cliff's companion. "That guy's been runnin' a twoway joint. Say

when a grifter can't make nothin' when he's workin' the game strong, it's a sure bet there's no dough on the

Cliff nodded his understanding. He had picked up the midway lingo. He knew that a 'grifter' was a

concessionaire. He also knew that by a 'two way joint' was meant a game that could be run on the level or

fixed to trim the suckers. The operation of a 'two way joint' was called working 'strong.'

"Say" the speaker was a concessionaire who had come across the midway "can one of you fellows give

Cliff walked across the midway with the grifter. He had been looking for a break like this. He wanted to

contact with other members of the red circle and none of them were near Cap Guffy's trucks. Cliff knew that

"I've been running a 'grind,' pal," confided the grifter, as Cliff helped him hoist a crate aboard a truck. "Get

that? Running a 'grind' working for a fivecent play. They call me a 'nickel gouger' on account of it, but I

took in dough until we hit this town. But I've went broke in this burg. Look" the crate was aboard the truck

when the grifter pointed down the midway "there's a fellow taking down his 'flasher' When those jumping

STROLLING down the midway, Cliff encountered a roughneck headed in the opposite direction. The fellow

plucked at his left sleeve. Cliff did the same. Tattooed circles came in view. The roughneck spoke in a low

"Have your gat ready," he advised Cliff. "When it breaks, the mob is goin' to cut loose."

As he turned away, The Shadow's agent ran shoulder to shoulder against a tall personage who was standing

near a tent. As he stared into a calm, impassive face, he caught the glare of steady eyes. Lips that barely

"Watch Jubo the Geek." A cigarette moved up to the lips. "Keep him from the mob."

Cliff turned toward Jubo's tent. The canvas was down. He saw the geek staring across the midway. Cliff

turned to nod to the stranger who had spoken. The tall visitor had moved away. Cliff, however, needed no

Oddly, The Shadow was not the only one who had uttered that admonition. Off beyond one of the

TeninOne trucks, Cleed otherwise Croaker Zinn was saying the same words to Luke, the tattooed man.

A glower was showing on the pasty face of the socalled Cleed as Croaker studied a list that Luke had

"Yeah." Croaker was emphatic. "Say it was a good idea to have Hank check up on all the crew. When did

"You don't eh? Well, that's all I wanted to know. Pass the word along to watch Jubo."

Luke moved away to obey. Cap Guffy approached and beckoned. In the languid fashion of Cleed, Croaker

"Forget you're a dope," ordered Cap. "'Give me a hand while I load this box of rattlers aboard the back of my

coupe. I'm not trusting these reptiles to no truck. These babies have hot stingers."

Croaker gave Cleed's sickly grin as he aided with the box. The rattlers whirred from within the box. Neither

"All right, Cleed," said Cap. "Go back and take another nap. Come on, you roughnecks. Get a hold of some

JUBO THE GEEK was watching from the spot where his tent lay on the ground. His blinking eyes were

following the form of Cleed. He saw the pretended cigarette fiend sneak off in the direction of the meeting

The trail led in and out among the circus trucks. The lights from the midway barely showed the outline of

Cleed's form. Jubo moved with quick paces from truck to truck, anxious not to lose his quarry. They were

Losing temporary sight of Cleed, Jubo made a stooping sprint to another truck. He arrived there and peered

into the darkness. He was panting slightly; that was why he did not hear the sound that occurred behind him.

Before Jubo knew that danger was close by, figures from the dark pounced upon him and sent him sprawling

"Drag him into the tent." It was Luke who gave the word to Jubo's captors. "I want to take a look at him.

Roughnecks obeyed. Jubo's body was limp. Swift blows had knocked the geek senseless.

When they reached the tent, Luke turned on the light. Jubo's form plopped to the ground and lay face up.

He pulled up the sleeve of Jubo's jersey. A red circle showed in the light. Luke grunted. He strode across the

tent and shoved a big sponge into a halffilled water bucket. Coming back, he applied the sponge to the

"Dye," announced Luke. "I knew that was no tattoo job. Say let's look at the rest of your arms while I'm

The roughnecks raised their sleeves. Luke's inspection made him nod with approval. The tattooed man was

"Phony makeup," he announced, "and a wig. But I'm leavin' it on him. When they find this guy full of lead,

he'll still be Jubo the Geek. Two of you stay here. If he comes to, tap him another on the bean. When you

"I'll stick," added a roughneck. Luke beckoned to the other two men. They left the tent. Cliff and his

THERE was motion in the darkness outside the tent. A silent figure shifted into the night. It was the form of

The Shadow. The tall visitor had donned his sablehued garments. He, like Cliff, had noted the capture of

Jubo. With Cliff on the job, The Shadow was satisfied concerning the helpless geek.

Reaching the office trailer, The Shadow lurked in darkness. His keen eyes commanded a broad view of the

midway. Certain figures caught his immediate attention. The first was that of Cap Guffy. His trucks loaded,

From across the midway, a newcomer was heading for the same objective. It was Jonathan Wilbart. The

As the two men neared the office door, The Shadow's gaze turned toward the big top. There he observed Tex

A whispered laugh. The Shadow moved away. He found a space between two concession tents. The joints

were close together. The front of the space not more than two feet in breadth was blocked by the sturdy

The Shadow approached. A soft, weird whisper came from his hidden lips. It brought a nod from the lounger.

The Shadow's form faded back between the two small tents. Then it merged completely with the darkness.

The lights of the midway showed the face of the lounger who was standing between the fronts of the

concessions. This man was Harry Vincent. He had received The Shadow's order. He knew that he was to act

Sauntering from the idle spot, Harry strolled across the midway and approached the clattering Ferris wheel.

He spied two men who were standing a short distance from the huge device. Harry walked up and nodded.

Harry looked about. No one was watching. The Shadow's agent pulled an envelope from his pocket. It was

Dunham who received it. Harry turned away and found an opening between two tents. He ducked out of sight

Slade had opened Harry's envelope. His face became grim as he read the message. He tore the paper into

"You bet," responded Slade. "Come along. Over past those tents. We've got a job ahead."

DOWN near the big top, a thickfaced, uglylipped man was standing alone. He seemed restless as he

watched toward the circus tent. The wheezing music of the steam calliope came muffled to his ears. The

A winsome figure was coming from the direction of the big top. Red hair showed in the light. It identified

Lucille Lavan. The queen of the high wire had finished her act. She was humming as she approached the tent

"Beef!" The stranger turned at the sound of the growled whisper. He stared unbelieving at the pasty face of

"Sure am," responded Beef. "Say, Croaker. I wouldn't have knowed you by your mug. Was that the moll?"

Stooping, Croaker cautiously lifted loose canvas at the side of the tent. He edged beneath and Beef followed.

They were in Lucille Lavan's private tent. Ten feet away, the girl was sitting at a small dressing table,

Croaker Zinn pounced forward. Lucille, staring in the mirror, spied the face of Cleed. Gamely, the girl swung

Beef Malligan aided in ending Lucille's struggles. Together, they produced leather thongs and bound her

hands and feet. A large handkerchief served as an effective gag. Croaker pointed to a couch. Beef placed the

"No rush," chuckled Croaker. "Wait a couple of minutes, Beef, while I get rid of this punk makeup I've been

Dipping his fingers in cold cream, Croaker smeared the substance over his pallid countenance. The job was a

quick one. A mopping towel finished it. Beef Malligan grinned as he saw the swarthy features of Croaker

Croaker was chuckling as they neared a darkened sedan. Over his shoulder, he held the bundled form of

"They call this jane Lucille Lavan," Croaker was saying. "That's who she thinks she is Lucille Lavan. That's

the name she's always used; but it ain't her right name. She's Lucy Aldon, the milliondollar moll.

"Open the back door, Beef. We'll chuck her in there. That's the stuff." Lucille's huddled form rolled on the

The two mobleaders were side by side as Croaker's speech came to a sudden end. Something had clicked

from the hood of Beef's car. The two crooks were standing in the glare of a flashlight. The torch was held by

But it was not the glare that caused the two crooks to stop in their tracks. It was a figure in the range of light

that made them cower with upraised hands. There, like a living specter, stood a shape whose power they well

Burning eyes blazed from beneath a blackened slouch hat. The mouths of mammoth automatics loomed like

tunnels that boded death. Silent, The Shadow had risen from the dark. The master of vengeance had arrived to

WHILE The Shadow had been laying his trap for the abductors of Lucille Lavan, a brief meeting was going

on in Tex Larch's office. Three men Tex, Cap and Wilbart had arrived to find the office occupied by a

The three nodded to the official. The sheriff was persisting in his vigil merely as a matter of formality. He

had given up hope of uncovering the missing swag. Tex Larch, worried over matters that concerned his

It was plain, too, that Tex had little time for Jonathan Wilbart. He shook hands hurriedly with the magnate,

then began to take papers from a drawer in the desk. Wilbart, noting a worried expression on the showman's

"What is the answer, Tex?" he inquired. "Did you hear from New York? Do you intend to sell?"

"No," replied Tex. "That goes for both questions, Wilbart. I didn't get the wire from New York. I don't know

"Very well." Wilbart delivered a dry smile. "I shall stay close by. Send a telegram to the Hamilcar House if

"I shall negotiate with our friend the sheriff," remarked Wilbart, "when he is authorized to put your show up

With this statement, Wilbart turned and stepped from the office. Tex watched him cross the midway, where

"I don't like that heel," he declared. "So he figures this outfit is never going to move out of Hamilcar, does

Tex paused. He noted Cap Guffy and turned savagely toward the proprietor of the TeninOne.

"Well?" quizzed Tex. "What's on your mind? I thought you'd got that junk pile of yours off the lot."

"Ready to pull out now," returned Cap, extending his hand. "I'm drivin' ahead in my coupe. The trucks are

THE circus owner lost some of his anger. He shook hands cordially with Cap. The sideshow owner walked

from the office. At the door, Tex watched Cap pace along the midway. He saw him enter his coupe. The little

"Cap Guffy ain't a bad sort," confided Tex, as he entered the office and spoke to the seated sheriff. "The

The door opened. It was Stuffy Dowson, bringing a pair of heavy suitcases. Tex turned as the general agent

"Here's your kiesters, Tex," announced Stuffy. "I'm goin' to get a car. It's time you was startin' for the depot."

Tex stepped from the office as soon as Stuffy had carried the suitcases from his path. The sheriff followed.

The showman was counting the blank spaces where concessions had been. The sheriff was picking out the

scattered members of his small posse. A dozen deputies were still on the grounds.

Up by the trucks that had loaded the TeninOne show, Cap Guffy was speaking from the driver's seat of his

"I'm pullin' out," informed Cap. "Got Marxia's rattlers aboard this car. You see that everybody gets aboard the

Luke turned to Marxia as the coupe rolled from the lot. In a low voice, the tattooed man gave final

"Croaker planted the cash," he stated, "along with what was left of the queer. The big shot's got it. That settles

"Yep." Luke grinned. "They're on their way. Now it's up to me to pass the 'Hey Rube.' The mob is waitin' for

the shout. I'm goin' to slide around a bit first. Might as well give the big shot and Croaker plenty of time to

Luke was looking down the midway. He saw Tex Larch talking with the sheriff. Stuffy Dowson had not yet

returned with the car. Luke sauntered off behind some tents. Marxia remained by the trucks.

OUTSIDE the office, Stuffy reappeared beside Tex Larch and the sheriff. He informed Tex that the car was

waiting on the other side of the lot. Tex pointed to the bags. Stuffy picked them up. Tex shook hands with the

Then came an interruption. A grayhaired man came hurrying from a cluster of idlers. In a crackly voice, he

shouted to the departing showman. Both Tex and the sheriff turned as the man called.

"Where are you going, Larch!" came the crackled demand. "Stop! I want to talk to you."

The sheriff saw a clouded look appear upon Tex Larch's face. Then the showman forced a smile to his lips.

"I was coming into New York to see you, Mr. Towne," declared Tex. "I was waiting here to get a wire from

"A likely story!" exclaimed the grayhaired man. "I have lost patience with your dallying, Larch."

"Come on in the office," suggested Tex. "I've been having a lot of poor luck in this burg. I want to tell you

"I want to see the girl!" challenged Towne. "I can abide no further with your constant wish for delay."

The sheriff stepped in to stop the argument. With one big hand, he pressed Tex back. He scented

"Who are you?" the official asked the grayhaired man. "I'm the sheriff of this county. I want to know

"You are the sheriff?" questioned Towne. Then, as he caught the flash of a badge, he nodded. "Very well, sir.

My name is Adoniram Towne. I am the lawyer of the Aldon estate. I have come here to claim Lucy Aldon,

"Working in the big top," put in Tex, sullenly. "Lucille Lavan queen of the high wire. She don't know she's

"Mr. Larch came to see me in New York," explained Adoniram Towne. "That was a few months ago. He told

me that he was sure Lucille Lavan was Lucy Aldon. He requested that I keep the fact from her until the end

"The show would have folded without her," put in Tex. "She was the big act. I made a straight deal with Mr.

Towne here. I told him it wouldn't be fair to Lucille to tell her who she was before the season ended. She's

"I agreed with Larch," admitted Towne. "I even advanced him funds as reward for finding Lucy Aldon so

that he could complete his season. But when I read of trouble in this circus I "

"You wanted to know if the girl was safe," interposed the sheriff. "Sure thing. I don't blame you."

"You'll see her." The sheriff turned to Tex. "Her act's over, ain't it? Where's her tent?"

"Over by the big top," growled Tex. "But there's no use talking to her yet. Let's go in the office "

"We'll go to her tent," ordered the sheriff. "Come along, both of you. And you" he turned to Stuffy, who

was gaping as he held the bags "come along with us, too. This is something I'm going to find out about."

WHILE the four were heading for Lucille's tent, a sudden drama was budding in an isolated spot behind the

office trailer. Cliff Marsland and the roughneck with him were talking as they sat beneath the light of the old

Jubo the Geek had opened his eyes. Neither Cliff nor the roughneck had noticed it. While the two were

chatting in low voices, Jubo moved. On hands and knees, he began to crawl toward the canvas wall.

"Look there!" The standing roughneck spied the moving geek. "He's tryin' a sneak! Get him!"

Yanking a gun from his pocket, the roughneck aimed for Jubo. Cliff acted before the fellow could press the

trigger. The Shadow's agent was pulling his own gun; with a downward stroke, he cracked the roughneck's

wrist. The fellow's revolver dropped to the ground as Jubo made a dive beneath the side of the tent.

Fuming oaths, the roughneck pounced on Cliff. The Shadow's agent grappled with his foe. It was a vicious

struggle that set the two men back and forth across the tent, their heels digging in the soft turf. Then Cliff's

hand rose and descended. The steel of his automatic met the roughneck's skull. The ruffian collapsed.

Jubo was gone. Stealthily, Cliff turned out the light. Leaving his adversary unconscious, The Shadow's agent

moved through the darkness, picking a course toward the midway. He was too late to trail Jubo the Geek. The

IN Lucille's tent, the sheriff was grimly surveying overturned chairs and upset articles upon the dressing

table. Two of his deputies had arrived; they were watching Tex and Stuffy. Adoniram Towne was biting his

"Looks like someone grabbed the girl," decided the sheriff. "You'll answer for this, Larch. What do you know

"You tried to keep us from coming in this tent," broke in Towne, his voice indignant. "Come, Larch. Have

"You were the only one who knew who she was," interposed Towne, "The burden of proof is upon you,

"Others might have known it," retorted Tex. "She's been a trouper ever since she was a kid. Brought up by

circus folk. It didn't take no detective work for me to learn the names of her dead parents "

Tex broke off as a figure bounded up from the side of the tent. A deputy swung his revolver to cover the

The wild man had thrust one hand to his forehead. With a quick sweep, he ripped off his heavy, moplike wig.

The action brought an instant change to his brownish, madeup features. With his other hand, Jubo drew up

the bottom of his jersey. A badge glittered from the shirt that he wore beneath.

"My name's Marquette," stated the transformed geek, in a steady voice. "I'm Vic Marquette, of the secret

"He looks like the fellow I'm after. I need the big shot in a counterfeiting racket that's been following this

Vic grabbed a bag and yanked it open. Clothes, office books and other assorted articles went spreading on the

"What are you looking for?" quizzed the sheriff, as Vic began to paw through the scattered articles.

"Cash," returned Vic. "Real cash and plenty of it. I'm looking for counterfeit bills, too. The mob that's with

this show pulled in all the queer that they were shoving. It was going to the big shot, tonight."

"Looks like you're right," admitted Vic, rising from the ground. "Do you know who is?"

"I didn't even know there was a racket with the outfit," growled Tex. "Say it looks like I'm being framed

"Who else went off this lot?" quizzed Vic, turning to the sheriff. "Who else could have carried the cash and

"He's the man, then!" decided Vic, grimly. "I located the mainspring of the mob. He's the fellow that called

himself Cleed the Cigarette Fiend. But his crew grabbed me before I saw him contact with the big shot.

"Can you give me a couple of deputies, sheriff? I'm going after Cap Guffy, before it's too late. Had a couple

of my own men, here on the lot, but I didn't see them when I came across the midway."

"Keep guard, men," ordered the sheriff, as he stepped toward the tent flaps. "I'll get you a couple of deputies,

The tent flaps swept aside before the sheriff could open them. The voice came in challenging fashion from

the burly speaker who was entering. The sheriff stepped back and dropped his jaw. Vic Marquette stared.

Into the tent had come the very man whom they intended to pursue. It was Captain Guffy, big as life,

As Cap Guffy stared in challenge, he found himself looking into the muzzle of a stubnosed revolver. The

weapon was held by Vic Marquette. The secretservice operative spoke in a cold, steady voice.

"Where have you taken the queer stuff, Guffy?" questioned Vic. "What about the real dough you took in?"

"The counterfeit money," affirmed Vic. "The game was working from your TeninOne tent. I figured you to

"They mean Lucille Lavan," declared Tex Larch, suddenly. He turned to the sheriff, then to Vic Marquette.

"Listen, you fellows" Tex was serious "it looks like a double racket was working on this lot. You accused

"You're wrong about Cap," stated Tex, "just as you were wrong about me. Cap's on the level."

"He is, eh?" put in the sheriff. "Well, you and him didn't seem to be such good friends when he was leaving

"Cap and I had our differences," admitted Tex. "But he's a trouper and a straight shooter. As I get it" Tex

was concentrating on Vic Marquette "you're after some fellow who has gone off the lot."

"Not just off tonight," insisted Vic. "I want the man who's been on and off. The fellow who could have

brought in counterfeit bills and taken away real cash, by contact with his helpers here."

"The fellow who could have carried away the bank funds," put in the sheriff, suddenly. "Like you, Larch,

going into New York. Like you, Guffy, going down to the station with a trunk. I'm just beginning to see the

"There are my bags," asserted Tex. "Nothing in them. And if Cap was crooked, he wouldn't have come back

to this lot, would he? Listen" Tex narrowed his gaze toward Vic "I'll tell you who the real crook is "

"Bah!" put in the sheriff. "Say it looks like both of you are crooks. Come on, men. We're taking them into

"Wait!" The command came from Vic Marquette. "These men may be right, sheriff. Where is Jonathan

"Hold these two men, sheriff. I've seen Wilbart's car around this lot. I know where he usually parks it. Let me

"I don't know about that. Allow me five minutes, sheriff. Let me see if Wilbart is still around."

VIC ducked for the side of the tent as the Sheriff gave his agreement. Coming out into dim light, he

scrambled off into darkness. He saw a car parked off the lot. He leveled his gun as he noticed a crouched

figure. Then came the glimmer of a flashlight. Vic stopped short, caught by the glare.

"Vic!" Slade's voice gasped in recognition of the exgeek's brownish features. "It's you, isn't it, Vic?"

"Right here." Slade spoke with satisfaction. "We got your tip. We grabbed the bozos when they came back to

the car. Some guy on the lot must have had a duplicate key to this sedan. It was planted with a tin box full of

Slade turned the rays of his flashlight. Vic saw two sourfaced men standing at the side of the sedan.

Dunham was covering the pair. One was Jonathan Wilbart; the other his chauffeur, Lennox.

"So you're the big shot, Wilbart?" questioned Vic. "I guess you've got the bank swag too, eh?"

"I'm not in the game," protested Lennox. "I think I can help you fellows find the swag. It may be in Mr.

"I'll talk," persisted the chauffeur. "I thought you were an honest man, Mr. Wilbart, until tonight "

"You can talk later," interposed Vic, grimly. "Hold him here, Slade. I'm taking Wilbart with me. Wait until I

Vic planted his gunmuzzle in the center of Wilbart's back. He ordered the magnate forward. Vic was grim as

he forced the exposed crook toward the tent where others were waiting. Vic knew that a riot was due to

EVENTS had been moving rapidly on the lot. Off in another stretch of darkness, The Shadow was still

covering Croaker Zinn and Beef Malligan. There was no flashlight glowing, but The Shadow, shrouded in

darkness, could view the outlines of the crooks before him. Knowing that they were covered by the

Harry Vincent was releasing Lucille Lavan. He had taken the gag from the girl's mouth. He was working on

the thongs that bound her. Lucille, half senseless, was propped upon the rear seat of the car, and Harry was

"Her hands are free," Harry informed The Shadow, in an undertone. "I'm working on the anklestraps. All

Harry stopped short. A long, wailing cry was coming through the night. It was the signal that no one had

expected at this early minute Luke's order the chaos that was to sweep the circus lot.

Profound stillness followed the long call. Then, like automatic echoes, came answered cries from other

portions of the lot. A dozen men had taken up the shout. A revolver shot sounded in the distance.

It was the battle cry of the circus lot. It meant that all would rally to a common cause. The real circus folk,

not knowing that crooks had started the riot call, would join forces with the mobsters who had prepared this

The Shadow was motionless in the darkness. His silence, together with the cry, was inspiration for Croaker

Zinn and Beef Malligan. Gleaming eyes had turned toward the tents. With one accord, the two crooks shot

The Shadow whirled to meet them. Fingers pressed triggers as his black form dropped. Croaker's revolver

barked. Its bullet whistled over The Shadow's head. Beef, aiming low, was ready to pump lead into the fading

Croaker had been too quick. Beef was too slow. As crooks closed with The Shadow, automatics flared from

gloved fists. Spitting bullets did double duty. Croaker Zinn slumped before he could take new aim. Beef

The Shadow hissed an order to Harry Vincent. His tall form rose from beside the sprawled mobleaders. The

LUKE had been watching Lucille's tent. That was the reason for the early cry. From a distance, the tattooed

man had seen Jonathan Wilbart coming into the range of light, with Vic Marquette behind him. Luke like

Marxia shared Cleed's knowledge of the big shot's identity. To aid Wilbart, Luke had given the "Hey

With that cry, Wilbart had swung. Before Vic could fire, the magnate delivered a punch that sent the

operative sprawling. Leaping toward the midway, Wilbart cried to Luke and pointed off in the direction of his

Revolvers barked in the darkness. Vic, coming to his feet, opened fire on those who had headed for Wilbart's

car. Shots came from the sedan. Vic felt grim satisfaction. He could tell that both Slade and Dunham were

shooting. They had given Lennox a chance to prove himself on the level. Lennox was making good.

Mobsters dropped back at the steady fire which came from two directions. The Shadow, passing Vic, knew

that the sharpshooting secretservice men could hold their own. He headed for Lucille's tent, where shouts

Of the men gathered in that tent, only the sheriff and his deputies were armed. The deputies had still been

covering Tex and Cap. The sheriff had been watching Stuffy. Thus, a surprise from the front flaps had caught

Jonathan Wilbart and Luke had pulled back the tent flaps. Five mobsters all pretended roughnecks had

leaped in at their bidding. These gorillas had covered the sheriff and the deputies. They were waiting for

A harsh laugh was on Wilbart's lips. The officers had dropped their guns. The archcrook saw no menace. In

a sneering, evil voice, he announced his prompt intention. His statement was a revelation of the fiendish

"Shoot them down," ordered Wilbart. "Fire when I give the word. Leave none alive. Ready "

The shape of The Shadow loomed up within the rear canvas. A weird, taunting laugh stilled Wilbart's savage

lips. Burning eyes were steady above the barrels of leveled automatics. As mobsters swung startled to face

TWO mobsters staggered as the first shots flashed. The Shadow aimed for others of the squad. Crooks fired

hasty shots that tore holes in the canvas. A third mobster sprawled. A fourth wavered. He saw Wilbart and

Sheriff and deputies were grabbing up their guns. Their shots turned the aim of the mobsters. The fight in the

big top was being duplicated on a miniature scale. As The Shadow's laugh pealed forth its gibing challenge,

The Shadow's automatics the revolvers of the law these were the weapons that dropped the last pair of

crooks. The sheriff and his men leaped forward. Tex and Cap followed, grabbing guns from dying mobsters.

While Stuffy Dowson and Adoniram Towne stood rooted, five armed men sprang forth to join the fray on the

Pretended roughnecks bare arms flashing to show their red circles were exchanging shots with the rest of

the deputies. Circus folk, armed with clubs and iron bars, were joining battle with townsfolk still upon the lot.

Shot were coming from beside Lucille's tent. The Shadow had gone outside the canvas. Cutting along the

fringe of the midway, he was dropping members of the red circle. From beside the office, Cliff Marsland was

Tex Larch bellowed an order from in front of Lucille's tent. Circus folk stopped as they heard the showman's

voice. It rose above the spat of guns that the sheriff and his deputies were employing.

"Get those roughnecks!" shouted Tex. "Get the ones with the guns! They're crooks! Get them!"

In a trice, the scene was changed. Circus folk who had responded to the "Hey Rube" ceased their battle with

the townies. They became avengers as they smothered the mobsters. Members of the red circle went down

Tex Larch had used his head. Guns seldom appeared in fights on circus lots. His cry, passing along the line,

had given immediate understanding. Townsmen, seeing that the real circus people were aiding the

outnumbered deputies, came to give further aid. As the sheriff strode out into the midway, the fierce fight was

CLIFF MARSLAND had hurried toward the trucks of the TeninOne. He had seen two men running in that

direction: Jonathan Wilbart and Luke, the tattooed man. Princess Marxia was in the rumble seat of Cap

Guffy's coupe. With one arm clinging to the snake box, she was beckoning with the other.

Wilbart reached the car and leaped aboard. Luke clambered to the wheel. Cliff fired wild shots as he cut

across the midway. He saw the coupe roll from the lot. Cliff turned toward a sedan that was coming from

Cliff leaped aboard to find Harry Vincent at the wheel. Lucille Lavan was in the back. Harry shot the sedan

forward, to take up the pursuit. They reached the roadway a hundred feet behind the fleeing coupe. Cliff

The coupe had slowed to take the first turn in the road. Cliff stayed his fire. For as the sedan shot forward, he

saw a blackcloaked figure spring from an embankment and land on the running board of the fleeing car,

It was The Shadow! He had sped to intercept the flight. His leap had brought him to the side of the car, face

THE thud of The Shadow's form brought swinging guns in his direction. One was gripped by Wilbart; the

Fingers pressed triggers. With splitsecond speed, The Shadow beat Wilbart to the shot. The archcrook

slumped; his unfired revolver dropped from his hand, while the echo of The Shadow's shot sounded within

With one hand swinging the coupe to the straight road, Luke aimed with the other. The tattooed man had

The Shadow shifted as Luke fired. The shot whistled through a fold of the cloak as The Shadow moved

sidewise from the door. The automatic barked its answer. Luke crumpled behind the wheel.

From the pursuing sedan, Cliff Marsland uttered a grim exclamation as the coupe left the road. Crashing

through a fence, the light car toppled sidewise into darkness as its wheels skidded on the side of an

As Harry jammed the brakes, Cliff leaped from the sedan. He sprang to the embankment and stared toward

the wreck of the overturned coupe. His flashlight showed one moving form. It was that of Princess Marxia,

Horror showed on Cliff's face as he saw what happened twenty feet below. Marxia, crippled by the crash, was

trying to rise. Rattling noises brought a scream from the woman's lips. Cliff saw the striking heads of

The rattlers, poison unremoved from their fangs, had completed this grim tragedy. Jonathan Wilbart had died.

So had Luke. Marxia as murderous as the two men had joined her companions in death.

A voice spoke beside Cliff Marsland. It was Harry Vincent's. Cliff turned his flashlight. Harry was nodding

"He's all right," answered Harry. "He landed clear when the coupe took the ditch. He's in the car."

"She has left. I helped her up the embankment. She is cutting across to the lot, to inform them that she is

Cliff followed Harry to the car and joined him in the front seat. The sedan pulled away. Cliff, glancing into

But as the car rolled on its way, a weird, whispered sound came to the ears of The Shadow's agents. It made

Shrouded in blackness, traveling away from the scenes where he had conquered crime, the master of the night

Mirthless, the laugh rose upon the silence of the countryside; then broke with quivering echoes that seemed to

Evil schemes had ended. Minions of crime had died. Their insidious leader had perished. Justice had gained