THE DEVIL'S FEUD.........................................................................................................................................1

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

CHAPTER I. THE MAN WHO CAME BACK ......................................................................................1

CHAPTER II. DEATH FROM THE DARK ...........................................................................................5

CHAPTER III. THE DOUBLED TRAIL ................................................................................................9

CHAPTER IV. WANTED FOR MURDER ..........................................................................................13

CHAPTER V. ONE MAN'S VERSION ................................................................................................16

CHAPTER VI. GUILT UNPROVEN...................................................................................................21

CHAPTER VII. THE CLANS GATHER ..............................................................................................24

CHAPTER VIII. CRIME TO COME ....................................................................................................28

CHAPTER IX. DEEP IN THE DARK ..................................................................................................31

CHAPTER X. THE HALTED MESSAGE ...........................................................................................35

CHAPTER XI. INTO THE NIGHT......................................................................................................38

CHAPTER XII. WANTED: A KILLER...............................................................................................42

CHAPTER XIII. THE CHANGED TRAIL..........................................................................................45

CHAPTER XIV. A QUESTION OF MURDER...................................................................................49

CHAPTER XV. STRIFE ON THE HILL. .............................................................................................52

CHAPTER XVI. PROOF OF MURDER..............................................................................................55

CHAPTER XVII. MANDON'S STRATEGY.......................................................................................60

CHAPTER XVIII. THE SHADOW'S RETURN..................................................................................64

CHAPTER XIX. DEATH'S MEETING ................................................................................................68

CHAPTER XX. THE LONE WITNESS ...............................................................................................70

CHAPTER XXI. THE MURDER MOTIVE .........................................................................................75

LIGHTS were glowing from the mansion on the hill the first lights that had gleamed from its windows for

the past five years. Across the lawn that spread among the trees, those lights formed fantastic streaks that

Those streaks could have been the shadows of the trees that were weaving constantly in the heavy wind. One

patch of darkness, however, was imbued with purpose. Steadily, with gliding progress, it moved toward the

That shape was human, though many observers might have mistaken it for a ghost. It formed a figure cloaked

in black a being whose eyes, hidden beneath the brim of a slouch hat, caught the glow of the window lights

Curiously, only those who did not fear this blackclad being would have mistaken him for a ghost. Those

He was The Shadow, master foe of crime; a human fighter dreaded by all men of evil! To such, The Shadow

Close to a corner window, The Shadow paused. His cloaked shoulder formed an outline against the light, and

a hawkish profile formed beneath the slouch hat, as The Shadow's burning eyes peered through the window.

There, as he viewed the great hall of the mansion, The Shadow saw a solitary person.

The lone man was Tukes, the old servant who had been with the Granmore family since they first moved to

this mansion, forty years ago. It was fitting that Tukes, the faithful old retainer, should have reopened the

mansion to receive Foster Granmore upon his return from a fiveyear sojourn in the State penitentiary.

Since Tukes was alone, it was evident that Foster had not yet arrived. Withdrawing from the window, The

Shadow moved past a corner of the house, and paused. Below the hill lay a glittering vista, a carpet of light

that represented the town of Venetia, plainly visible despite the windswept drizzle.

Great puffs of flame rose suddenly from amid the valley. Reflecting ruddily from the scudding clouds, the

glare outlined the sprawling buildings of a factory. That plant was the glass works owned by Weldorf,

As flames faded, The Shadow's keen eyes gazed across the valley to a mansion that surmounted the opposite

hill. It was lighted, like the Granmore house, but even at this distance the other mansion looked more

brilliant. Well it might, for it was the home of the Weldorf family, whose name lacked the smirch that had

Singular, the status of these two families who had once rated equally in Venetia!

Five years ago, old Daniel Weldorf, patriarch of his clan, had been murdered in that distant mansion. His

slayer was a masked robber, who had rifled the Weldorf safe and taken bonds belonging to the company,

valued at a quarter million dollars. The bonds were registered; hence the murderer had never been able to turn

them into cash. For five years, both the killer and his loot had remained undiscovered.

Suspicion in the murder of Daniel Weldorf had rested briefly upon Foster Granmore. Though most of the

company records had disappeared with the bonds, duplicates had been found, much to the disappointment of

Foster. For those duplicate records had shown a shortage in Foster's accounts, to the total of forty thousand

Foster had established an alibi in the matter of Daniel's death, but vindictive members of the Weldorf family

had forced the other issue, with the result that Foster Granmore had gone to jail for embezzlement.

These were the vital facts that brought The Shadow to the Granmore mansion; these, plus the added point that

Like the missing bonds, the embezzled cash had never been found. In the case of the cash, Foster Granmore

could certainly provide the answer. Whether it formed a link to murder, was a question to be answered by

SKIRTING the Granmore grounds was a deep ravine, and from it, The Shadow could hear the tumult of a

raging creek. This was the rainy season, when swollen streams became roaring torrents that swept out bridges

The flood menace was heavy throughout this area, and The Shadow could picture the appearance of the

Then came an added roar, deceptive at first, but plainer as it increased. It was the motor of a large car,

climbing the hill road that skirted the ravine. Even before the headlights swung into the Granmore driveway,

The Shadow was gliding into the darkness that fronted the mansion. There, under cover of low shrubbery, he

Sweeping the bushes, the headlights failed to reveal the black cloaked shape behind them. The big car

stopped in front of the mansion. Hearing its arrival, Tukes opened the front door, and the light showed the

halted limousine. From the big car stepped a dapper chauffeur, who opened the door to let two passengers

One was Foster Granmore. He showed the traces of his years in prison. His face, once full and florid, had

become thin and was smeared with a sickly pallor. His shoulders were bowed; he had the look of a wearied

man. Indeed, Foster Granmore seemed almost as old as Tukes, the stooped and wizened servant who greeted

The other arrival was Giles Mandon, general manager of the glass factory. Mandon was a picture of

middleaged health. He was handsome, with his sleek light hair and clear blue eyes; friendly eyes displayed

sympathy as he ushered Foster into the old homestead. Mandon's shoulders were erect, giving him a military

After turning Foster over to Tukes, Mandon swung about and spoke to his chauffeur:

The front door closed behind Mandon, and darkness reigned anew. It was darkness that suited The Shadow,

for he moved directly to the front door. The lights of Mandon's car were focused along the drive, hence they

did not reveal The Shadow as he reached the front door. Nor did Corbey, back at the wheel, catch a glimpse

It was because of Corbey that The Shadow worked the house door inward very slowly, until he found just

enough space to enter. In entering, he blocked off the light completely, and he closed the door as he turned.

Within the great hall, The Shadow saw an open path ahead. Tukes had gone back to the kitchen, and from

another doorway The Shadow heard voices, giving the location of Foster Granmore and Giles Mandon. They

had left the door ajar, in case they wanted to summon Tukes, so The Shadow took advantage of the matter.

Reaching the partly opened door, he looked into a comfortable corner den, where Foster and Mandon were

"THOUGHTFUL of Tukes," remarked Foster. "He even lighted the fire for me, and here are my pipe and

slippers. My favorite tobacco, too!" Leaning back in a deep chair, Foster reached for the tobacco jar. "It's

"I'm afraid they won't, Foster," declared Mandon, with a solemn headshake. "At least, I know one person who

Foster's eyes narrowed into sharp beads. His next question came in a snarled tone:

"Titus is a fool!" snapped Foster. "So big a fool, that he still thinks I killed his cousin Daniel! Well you can't

expect too many brains in one family. Old Daniel had them; Titus lacks them. I'll handle Titus Weldorf!"

Foster's teeth bit the pipe stem with a savage click that rather proved Mandon's point. At least, Mandon took

"Very well," agreed Foster. "I'll send Tukes over to your house. He can make it in less than ten minutes, by

"The bridge went out today," he told Foster "so you can't send Tukes. Have him phone me, and I'll come

around by car. Besides" Mandon's tone carried a warning note "Tukes should stay here, to witness what

passes between you and Titus. Titus is vindictive, Foster, and you are both hotheaded."

Foster gave a shrug and reached for his slippers. At last, yielding to Mandon's persuasion, he promised to

As Mandon came from the den, The Shadow drew back into darkness, under an oldfashioned stairway, and

let the rugged man pass. Watching Mandon, The Shadow saw him go out through the front door, which

Remaining where he was, The Shadow heard Mandon's car pull away, and watched Tukes go back to the

kitchen. The Shadow preferred his present lurking spot, for he knew that eyes were watching the hallway.

Those eyes belonged to Foster and they were very sharp. They might even have spied The Shadow, had

With Mandon and Tukes gone; Foster was quite sure that he was alone. He started to close the door of the

den, then decided against it, on the supposition that he could certainly hear Tukes if the old servant came

As Foster retired into his den, The Shadow came from darkness and again peered through the partly opened

Showing unusual agility for a man wearied by prison life, Foster Granmore was moving about the room,

drawing the window shades right down to the sills. That task finished, he hurried to the fireplace. There, he

threw a quick glance toward the door. Seeing only blackness beyond it, he supposed that the hall was quite

His breath coming in eager gasps, Foster reached beneath the mantel and began to turn an ornamental iron

The heat from the fire bothered him. He withdrew his hands twice, rubbing his fingers. Then, tugging a

handkerchief from his pocket, Foster wrapped it about his hand and resumed his operation.

Finishing the turning of the ring, Foster gave it a pull. Instead of coming free, the ring swung at an angle,

Into the compartment thus revealed, Foster shoved an eager hand. His face, reddened by the fire's glow, held

a leer of satanic triumph. As plainly as though he had spoken it, Foster's face was informing that he expected

One point, alone, was in doubt. Foster's face did not tell whether he merely wanted the forty thousand dollars

that he had embezzled, or whether he also counted on finding the quarter million in bonds that had

Whatever he wanted, Foster Granmore did not discover it. His hand, merely nervous at first, became frantic.

Stooping, he peered into the cavity beneath the mantel; even struck a match to view its interior.

Then with a snarl so vicious that any murderer would have envied it, Foster swung about with both fists

clenched. His face had lost its demoniac leer; he was wearing the visage of a madman.

Small wonder that Foster Granmore was the picture of a man crazed with despair. In paying the penalty for

crime, he had undergone the ordeal in the confidence that he would retain the profits of his evil.

Instead of wealth, Foster Granmore had gained a lesson that The Shadow could have told him was his due.

WATCHING the face of Foster Granmore, The Shadow saw it run the gamut of emotions. Rage replaced

despair, only to weaken into misery. Then the desire for revenge turned the man's face savage, until he

realized that he did not know the person upon whom his vengeance should be wreaked.

Suddenly, a cunning glint came to Foster's beady eyes, and held itself like a vulture's glare. Closing the

Foster Granmore intended to play smart. Some time, during the past five years, someone had robbed him of

his illgotten gain. When the robbery had happened, who had perpetrated it, were things that Foster would

make it his future business to learn. His face was actually gloating, as though he relished this challenge to his

The Shadow could hear the sharp intake of Foster's breath an indication of the embezzler's eagerness to

Around the old house, the wind wailed, as though it shared Foster's disappointment and wanted to join his

cause. It's shriek was a ghoulish whine, and a gust, traveling down the chimney, stirred the firelight into

Then, as though the wind had already played its part, there came a sharp clackclack outside a window of the

Turned from the fireplace, Foster cocked his head and listened shrewdly. At first, he mistook the clatter for a

loosened shutter; then he identified it as an actual rap upon the pane beyond the lowered shade. Striding

across the den, he raised the shade and hoisted the sash. In with a surge of wind came a sweep of rain that

As for The Shadow, he did quick work to prevent the door from slamming in his face. Thrusting his foot into

the door space, The Shadow stopped the barrier as the wind caught it and drove it his way.

When The Shadow looked again, a figure was clambering over the low sill. Foster evidently knew the visitor,

for he had admitted the man, and was closing the window and drawing the shade again.

The man who entered was muffled in a raincoat and wore a flabby gray hat. He threw back the coat collar and

There, the visitor turned, and The Shadow saw a face quite like Foster's though it was younger and more

"Well, Uncle Foster," he queried, "aren't you glad to receive a visit from your favorite nephew?"

"Considering that you are my only nephew," returned Foster testily, "I suppose that you are entitled to the

distinction, Ted. Nevertheless, I am not accustomed to receiving visitors through the window. The front door

"Our business is confidential, Foster. I didn't care to have even Tukes know about it. It concerns the sum of

"Come, come, Foster," chided Ted. "We Granmores must work together. You have suffered, of course, from

your stay in prison; but I have borne some of the brunt. After all, the blemish on the Granmore name "

"About five thousand dollars," he decided. "It would settle some pressing debts. I've already sold most of my

stock in the glass factory, and I ought to hang on to some of it just for family pride."

Foster sneered at Ted's mention of "pride". Then, his expression hardening again, Foster shook his head.

"Sorry, Ted," he stated. "I had debts, too. Old ones. I embezzled the forty thousand to cover them. It's all

There was disbelief in Ted's eyes. In his turn Foster studied his nephew closely. The Shadow could

understand Foster's gaze; the older man was trying to guess whether his nephew had taken the money from its

cache beneath the mantel. At last, to break the tension, Foster spoke sarcastically.

"I suppose you're wondering about the bonds that were stolen from old Daniel Weldof," remarked Foster. "It

"I'm not sure that old Daniel ever had those bonds," he declared. "It would be like a Weldorf, to frame

something that would bring discredit to the Granmores. Tell me, Foster: could Daniel Weldorf have known

"Very well, my dear uncle. That would have given Daniel his opportunity to obtain funds in a much bigger

"And let himself be murdered for his pains?" broke in Foster. "That wouldn't be like Daniel Weldorf; nor, for

THERE was another interruption the ringing of the front doorbell. Coming with Foster's mention of Titus,

the bell was very apropos. Taking Ted's arm, Foster Granmore pressed his nephew toward the window, at the

"It's Titus Weldorf. Mandon told me to expect him. Get outside, and stay there until Titus has gone!"

The Shadow kept the door from slamming while Ted was going out the window. By then, Tukes was

admitting Titus Weldorf. Retiring to the space beneath the stairway, The Shadow had a good look at Titus

Titus Weldorf had a long, aristocratic face, with a highbridged nose that was probably a mark of his clan.

Considering Titus as a specimen, the Weldorfs were more imposing than the Granmores. But behind the

haughty air of Titus lay a certain shrewdness, quite as strong as any displayed by Foster Granmore or his

Upon receiving Titus Weldorf, Foster Granmore dismissed Tukes but left the door half open. Foster had not

forgotten Mandon's admonition to have Tukes handy, in case of an altercation between himself and Titus.

The admonition was a solid one, for the two men lost no time in baring their antagonism.

"I know why you've come here, Titus," opened Foster. "You want to talk about a matter of forty thousand

"Then perhaps you will talk about murder!" retorted Titus, in a tone that had the sharp cut of a knife. "I refer

to the death of my cousin Daniel. You can't have forgotten it, Foster. You remember other things that

"So you did, Foster. You were with Giles Mandon shortly before it happened. His testimony cleared you, but

there is a chance that Mandon was mistaken as to the exact time when you left him."

Foster's fists tightened, then relaxed. He picked up a pipe that he had filled, lighted it, and began to puff

"Not in the least," knifed Titus. "If he had, he wouldn't have produced those duplicate accounts that branded

you as an embezzler. Mandon is honest, and an honest man can be fooled, to some extent, by a crook."

Again, Foster's fists went tight. He bellowed savagely as he bounded across the room, and The Shadow

whipped away from the open door, back into the space beneath the stairs. It wasn't necessary for The Shadow

to mix in the dispute, for old Tukes was coming across the hallway, attracted by the sound of angry voices.

Tukes arrived to find Titus backing through the doorway, away from Foster's shaking fist. Seeing the servant,

Foster calmed down immediately and waved a hand toward the front door. Then, stiffly, he ordered:

Courteously, Tukes conducted Titus to the front door. There, Titus turned and delivered a parting thrust.

"Remember, Foster!" stormed Titus. "A man who will steal will commit murder! It applies in your case, and I

Before Foster could give reply, Titus stepped through the doorway and was swallowed by the drizzling

darkness. The wind howled, as though endorsing the words of Titus, and Foster gave a savage gesture,

indicating for Tukes to close the door, which the servant did. Anxiously, Tukes queried:

"Not yet, Tukes," Foster shook his head. "Wait in the kitchen. I shall call when I need you."

WAITING until Tukes had turned away, Foster went back into his corner room. From Foster's manner, The

Shadow could divine the man's exact purpose. Foster had followed Mandon's admonition to have Tukes

But Tukes had only witnessed a portion of the altercation. Foster Granmore had an even better witness close

Foster hadn't quite closed the window, nor had he fully drawn the shade. He intended to admit Ted again and

There was a shrewd gleam upon Foster's face; he could foresee at least a temporary alliance with his nephew.

Granmore's both, their antagonism toward the Weldorfs would unite them in a common cause. As for the

Still thinking of the missing forty thousand dollars, Foster had begun to believe that Ted Granmore wasn't the

only man who might have garnered those stolen funds. Titus Weldorf, with his show of indignation, might

At least, Foster had played smart throughout, for he hadn't given either visitor an inkling that the funds were

missing from the hiding place. As for his coming campaign, Foster intended to play a Granmore against a

Hearing Foster raise the window, The Shadow stepped forward from the stairway and thrust the necessary

foot into the doorway, to prevent the wind from slamming the door. Through the crack he saw Foster leaning

forward at the window, his arm raised against the swirling rain. Foster's other hand was moving forward to

It was the same setting as before. A few moments more, and Ted Granmore would be coming through the

window to rejoin his uncle. The Shadow was regarding the situation casually, despite the wail of the wind.

The strident gale was striking a new note; it carried a banshee's wail, as though some spirit of the outer

reaches sought to voice a warning fraught with death. Yet, even The Shadow did not regard that chance

From the doorway, The Shadow could see blackness as a background beyond Foster Granmore. A

background into which the pastyfaced man was leaning his hand extended as in welcome. In return came

There was a stab from darkness a tongue of flame that knifed upward, straight for Foster's heart. The report

that accompanied the burst was scarcely audible, for the roar of the wind had a drowning effect. But there

With that winddrowned shot, Foster Granmore reeled back from the window, swayed, and toppled forward,

dead. The man who had paid the penalty for one crime had become the victim of another. From the misery of

a prison cell, Foster Granmore had returned to the security of his old home, to meet with death from the dark.

EVEN before Foster Granmore completed his sudden death stagger, The Shadow was drawing a gun from

beneath his cloak to start in the direction of the murderer, outside the window.

Briefly, The Shadow paused in the doorway, still part of the blackness that pervaded it. He was waiting on

When no face appeared, The Shadow was sure that the murderer had taken the opposite course, that of flight.

The delay was not too long to prevent The Shadow from overtaking him. Any man who had delivered death

so deliberately would not be seized by panic. The Shadow was merely giving the killer sufficient leeway to

Flinging the door wide, The Shadow sped across the room, cleared the dead form on the floor and vaulted

through the window, into outdoor darkness. So swift was his action, that the incoming wind did not slam the

door until The Shadow had reached the ground outside. There, amid darkness, The Shadow heard the door as

This window was near a rear corner of the house, which was the logical direction in which the killer would

have gone. Turning that direction, The Shadow wheeled out from the house wall to gain a better angle for a

swift pursuit. Such little details as clipping corners came in very handy, in cases like the present.

This was one instance when such tactics proved handier than usual. So handy, indeed, that they saved The

Scarcely had The Shadow veered out into the dark, before a gun spoke from the house corner. It's stabs were

straight at the spot where the cloaked investigator had landed. Even from his present position, The Shadow

could hear the whine of bullets amid the higher shriek of the wind. Moreover, there was double cunning on

So true was the fire that if The Shadow had taken a direct course to the corner, be would have come straight

into the path of bullets, to suffer the same death that Foster Granmore had received at the window!

Quick though The Shadow had been, when vaulting to the outside darkness, the murderer must have

glimpsed his arrival there. It would have been impossible for anyone to identify The Shadow in such a

passing glance; but that, in itself, was a disadvantage. Whoever had killed Foster Granmore knew that Tukes

was about, and could therefore have mistaken The Shadow for the faithful servant.

True, Tukes was old, but he was loyal. Giles Mandon had admonished him to take good care of Foster. As for

the two men who had paid clandestine visits to this mansion, both knew that Tukes was about. Ted Granmore

had mentioned Tukes by name; Titus Weldorf had seen the servant when Tukes admitted him to the house.

Both would have been on the lookout for Tukes, and The Shadow's rapid vault could have passed for a

On that basis, The Shadow halted where he was. Crouching in the darkness, several yards from the house

wall, he waited for the killer to steal back and look for Tukes. During those fateful moments, The Shadow

Ted Granmore had been outside his uncle's window when Foster had the argument with Titus Weldorf. It

would have been easy, very easy, for Ted simply to wait and deliver the death shot when Foster came to the

True, Ted had shown no inclinations toward murdering Foster earlier. But he could have decided upon such a

course after witnessing Titus's visit. Assuming that Ted had taken Foster's hidden funds, he would have a

motive for eliminating his uncle. At very best, there was no love lost between the pair.

And what could be more to a Granmore's liking than to commit a murder that circumstance would pin upon a

The Shadow answered that mental question by supplying another. The second question was this:

What could be more to the liking of a Weldorf than killing a Granmore for sheer satisfaction?

This new question put a different aspect on the case. Very plausibly, Ted could have left the premises when

Titus arrived. Noticing the partly opened window, through which the wind had persistently whistled, Titus

Weldorf might very well have decided to thrust home the vengeance that he had promised.

Calculating the time element, The Shadow decided definitely that Titus could have rounded the house and

stationed himself outside the den window, hoping for a shot at Foster. If such were true, Foster had personally

helped the cause of his own death, by making himself the perfect target for a lurker.

In his present mood, Titus Weldorf could hardly have resisted the temptation to jab a bullet home, had Foster

Granmore come his way so conveniently. For Titus had displayed sincerity, when he accused Foster

Granmore of having murdered Daniel Weldorf. To Titus, Foster's steps toward the window could well have

WAITING, The Shadow was watchful in the darkness, even though the grimy gray of the house wall showed

nothing against its surface. This night was as pitchblack as any that The Shadow had ever experienced, and

But below the window lay a square of light, coming from the room itself. Foot by foot, The Shadow could

picture the murderer moving toward that glowing square. Given the slightest token of the man's arrival, The

Then, when The Shadow was sure that opportunity was close at hand, a sound came from within the room

where Foster Granmore lay sprawled in death. It came at a most untimely moment, during a lull in the howl

of the wind. It was a highpitched cry of horror, that could only have been voiced by a faithful servant like

The cry changed the entire situation. It told a murderer two things: that Tukes was still alive and that the

servant was not the person who had flung himself so recklessly from the window. That cry was the equivalent

The Shadow took it as a signal for action. Swooping through the darkness, he drove blindly through the

drizzle, for a spot midway between the window and the corner. As his shoulder hit the house wall, he turned

It was The Shadow who was prepared for that sudden meeting. He clamped the unknown man in a quick hold

that forced the fellow's gun hand upward. They swung full about, and The Shadow, keeping his full sense of

But before The Shadow could follow that advantage by delivering a fullfledged jolt, both he and his

adversary were sprawling upon the slippery turf under the impetus of another attacker, who had hurled

From then on, The Shadow was one of three, each man fighting for himself, in a freeforall battle where the

Guns were slugging hard against warding arms. No one was wasting shots until he could find an opportunity

So poor was the footing that a hard stroke with a gun tumbled the man who gave it, whenever he missed his

mark. Hands were clutching at feet, that kicked them away. Guns clanked as they smacked the stone wall.

Even The Shadow's swings were ineffective in this mad battle, until he forced a double tangle with both of

his opponents; then wresting one hand free, he made a hard crossslash in the dark.

One man took the stroke and reeled. He must have warded it, partly, for his flinging hand caught The

Shadow, hoping to carry him along. The Shadow followed with him, for the man's stagger was toward the

There, twisting free, The Shadow let his opponent skid against the wall. He was sure that the fellow must be

either Ted Granmore or Titus Weldorf, and he wanted to see which, before dealing with the other fighter in

The staggered man caught himself against the wall, and his face came into the light. In that glimpse, The

Shadow saw the pointed, halfpale features of Ted Granmore. The fact pleased The Shadow, for he

considered Ted a cooler hand than Titus Weldorf. It would be easier to deal with Titus in the dark.

In fact, the shots that were ripping from the direction of the corner had all the frenzy that The Shadow

attributed to Titus. They were wide, hopelessly so, as they probed the blackness for The Shadow. They gave

the impression that the marksman was half dazed, and there was another reason for such a conclusion.

Titus Weldorf would logically have blazed bullets at Ted Granmore, rather than seek an impossible target in

the night. Offsetting that was the possibility that Titus might not have slain Foster Granmore, and therefore

THIS was no time to debate such points. Driving low, The Shadow cut in toward the house wall, reversing

his former tactics as he sought to reach the corner. It wasn't Titus who spoiled his plan; the intervention came

No longer groggy, Ted was away from the light below the window, along the wall toward the front of the

house. He was starting to shoot on a line toward the corner, aiming for the spurts he saw there, and The

One bullet, clipping stone from the house wall, ricocheted so close to The Shadow's face that he could feel its

breeze. Before the next shot came from Ted's gun, The Shadow flung himself flat beside the wall. He heard

Having blasted those few shots, Ted Granmore had turned and was dashing for the front of the house, anxious

The Shadow made for the rear corner. Around it, he gave a few quick blinks with a little flashlight, the sort

that would serve as bait for Titus Weldorf. However, there were no shots from the other fugitive, and The

Shadow's only course was to seek traces of the man who had fled past the corner.

He found them when he swept the flashlight along the ground. There were squaretoed footprints in the mud,

Tracing that route was a slow task. The footprints veered across the grass, and had to be picked out among

the shrubbery beds behind the house. The Shadow came to a walk of flagstones, noticed dabs of mud upon

Then came a path through some trees, with traces of flight along the way, but The Shadow lost the trail at a

point where the path forked. No longer did he have a chance of overtaking the fugitive. Even a runner of

All that The Shadow hoped to learn was where the trail led. When he found out, he regretted that he hadn't

The footprints stopped abruptly beside the deep ravine that flanked the Granmore estate. The ravine wasn't

more than thirty feet across, but its sides were very sheer. There, The Shadow saw a thing that Giles Mandon

had mentioned to Foster Granmore; something that Titus Weldorf couldn't have known about.

On each side of the ravine were the narrow abutments of a footbridge, but nothing lay between them. Mandon

had mentioned that the flooded creek had carried away that bridge this afternoon. Turning his flashlight

downward, The Shadow saw the wooden planking of the bridge dangling in the thundering creek, a dozen

A low laugh came from The Shadow's hidden lips. He probed the bank of the ravine with his flashlight,

searching for more footprints. He found them, going away from the ravine, but they weren't following the

They showed long strides, those squaretoed imprints, along another path through the trees. From its

direction, The Shadow calculated that this trail would take him directly to a spot somewhere along the

Using the flashlight only for direction, The Shadow started on the run. But before he could reach the drive, he

heard the sound of a departing car, followed immediately by the starting of another motor from some other

spot along the drive. One car stood for Ted Granmore, the other for Titus Weldorf.

Whatever the part that each had played in crime, both were escaping, leaving The Shadow only a broken trail.

The throbs of those motors, flung back by the furious wind, were a mockery directed to The Shadow. His

laugh however, carried an acceptance of any challenge that a murderer might offer.

To the facts that he had already gained, The Shadow would add more, until he could place full blame upon

INSTEAD of continuing a useless chase to the distant driveway, The Shadow turned and retraced his own

course. Using the small but powerful flashlight, he probed for his own footprints, and effaced them.

The task was simple, considering the muddy condition of the ground. Mere shuffling could permanently

eradicate any of the unwanted tracks. But at no place did The Shadow disturb those squaretoed marks that

Pausing by the ravine, The Shadow heard occasional crackles below, as the roaring creek tore away more

fragments of the demolished footbridge. Detouring along the gorge, The Shadow made quite sure that there

Working back to the Granmore mansion, he finished disposing of the occasional tracks that represented his

In his reflections, The Shadow still clung to that term "might", for his observations of Titus Weldorf and Ted

Granmore had convinced him that one was equally as good a candidate as the other for the stigma that

belonged to a murderer. Motives, in this case, could go far deeper than the surface showed, and The Shadow

Coming around the house, The Shadow found the spot where he had tussled with two foemen. Here, the grass

was thick and, accordingly, footprints were absent. Ted Granmore, at least, had shown excellent judgment in

running to the front of the house. Along that route, The Shadow failed to find a single incriminating trace, a

Though Titus Weldorf might have had a stronger motive for murder than Ted Granmore, the latter, from start

to finish, had possessed a better opportunity, and had certainly managed to cover his presence, as far as he

was able. Except for the dead man, Foster Granmore, only The Shadow had seen Ted peer in through the

Inside the room, Foster's body was still coiled upon the floor. There was no sign of Tukes; in fact, the door of

the room was closed. From the gusts of wind that whistled past him, The Shadow assumed that Tukes must

Having no present need to enter the room, The Shadow skirted to the front of the house.

There, he noted that the thick grass fringed right to the gravel. Neither Ted nor Titus had parked their cars

Mandon's chauffeur, Corbey, had used the drive because the limousine was bringing Foster home, but

remembering that the big car had taken several bounces, The Shadow considered it logical that other cars

Doubtless Ted and Titus had parked at different spots along the lone road that ran up to the hill top, and Ted,

at least, must have taken advantage of a turnout, where he could have left his car unnoticed.

But these were matters for future consideration. For the present, The Shadow was interested in Tukes.

REACHING the front door, The Shadow opened it gradually and saw Tukes standing in the hallway.

Nervously, the servant was trying to get a number on the telephone, though he had certainly had time enough

to make a dozen calls while The Shadow was away from the house. As The Shadow listened the call came

"Hello! Hello!..." Tukes showed a quaver in his voice. "I must talk to Mr. Mandon... Yes, I know he has

guests and is very busy. But tell him that Tukes is calling; that I've been trying to get him, but the line was

All the while that Tukes talked, The Shadow was leaning well within the door, straining to catch the wavery

words above the obligato of the tempestuous wind. The outside noise was a dull, varying roar, its changes

This time, when the thrumm of motors came, the sounds failed to reach The Shadow.

They came with a sweeping glare, from the curve of the driveway, the lights of three approaching cars.

Striking the front of the mansion, the flooding glow outlined the doorway and the figure of The Shadow

Instead, lights reached him. Noting that he was caught flatfooted, he recognized, also, that a dash through

The old servant had witnessed enough for one evening. The Shadow didn't want his testimony to be clouded

by the factor of a blackcloaked intruder running at large through the mansion. It was better to risk an outside

encounter, on the chance that these newcomers might fail to observe The Shadow at close enough range to

On that basis, The Shadow wheeled from the doorway, took a flinging leap across some shrubs and struck the

gravel of the drive. His leap carried him from the angled slant of the first car's headlight, but as luck had it,

the car swerved and picked up another view of The Shadow landing form. Catching his footing, The Shadow

was off with a long bound, just as the car's front wheels struck a hole in the road.

Not only did the lights lose him when the car jounced; guns that blasted from the vehicle were wide in their

fire, which was particularly fortunate, considering that the marksmen were blazing with shotguns, weapons

Unquestionably, the men in the arriving cars represented the local authorities. Tukes must have phoned them,

after his first call to Mandon produced a busy line. They were stopping their cars, spreading them, so that

headlights gave a full view of the lawn. Men were piling out, and revolvers were barking along with the

The Shadow had taken another long stride, and was making more of them. Not that the country sheriff and his

deputies didn't expect him to keep on the run, and were making due allowance; their trouble was that The

With the first sound of the guns, he had pivoted on one heel and was reversing his direction. With utmost

No chance to reach the front door. Tukes was there, attracted by the gunfire, and some of the deputies were

joining him. There were a dozen in the pack, and when they didn't see The Shadow, they guessed the course

that he had taken. They aimed for the lowclumped shrubbery and raked it with their fire.

He'd wheeled among the bushes toward the corner of the house. He was around it when the guns talked.

These men from Venetia were accurate enough in their fire, but they were too deliberate in aim. They

THOUGH he was out of the bushes, The Shadow wasn't out of trouble. He could tell from the shouts

following the gunfire that the deputies were deploying in all directions. The Shadow had two choices: one, to

cut around the house; the other, to reverse his course. Between those lay another prospect that could not be

The Shadow took both choices. Cutting around the house, he came right into the glow of flashlights, which

showed some of the deputies in their reflection. The Shadow saw a man he wanted; one who carried a

He sprang for the fellow, sure that he could jump the clumsy gun before the deputy had a chance to aim it.

There was a chance, too, that the man had already used both barrels in which case, The Shadow's course

At sight of the lunging shape in black, the deputy dropped back and tried to swing the butt end of the gun,

proving that it was empty. The Shadow caught the weapon, twisted it so suddenly that its owner hadn't time

to let go. As the man spilled to the turf, The Shadow wrenched the shotgun away and flung it at the other

Revolvers fired wide as marksmen ducked. Flashlights, coming back to focus, gave one a fleeting sight of

The Shadow, heading back the way that he had come, toward the front of the mansion. His cloak streaming in

the wind, The Shadow looked more like a marauding ghost than a human fighter. Like a ghost, he vanished at

Amazing, that disappearance. The Shadow accomplished it a mere second before flashlights blazed from the

opposite direction. Men were coming from the front, attracted by the gunfire at the back. They, too, caught an

evanescent view of The Shadow and thought that he had retraced his course. There could only be one result

Two squads of deputies met at the corner, in a firstclass tangle. By the time they had finished clawing for a

wraithlike figure in a black cloak, they found that they had been tearing at each other. There wasn't any trace

of The Shadow. He'd gone so completely, that the deputies wondered if there ever had been a Shadow.

There had been a Shadow, and there still was. At the corner, he'd turned and bounded off at an angle,

covering half a dozen yards during that important second when no lights were upon him.

The Shadow was at the brink of the ravine by this time, and he waited there, knowing it was the one place

where no one would search for him. Soon, the deputies would give up the search and go into the house. When

While he waited, The Shadow looked toward the valley below. The drizzle was over and the lights of Venetia

were much clearer than before. But The Shadow was more interested in the lights atop a distant hill, above

Those lights belonged to the Weldorf mansion; as The Shadow watched, he saw the lights of a car crawling

up the road to that house on the other hill. That car belonged to Titus Weldorf; he was returning home after

As for Ted Granmore, who had secretly dropped by to see his uncle Foster, there was no way of spotting his

car from this elevation, because Ted was living down in the town and had by this time shuffled himself into

A soft laugh stirred among the alders that fringed the deep ravine. The whispered laugh of The Shadow told

The murder of Foster Granmore and the theft of the dead man's illicit funds were problems that The Shadow

LIKE the Weldorfs and the Granmores, Giles Mandon owned a house upon a hill. Mandon's residence,

however, in no way rivaled the two traditional mansions that had so long dominated the town of Venetia.

Mandon's house was located close to the Granmore mansion. In fact, its hill could be termed a knob, or

portion, of the larger Granmore hill. The reason why it was regarded as a separate slope was because of the

ravine that gutted between the higher elevation and the lesser rise where Mandon lived.

Getting up to Mandon's wasn't difficult, because the slope was fairly gentle. However, it was a long trip

around by road from the Granmore mansion, a matter of twenty minutes or more, considering the

waywardtwists of the ravine, that took the road from Granmore hill clear beyond the outskirts of Venetia.

In The Shadow's case, the trip required half an hour. He'd left his car a full mile down the road, parked in a

clump of woods opposite the ravine. In addition, The Shadow had to dispose of his rainsoaked cloak, and

change to a dry pair of shoes that showed no traces of the muddy ground that lined the ravine.

All this done, The Shadow drove to Mandon's house, to join the party as an uninvited guest.

Cars galore were parked in front of Mandon's sizable but simple house. Most of the party guests had arrived

ahead of The Shadow. Alighting from his car, The Shadow strolled up to the lighted front porch, a different

personality entirely than the ghostly creature who had played hideandseek with the sheriff's men.

In his present guise, The Shadow was a tall man who wore evening clothes as though he had been molded to

fit them. His manner was leisurely, his face very calm. So calm were those features, that they were almost

The Shadow's present face happened to belong to a gentleman named Lamont Cranston, whose name

commanded respect and attention because Cranston was reputed to be a multimillionaire.

Announcing his name to the servant who answered the door, Cranston was ushered into a little reception

room, from which he saw and heard the guests who had come to Mandon's party. He observed Giles Mandon

among them, and watched the gleam that came to the man's clear eyes when the servant announced the name

Hurrying into the reception room, his handsome face aglow with a smile, Mandon extended a hearty

"A pleasure, Mr. Cranston!" exclaimed Mandon. "If I'd known that you were coming to Venetia so soon "

"I appear to have come too soon," interposed Cranston, in a calm tone. "I wouldn't care to interfere with your

"You won't interfere, at all!" He paused, his face becoming grim. "Your interruption is slight, compared to

one that just occurred." Mandon looked about, noted that no guests were near. Then, confidentially, he

"Only half an hour ago," informed Mandon, in a low tone, "I learned that poor Foster had just been

Cranston's face retained its calm expression as he inquired, in matteroffact style:

"No, no," returned Mandon. "I suppose you haven't heard. Foster was released today, and came back to

Venetia. I met him at the station and took him to his house. I couldn't possibly invite him here; anyway, I

knew he would prefer to be alone. I felt that of all places, he would be safest in his own home. But,

Mandon shrugged, and his lips went tight. He didn't care to pursue the subject further, since it would involve

the name of Titus Weldorf. Turning to conduct Cranston into the other room, Mandon confided:

"I shall have to go over to the Granmore house, to talk to the sheriff. He said there was no rush, that there was

nothing that I could do. However, I think it would be best if I should see the scene first hand. Rather than

spoil the evening's party, I do not intend to mention the tragedy to my guests until they are leaving. I trust that

RECEIVING a nod from Cranston, Mandon proceeded to introduce the new guest to the earlier arrivals,

explaining that Mr. Cranston was from New York. This created much interest, especially when Cranston

Floods had rendered many roads impassible in the vicinity of Venetia, and everyone wanted to hear of

Cranston's experiences with detours, and hazards such as fallen trees and washedout bridges.

The description that Cranston gave actually dated back to early afternoon, because he had foreseen delay in

reaching Venetia, and had therefore started early from New York around noon. However, he conveyed the

expression that he had left New York around noon, with no expectation of trouble on the way. As a result, he

All this was for the benefit of Giles Mandon, who was an interested listener. Since Mandon, was going to the

Granmore mansion to see the sheriff, it was a good idea to talk of detours on the way to Venetia. Cranston

wanted to make it evident that he couldn't have had time for an extra detour near the town itself; namely, the

In brief, The Shadow, as Cranston, was disassociating himself from the blackcloaked prowler that Mandon

would certainly hear about when he talked with the country sheriff. This wasn't difficult, considering that

For a month or more, Cranston had been writing Mandon, asking if any stock in the glass company was for

sale. Always a wise investor, Cranston wanted to buy some share's in Weldorf, Granmore, Co.

Mandon had replied that no stock was available at present, but that shares might be offered later. So Cranston

had announced his intention of coming to Venetia for a personal interview with Mandon.

Perhaps the shares that Mandon had mentioned were those belonging to Foster Granmore, whose return from

prison was the real cause of The Shadow's visit to Venetia. At least, Mandon's mind must have returned to

Foster's case, for Cranston saw his host glance at his watch, then quietly excuse himself.

Corbey was waiting in the reception room, and sight of the chauffeur told Cranston that Mandon was going to

Then, just as Cranston was resigning himself for a wait until Mandon returned, there was an interruption. At

the outer door of the reception room, Ted Granmore pressed into sight and pleaded with Mandon to wait.

Glancing through the reception room, Cranston saw Mandon gesture as though to conduct Ted in to meet the

guests; but Ted shook his head ardently. Dismissing Corbey, Mandon led Ted deeper into the house, avoiding

By then, Cranston had finished talking about his trip. In his quiet fashion, he let others monopolize the

conversation. Stepping away, Cranston stopped by a curtained doorway; then, the moment that he was no

Through the curtains, he found himself in a hallway, with a doorway at the other end. Assuming it to be the

room where Mandon had taken Ted, Cranston approached in The Shadow's noiseless style.

A twist of the door handle, an easing of the door itself, and The Shadow was looking into a study where Giles

Mandon was seated at a desk, listening to Ted Granmore. Mandon was deeply concentrated, and Ted was

busy talking; hence neither realized that The Shadow, in the person of Cranston, was viewing their

"SO you learned about Foster from Tukes and the sheriff," Ted was saying. "They don't know who killed

"Titus Weldorf is the murderer!" emphasized Ted. "He sneaked around by Foster's window and shot him

"I think you're wrong, Ted," he said. "Tukes says that he showed Titus out, and that he went to his car."

"Maybe Tukes thinks he did," snapped Ted, "but it was too dark for him to be sure. Anyway, I ran into Titus

when I went back to the window. I'd used the window to get in to see Foster. I didn't want Tukes to know I

This time, Mandon's eyes narrowed. For the moment, he seemed to be picturing Ted as the actual murderer.

"The sheriff spoke of a mysterious prowler around the place. You might have run into him and mistaken him

"I ran into both of them!" asserted Ted. "That's how I know Titus was in it. This business of an unknown

prowler only accounts for one person roaming the premises. There were two, I tell you, because I tackled

"Odd you couldn't hold onto Titus," observed Mandon. "I wouldn't credit him with being much of a fighter."

"He chased after Titus," replied Ted. "I fired a few shots after him, but I couldn't wing him."

"Yes, I had a gun," said Ted. Pulling his hand from his pocket, he displayed the revolver in question. "Don't

worry, Mandon." Ted shoved the weapon across the desk. "It isn't the gun that killed Foster."

Withdrawing his hand as from a hot stove, Mandon finally acquired nerve and reached for the revolver. As he

"No, you won't!" Interrupting, Ted sped his hand for the revolver. "Why should I muddle the issue? If Titus

knows I was at Foster's, he'll try to toss blame my way. I don't want him to learn that I was around there."

"You know I didn't kill Foster," declared Ted. "I wouldn't have come here, if I had. I'm letting you in on facts,

Mandon, because you're the one man I can trust. You're impartial, and you wouldn't favor a Weldorf over a

"To prevent murder!" Ted's tone was hard; his eyes showed a glower. "If I still have it when I meet Titus, I'll

IMPRESSED by Ted's savagery, Mandon decided to keep the revolver. He rose from his desk, turned to the

wall, and opened a fairsized safe, his shoulders hiding the dials as he worked the combination. Tossing the

"Corbey is driving me over to Foster's," said Mandon. "Do you want to wait here until I return, Ted?"

"I have my car out front," he said. "I'll drive back to my apartment." Rising, he was half turned to the door,

when he paused and asked: "Why are you driving to Foster's? You could walk there in five minutes by the

"No longer," replied Mandon. "The flood carried away the footbridge, this afternoon. The road is the only

The Shadow saw a shrewd expression flicker on Ted's face and knew that the young man was thinking of

Titus Weldorf, wondering if the latter had encountered trouble after leaving the Granmore mansion.

However, Ted offered no comment, and The Shadow had no time to study him further. Ted was turning

A few swift strides, and The Shadow was through the curtained doorway, idling there in Cranston's casual

fashion, when the two men came from the study and took the short route to the front door, to reach their

respective cars, outside. Neither saw Cranston, nor could they have heard the soft laugh that came from his

The Shadow had heard one man's version of murder. As to the truth of the story that Ted Granmore told, The

Shadow was reserving final decision until he heard a further account of the same crime, from the lips of Titus

UNDER the glow of the late morning sun, cars were stopping in front of the Granmore mansion. Daylight

and the passing of the storm had brought a huge change to the scene upon the hill. No longer was the old

stone house a forbidding place, bulking weirdly amid the wailing wind. It had the outward semblance of a

Yet, to those who saw it and knew its recent history, the old mansion seemed to harbor doom. Here, Foster

Granmore had returned to receive a welcome in the form of death, and these very visitors had come to seek

The sheriff, the coroner, and other assorted officials were in the party. Along with them had come Ted

Granmore, nearest of kin to his deceased uncle Foster. Another member of the party was Titus Weldorf, who,

Giles Mandon was also present, not only as the active head of Weldorf, Granmore, Co. but because he was

Along with Mandon had come a stranger, a gentleman named Lamont Cranston, who had very conveniently

Old Tukes was still in the house. In solemn fashion, the servant repeated his story. He told of Titus coming to

the house, and mentioned that the visitor had exchanged harsh words with Foster. Walking to the front door,

Then, walking toward the kitchen, Tukes paused and gave a graphic illustration of a man hearing a gunshot.

He dashed creakily to Foster's den, stopped on the threshold, and pointed to the spot where he had seen the

The sheriff, a beetlebrowed man named Clemming, next turned his attention to Titus Weldorf. He asked if

Titus had gone directly to his car, and Titus answered him with a blunt yes. More than that, Titus led the way

out the front door, to show exactly where he had left his car, below the foot of the driveway.

"I took much longer last night," explained Titus during the move. "Very much longer. I remember stumbling

about here" he pointed to a hole in the drive "and after that, I was more careful. Besides, I had trouble

finding my car when I reached the road. Very foolishly, I had turned the lights off."

The sheriff asked why Titus hadn't foreseen such trouble, and Titus explained that the lights in the house had

deceived him into thinking that there would be no difficulty. It was mention of that point that helped Titus

It was a short distance up the road, and from it, when Titus pointed, the others saw that the house was in

sight, a few hundred yards away. A slight intervening rise of ground gave the illusion that the house was

It was the coroner who put the next question. He wanted to know if Titus had heard any shots. Titus not only

shook his head; he remarked that the wind had been against him on the return trip, making it impossible for

All the while, The Shadow was watching Ted Granmore, whose lips wore a scoffing curl. Not knowing that

Cranston's eyes were upon him, Ted let his expression widen into an actual sneer. Oddly, it wasn't meant for

Time was when the names of Weldorf and Granmore were both above suspicion in Venetia. Five years ago,

Foster Granmore had ruined the reputation of his family by his embezzlement of company funds. But the

tradition still existed, in the case of the Weldorfs. To even suggest that Titus Weldorf might be lying would

As the group moved away, Ted reached out and gripped Mandon's arm as the latter passed him. Thinking that

"Do you see? We'd have to prove Titus guilty, before these hick officials would make a move. They're

TED said no more, even though he was sure that Cranston couldn't hear him, a point on which Ted was

However, Mandon was nodding soberly as he and Ted overtook Cranston, and The Shadow knew that

Mandon was actually considering a point that Ted had left unsaid. Ted had inferred it, however, with his

It was a simple fact that if Ted Granmore admitted his secret visit to the family mansion, the local officials

would promptly quiz him as a suspect, showing him none of the courtesy they had extended to Titus Weldorf.

From the way Giles Mandon tightened his lips, it was plain that he intended to do the fair thing and avoid all

The investigators reached the spot outside Foster's window and soon discovered the footprints around the

corner. It was purely for sake of comparison that men began to look at the shoes of their neighbors, and as

The only man in the party who was wearing blunttoed boots chanced to be Titus Weldorf, and his size

looked very much the same as the marks on the ground. For a moment, Titus's face clouded; then, in his most

Bluntly, Titus remarked that the footprints were much like his own. Carefully, he extended one foot above the

print, and showed pleased surprise when he discovered that it was his exact size. Looking at other feet about

"We are in luck, sheriff!" exclaimed Titus. "You must look for a man who wears shoes of my size and style.

Unfortunately, I never buy my boots in Venetia. Nevertheless, we have gained an important clue. That is"

Titus gave a shrug, depreciating his own words "if these footprints are important."

A whole gamut of emotions swept over the face of Ted Granmore. They ran from elation, through dismay,

and finally ended in stupefaction. Before Ted's very eyes, the men who represented law in Venetia, had let

their suspicions fade into complete agreement with Titus Weldorf, and at the finish they were actually

Indeed, they were about to turn away, when Giles Mandon suggested, very impartially, that it would be a

good idea to follow the footprints. Haughtily, Titus Weldorf conceded that the suggestion was a good one, so

During it's progress, Cranston wished that he had been able to pick up the trail as easily the night before. If he

had, he might have overhauled the murderer and given him a taste of The Shadow's justice.

Not that justice wasn't lacking in Venetia. In his own appraisal of the sheriff and the coroner, The Shadow

regarded them as quite competent, the sort of men who could be relied upon in a pinch. The name of Weldorf

simply blinded them, and Titus was quite aware of its dazzle. So aware, that it could prove his own pitfall,

should the time come. Having met with situations of this sort before, The Shadow was unperturbed.

As for pitfalls, those footprints that so resembled Titus's came close to one, when they reached the ravine.

There, the trailers saw the foundations of the footbridge, tilted in the weakened soil. Below, the creek still

raged, and all vestiges of the bridge planking had been carried away by the torrent.

Noting how the prints had turned, the investigators followed their new route and came back to the road, not

far from the place where Titus had parked his car. Before anyone else could remark upon the coincidence,

"If I had only been a few minutes longer!" he exclaimed, "I might have heard the murderer when he reached

the road! He must have been in a panic when he found the footbridge gone. I wonder" Titus, accidentally

perhaps, let his eyes fix upon Ted "I wonder who could have visited poor Foster with intent to kill him!"

Ted's hand stabbed to the coat pocket beside it. If he'd had his gun, he might have gone through with the

Remembering Ted's murderous inclinations toward Titus, Mandon stepped in between. In his impartial way,

he suggested that speculation as to the killer's identity be left to the authorities.

Then, turning to sheriff and coroner, Mandon told about the footbridge going out, the day before. He said that

Corbey had reported it in the afternoon, and that he had personally gone down to see the wreckage, from his

At his invitation, the officials decided to go over to Mandon's. When Titus stated that he had business

elsewhere, Mandon tactfully invited Ted along, in a manner that allowed no refusal.

ACCOMPANYING the group, Cranston took the long ride around by car, and joined the parade from

There were footprints on this side, made the day before: Mandon's and Corbey's. They led to the ravine, and

back again, graphic evidence of the inspection trips that the chauffeur and master had made to view the ruins

Still impartial, Mandon proved that one set of footprints was his own, and made Corbey demonstrate the

same with the second set. During the process, Cranston's eyes were watching Ted, and they observed a

Ted Granmore was thinking that some day the dullwitted minds of certain officials might grasp the point

that if two men's shoes matched their footprints, the rule might apply in a third case.

Those footprints of Titus Weldorf, on the other side of the ravine, were still the evidence that Ted Granmore

hoped would save him the trouble of avenging his uncle's death by ridding the world of Titus Weldorf. As

On the way back from the ravine, all talk concerned a mysterious marauder who had been seen outside the

Granmore mansion by the sheriff and his men. Sheriff Clemming kept harping on the subject of a person

By such a person, the sheriff meant The Shadow, and Ted Granmore, listening, recognized that the guilt of

Titus Weldorf would remain unproven until the interloper was discovered and his part in the case revealed. It

never occurred to Ted that right beside him walked the marauder of the night before, in the person of Lamont

A singular instance, this: The Shadow forced to hold back blame from Titus Weldorf in order not to cast

suspicion upon himself. Perhaps there was some other reason why he preferred to let the present investigation

AT noon the next day, funeral services were held for Foster Granmore, and Giles Mandon attended them.

When he returned to his office at the glass factory, he found Lamont Cranston waiting there.

Two people came along with Mandon. One was Ted Granmore; the other, a girl whose resemblance to Ted

She was Connie Granmore, a cousin of Ted's, and at first sight it was plain that she had inherited the stronger

The early Granmores, cofounders of the glass works, had been noteworthy people. Little had they supposed

that there would ever be ill feeling between their family and such esteemed partners as the Weldorfs.

It had taken years of luxury, ease, and extravagance to produce such schemers as dead Foster Granmore and

his living nephew Ted, who had argued over the disposal of stolen funds, the only time The Shadow had seen

them together. Such tactics, however, were quite foreign to a girl like Connie Granmore.

She was youthful and very lovely, with her deepgray eyes and lightbrown hair, a girl who looked dreamy,

until those eyes began to sparkle. It didn't take anger to bring the sparkle, for indignation was about the

nearest thing to anger that Connie could display. She'd been showing it since she arrived in Venetia, because

With those sparkling eyes, Connie had a firm chin, which didn't mar her beauty in the least. Instead, it

showed she could mean what she said, and her determination was of the right sort. In fact, Connie began to

speak her piece soon after she entered the office, and the ugly looks that Ted directed could not stop her.

"Ted has been telling me about Foster's holdings in the glass works," said Connie to Mandon. "Do you have

"And that, I suppose, is why Foster found it necessary to borrow company funds to the extent of forty

thousand dollars?" Connie turned to Ted. "I think that 'borrow' was the term you used."

"I was thinking of poor Foster," began Ted. "After all, he didn't intend to steal the money. If "

Connie's eyes, flashing indignation stopped him. She turned again to Mandon, said:

"You are willing to pay a fair price for those shares, the same amount that Foster originally borrowed. It is

only fair that you should have them, Giles, even though Ted has suggested that I hold out for a higher price."

Ted began to nudge down in his chair. His eyes shifted away from Mandon and gave a worried glance

Cranston's way. Ted didn't have to state that he had played the rat. From the moment that Cranston had

entered the picture as a possible buyer of glass company stock, Ted had hoped to start him bidding against

Mandon when it came to the disposal of Foster's shares, now controlled by Ted and his cousin Connie.

Inasmuch as Mandon's own offer covered the par value of the shares, and any added value was due to his

excellent management of the company, there was every reason for Mandon to direct his own anger upon Ted.

"I shall be quite willing to pay more," he declared. "I think that ten percent would be quite proper, the profit

to be divided between you two" he gestured from Ted to Connie "as the heirs to Foster's estate. That ten

percent will also apply to your own shares, Ted, on which I have already loaned you the full limit."

Ted's borrowing was news to Connie, and it brought a firm smile to her lips. The smile faded, however, when

WITH a headshake, Cranston declined, and received an admiring glance from Connie. Ted hadn't a word to

Short on funds, as evidenced by his last chat with Foster, Ted was doubtless so deeply in debt to Mandon that

he had actually forfeited his right to his own shares in the company. Knowing that Mandon could foreclose at

will, Ted had tried to pass the selling job along to Connie, and she had upset the deal.

Considering the circumstances, Mandon's offer of a higher price was an absolute gift, so far as Ted was

concerned. Connie recognized that much, and spoke her admiration of Mandon's generosity. Then, withering

"I was glad when I left Venetia. Glad to find other places, where people wouldn't speak of me as a Granmore.

I've lived down a great deal in the past few years, and I hated to come back here. I was genuinely sorry for

Foster, and I hoped that you would be the same, Ted, considering the way he died. But you, at least, are still a

"And there are worse names than Granmore!" shouted Ted, drowning Connie's voice as he gave way to fury.

He was on his feet, his fists clenched, swept by a sudden rage. Mandon sprang up from the desk to quiet him,

To Connie, it was a most marvelous display of selfcontrol on Ted's part, something that she deemed

impossible, once he had passed the border of normal selfrestraint. But it was no surprise to Cranston.

The Shadow knew that Ted had too much at stake to toss it overboard. He'd already come close to

Knowing Ted's spendthrift habits and his constant need for money, Mandon had let the first matter pass. But

to have Ted storming around the office, shouting threats to all Weldorfs for the factory hands to hear, was

It wouldn't take even a snap of Mandon's fingers to break Ted Granmore. The same authorities who had

whitewashed Titus Weldorf would be only too glad to pick Ted Granmore as the scapegoat in Foster's death.

Everyone knew that there had been two visitors at the Granmore mansion the night of Foster's death. One,

Titus Weldorf, had come there openly. The other, a party unknown, was wanted by the law. If Ted stated that

To argue that a third individual was in the case, would be very shallow stuff. So shallow, that it would seem

more ludicrous than the "borrowing" plea that Foster had given in connection with outright embezzlement.

One man, at least, had believed Ted's story. That man was Giles Mandon. Since Mandon was apt to prove

Ted's only friend in court, it wouldn't do to try his patience further. So Ted, in most amazing style, turned his

rage into a most abject apology, which he repeated, very humbly, to every person present. Giles Mandon

"Well spoken, Ted!" declared Mandon sympathetically. "After all, you've been through quite an ordeal

because of Foster's death. And don't forget" Mandon turned to Connie "that what applies to one member

of a family can apply to another. It hasn't been easy for Ted to bear the stigma that Foster brought to the

It was Connie's turn to become humble. Murmuring her own apologies, she pressed Ted's hand warmly, and

he reciprocated with a very cousinly smile. Then, coaxing them both to the door, Mandon offered a parting

"Connie will be staying at my house, Ted," said Mandon. "Why don't you drive her up there? She hasn't seen

the place since I remodeled it. You might as well stay up there, too, because I'd like you to have dinner with

As soon as the two were gone, Mandon shook his head and gave a weary smile toward Cranston.

"Two words," corrected Mandon, still smiling. "Weldorf and Weldorf. I'm not expecting just Titus. He is

"In a way, yes," replied Mandon seriously. "You have a way of hitting facts, Cranston. They're worried about

those shares of Foster's, too. They prefer to keep the company a closed corporation."

HARDLY had Mandon finished, before the Weldorf's arrived. Again, Cranston was treated to a gratifying

surprise. Connie Granmore had been a welcome contrast to her cousin Ted. Similarly, Roy Weldorf was quite

Roy was younger than Titus, and showed none of the older man's shrewd style. His hearty handshake was the

opposite of Titus's flabby grip. When Titus, in the manner of a vulture, began to talk about the disposal of

Studying Roy, Cranston saw frankness and sincerity in his features. Roy had the aristocratic visage of a

Weldorf, but none of the haughty air that, in the case of Titus, accompanied it. When Titus expressed smug

"Very, very good!" declared Titus. "The less Granmores in this company, the better."

"Perhaps the same applies to the Weldorfs," suggested Roy. "I've often wondered how Mandon puts up with

Titus gave his cousin a stare that Roy ignored. Then, haughtily, Titus announced:

"I have already arranged that Giles shall succeed me in the management of this company."

"He's already succeeded you," returned Roy, "though he's too polite to say so. Well, Titus, we've finished

As soon as the two had gone, Giles Mandon laid his chin in his hand and turned to Lamont Cranston.

"What a chap, that Roy! expressed Mandon. "He could say more to Titus in a minute than I could in a year!

Well, Cranston" Mandon's mood was becoming one of business "I don't think you can buy into this

Conceding that he couldn't, Cranston arose and shook hands with Mandon, who reminded him that he was to

come to the house for dinner. With that, Cranston departed and went to the local hotel.

There, he sent a telegram to his investment broker, Rutledge Mann, stating that no stock could be bought in

Weldorf, Granmore, Co. At the end of the telegram, Cranston added two words: "Send Marvin."

From the window of his hotel room, Cranston was still his placid self as he gazed across the town of Venetia,

to the hills beyond, but the eyes that gazed were those of The Shadow. It was the laugh of The Shadow, too,

Whatever the status of Weldorf, Granmore Co., The Shadow had at least found a rift in the feud between the

families that bore the same names. He was thinking in terms of Roy Weldorf and Connie Granmore; how

Much more depended on the finding of Foster's murderer than the mere solution of a mystery.

IN the morning, two people both friends of Lamont Cranston, arrived in Venetia. One was a girl named

The Shadow was quite pleased when they arrived, because it proved that his contact man, Rutledge Mann,

Mann in reality, a secret agent of The Shadow, hadn't worried about "Marvin", a person he had never

heard of before. He'd decided that "Mar" stood for Margo while "Vin" meant Vincent, so he had sent them

Arriving independently, each was surprised to meet the other, but that surprise was mild when they heard the

Both Harry and Margo had read about the murder of Foster Granmore, but hadn't connected it with the death

of old Daniel Weldorf, five years before. Succinctly, Cranston explained it for their benefit, in a secluded

corner of the Hotel Venetia. His comments showed that he had spent his spare time delving through old court

"On an eventful evening five years ago," stated Cranston, "Foster Granmore stopped in at the glass factory to

talk to Giles Mandon, who was working late. While there, Foster learned that Daniel Weldorf had taken home

the company records, along with a steel box containing certain assets unknown to Mandon.

"At nine, that same evening, a masked man entered the Weldorf home, shot Daniel dead, and took all the

items in question. Naturally, the question arose: what was in the steel box? Nobody was sure, until a New

York bank announced that Daniel Weldorf had forwarded a list of bonds, valued at a quarter million dollars,

Pausing, Cranston watched the expressions of his listeners. He could tell that both Harry and Margo were

jumping to conclusions. He waited until he knew their thoughts were settled. Then:

"There was no proof that Daniel Weldorf actually had the bonds," continued Cranston. "If he did have, they

were the property of the company. As for the records, Mandon very fortunately had some duplicates, though

they were incomplete. Among them were the accounts kept by Foster Granmore. The accountants who

"Hold it!" put in Harry. "They sent Foster up for embezzlement, not for murder."

"Because Foster had an alibi," explained Cranston. "According to Mandon, he hadn't left the factory until a

few minutes before nine. Foster claimed that he had gone back to his own house, on the other hill. Thanks to

"They were in it together!" she exclaimed. "Foster and Mandon! They wanted the bonds and the records "

"So Mandon produced the duplicates," put in Harry, as Margo suddenly paused. "How would you feel,

Cranston's nod corroborated Harry's opinion, and Margo decided to listen longer before voicing, further

"You must both meet Giles Mandon," suggested Cranston tactfully. "You will agree that he is an

individualist, who favors no one. I can testify, personally, that Foster regarded Mandon as a real friend. It was

Mandon who met Foster when he returned from prison. There were others, too, who talked with Foster that

WITH that, Cranston recited his own observations, and both listeners knew that he was speaking from the

viewpoint of The Shadow for they were secret agents of The Shadow. There was silence when he finished,

and after a brief interval, Harry and Margo spoke their opinions, this time in agreement.

"It was Titus who murdered Foster," declared Harry. "He figured that Foster had phonied Mandon's clock, or

"Ted couldn't have gained anything by killing his Uncle Foster," added Margo. "If he had, he wouldn't have

"You're jumping well ahead, Margo," laughed Harry. From the way you talk, this case is a family feud!"

Sobering suddenly, Harry decided that it might be. Turning to Cranston, he asked if there were other

Weldorfs or Granmores, and learned that there was one of each. Then, as The Shadow began to describe Roy

Weldorf and Connie Granmore, his listeners, in their turn, understood why they had been summoned to

The suggestion of a feud wasn't far from wrong. Assuming that Daniel Weldorf had been slain by Foster

Granmore, and that the latter had been killed by Titus Weldorf, it was certainly in the cards for Ted Granmore

By his own admission, Ted had inclinations toward murder. It would be The Shadow's task to cover that

However, as usual, The Shadow was also looking ahead. He wanted to make sure that Roy and Connie were

not drawn into the vortex of crime. So far, neither had seemed in sympathy with the quarrel between their

respective families, but there was a chance that tension would increase sufficiently to imbue mere bystanders

Hence, The Shadow had summoned his agents to Venetia, that they might cover the future aspects of the

case. It would be Harry's job to meet Roy Weldorf, Margo's to make friends with Connie Granmore.

By noon, The Shadow was able to fix Harry's angle. As Cranston, he arranged to lunch with the Weldorfs,

and introduced Harry to them. To Titus, Cranston broached his desire to buy stock in the glass works, and

Titus bluntly informed him that it couldn't be done. Roy, more affable, specified why.

"You heard what Titus said yesterday," declared Roy. "The less Granmores in the company, the better. You're

Cranston gave a grieved look, and Titus broke into an immediate denial of the fact.

"It never crossed my mind," he began. "Why, to begin with, the Granmores have squandered all their money

"But Ted is a schemer," put in Roy. "You said so yourself, Titus. He's coming into a bonus from the stock he

is selling to Mandon. That's why you have the idea that he might try to acquire some of yours, through

"I only said that Ted might try to influence some outside party," argued Titus, "I didn't specify Mr. Cranston.

But perhaps you have forgotten, Roy, that there is still another Granmore: Ted's cousin, Connie."

Apparently, Roy Weldorf had a high sense of chivalry, for his face flashed indignation when Titus brought

"Connie left Venetia a few years ago, Titus. Maybe she has forgotten by this time that she ever was a

"Sometimes I wish I had," asserted Roy. Then, to soothe his cousin's anger: "Anyway, Titus, I agree with you

that Mandon is the proper man to head the company. You've given him first say on your stock, should you

FINDING that he couldn't persuade Titus, Cranston decided reluctantly to return to New York. He remarked

that his friend Vincent was staying in Venetia, and Roy was quite pleased to learn it.

Apparently, Roy was finding it quite boring to be with Titus all the time, and would welcome the

acquaintance of a likable chap like Harry. He even insisted that Harry come up to the Weldorf house for the

The Shadow had worked this system before, but Harry was amazed to see how rapidly it was progressing in

this instance. After Cranston left, Titus decided that he had to go over to the factory, whereupon Roy clung to

Apparently, during lunch, Cranston had foreseen that this would happen, but Harry couldn't understand it. He

wondered if his chief would have similar luck when he introduced Margo to Connie Granmore.

Driving up to Mandon's, Cranston found Connie at the house, along with Ted, who was in a sullen mood.

Having brought Margo with him, Cranston introduced her, and Connie took an immediate liking to the other

They hadn't talked for half an hour before Connie excused herself; returning she beamed at Cranston and

"I've just called Giles. He wants both of you to stay for dinner and spend the evening with us."

When Cranston said that he would have to go back to New York, Margo thought the game was through, but

when he added that Miss Lane could accept the invitation, Connie didn't even ask why Margo was staying in

Venetia. Instead, she pressed the invitation upon Margo, in a tone that wouldn't allow refusal.

Just as Roy Weldorf had wanted relief from his cousin Titus, Connie Granmore seemed to need a buffer

against Ted. Whether this meant that Roy and Connie hated the family feud, or were trying to stifle an

instinctive desire to join it, was still a question. To such questions, The Shadow could usually provide an

As he drove away from Mandon's house, Cranston's lips wore the faintest trace of a smile. Equivalent to The

Shadow's laugh, that smile told that the brain behind it was probing deep into the riddle, and coming to a firm

Whatever that conclusion, one thing was certain: Lamont Cranston was not returning to New York.

As The Shadow, he intended to stay in Venetia to watch for new developments, which, by his calculations,

Death was due again in this town where rival families ruled; doom that might strike despite The Shadow's

DINNER was over in the Weldorf mansion, and Harry had retired to a vast, gloomy library with Roy, when

Titus joined them. Under his arm, Titus was carrying a brief case, which he tapped importantly.

"I'm going over to see Mandon," announced Titus. "I shall return in about an hour, at which time I shall have

"Nothing valuable in the brief case, I hope," remarked Roy. "Don't forget what happened to Daniel when he

"An illspoken jest!" snapped Titus. "Nevertheless, I wouldn't carry anything valuable where I am going. Ted

"Maybe I shouldn't have joked," said Roy. "But I have to laugh off the gloom of this old place. There's no

other way to forget it. Why" Roy looked around "it was in this very room that Daniel was murdered!

Harry shook his head, whereupon Roy glanced at his watch. He didn't seem to relish the fact that Titus was

"I've got to shake it off," he told Harry. "I think I'll go out a while, Vincent. If Titus comes back, tell him I'm

upstairs and will be down shortly. He might be irritated if he found I hadn't waited around for him."

As Harry started to nod, Roy went from the library, calling back his thanks as he went. By the time Harry

reached the front door, he could see Roy's car pulling from the garage, some distance away. Too late to

follow, Harry was getting a new slant on why Roy had so willingly furthered their brief acquaintance.

There was certainly something that Roy wanted to cover up, and he had needed a friend to help him. A friend

who didn't know too much about what was going on in Venetia. Harry had struck Roy as the perfect tool, and

maybe he was right. Of all the neat yet innocent slips that Harry had ever seen accomplished, this, was about

Even in his own mind, Harry couldn't be sure that Roy was actuated by any wrong purpose. It might even be

that Roy had a real regard for Titus, and didn't want harm to befall him. Whatever the case, Harry found

There was only one solace: as yet, Roy couldn't be too deeply involved in the WeldorfGranmore feud. At

least, so Harry felt, but he was at a point where he mistrusted his own conclusions.

OVER at Mandon's house, Margo and Connie were seated on a sun porch, looking out into the moonlight,

which was straggly because clouds were gathering. There was a lovely hedgedin garden in back of

Their stroll took them to a little pergola, where they sat down. There, Connie suddenly adopted a pleading

"I'd like to be alone a while," she told Margo. "It's been such a strain here, the way Ted broods so over

Foster's death. Everyone seems so suspicious that is, everyone who belongs in this hopeless town, except

Inasmuch as Margo didn't belong in Venetia, she was also excluded from Connie's criticism, so she nodded to

"Just stay here, then," requested Connie, "while I stroll around. So that afterward you can say that we were

It wasn't until Connie actually began her stroll that Margo became suspicious. Without waiting to decide

upon an excuse, Margo started among the hedges to hunt for Connie. The hunt produced exactly what Margo

At the side of the garden, she found a gate in the hedge; it opened to a path that led to a side road, and since

There was only one thing to do about it. Margo stole into the house, found a telephone beneath the stairs and

dialed the Weldorf number, intending to inquire for Harry. She didn't have to ask for him, because it was

"I know I'm stupid," confided Margo, "But Connie just gave me the slip. What should I do about it?"

"Don't ask me, Margo," came Harry's glum reply. "For once, I can't call you dumb. Roy walked out on me the

Margo decided to sit tight, out in the garden, inasmuch as that was where Connie would probably return. She

glanced through the hallway as she went out through the sun porch, but saw no one. In Connie's case, Margo

Scarcely had Margo gone outside before Ted Granmore appeared, sneaking down the stairs from the second

For a moment, Ted hesitated, looked across his shoulder toward the front door. He saw no one in the hall, and

That blackness had taken on a solid form. It represented a new arrival. With darkness settled, The Shadow

had returned to Mandon's to begin his evening's operations. Coming from the front, he hadn't seen Connie's

departure by the side gate, nor had he witnessed Margo's brief return to the house, when she phoned Harry.

Perhaps Ted felt an impression of eyes that he could not discern. His hand shook as he worked the doorknob,

and he fumbled badly. Hearing Mandon's voice within the study, Ted suddenly decided to knock.

Mandon called for him to enter, so Ted ended his eavesdropping and opened the door. Stepping into the

Immediately, The Shadow glided across the hall and demonstrated the tactics that Ted should have used.

Reaching the door, he turned the knob so smoothly, so softly, that neither it's motion nor it's sound could

Peering in through the slight crack that he had opened, The Shadow again witnessed an interview between

"I'd like my revolver" declared Ted abruptly. "I want to turn it over to the sheriff."

"Why not?" demanded Ted. They've found that Foster was killed by a bullet of different caliber than mine, so

I'm safe. Telling my story is the only way to prove that Titus Weldorf murdered Foster. I need the gun to

Mandon arose. Dubiously, he turned to the safe and began to work the combination. Deep in thought, he

failed to hide the dial, and his action was slow enough for Ted to check the combination, something which

Mandon didn't notice, since his back was Ted's way, though The Shadow plainly saw the eager way in which

As he opened the door of the safe, Mandon paused. Abruptly, he slammed the door shut and twirled the dial.

"Frankly, I do," returned Mandon. "It would be a shortcut to the thing you want: vengeance for Foster."

"By telling the sheriff you gave me the gun. Or, better, I can let you have the gun tomorrow. Not tonight,

"Because Titus is on his way over here. It wouldn't be safe for you to meet him."

"That's just the trouble," observed Mandon. "But it's not going to happen in this house. I must ask you to go

Firmly, Mandon escorted Ted from the study. By then, The Shadow had chosen a deeper recess in the

hallway. Mandon called for Corbey, and the chauffeur appeared, to receive instructions.

"Mr. Granmore is going upstairs," declared Mandon. "I shall ask you to see that he remains there, Corbey. I

Nodding, Corbey gave Ted a stolid eye. Noting the chauffeur's stocky build and hardset face, Ted shrugged

and went upstairs. Mandon turned back to the study, stating that he wanted Titus shown there as soon as he

Very shortly, a car was heard out front. The doorbell rang, and a servant came from the kitchen to admit

Titus. Corbey gave a gesture toward the study, and Titus was shown there. Then Corbey, suspicion in his eye,

He must have remembered that there was a back stairway Ted might use, for Corbey suddenly left his post

That gave The Shadow opportunity to move to the study. Looking in, he saw Mandon checking over papers

with Titus. Their business ended, both arose, and The Shadow withdrew from the door.

This time, he edged toward the curtains that marked the darkened room where Mandon had given a party on a

Seeing Mandon coming out with Titus, to accompany the visitor to his car, The Shadow intended to circle

around through the reception room and follow outside, for from now on, he intended to take up Titus's trail.

Good policy, that roundabout trip, for it meant that The Shadow wouldn't be seen by any servants coming out

through the hallway. Darkness, just beyond the curtains, loomed a welcome to The Shadow's case, and this

time, this being in black, the deeper it came, the better. Yet there were limits to darkness, even in The

There was a slight swish as The Shadow glided between the curtains. His shoulder brushed one drapery, and

it stirred. But the next swish and the curtain's shake were not of The Shadow's making. They came so

suddenly, that the cloakedinvestigator had barely time to swing about and throw up a warding hand.

In his wheel, his foot caught the opposite curtain; the jog was only slight, but it spelled disaster for The

A gun, sledged by a downswinging hand, swept from the first curtain and passed The Shadow's guard.

There was an impact as the weapon sidled hard against the head beneath the black slouch hat. Receiving the

The blow from the curtain had dropped The Shadow into much deeper darkness than he had expected; that of

THE front door had hardly closed behind Mandon and Titus, when a man stepped from the curtained

doorway. The man was Corbey, and he was thrusting his hand deep into a pocket. The chauffeur's face was

tightened in a deadpan expression which was too set. Its expression of innocence was forced.

In short, Corbey looked like a person who had slugged someone in the dark without giving the victim a

chance. Nevertheless, considering that this was the household where he worked, Corbey was within his

rights. Outside the door, he paused and looked back. Seeing no stir in the darkness, he kept on his way to the

Mere luck had been responsible for Corbey's meeting with The Shadow. He'd taken a circuit of his own,

through the sun porch, after leaving the kitchen, and had happened to come to the curtains just as The

Back at his original post, Corbey took a look up the front stairs; then waited for Mandon to return indoors.

When Mandon came, Corbey would have spoken but for an interruption. Ted Granmore appeared on the front

"Yes," replied Mandon absently, "and I have to go to the plant. Titus has been making a valuation of the

"I'll bet he made the valuation high," gibed Ted. "If you want to buy any of his stock, you'll pay double for it,

Mandon ignored the gibe. He entered the study and came out again, a few minutes later, carrying sheets of

figures. Ted was still on the stairway; hence Corbey didn't have a chance to gesture in Mandon's direction.

In fact, Corbey was beginning to look undecided, as though he wondered whether Mandon would approve his

slugging tactics with The Shadow. At any rate, the chauffeur didn't follow Mandon outside, as he might have.

"There goes your boss, Corbey," said Ted. "A Grade DoubleA Sucker, if ever there was one! Tell him I said

With a shrug that seemed to dismiss all thoughts of Mandon, Ted turned and went upstairs. Too late to

contact Mandon, Corbey returned to the curtained doorway, instead. There, he found The Shadow still

motionless in the dark. Lifting the prone figure, Corbey carried his senseless prisoner around through the rear

WHILE that was happening, Ted Granmore reappeared near the top of the stairs. Peering down, he made sure

that Corbey was not in the hallway below. Therewith, Ted sneaked downstairs. He wasn't nervous any longer.

Probably thoughts of Corbey didn't worry him as much as those of Mandon, though if Ted had known of the

Near the study door, Ted listened; then opened the door and entered boldly. Closing the door behind him, he

smiled when he noted that Mandon had left the desk lamp turned on. It's glow carried to the safe, which was

There, Ted worked the combination carefully, and the safe came open. Inside, he found his revolver. He

Ted had put fresh cartridges in the chambers after the shooting match outside of Foster's window. The gun

needed cleaning, but Ted hadn't time to bother with such a detail. Closing the safe, he stole out from the

In the doorway, Ted listened. Again, he had a worried sensation that eyes were watching him, but he finally

shook it off. All the while, he held his gun in his hand, ready to threaten anyone who might block him. Then,

"A showdown with Titus. That's what I'll have, a showdown! Not here, you say, Mandon?" Ted looked

around, grinning as though he wished that Mandon would appear, to raise objection. "All right, It won't be

That mumble couldn't be plainly heard, but somehow Ted's gestures were graphic enough to give some idea

Eyes were watching him from those same curtains where The Shadow had run into Corbey. The same eyes

saw Ted steal across the hall and pause at the front door, where he pocketed his gun. Then, closing the door

She'd chanced upon Ted, much as Corbey had come upon The Shadow. Worried over Connie's prolonged

absence, Margo had decided to come back in the house and try another call to Harry. Sight of Ted, coming

from the study with a gun, had stiffened her. Fortunately, Margo was out of sight behind the curtains.

Guessing that Ted was going over to the Weldorf house, Margo saw need for an immediate warning to Harry,

As she did, she heard Ted's car pull away, and she listened for a repetition of the sound. There was none;

therefore, The Shadow couldn't be trailing Ted. Then, deciding that he must be keeping check on Titus,

Creaking footsteps were moving up behind her. They betokened heavy feet, yet cautious ones. But for the

strain that gripped her, Margo would not have heard them. Something in those footfalls chilled her almost to

the freezing point. It wasn't until they had reached her that she suddenly rallied, realizing that the very

Turning, Margo started to swing the phone, only to have her hand stopped by a driving grip. Though the hand

that caught her wrist as tight as metal, the voice that accompanied it was oily, almost apologetic.

"Sorry, Miss Lane," it said. "Before you make a call, I must talk to you. About something very important."

Margo was looking into the face of Corbey. Wellcontrolled, the chauffeur's features showed no animosity,

but Margo felt that they were masking something. Then, in the same smooth tone, Corbey inquired:

"Why... yes," Margo faltered. "She was out in the garden. I... well, I just decided to come indoors "

ALMOST despite herself, Margo was covering the fact of Connie's absence. She realized, suddenly, why she

was doing it. Having seen Ted sneaking from Mandon's study carrying a gun, Margo was beginning to justify

Connie's departure. Possibly Connie knew what Ted had in mind, and was hoping to prevent it.

But Harry had told Margo that Roy Weldorf was also at large. No wonder Margo was befuddled!

As she finished her stammer, Margo's wits returned. For one thing, she didn't have to answer Corbey's

questions. Margo gave the chauffeur a cold gaze, which he returned in kind. Stiffly, Margo questioned:

"Something important has happened," returned Corbey. His hand withdrew from Margo's wrist. "Something

"He just left for the factory. I won't be able to reach him until he arrives there. This matter cannot wait."

"Why bother Miss Connie?" she queried. "Isn't her cousin Ted around? Why not talk to him?"

There wasn't a change in Corbey's poker face. His gaze didn't budge from Margo's. If anything the pose was

too good. It could mean that Corbey, too, had seen Ted go out. If so, he would know that Margo had seen Ted

leave and was therefore playing a bluff. One that Corbey couldn't call without spoiling his own. However, the

"I would rather not inform Mr. Ted," stated Corbey. "This matter is one in which he might prove headstrong.

"If you'd tell me what it's all about," declared Margo, "I might call her for you."

Margo was turning away, when Corbey caught her arm again. This time, his grip was as restrained as his

"I think that you will do, instead. Please wait here, Miss Lane and I shall explain everything."

Inasmuch as she couldn't walk away, Margo decided to remain. Corbey's grip relaxed, and he reached for the

telephone. Watching Margo intently, to make sure that she didn't move more than an arm's length away,

Corbey called the glass factory and left a message for Mandon, to be given him when he arrived.

"Tell Mr. Mandon that everything is quite alright here," stated Corbey, over the phone, "but please add that I

That brief message failed to furnish Margo with the information that Corbey had promised. It was Corbey's

next call that produced the thunderbolt. Corbey made that call to the county courthouse and asked to speak

"Hello, sheriff..." Corbey's eyes were fixed on Margo. "This is Corbey... Yes, Mr. Mandon's chauffeur,

calling from the house. I'd like you to come here at once and bring some deputies with you..."

"Why?" Corbey's expression became gloating, as he asked the question. "I'll tell you why, sheriff." Eyes still

fastened upon Margo, Corbey was silently announcing that his words were meant for her as much as for the

listener on the telephone. "Because I've captured the prowler who was around the Granmore house the night

There was a sharp exclamation, the sheriff's from the telephone receiver. Corbey cut it short as he dropped

the receiver on the hook. He shoved his hand forward to catch Margo's wrist as she began to sway.

For Margo knew, from Corbey's triumphant gloat as well as the words he had uttered, that his prisoner could

POLITELY, Corbey bowed Margo toward the kitchen, and she accompanied him without a word. Silence

Corbey knew she was perturbed but that was to be expected. Anyone would be worried in a house where a

Such, at least, was the impression that Margo tried to give, for Corbey's benefit.

In the kitchen, they found two servants, each holding a gun. The weapons were The Shadow's automatics,

and they were trained on the cloaked prisoner, who lay sprawled in a corner chair, his slouch hat tilted down

Looking at the other servants, Margo saw that they weren't nervy chaps like Corbey. Their faces were

strained, and they had shied away from the cloaked prisoner who had been placed in their custody.

What troubled Margo was the fact that they were holding The Shadow's guns. Having taken those from The

Shadow's cloak, they could very easily have looked at his face and identified him as Lamont Cranston, a

Indeed, Margo was very sure that Corbey had looked at The Shadow's face. It would account for the way in

which the chauffeur had talked to Margo, sounding her out to learn if she knew the dual identity of the

In brusque style, Corbey began to show authority. Stepping to the servants, he jerked the guns from their

One servant gulped that he couldn't help being scared while watching a prisoner who looked like the next

thing to a ghost. The other servant, by his nod, showed that he felt the same way about it.

"You won't be worried, when you see who he is," scoffed Corbey. "That is" he spoke as though correcting

himself "he's just some ordinary fellow, like anybody else. He's only wearing that outfit so nobody will

Holding the two automatics, one in each hand, Corbey gestured toward The Shadow and suggested that

Unquestionably, he had already identified The Shadow as Cranston, though he hadn't let the other servants

see the captive's face. Corbey was simply pretending that he didn't know, in order to witness the effect on

As they approached The Shadow's chair, Margo halted, trying to pretend that she was afraid. It didn't wash

well with Corbey, as his scoffing smile revealed. The chauffeur wasn't bothering to display his poker face any

"I... I think we'd better wait for Miss Connie," blurted Margo. "You wanted to talk to her, Corbey. Besides... I

"Neither does Miss Granmore," asserted Corbey. "She hasn't lived here lately. I don't see any need to wait for

"The sheriff is coming, though!" exclaimed Margo. "We certainly ought to wait for him!"

THERE was sarcasm in Corbey's tone. Nevertheless, he meant what he said. The chauffeur had found out

exactly what he wanted: namely, that Margo knew the identity of The Shadow. She wouldn't have balked, the

It was all so plain to Corbey, even though the other servants didn't recognize it. Margo, planted inside

Mandon's house, while her friend Cranston roved about as The Shadow. Having so satisfied himself, Corbey

He wanted others to witness Margo's confusion when someone lifted the slouch hat to display the face

beneath it. And the mental anguish that Margo was undergoing was something that meanwhile pleased

Likewise, Corbey recognized that Margo would become more desperate during the painful wait. On that

account, he was watching her as closely as he watched The Shadow, though he was trying not to let her know

it. One big gun dangling loosely in his left hand, Corbey kept the other toward The Shadow, but there were

On those occasions, he let his right hand gun nudge Margo's way, just to remind her that it would be useless

There was a clock ticking loudly on the kitchen wall, and it told off minutes that became more grueling as

they increased. Eyes lowered, Margo kept staring at The Shadow, thinking that perhaps he might be dead.

There were moments when she thought she saw him stir; then she decided that the fold of his cloak had

Another storm was coming over Venetia, and the breeze was its harbinger; but storms seemed mild things,

Such accusation would carry teeth. Ted would no longer hesitate about telling of his part in the affair. Titus

Weldorf, already above suspicion, would remain so. A prejudiced local jury would hang full guilt upon one

The breeze was increasing. Along with the heavier gusts came flashes of distant lightning, accompanied by

the mutter of faraway thunder. But those weren't the most ominous sounds that reached Mandon's kitchen.

From the slope leading up to the house came the throbs of motors, which announced the arrival of the sheriff

Even The Shadow seemed to shudder, as a heavier breeze whined in from the window and swept the folds of

his cloak. Corbey gave a harsh, pleased laugh and looked at Margo. Her eyes were toward The Shadow;

suddenly, they lifted, hoping that Corbey wouldn't guess something that she had just seen.

He was giving the gun a wag toward Margo, when the something that had stirred within The Shadow's cloak

lashed forth with whippet speed. A gloved hand overtook Corbey's and caught the moving automatic in a

solid grip. Snarling, Corbey tried to tug the trigger, and succeeded, but it didn't matter.

The Shadow, half up from the chair, had timed his grab to the exact angle. He'd stopped the gun just after its

muzzle had moved away from him and before it had gone far enough to point at Margo.

Thunder reverberated through the room. Not the thunder that accompanied the outside lightning, but the roar

The recoil of the powerful .45 reeled Corbey backward, as a bullet gauged out a great chunk from the vacant

kitchen wall. But The Shadow's hand was firm on the gun, accompanying its jounce.

A hard twist of a gloved fist and The Shadow, now on his feet, had regained one automatic. Yet Corbey still

held the odds. The Shadow was gripping his gun by the barrel, whereas Corbey had a second weapon in his

WITH a cry, Margo leaped in, hoping to intervene. She was swept aside by the rapid action of the duel.

Corbey was using a gun lefthanded, and had to bring it up and around. He shouldered Margo aside as he

As for The Shadow, he sent the girl spilling farther, for he was spinning even faster, away from the arc of

At that moment, it seemed that Corbey would surely overtake The Shadow with the gun muzzle before the

cloaked fighter could bring his own weapon to aim. The thing that Corbey didn't expect was the back slash of

The Shadow's hand. It came, carrying the reversed automatic, with a hard, sure stroke, squarely against the

Corbey didn't have a chance to pull the trigger as the automatic went flying from his hand. The best he could

do was jab his right hand into his coat pocket, to bring out his own revolver, which he carried there.

Spilled in one corner of the kitchen, Margo saw The Shadow spring the other way, toward the spot where he

Instead of pausing to regain the loose gun, The Shadow reached the light switch and pressed it. There was a

door just beyond, and Corbey fired at it when the lights went off. A sudden splash of lightning showed the

Then came a laugh from back within the kitchen. The Shadow hadn't forgotten his extra gun. He'd simply

decided to handle the light switch first. His dive back into the kitchen had bluffed Corbey completely, and

Up from the floor, The Shadow's stabs were directed toward the ceiling. They were purposely harmless, but

Corbey didn't know it. Corbey was diving beneath a table, and when he heard The Shadow's laugh again, the

chauffeur blazed anew at the doorway. The Shadow's laugh still trailed, with a departing tone that Corbey

Strange, the way that blaze seemed clouded, only to clear itself before the flash had ended. Yet the singular

occurrence explained itself when eyes turned toward the window. The thing that had blanked the lightning

was a blackcloaked shape. The flare was increasing, because that same shape was sweeping out through the

Corbey fired his last shots through the vacant window. With the rumble of thunder that followed the lightning

flash came the mockery of a farewell laugh, announcing that Corbey's prisoner, The Shadow, was gone into

IF ever a man was gripped by savage disappointment, that man was Corbey. He wasn't going to let a prisoner

vanish from his sight and get away with it. He started for a door that led outside, shouting for the servants to

follow him, which they did, largely because they preferred a more ample space than the confines of the

There were shouts from in front of the house that came when lightning flashed anew, and Margo realized that

The Shadow must have been spotted by the sheriff and his men. To the echoes of outside gunfire, Margo

At least, the best way to help The Shadow was to stay away from trouble, so Margo took the route that led

There, the open door to the garden was most attractive. There was a chance that The Shadow might double

back among the hedges, where Margo might be able to aid him. So Margo turned and started down the steps,

only to run squarely into a person coming the other way. Fortunately, an arriving lightning flash identified the

It was Connie, and she was breathless. She wanted to know what had happened, and she was trying to make

Margo believe that she'd been walking among the hedges all this while. Drawing the other girl into the porch,

"Corbey captured a prowler," declared Margo, "but whoever he was, he got away. You aren't involved,

"Thanks, Margo," murmured Connie. "With all this trouble between the families, I wouldn't want to be

Margo felt sure that Connie would soon have her chance, though it would be difficult for her to really help.

Whether or not The Shadow escaped from his present pursuers, there was going to be plenty of talk when

Corbey announced that his blackclad prisoner had been none other than Lamont Cranston.

As Cranston's friend, Margo would be right in the thick of embarrassing questions, and would certainly need

Shaking off pursuers was usually quite easy for The Shadow, but in this case, the lightning flashes were

Off at the side of the house, The Shadow was in the middle of a lawn, with deputies spreading everywhere.

Each flash of lightning gave them a fresh view of their fugitive, and they were shouting to one another that he

The deputies were shooting as they shouted, but tonight they lacked their devastating shotguns, serious

weapons at this close range. Sheriff Clemming hadn't expected any trouble at Mandon's, for Corbey had

indicated that everything was under control. He'd brought five deputies simply because that many happened

The deputies were wasting their fire. They hadn't a chance to wing a darting target like The Shadow. By the

time they glimpsed him, a lightning flash was ended and they were simply shooting into the dark.

Corbey would have fired, too, if his gun hadn't been empty. Instead, the chauffeur was shouting suggestions,

"Cut him off from the front!" bawled Corbey. "Box him in back, among the hedges!"

SHERIFF CLEMMING certified the order, and the deputies did their best to follow it. The task proved easier

than they expected, for The Shadow, too, heard Corbey's shout, and it made sense to him as well.

Cutting for the rear corner of the house, The Shadow was going right where the deputies wanted him, when

Then The Shadow was in among the hedges, and the deputies were learning that he, not they, had profited by

Corbey's suggestion. Though the rear garden was cramped, the hedges furnished the very cover that The

Each lightning flash showed deputies peering over hedge tops, looking for a fugitive who had purposely lost

During intervals of dark, the deputies plunged about, running into each other and getting nowhere. The storm

was almost on the hill, and a windswept drizzle promised torrents of rain that would make the hunt

Crawling along the line of a hedge, The Shadow rolled beneath the brambles as a deputy blundered past.

Finding an opening in the hedge stumps, The Shadow worked through and sneaked for the other side of the

He knew that if he reached the front, a short dash would take him to ample clumps of shrubbery that adorned

It happened that Corbey guessed what The Shadow might do next and began to tell it to the deputies. Pulling

themselves out of entangling hedges, they started around to the front of the house, too.

From a window, Margo and Connie saw them on the move. The Shadow, it so happened, had gone past

Moving to a front window, the girls were just in time to witness a most startling sequel to the man hunt.

The Shadow had reached the front driveway and was well clear of the lights that glimmered from the portico

outside of Mandon's front door. The rain was coming hard, pelting straight into The Shadow's face. He

couldn't see the shrubs, or anything else, down the driveway, but he had his sense of direction to guide him.

Flight was the only course. The Shadow had more important matters than the dodging of deputies. As for the

matter of Corbey, The Shadow was quite sure that he could offset any testimony that the chauffeur might

Any facts that Corbey divulged would dwindle into insignificance when more important matters were

He was a troublemaker, this Corbey, and The Shadow had a score to settle with him. Even Worse, Corbey

At that moment, The Shadow was beginning a run down the homestretch that portion of the drive that

Vivid lightning filled the sky; with it, a mighty thunderclap directly overhead. The storm had arrived in full

blast, and the brilliance of that lightning flash offset the blinding fury of the rain.

Corbey saw The Shadow, and gave a triumphant bellow as he dashed in pursuit, with the deputies a dozen

Blotting darkness had returned, and in it The Shadow reached the shrubs, which the lightning flash had

shown him. He didn't drop among them, as he had when in the hedges. Instead, he zigzagged through the bed

of bushes, changing course, so as to be out the path of fire if the deputies decided to rake the shrubs with

Reaching the shrubs in the darkness, Corbey gave another shout, which The Shadow heard. So did the

"This is where he went!" yelled Corbey. "Get him! He's the man who murdered Foster Granmore!"

Lightning blazed, as though Corbey's shout had produced it. Waving his gun across a curve of bushes that

fringed the driveway, Corbey was sure that he had sighted the huddled shape he wanted. His shout rose

A SMASH of thunder interrupted. Lightning had blotted out but the deputies saw the stab of a gun from the

shrubs where The Shadow had gone. They knew that Corbey's gun was empty, hence he couldn't have fired

the shot. What they didn't know was that The Shadow hitherto had fired only to discourage persons who

Piling into the shrubs, they blazed away until their guns were empty, aiming in the general direction of the

More lightning showed the shrubs, but no figures among them. Caught up with the deputies, the sheriff

ordered them ahead. They stumbled in and out of bushes and found themselves back by the edge of the

curving drive. There, one of the deputies floundered, gave a sudden yell, and flung himself upon a prone

The deputy had some one, alright, but his captive wasn't The Shadow. A glare from the sky revealed the

man's identity. The deputies had found their own pal, Corbey, and he was definitely dead. The sheriff's stern

"You fools!" boomed the sheriff. "Shooting at the man Corbey was after! You should have known you'd clip

The procession reached the house, bringing Corbey as a burden. As Margo and Connie opened the front door,

the group was outlined, not by a flash of lightning but by the glow of headlights that came swinging up the

As the car reached the house, a man sprang out. He was Giles Mandon, back from the factory.

Men were laying Corbey's dead form in the hall when Mandon joined them. As they tried to tell Mandon of

their blunder, he glared at them, denouncing their stupidity. He was telling the sheriff that Corbey was worth

a dozen of the deputies who had slain him, when Clemming turned up from Corbey's body.

"Don't blame my men, Mr. Mandon," said the sheriff solemnly. "I don't think they dropped Corbey after all.

They'd have gotten him in the back, but this bullet took him in the heart. See for yourself."

Mandon looked, and nodded. On the outskirts of the group, Margo could hear the mutter that came from the

deputies. They were in accord with the sheriff's finding, not merely to excuse themselves but because the

IT was Giles Mandon who brought order out of chaos. He rapped home the point that too much time had been

lost in tracking a killer, the night when Foster Granmore had died. He demanded to know what had happened

Omitting any references to Connie's disappearance of an hour, and Ted's departure, Margo stated simply that

By the time she finished, Margo had witnesses to support her. Two frightened servants came from where they

"Maybe Corbey took a look at him," suggested Mandon glumly. "If he did, that's why the fellow killed him."

"Corbey knew, alright," assured the sheriff. "He was spilling it when the thunder interrupted him. The

murderer heard him, and that's why he killed him. It's going to be tough, though proving it, considering the

"Corbey was yelling to us," broke in the sheriff. "He might have turned around and gotten it. Understand, I

"That can be settled," decided Mandon, "by probing for the bullet and checking it with the guns your deputies

"Kind of a big wound,"' observed the sheriff, looking at Corbey's body. "I'd say the bullet mushroomed

against a rib. Not much chance of identifying a flat bullet. The experts will probably tell us it could have

Mandon's expression changed suddenly. The sheriff's reference to guns in general had given Mandon a

Connie shook her head and looked at Margo, who also professed ignorance, since she was supposed to have

been out in the garden most of the time. Beckoning to the sheriff, Mandon led the way into the study. Sight of

"I suppose I'm worried over nothing," began Mandon. "Still I'd better make sure "

He fingered the combination and the safe came open. Turning, Mandon showed a horrified expression, which

only Margo understood. Prompted by a question from the sheriff, Mandon explained.

"I put it there so Ted wouldn't use it," Mandon replied. "He asked for it this evening. He wanted to give it to

THEREWITH, Mandon gave an exact account of Ted's first visit, when he brought the revolver. He told how

Ted had been at the Granmore house, and detailed Ted's accusations of Titus Weldorf, along with his mention

"I believed Ted," stated Mandon simply, "though I wasn't willing to brand Titus as Foster's murderer. The

"Right!" expressed the sheriff. "He was around there that night. It's up to us to find him."

Mandon's steady words chilled Margo. She feared that he had somehow guessed that Cranston and The

Shadow were one. Then Mandon's next statement ended her alarm, though it produced new complications.

"Ted admits being at the Granmore house," reminded Mandon, "and he was here this evening when I left. I'm

"There's the answer!" he exclaimed. "Ted put on that black rig so he could snoop around Foster's! He was

snooping here, too, or he wouldn't have been able to get into your safe. He couldn't risk having you see his

face. If he was spotted, he wanted to blame it on the unknown party in the case.

"He had to keep Corbey from recognizing him, too. But Corbey met him and slugged him cold. What's more,

Corbey found out who Ted was. No wonder Ted laid for Corbey, down by the drive. It was murder, that's

Mandon was motioning for silence. He had something deeper on his mind. Again, his impartiality was

"We must refrain from blind accusations," declared Mandon. "Speculation is not proof. I would not say that

Mandon's eyes were on the open safe. He turned, his frank gaze changed to one of horror. Mandon was

recalling, only too well, some of the things that Ted had said this very evening. The sheriff pressed forward.

"Except in one case," replied Mandon slowly. "Ted wouldn't trust himself with that gun, because be was

afraid he would kill Titus with it. Tonight, Ted was talking about a showdown with Titus when he came

"Yes, but he left safely. I saw to that. Titus went home just before I started to the factory "

Mandon ended his own comment by reaching for the telephone on his desk. He lifted the receiver and began

to jiggle the hook. A voice responded, only to cut off while Mandon was trying to give the Weldorf number.

Outside there was a glow of lightning, followed by receding thunder. Rain pelted heavily, and Mandon heard

"The storm has put the line out of commission!" exclaimed Mandon. "The service has been terrible all this

week! No chance to phone Titus. Even the operator couldn't hear me. We'll have to rush over to the Weldorf

The sheriff lost no time in starting. He and his men were going out the front door, Mandon with them, when

the latter turned and looked back at Connie and Margo, who were wondering if they ought to come along,

Mandon told them to stay, and try the Weldorf number in about ten minutes, on the chance that the line

MARGO didn't wait that long. She tried the hallway phone soon after the cars had sped from the driveway.

She couldn't get an answer at first, but some jiggles of the hook finally produced the operator, and Margo

It was then that Connie intervened. She reached to take the telephone from Margo's hands.

"You'd better let me talk," began Connie. "This may be serious business, Margo. I wouldn't want you mixed

"I'm a neutral," reminded Margo. "It wouldn't do for a Granmore to talk to a Weldorf."

"You mean you could calmly tell Titus that Ted is coming over to murder him? I don't think he'd listen."

"I mean Roy might," she said. "He's different from the other Weldorfs at least they say he is, that is; I don't

"You're too confused to talk to anyone," declared Margo. "I'll handle this matter. Wait! I'm getting an answer,

It happened to be Harry Vincent, who was expecting a call from Margo. Very briefly, Margo summed up

events at Mandon, and asked if Titus had returned. Harry said that he hadn't, and added that Roy was still

Though Connie caught only Margo's half of the conversation, she began to wonder about it. Margo was

Hanging up, Margo noticed Connie's expression and explained that she had talked to a guest at the Weldorf

house, a man named Vincent, to whom she had been introduced that afternoon. Sudden enlightenment came

"He did," replied Margo. "He said that Roy was there, and that he would tell him everything. That was why I

There was just one reason why Margo misquoted Harry. The case of Roy Weldorf was so similar to that of

Connie Granmore, that Margo deemed it only fair to give him a break. Roy had slipped Harry; but, in her

turn, Connie had slipped Margo. Since she had declared herself a neutral in the feud between the families,

"It will be alright, then," declared Connie, quite relieved. "Between them, Vincent and Roy should certainly

be able to soothe Titus and Ted. I'm sure that they can, at least, keep Ted from shooting Titus if Ted really

Margo didn't share Connie's relief. From all that she had seen, she feared that death was still on the march. As

if in corroboration came a streak of lightning, a peal of thunder, both from the direction of the Weldorf hill.

The storm had brought tragic happenings to Mandon's home; it might do the same to the Weldorf mansion.

Yet, withal, there was a better omen. Along with that storm had gone The Shadow. Despite the fact that he

was blamed for Corbey's death, his real mission was to prevent doom. Unless murder had already struck, The

IN the gloom of the great Weldorf library, Harry Vincent was standing by a table, gripping the telephone with

one hand and thrusting the other deep into his pocket, where he could feel the comfortable touch of a gun.

He was glad that he was equipped with an automatic, even though such weapons had brought trouble to his

Harry's case was different. He was an invited guest in a house where murder threatened, and could therefore

explain almost anything that happened. Inasmuch as The Shadow was at present a fugitive, Harry might have

There lay the difficulty. Filling The Shadow's shoes was a tremendous problem. There were times when The

Shadow had called upon Harry for such service, and this could be regarded as one of them. In that case,

however, Harry should have heard from The Shadow by this time. Instead, he had only heard from Margo.

True, Margo had given valuable facts, but there were still some that Harry needed. Vital facts, upon which

coming events hinged. Trying to piece the missing points was more of a riddle than Harry could solve.

By all calculations, Titus should be home by this time. In fact, he should have returned as much as a quarter

hour ago. He had left Mandon's earlier than Mandon himself. Yet Mandon had reached the factory, and then

There was a partial answer. Titus could have driven his car into the garage without Harry hearing it. The

garage was none too close to the house, and the thunder of the approaching storm could easily have drowned

a motor's noise. But there was no reason why Titus should have stayed in the garage, particularly with a

Ted had gained a good head start on the sheriff. A much greater range than the sheriff supposed, because Ted

wasn't the man in black who was regarded as Corbey's killer. In fact, by Harry's calculations, Ted should be

He was the "other" Weldorf. the one who wasn't supposed to be in the picture yet, though circumstances

might have produced such a result. Assuming that Titus Weldorf was being stalked by Ted Granmore, it

As he thought in such terms, Harry halted himself with a short laugh. This thing was getting beyond sensible

limits. Maybe it would reach the point where Harry would fancy that Connie Granmore was on the trail of

Roy Weldorf. It wouldn't do to jump ahead in such absurd fashion. Right now, Harry's problem was to see

Since there was no chance of either being in the house, Harry decided to go outside. Rain was battering hard

against the windows, so Harry borrowed one of Titus's raincoats from a rack in the hall. Opening the front

door, he moved out into the storm, and turned his head to avoid the brilliance of a vivid lightning flash.

As Harry opened his eyes again he still saw a glare. It came from the headlights of a car that had labored up

the steep hill and was now coming past the garage. Stepping behind a big pillar, Harry saw the car stop. A

man sprang from it and started to dash up the steps, into the house. Harry recognized Roy Weldorf.

Roy's hurry was evidently caused by the storm, nothing more. He halted at sight of Harry, shook steams of

"Titus isn't back," interposed Harry, "but he should be. I just had a call from Mandon's saying that Ted

Roy's face showed alarm. He made a sudden gesture toward the garage, which could barely be discerned in

"There are lights in there," declared Roy. "I saw them when I passed. I didn't put my car inside, because I

They dashed to the garage and found one of its folding doors ajar. Roy was in the lead, not being burdened

with a raincoat, and before Harry could stop him, the other man wrenched the door open and sprang inside.

Roy stopped so abruptly that Harry almost bowled him over. Then both were rooted, staring at a sight that

STANDING in the center of the large garage was Titus's car. The door on the driver's side was open, and

He was faced toward Roy and Harry, covering them with a revolver, the one which he had taken from

Mandon's safe. But the aimed weapon wasn't the thing that riveted Roy and Harry.

On the cement floor, at Ted's feet, lay the body of Titus Weldorf. Its crazy sprawl was evidence enough that

Here was murder on display, with murderer in evidence. As a man who had just completed one kill, Ted

Granmore looked quite capable of another. His face, however, was the strangest portrayal of mingled moods

Ted's face showed satisfaction, yet was tinged with worry. He carried a sneer that was weakened by a twitch.

At one moment, his finger would tighten as though ready to pull the gun trigger; then his hand would loosen

"I know what you think!" he snarled. "You think I murdered Titus, the way he did with Foster. But this is one

Roy started to say something, only to receive a warning nudge from Harry's elbow. Ted didn't notice Harry's

shift. So Harry went further with it. Under cover of Roy's body, Harry began to work his hand into his pocket,

"Maybe Foster killed old Daniel," conceded Ted. "I wouldn't have put it past him. Foster was out for all he

could get, even if it didn't include a pile of bonds that Daniel lied about. If Foster did kill Daniel" Ted

"Titus did kill Foster! I'm willing to swear to it! That gave me a right to kill Titus. I know what you're

thinking, Roy! You'd like to kill me, wouldn't you? But the right isn't yours, because I didn't murder Titus!"

Ted's words had lost their sneer. They rang out clearly, as though driving home a truth. A strange truth, from

a man who was standing beside the very body of his victim. So strange, that it couldn't be believed. Ted saw

"Why should I lie about it,"' questioned Ted narrowly. "I could kill you, too, Roy, and that friend of yours,

whoever he is. I'd do it if I were really a murderer, but I'm not. I'll tell you why. I'd planned to give Titus a

As Ted finished, there came a flash of lightning and a roar of thunder, marking the passage of the storm

across the hill. Ted seemed to enjoy the battering of the elements, as though the fact the lightning hadn't

struck him dead could be regarded as a proof of his statements. But Roy's eyes still fixed on the body of

Watery beads appeared on Ted's forehead. Whether raindrops or perspiration, they annoyed him, and he

wiped them away with his free hand. Reaching for the car door, Ted slammed it shut above Titus's body.

"Somebody got here first!" repeated Ted savagely. "I saw the car and knew it belonged to Titus. I sneaked in

and saw him, sitting at the wheel. I yanked the door open and told him to come out. He came like that!"

Reaching for the handle, Ted pulled the door wide, and ended with a downsweeping gesture to indicate the

spill of the dead body. In so doing, Ted turned without realizing it, and his gun away from the men he

By then, Harry's automatic was drawn, out of sight behind Roy's back. Harry didn't lose an instant.

WHEELING, Harry yelled to Roy: "Look out!" and shoved his companion behind Titus's car. Making a

forward lunge toward Ted, Harry was driving, gun first, as the fellow came about. Harry was aiming for Ted's

But Ted didn't wait around. He sprang in front of the car, between its radiator and the wall of the garage.

Springing to overtake him, Harry had Ted really on the run, when an obstacle presented itself.

That obstacle was the body of Titus. Tripping across it, Harry fell against the running board. Throwing his

arm forward to protect his head from the front fender of the car, Harry failed to avoid a glancing blow that

somewhat jarred him. With the jolt, he lost his hold on the automatic, and it clattered to the floor beside

Over the hood of the car came Ted Granmore, his face as savage as any human's could be. His denial of

murder seemed a shabby pretense, considering his present action. He intended to kill Harry in cold blood,

before any human hand could stop him. Nor was any hand close enough to deliver aid. The thing that saved

Harry Vincent was a laugh. A weird, strange tone that seemed more than human. Coming, as it did, in the

wake of a storm wherein all the elements had loosed, that outlandish mirth might well have been uttered by a

The tone had stayed the hands of killers in the past, and it worked anew in the case of Ted Granmore. Poised

half across the car hood, Ted forgot Harry for the moment, to look for a more formidable foe whose very

Ted Granmore had reason for the sudden dread that he displayed. He was hearing the laugh of The Shadow!

IT took Ted Granmore only a few seconds to locate the source of The Shadow's laugh, but that brief period

was enough. Not enough to give Ted a bulge against a new attacker, but sufficient for The Shadow to assure

The laugh came from the door of the garage. The Shadow had arrived there just in time to witness Harry's

tumble and hear the clatter of Ted's leap atop the hood of the car. Though Ted was where The Shadow

couldn't see him, the fighter in black recognized the danger that Ted represented.

He knew the effect that his sinister mockery would produce when it echoed within the confines of the garage.

But The Shadow's vocal challenge was but the prelude to further action, that he supplied in his usual rapid

A sweep of blackness came hurtling forward, so suddenly, that Ted took it for something from nowhere. It

was past the spot where Titus lay, and springing onward beyond Harry's rising form when Ted aimed at the

Savagely, the man who repudiated murder, sought to kill the cloaked foe who had literally snatched one

victim from his grasp. Thinking that The Shadow was coming around the front of the car, Ted aimed past the

He couldn't understand it. He was firing at nothing but a laugh. Ted's blood shot eyes were seeing black spots

against the garage wall where his bullets had smashed themselves flat. Black spots, as though The Shadow,

by some mysterious process, had dematerialized himself into a multitude of specks!

At the moment that Ted's gun swung to aim, The Shadow staged one of his swift swirls. He didn't continue

on to the wall. Instead he swung full about and dropped low, all in one amazing twist.

So elusive was The Shadow's fadeout, that Ted's vision, like his aim, carried onward. The man who

wouldn't admit himself a killer would have sworn that he'd seen The Shadow right in front of him when he

As for the laugh, it might have come from anywhere, the way The Shadow voiced it. It wasn't surprising that

The whole result was just too much for the maddened mind of Ted Granmore. Dropping to his side of the car,

Into Ted's path came Roy Weldorf. Ted didn't even see him, for Roy was canny in his lunge, coming from in

back of the car. But when they grappled, Ted struck out savagely, and Roy, dodging the furious blows, dived

clear across the back of the car. There, Roy came into the path of another charging fighter.

The Shadow was coming after Ted along the other side of the car, hoping to cut him off before he reached the

Half stumbling, The Shadow was gripped by Roy, who was acting blindly, thinking that he had encountered

Ted again. Clutching hard, Roy gripped The Shadow's cloak, until its owner wrenched it forcibly from his

Wheeling in pursuit, The Shadow saw Ted outlined in the gleam of headlights from a car coming up the hill

through the lessening rain. As The Shadow aimed, Ted ducked behind a tree and began to shoot at the

arriving car. Another was behind it; these were the sheriff's cars, and they were followed by Mandon's.

Recognized by the newcomers, Ted became an object of immediate pursuit. Men were out of the cars,

deploying while they opened fire, and Ted was ducking somewhere in the darkness beyond the driveway.

For a double reason, The Shadow decided that blackout tactics were to his own advantage. He wanted to

capture Ted, and knew that he might manage it in the dark, he also wanted to keep the deputies in ignorance

Good policy, considering that the sheriff's men wanted The Shadow for Corbey's death. The fact that they

might have mistakenly identified him as Ted Granmore, occurred immediately to The Shadow; hence, his two

Swinging around in back of the halted cars, The Shadow circled past the trees, to block off Ted's escape.

It would be excellent if the fighter who wasn't Ted should meet the one who was. Considering The Shadow's

aptitude in darkness, there could be but one result. A brief setto in the night, and Ted Granmore would be

found dazed and helpless. This, if anything, would produce a respite in the existing feud, a breathing spell

Off beyond the trees The Shadow waited. He could hear a man stumbling somewhere and knew that it must

be Ted. The deputies were badly off the trail. A few more minutes and The Shadow's cause would be won.

In the garage, Roy Weldorf had reached Harry Vincent and pulled him to his feet. Rubbing his head, Harry

was looking about, puzzled by the sounds of gunfire outside. Harry was feeling in his own pockets for his

Roy saw the weapon, picked it up, and was about to hand it to its owner, when another idea struck him. Harry

was staring the opposite direction, so Roy pocketed the gun himself and hurried out of the garage.

All about were flashlights. Like the headlamps of the cars, they were somewhat dimmed by the rain that had

slackened to a drizzle. Since no one was finding Ted, Roy decided upon a simple course.

He started out into the darkness among the trees, on the assumption that if Ted still chanced to be around, he

At that moment, Ted was moving very cagily, hoping to sneak from the untenable terrain. He was heading

right for The Shadow, though he didn't know it. The reason of course was that The Shadow had purposely

placed himself in Ted's path, judging its direction by the occasional sounds that Ted made.

Through sheer accident, Roy was coming the same direction. Not being hunted, he was making more noise

than Ted. His sounds attracted the deputies, and they suddenly started in among the trees. Seeing the lights,

The Shadow made a quick shift, intending to cut Ted off sooner than he had originally planned.

Ted heard Roy's overloud approach and sprang to his feet, looking over his shoulder. At that moment, a

flashlight bored through the trees. It revealed Roy to the deputies, and they saw Ted beyond. Roy saw Ted,

In a trice, the WeldorfGranmore feud was carried another step onward. Roy Weldorf bounded forward,

aiming the gun he carried. Ted Granmore, anxious to escape, did not turn to fire. Instead, he tried to spring

He stumbled, caught himself against a tree trunk, and turned like a creature at bay. Of the pursuers, only Roy

By all the rules of the hunt, that shot should have driven home to Ted Granmore's brain. But Roy Weldorf

missed his target by yards. Out of pitchblackness, into the glare of the powerful flashlight, swept a cloaked

So powerful was The Shadow's drive, that he lifted Roy clear from his feet and sent the gunshot up among

the tree tops. Then Roy was somersaulting somewhere in the darkness, to land in a little daze of his own.

Other pursuers saw The Shadow. Already inclined to believe that he was Ted Granmore, they thought the

question settled. They didn't stop to think how Ted had shifted position and changed attire, all in a few scant

seconds. They began to shoot for the figure in black, and under such a barrage The Shadow had only one

With weaving stride, he picked the first darkness that he could reach. His fadeout was so sudden that even

his direction proved deceptive. But the bullets that raked the tree trunks produced another target.

Hearing the whining slugs, Ted Granmore found his feet and dashed away. Flashlights promptly spotted him,

All very suddenly, Ted had become himself again, in the opinion of the sheriff's men. It didn't matter how he

had shed the cloak that they thought he was wearing. Ted was their quarry, and they intended to trap him,

never realizing that they were cutting off the one pursuer who really could have bagged the fugitive.

Though quite safe in the darkness, The Shadow had no further chance to join the chase.

TED doubled his trail. He cut back toward the garage. There wasn't a person to block him off. Every man,

Giles Mandon and Sheriff Clemming included, had started in among the trees. Harry Vincent was coming

from the garage, but he no longer had a gun, and all he could do was drop back out of sight.

Ted didn't even see Harry. Turning toward the hill below the garage, Ted loped to a car that he had parked

just off the road. Springing into the vehicle, he loosened the hand brake and let the car coast. It was whirling

Others were climbing into their cars, eager to give pursuit. Strife on the hill had ended in a motorized chase.

Cars were scudding down into the valley, their lights swinging wildly as they made sharp turns. The only

men not in the chase were Harry Vincent and Roy Weldorf, who were meeting in the center of the driveway

This wasn't The Shadow's chase, either. His opportunity had passed. He had tossed aside his chance to

capture Ted, rather than take a dead prisoner into camp. But for The Shadow's intervention, Roy would have

dropped Ted with bullets and the family vendetta would have moved along another peg.

From all that he had seen, The Shadow had full reason to class Ted Granmore as a murderer, and therefore a

man who deserved death. Ted Granmore, standing above the body of Titus Weldorf, had pleaded innocence,

What The Shadow had viewed was Ted's later effort to kill Harry Vincent, in a truly murderous fashion.

Ordinarily, The Shadow would not have prevented someone else from stopping a man like Ted with bullets.

Had Roy slain Ted Granmore, The Shadow's bestlaid plans would have met a sudden end. Weldorf versus

Granmore, with death the purpose, was something that The Shadow intended to obliterate so thoroughly, that

Tonight, The Shadow had failed to prevent the murder of Titus Weldorf, but he had forestalled the death of

Ted Granmore. Superficially, the cases seemed no different, since the evidence of murder was equal against

That was why Harry Vincent heard the whisper of a parting laugh from somewhere among the rainswept

trees. A grim laugh, yet one that promised to sweep away the cloud of mystery that hovered over a

WHEN Sheriff Clemming and Giles Mandon returned to the Weldorf mansion, they came without their

escort of deputies. The sheriff had assigned his men to important duty that of covering all the roads around

Ted Granmore had escaped his pursuers, but they had found his car, abandoned near a washedout bridge. It

On the contrary, Sheriff Clemming could not predict Ted's immediate capture. Ted knew the territory around

Venetia, inside out, and it might take weeks to find him. These hill lands had once been the habitat of

outlaws, and anyone familiar with the legends of those days could easily take advantage of forgotten hiding

Added to that, the devastation caused by the recent floods would render a man hunt practically impossible.

Hence, the sheriff was resigned to the task of keeping Ted boxed in within his present bounds.

When he viewed Titus's body, lying beside the car in the garage, the sheriff turned to Mandon, who shook his

head. In face of such evidence as this, Mandon could hardly voice his previous belief in things that Ted had

When Harry and Roy told how they had surprised Ted on this scene of death, the case looked as good as

It came when the two witnesses declared that Ted had denied the murder, claiming that he had found Titus

dead in the car. But the statement was so palpably absurd that the sheriff immediately rejected it.

"Ted tried to bluff you," declared the sheriff. "Nobody would have been here in the garage, lying in wait for

Titus. If he'd been killed somewhere else, how could he have driven himself home? If you two fellows had

"Yes, sheriff, it was too bad," said Roy. "If we'd only seen the lights in the garage a little earlier, we'd know

"Of course!" Roy was speaking in matteroffact style. "That's why Vincent and I hurried down from the

The sheriff stepped to the garage door and looked toward the mansion. The rain was over and the lights in the

house showed clearly, so the sheriff assumed that the garage lights could be seen from the mansion.

Harry could have testified that the garage lights weren't visible from the house at the time Roy mentioned.

However, even though Harry said nothing, Roy coolly put a spike in such testimony.

"There were no strangers hereabouts," Roy told the sheriff. "At least, not to my knowledge. Of course" Roy

gave a light laugh "Vincent might be counted a stranger, but I can vouch for the fact that he didn't leave the

house all evening. In fact, when he and I came down here to the garage, I was leading the way."

Roy ended by giving Harry a friendly thwack upon the shoulders, as though he had done him a great favor. In

a way, Roy had. He was clearing Harry entirely. But it happened that Roy was doing himself an even better

Without so stating, Roy was indicating that he, himself, had been in the house all the while, a fact which only

If he did deny it, Harry would thereupon put himself in a bad spot. He would be admitting that he was at large

at the time of Titus's death. People might begin to believe Ted's wild yarn that someone else had slain Titus.

Very clever of Roy Weldorf, to preserve his own alibi by affording one for Harry! It gave Harry the distinct

If Harry had seen the hasty way in which Roy had later tried to shoot Ted, during the chase among the trees,

AT present, The Shadow was again in the offing. He was watching the conference at the garage from

darkness across the driveway. He saw the looks that Harry exchanged with Roy. The Shadow was pleased

because Harry maintained a stolid expression, that showed no traces of the suspicion that he must certainly

Roy's actions on this evening were becoming more important in The Shadow's mind. They were reaching the

Accepting Roy's testimony at it's face value, Sheriff Clemming stroked his chin and stared at Titus's car,

"I wouldn't overlook a single clue, sheriff," declared Mandon. "When you find Ted, he will still deny that he

murdered Titus, and after all, no one witnessed the actual crime. Often, a man's guilt or innocence depends

Impressed by Mandon's suggestion, the sheriff began an inspection of the car. He admitted, reluctantly, that

Titus could have fallen from the driver's seat, as Ted claimed. The keys were missing from the ignition lock,

however, and that proved a moot point. It indicated that Titus had driven the car into the garage and drawn

Looking to the floor, the sheriff saw a silvery glimmer and found a ring of keys. He tried them, and one fitted

the ignition, lock. Promptly, the sheriff called upon the others to bear witness to the fact.

"Evidence against Ted Granmore!" announced the sheriff. "If Titus Weldorf had been dead when Ted found

"That doesn't quite follow," began Mandon. "I'll admit a dead man couldn't have drawn a key from a lock.

But Titus might have taken out the key while alive, and yet remained in the car a while."

"What for?" demanded the sheriff. "There was a storm coming up. Why would Titus stick around, instead of

"I don't know," admitted Mandon. "I suppose he would normally have put the keys in his pocket. There

"He might have thought of using another key," put in Roy. "Maybe there was something in the trunk, and he

was wondering if he ought to take it with him or leave it here. I've often puzzled over such things, myself."

The sheriff took the keys to the trunk and unlocked it. Looking in the rear compartment, he saw nothing at

first, but finally observed the end of a newspaperwrapped package poking from the upright spare tire that

Leaning in, the sheriff brought the package out. As he ripped off the wrapping, his eyes went startled.

Two objects fell from the sheriff's hands and thudded the floor of the compartment. Together, those objects

constituted a pair of squaretoed shoes. They were old shoes, of the size and the type that Titus wore, and

they were caked with dry mud, that broke off in chunks when the shoes thudded to the floor of the trunk

"So Titus did kill Foster!" spoke the sheriff, in a slow, dull tone. "The gall of him, suggesting that we use his

shoes as models to track down a murderer! Well, we know that Titus murdered Foster and had evidence to

get rid of, but we're equally certain" he swung to the others "that Ted murdered Titus, and we'll prove

"By the bullet in Titus's body," returned the sheriff. "I don't think it flattened, like the one that hit Corbey.

When we find Ted, he'll still have his gun, because he won't feel safe without it. We'll get that gun and clinch

AS the men turned from the garage, blackness receded. All during the discussions, a blackcloaked figure

So smoothly did The Shadow blend into the outer darkness, that it seemed literally to swallow him. Watching

Mandon and the sheriff were going back to town, while Harry and Roy were turning toward the house. The

Shadow followed the latter pair, entered the front door after them, and from the gloom of a huge hallway

watched them go into the library. The Shadow saw Roy turn and hand Harry his automatic.

"You'd better keep this, Vincent," declared Roy solemnly. "I shouldn't have borrowed it in the first place."

"I picked it up while you were groggy," explained Roy. "And I'd have killed Ted with it, if something hadn't

tripped me. It's a horrible thing" Roy clapped his hand to his head "to realize that you might have killed a

"At the time, perhaps, but not now, Vincent. Since we've learned that Titus actually murdered Foster, we

know that there really is a feud. I'd be perpetuating it, if I took a shot at Ted Granmore.

"I hate this quarrel, Vincent! Now that it's my turn to kill, according to the rules of vendetta, I'm going to

There was sincerity in Roy's tone, but it was very much like the double alibi that he had given for himself and

Harry. The fact made Harry wonder. He wanted to believe Roy, because he looked like a man worthy of trust;

It even occurred to Harry that Roy's way of stopping the feud could have been by killing his own kinsman,

Titus, and getting revenge on the Granmores by blaming it on Ted. Anyone might stoop to any depths, in the

Perhaps Roy sensed Harry's doubts. If so, he used the best system to quell them. Roy turned the conversation

to another subject. He began by stating that he was sorry he had come to Venetia; that once he left, he'd never

visit the town again. He preferred the small city in Missouri where he had started in business on his own, and

"It's great to be settled down," declared Roy. "Out there, we've forgotten all about this stodgy town, and we

never mention families. I'd like you to stop off sometime, Vincent. I think you're one person who would

There was one person who already understood. He was The Shadow. Moving out from the Weldorf mansion,

The Shadow could more than surmise why Roy Weldorf had been so cagy on the matter of his absence from

the house, this evening. The Shadow's theory was so good, that he was resolved to test it promptly.

However, The Shadow had a matter of his own that needed immediate attention. In this business where

murder was being pinned on people right and left, The Shadow did not care to share a portion of the burden,

not even in the mind of a person who trusted him. So The Shadow's course through the darkened night led

SKIRTING the house, The Shadow heard voices from the enclosed porch. Margo was talking to Connie, and

they were discussing the tragic death of Titus Weldorf, along with the flight of Ted Granmore. Corbey's death

had dropped to a minor subject, and whenever it chanced to be mentioned, The Shadow could almost hear

"I never did like Ted," admitted Connie. "Maybe I should stand by my own cousin, and I probably would if I

belonged to any other family. But... well, I just don't like to be considered a Granmore."

"I suppose that Ted was justified," proceeded Connie. "That is, for killing Titus Weldorf. Of course, Corbey's

case was different. Still, it might have been an accident. What do you think, Margo?"

"I'd say it was an accident," replied Margo. "But what about Ted? Do you think they'll find him after the

"They call these floods!" she explained. "I wish these people could see real ones! Why, when the Mississippi

River spreads across its banks, it covers a dozen counties larger than this one! Out there, they'd have to use

"From the way the sheriff talked," declared Margo "they'll have to use bloodhounds in this territory. But

Mandon says that once they bring in dogs, Ted will know they're after him. Mandon advises strategy."

"So would I," said Connie. "Giles should be able to propose a better way. I suppose we'll hear all about it

tomorrow. So good night, Margo." Connie rose, turned toward the door that led into the house, and paused, to

After Connie had gone, Margo waited hopefully. Very soon, she heard the whisper that she expected.

Eagerly, Margo began to pour what facts she had learned, only to have The Shadow stop her.

"We'll get to the point, Margo," he undertoned. "You're wondering why I killed Corbey."

"Not on Connie!" exclaimed Margo. "She'd gone away, I know, but she was back by that time "

Margo halted. Another name had come to her mind; that of Roy Weldorf. Only too well did Margo remember

that Roy had slipped Harry this same evening. It all began to form a picture: Ted hunting Titus, while Roy, in

"Watch Connie carefully," was all he said. "She may be drawn deep into the case before it is all over. If

There was a swish beyond the open window, the vague semblance of a cloaked figure moving off between

the hedges. Then only the fading whisper of a laugh announced The Shadow's departure for a destination

ANOTHER funeral was over that of Titus Weldorf. Harry had attended it in company with Roy, and the

two were back in the Weldorf mansion. There, with four lawyers in attendance, they were going over Titus's

The setting was peaceful compared with the night when Titus Weldorf had met a violent end. It was

afternoon and the day was very bright, even though the huge library carried an air of perpetual gloom. In fact,

Roy needed a table lamp in order to read the various papers that the lawyers presented to him.

"The estate is quite in order," said Roy to Mandon, "and it looks as though I am the principal heir, although I

Though casually uttered, Roy's words could have carried a very sinister significance, one that did not escape

Harry Vincent. So far, vengeance had appeared as the primary motive in the deaths of Weldorfs and

Granmores. By that token, Ted Granmore was marked as the slayer of Titus Weldorf.

Perhaps vengeance was not the real rule of the insidious game. Murder could have a profit motive. It certainly

applied in Roy's case, even though he brushed the thought aside so lightly. In fact, Roy's admission of

disinterest in the feud had been worrying Harry steadily ever since the other night. Lack of one motive for

Coupled to that, Harry had heard from Margo. She was still staying at Mandon's, by request of Connie

Granmore. Though nothing had occurred to make contact necessary. Margo had called Harry anyway. The

He, too, had heard talk of how Corbey had been killed by a masquerader in black, commonly accepted as Ted

Granmore. Harry, of course, would know that the person in question was The Shadow. Since The Shadow

was absent, Harry could be suffering the same qualms that had earlier afflicted Margo.

So Margo had phoned, to put Harry right. He'd said nothing of his own suspicions regarding Roy Weldorf.

But Harry now had a good idea of why The Shadow had departed. It was very likely that the mysterious

Harry's reflections ended when Roy spoke again. There was a grim chuckle to Roy's tone, as he read off some

"Fifty thousand dollars for a special mausoleum," read Roy. "Well, I'm not surprised. Titus wanted it built on

this hillside, so we'll put it there. People can point to it and say: 'There lies the last of the Weldorfs.' I'm sure

"I'm not staying in Venetia, Giles. I'll liquidate the estate, see Titus's silly endowments given homes for cats

or whatever else he meant them for. I'll sell this property and add it to the residue."

"The stock is to be sold," declared Roy. "However, there is one proviso: It must never, under any condition,

"I suppose that you will buy it," remarked Mandon. "You should, Roy. It's worth much more than par."

"That's one reason why I'm not keeping it," declared Roy, with a smile. "I'm putting everything into cash, as I

told you. It happens that you have already offered better than par value for Titus's stock. So I'm letting you

THANKS glowed from Mandon's appreciative eyes. The glass factory was his pride, and he had every right

to regard himself as its real head. He wanted to control the company outright, and Roy was willing that

"You're paying liberally for Titus's stock," Roy told Mandon, "though I'm sure it's worth the price you offer.

Titus was a hard bargainer, but you've done wonders with the business. I still have some shares of my own in

Mandon nodded, more pleased than ever. Smiling, Roy gestured to the group about him.

"With four lawyers present," declared Roy, "we should be able to draw up a final contract. They can copy the

terms that you and Titus agreed upon. And now, Giles" Roy's smile broadened "you have only to acquire

"I've done as much," stated Mandon. "Ted's shares are already mine, though I've promised him a ten percent

"A nice girl, Connie," approved Roy. "Too bad she's a Granmore. After all, it doesn't matter. I'm not proud of

my family. I don't suppose that she's afflicted with any misguided loyalty toward hers."

"She isn't," returned Mandon. "I wish you could meet her, Roy. I know you'd like her."

"It wouldn't do for us to be seen together in Venetia," he declared. "People would think that Connie and I

He paused abruptly, threw a glance at the lawyers, who were drawing up the contract for the stock sale. Then,

taking Mandon's arm, Roy beckoned for Harry to follow them. Leading the way from the library, Roy

stopped in the hall to draw his companions into a deep recess in back of a great stairway.

The alcove was as gloomy as the library, for it's window was of thick richlystained glass, a product of

Weldorf, Granmore Co. that had been installed here in the days when the two families had been friendly.

Indeed, this was something of an ancestral alcove, for the Weldorf mansion had been built by Roy's

grandfather, and, strange though it seemed, the first guests who had admired this alcove had been Granmores.

The stainedglass windows threw a mottled cloud upon the faces of the men in the alcove. Watching Roy

Weldorf and Giles Mandon, Harry saw them dyed with many colors. It was impossible to analyze facial

expressions in that dim, varied light. Nor could voices reveal the real thoughts behind them, for the solemn

"Before I leave Venetia, declared Roy Weldorf, "one thing must be settled: the matter of Ted Granmore."

"I've thought of that," spoke Mandon. "I know that you are opposed to family quarreling, Roy, but people

would begin to wonder, if you were totally indifferent regarding Titus's death."

"That's it exactly!" affirmed Roy. "It is my duty to settle all unfinished business, and Ted comes in that

ROY'S words drilled home to Harry. How nearly Roy had settled that very business, the night when The

Again, Harry remembered his own misgivings concerned Roy. If Roy had actually killed Titus, he couldn't

afford to leave Venetia with Ted at large. Once captured, Ted would cry innocence, and people might believe

All this could be but fancy in Harry's mind. Possibly, Roy was trying to do the right thing and go through

with proper obligations that rested upon the last surviving relative of Titus Weldorf.

Apparently Mandon was accepting that viewpoint, though it was difficult to form a true conclusion of

"Ted confided in you before, Giles," pressed Roy. "Perhaps he would do the same again, if given the

"I think you could." Roy's tone firmed. "You would have to use strategy, of course."

Mandon considered the problem, then shook his head. He didn't seem to feel there was a chance.

"Corbey's death is the real trouble," asserted Mandon. "Ted would feel that I would never forgive him on that

"But we do know he killed Corbey," Mandon argued. "All we know about a prowler in black was that Ted

claimed he saw him. Up here, after Titus was murdered, we saw both Ted and some one in black, but not

As he finished, Mandon studied Roy in the queer light. Despite the many hues that tinted Roy's face, Mandon

"Frankly, I don't," returned Roy. "I'll tell you why, Giles. I saw them both at the same time: Ted and this

"So you had," Roy recalled. He swung to Mandon. "Well, Giles, you can at least take my word for it."

"I think it would work," he said slowly. "I'll pass it along to the sheriff, Roy. When word gets out that there

are two persons in the case, Ted will learn it, wherever he is hiding. Newspapers have been missing from

R.F.D. boxes throughout the county. The sheriff is sure that Ted is picking them up."

"Good enough," decided Roy. "Make it look as though the other man is a suspect in Titus's murder, too. Then

"Perhaps not," returned Mandon glumly. Suddenly, his eyes showed clearly in the dim light. "But Ted would

Roy reached out and gripped Mandon's arm. Despite the tricky light, alarm was plain on Roy's face.

"Why not?" queried Mandon, in surprise. "Ted wouldn't hurt her. She's a Granmore. I don't understand, Roy."

Roy's grip relaxed from Mandon's arm, and his laugh came short and hard. The confines of the alcove made

the tone ugly, and a sneer showed on Roy's lips, an expression that even the illusion of the lights could not

"You should understand," declared Roy, "because you stated the reason, Giles. Connie is a Granmore. If she

met Ted, she wouldn't tell you where. Promise me this, Giles: that you, or some trusted person, will keep

"I shall, Roy," assured Mandon, "and I have the right person to help me. We'll start working on this right

By the "right person", Mandon meant Margo a fact that Harry recognized. Remarking that the sooner he

Starting to follow, Harry glanced and saw Roy still standing in the alcove. Flickering light threw stains of red

and green across Roy's visage, giving it a definitely satanic tinge, that faded suddenly as Roy stepped away

Wondering whether or not that light had shown Roy Weldorf in his true colors, Harry Vincent found himself

wishing that The Shadow would soon return. If Harry's guess proved right, new clouds of doom were

THAT evening, Giles Mandon did more than announce his plan of strategy to Margo Lane and Connie

Granmore. He declared that it was already in operation, and in proof, he displayed a copy of the evening

newspaper. A special edition, rushed through the press, carried a great scarehead shouting the possible

"Frankly, I don't," returned Mandon, "but Roy Weldorf does. At least he says he does, and he wants me to go

"In a sense, yes. But I suppose that I was really responsible for its development. You may not agree, Connie,

but the only hope for Ted is to have him give himself up and face all accusations squarely. That's why I've

"I understand," said Connie. "You'd like me to answer the telephone whenever it rings, just in case it's Ted

"Exactly! So that I can go to see him; nothing more. I promise you this, Connie: I won't take the sheriff to

Mandon's statement was fair enough, and Margo, catching Connie's eye, gave an approving nod. Gradually,

deep wrinkles effaced themselves from Connie's forehead, and she nodded, too. In fact, Connie's lips showed

"If Roy Weldorf is willing to give Ted a fair trial, who am I to object? Since I have your word, Giles, that

Roy will deal squarely, I'll go through with it. I know that no Granmore is supposed to trust a Weldorf, but

It was shortly afterward that Mandon drew Margo into another room and told her to keep Connie in sight,

whenever possible. Margo gave a firm nod in return. She hadn't forgotten the other evening, when Connie

"We'll take turns in the job," added Mandon, "so Connie won't know that she is under surveillance. We

mustn't let her weaken in her determination. Ted's pleas might influence her, you know."

Again Margo nodded, but she was thinking of something else. While murder remained a mystery in Venetia,

a huge burden still rested on The Shadow. It was even on the increase, that burden, and the evidence lay in

Mandon saw Margo's shudder, but misinterpreted it. He thought that Connie's friend was thinking in terms of

"Ted is no fiend," declared Mandon. "He killed Corbey under stress, and he thought he was performing a duty

when he murdered Titus. Having done what he set out to do, he will be sick of death. If he were innocent, it

might be different. A man who feels that the whole world has wrongfully denounced him, is apt to prove

Mandon's words were actually quite soothing. All Margo needed was some reassurance regarding The

Shadow's status in the case. Convinced that Mandon didn't believe that a mystery killer was in the thing,

Again, Mandon came to a wrong conclusion. He thought that Margo wasn't worried about any possible

THEN began the death watch. Though it began quite smoothly, the evening became a horror. Never before

had Margo known such suspense, not even when the clock in Mandon's kitchen had ticked off minutes that

There was too much to think about, while waiting for that call from Ted the call that might never come.

Connie began to show strain, and Margo felt the same, though for a different reason. A new, and very serious,

Margo was sure that The Shadow had left Venetia with the full conviction that it would take at least a week

for the sheriff and his men to find Ted Granmore. But that was before Giles Mandon had evolved his present

As matters now stood, there was a chance that Ted would be found at the end of the second day since Titus's

More than that, the system itself seemed dangerous. Why, Margo couldn't understand, but she at least sensed

some of the factors in the matter. Seeking to meet Ted in some obscure place might prove very serious for

Mandon, or anyone else who tried it. Even worse, this was the sort of emergency in which The Shadow

Such communication was impossible. If Margo called the Weldorf house from Mandon's, it would be a

giveaway. Even to attempt to use the telephone was taboo, since Mandon was keeping the line open for

Only one thing kept Margo sane under the stress of this strange vigil: Harry, at least knew what was going on,

It happened that Harry was having troubles of his own, a fact which didn't occur to Margo. Harry was solidly

determined to prevent Roy from slipping away alone, as he had on a previous important occasion.

In his pocket, Harry had his gun, and intended to use it as a persuader should Roy attempt to embark on

another mystery trip. Harry was doubly on the alert, because he had good reason to suspect that Roy had a

They received one call at the Weldorf mansion, and it was Roy who answered it. He talked briefly, then

turned grimly to Harry, suggesting that they resume the chess game that they were playing in the library.

"Sheriff Clemming," Roy replied. "Calling up to say that they haven't heard from Ted, as yet."

That was all, but each succeeding minute carried greater tension, and with the fleeting time, Harry felt further

concern over the question that still bothered Margo: namely, when The Shadow would return.

At Mandon's there was a call from the sheriff, too. Connie answered, and turned the phone over to Mandon,

"I assure you, Connie," declared Mandon, "that I won't inform the sheriff until after I've talked personally

"I believe you, Giles," broke in Connie. "It's the strain of all this waiting that worries me. If only "

Connie broke into a half sob and Mandon tried to soothe her. Discreetly, Margo strolled to the front door,

feeling that it would be better to have Mandon call her, should Connie reach a pitch of hysterics.

At last, Margo saw Mandon beckon. She approached, to find that Connie's sobs had quieted.

"I think that Connie ought to go to bed," decided Mandon. "The ordeal has been too much for her."

"Margo can waken you," said Mandon. "You'll see Connie upstairs, won't you, Margo?"

Nodding agreement, Margo understood that Mandon wanted her to make sure that Connie really went to bed.

It was an excellent idea from Margo's viewpoint, for it meant that Connie couldn't slip out of the house. Still,

the chance of Connie's doing so seemed slight, considering that she was obviously anxious to be around if

FROM the window of Connie's room, Margo kept watching the twinkling lights of Venetia, with the

blackness of the hills beyond, wondering how close Ted might be lurking, if at all.

From the darkness of the room behind her Margo heard the bed creak, as Connie settled into the pillows with

Then, a similar sigh almost slipped from Margo's lips. Off above the invisible horizon, she saw other lights,

dots of red and green, that were approaching like a brace of shooting stars. They represented an airplane

cutting through the night, making for the landing field near the outskirts of the town.

It wasn't the time for a commercial ship to be arriving. Those lights could mean but one thing only:

Twenty minutes was all it would require for him to reach Mandon's, once the plane landed. Everything was

Starting from the room, she paused beside the bed to make sure that Connie's clothes were really discarded

and lying on a chair. Ostensibly, however, Margo was only stopping to say good night to Connie.

"Get a real nap," advised Margo. "Maybe it will last until morning. Ted probably won't call tonight. And

Connie" Margo put her next words with all the assurance that she could command "I know that

It seemed to Margo that nothing could matter, now that The Shadow had returned. Only twenty minutes

longer, and each of those minutes would lessen the strain, instead of increasing it. Never in her life had

Margo felt more glad, until she took a step across the threshold. There, a sound halted her.

The telephone was ringing from the floor below, and its discordant note drummed hard in Margo's cars. She

Ted's call coming now, when The Shadow was almost at hand! To Margo, the clangor of that bell was like a

THINGS began to move swiftly, too swiftly for Margo. Before she could even leave the doorway, Connie

She arrived there while the telephone was still ringing, with Mandon standing beside it. He raised his hand

warningly, and Connie nodded. Her nervousness was gone; she was ready for the task that she felt sure would

It was Margo who felt nervous, as she watched from the stairs to see Connie lift the receiver and speak a firm

"Yes, Ted," she was saying. "This is Connie... Of course I've seen the newspaper... Yes, I'd like to believe

what it says that some other person killed Titus... Certainly, I'll see you!" Connie paused to give a light

laugh. "Why should I be afraid?... Right aaway, and alone?... Very well, Ted. At the old quarry..."

Hanging up the telephone, Connie turned to Mandon without saying a word. No speech was necessary; he

"The old quarry," he said. "The telephone must be still connected in the watchman's shack. You know the

place, Connie, where we used to get the limestone for manufacturing glass. It's on the road that curves north

Connie knew the road, and Margo was taking mental notes. She hoped that Mandon would deliberate a while.

"I'll go over there and talk to Ted," decided Mandon. "I think I can persuade him to give himself up."

"No." Mandon shook his head. "It wouldn't be safe, Connie. Ted is excitable. Sometimes I'm the only person

"You will see him, Connie. I'll bring Ted back here. Go up to bed again, and I'll have Margo stay down here."

With a wave of dismissal, Mandon began to muse again: "Which car will I take? The keys are in the sedan

Slowly, Connie was going upstairs, passing Margo on the way. Mandon threw an upward look and shook his

head reprovingly. Connie gave a pout, then tightened her lips grimly. Turning abruptly she increased her pace

As soon as Connie was out of sight, Mandon spoke to Margo. "Connie must stay here," he undertoned. "It

He paused, and Margo understood that he meant Roy Weldorf. Margo could readily recognize that Ted might

not trust a meeting between two Granmores. There were moments of silence, that Margo counted as a

"As soon as you can, call the sheriff," ordered Mandon. "Tell him to have his men surround the quarry hill."

"Certainly not!" replied Mandon indignantly. "I just want him to be handy in case Ted surrenders."

Mandon's voice had raised. Over it, Margo thought she heard the patter of feet in the hallway above, and

feared that Connie was stealing back without her slippers. She gestured warningly to Mandon, who tilted his

"It's alright," declared Mandon, with a smile. "Connie hasn't sneaked back to listen. As I said, if I have the

"You won't be able to bring Ted here," interposed Margo, seeking more delay, "but you told Connie that you

"I'll bring him," promised Mandon solemnly. "Sheriff Clemming will come along, too. There wasn't any

mention of the sheriff in my bargain with Connie." Mandon paused, shook his head slowly. "It's the only safe

MARGO was about to agree, when she fancied those footfalls again. This time, she turned, but there was no

one near the top of the stairs. Margo even went a few steps up to assure herself that Connie wasn't

eavesdropping. Mandon decided to end that worry. He beckoned Margo out to the kitchen.

There, while the same ticking clock marked off the seconds that were bringing The Shadow, Mandon detailed

things that Margo was to tell the sheriff. He said he would blink in dots and dashes from the hill, after he

He was trying to arrange a simple code with his flashlight, using the whole alphabet, which Mandon said he

It was a car motor starting. Mandon hurried out to the hall, with Margo after him. Hearing the car whizz

away, Mandon changed direction and dashed upstairs. He paused at Connie's door only long enough to give a

The bed was empty. Connie's slippers and kimono were lying on it, but her shoes and dress were gone from

the chair. She'd hurried into her clothes while Mandon and Margo were in the kitchen, which meant that she

had actually overheard their conversation and was on her way to warn Ted. The car that had left was

Speeding downstairs again, Mandon grabbed the telephone. Margo thought he was going to phone the sheriff,

but he still intended to leave that to her. Instead, he called the Weldorf number and began to talk to Roy.

"Ted called from the quarry," began Mandon, "and Connie has gone there... No, no, Roy! I didn't intend to let

her go... Yes, I remember our discussion... She misunderstood something I said, and thought I was breaking a

"Yes, you can get there as soon as she can... I'll be right along, and the sheriff will be coming, too... Let

Connie handle it her way, unless she tries to help Ted escape... Alright, Roy. I won't waste any more time..."

Mandon hung up, and to all intents the call was over. So, at least, was Margo's impression, but Mandon knew

In the Weldorf mansion, Roy was still talking to a dead line, and making an excellent pretense for the benefit

"Why, no!" Roy spoke in a tone of surprise. "What would make you think I had a gun, Giles?... The one the

Roy handed the phone to Harry, who said hello before he realized that the line was dead. That word was the

only one that Harry spoke. Taking advantage of Harry's unguarded position, Roy swung a fist upward, past

Reeling, Harry tried to swing the phone Roy's way. With a sweep, Roy flung it aside and hurled himself, full

force, before Harry could recover. Landing hard on the floor, Harry took another jolt.

Roy's hand snaked into Harry's pocket and brought out the gun it found there. While Harry was still trying to

shake off the results of the attack, Roy dashed from the house, armed with the borrowed automatic.

Over at Mandon's Margo was at the telephone. She heard Mandon's car spurting from the garage and

wondered if she ought to call the sheriff, as Mandon had ordered. He'd shouted back the same instructions

when he left. If Margo didn't comply, she'd find it difficult, explaining matters afterward.

Then, as Margo falteringly raised the receiver, her ordeal reached its end. A voice spoke in her ear, but it

wasn't from the telephone. It was a whispered tone: The Shadow's. Simultaneously, a blackgloved hand took

It took only a few moments for Margo to blurt all she knew. Thrusting the telephone back to her, The Shadow

ordered Margo to complete the call to the sheriff. Before she could raise the receiver, he was gone.

Speeding away in the car that he had brought from the airport, The Shadow was making for the old quarry on

the north road. He could see lights climbing the hill ahead, two sets of them, coming from different

Then, lower down, behind Connie's car, The Shadow saw lights that stood for Mandon. Those lights were

halfway up the slope when The Shadow's car reached the bottom. He was gaining, but time was shortening.

GUN in hand, Roy Weldorf stumbled along the path that led to the old shack beside the quarry. He'd reached

the hilltop first, as Mandon had predicted, but his road hadn't taken him close enough to the place he wanted.

He could see the shack ahead of him outlined in the glow of lights that had arrived near it while he was still

Those lights blacked off, and Roy stumbled worse than ever, but kept up his pace. Connie had reached Ted

The door of the shack creaked open. The dull gleam of an oil lantern showed Ted Granmore, holding the

same revolver that had served him in the past. Ted heard Connie's voice and recognized it. He beckoned her

Ted interrupted savagely. His hand snatched Connie's wrist; he twisted her aside and poked his gun out into

the dark. By the light from the lamp, Connie saw his face, bleary and unshaven. His voice was a hoarse snarl.

"Take it where?" he demanded. "Into a trap? I thought no one was coming with you."

"No one did," assured Connie. "I can explain later, if you call me at Mandon's again. It's only... well, only

Ted interrupted savagely. He was looking toward the road along which Connie had come, thinking that he

saw the blink of car lights. Wonderingly, Connie studied her cousin's face, realizing that he must be quite as

"To pay for a crime I didn't do?" snapped Ted. "What chance does a Granmore have? They'd accuse me of

murdering my own uncle, if they could! You should have heard them whitewash Titus Weldorf on the

"Why can't they turn that rule the other way around? Why shouldn't they brand the Weldorfs the way they

have us? They'd learn, soon enough, that I didn't kill Titus! There's only one man who could have. His name

Ted didn't add the hated name of "Weldorf". Another man had pushed into the light. Roy was pressing

between Ted and Connie thrusting the girl aside. Roy's borrowed gun was jabbing close to Ted's ribs.

All the fight seemed to leave Ted in one vicious spasm. As he snarled, his fingers loosened and his revolver

clanked from a stone. Pushing Connie farther away, Roy lowered the automatic and stated calmly:

His eyes shifted to Connie as he spoke, and Ted saw a chance. With a savage fury, the hunted man hurled

In that moment, Connie's loyalty to her cousin seemed blanked by her duty to aid a man in danger. Her

SWINGING to meet Ted, Roy tossed his gun across the other man's shoulder, preferring to meet him in

twofisted style. Perhaps his recent success in subduing Harry had given Roy a grand impression of his

punching power, but it didn't work in this case. Ted was too ardent with his grapple. Locking, the two reeled

Inside the shack, Connie saw the telephone. She sprang for it, to make a call. Then, realizing that immediate

aid was needed, she remembered Ted's revolver. Pouncing to the doorway, Connie picked up the weapon and

She didn't mean the threat, but it took effect. The fighters twisted apart, and she saw one that she was sure

Excitedly, Connie looked to see where Roy had landed, but he didn't come back into the light. For the

moment, Connie feared that he had gone over the quarry edge. She gave a wild surge forward, and picked the

It was Connie who felt the sudden skid of stones beneath her feet, and saw the whitened mass of limestone

that formed a perpendicular path below. She, not Roy, had found the brink, and she couldn't halt herself!

Blackness actually loomed up to receive her. But it wasn't the blackness of the depths.

A cloaked arm caught the girl, spun her about and flung her to the solid ground. What might have happened

to Connie was told by the clatter of the loosened rocks that went plunging in her stead.

Sprawled full length, Connie was too frightened to budge. A great splash came floating upward as the stones

The girl hadn't an idea who had rescued her. She couldn't realize that another figure had arrived upon the

The Shadow, bent upon one rescue, had seen a more immediate need for another. He had accomplished it by

a lunge along the quarry edge. His strong arm had scooped Connie back and flung her to safety after she had

Behind Connie's back, a black shape was still gyrating on the limestone fringe. Only by inches had The

Shadow saved himself from a plunge in Connie's stead. He was half over the brink when the falling stones

Clawing for the holds that his feet had missed, The Shadow was finding them with his hands. Poor holds, that

loosened in chunks each time he gripped, only to have The Shadow grab anew for firmer rock.

Then, as if the struggle were too much, The Shadow's twisting form took a sideward slide farther along the

brink. There were more tumbles of loosened stones as the whitish limestone showed in all it's breadth, with

Connie saw nothing of The Shadow's fateful struggle. Eyes fixed ahead, she was watching a man against the

dim light from the shack. That man was Ted Granmore. He was on his feet, a trifle groggy, and his hands

Roy wasn't anywhere in sight, so Connie knew that he must be where he had rolled when the grapple broke.

All that Roy would need to do was rise and swoop to make an easy capture, for Ted was really dizzy.

As Connie looked for him, his gun spoke, instead. It knifed a sharp stab from the darkness, straight for an

open target in the shape of Ted Granmore. To Connie, that shot was like a wellaimed arrow, for she

Ted jolted high, his hands flapping toward his chest, only to fail before they reached it. With a twisty topple,

IT had all the form of outright murder, that death stab from the dark, for Ted was helpless, unarmed, when he

became the target. With a low moan, Connie crept forward on hands and knees to reach the body of her

A great silence seemed to reign, save for faint splashes from the quarry pool. Then, like a strange specter

from another world, a blackcloaked figure returned to the scene. It came over the quarry brink, that form in

With the grip of gloved fingers, the pressure of softtoed shoes, The Shadow had literally clung to the quarry

wall at the time when he had spread full length along it. He'd dug hard into the spaces left by trickling stones,

The Shadow's ears had heard the shot from the death gun, but he hadn't been able to hurry his return. Rolling

to solid terrain, he stayed flat, and watched Connie as she bent above Ted's fallen form.

Then, from somewhere on the road, The Shadow heard a man's long call. It was answered by other shouts,

A glow showed cars parked crooked by the road. One was The Shadow's, another belonged to Mandon. The

third car, highest up was also Mandon's, but it was the sedan that Connie had used. Near the cars was

Mandon, gesturing to the headlights that revealed him. As they reached him, men sprang out to join him. No

Roy Weldorf was on his hands and knees, trying to rise further. The effort failed him, for a knee gave under

him. As he heard men dashing toward him, Roy clutched a gun from the ground and came up to his feet.

It was Harry's automatic, but Roy had no chance to use it. Sheriff Clemming and two deputies were upon

him. Seeing their faces in the light, Roy gave a weary smile and handed them the gun.

"Never used it," he declared. "I dropped it deliberately, and took my chances on a slugfest with Ted."

They helped Roy to his feet and turned him toward the shack. Roy saw Connie rise from beside Ted's body,

"I must have hit him harder than he hit me," declared Roy. "Hope I didn't hurt him too much. Anyway, there

It seemed to dawn very slowly upon Roy that Ted had already answered for anything he might be called upon

to give account for. Roy's captors had shoved him right above Ted's body, when their prisoner gasped his

realization that his recent opponent was dead. Then, shaking off his daze, Roy looked about.

One by one, accusing faces met him, until his eyes reached Connie Granmore. She, of all persons present,

was the one who should have been most vengeful. But Roy, saw understanding in her gaze. He said, quite

As a Granmore, Connie should have denounced Roy's words as a lie. Ted's death marked another score in the

feud; a point for the Weldorf faction. Here was Connie's chance to add a tally for her side, and with it

Only for a moment did Connie hesitate. Then, with what seemed total disregard for justice and revenge, she

Others present refused to accept that verdict. They took Roy and Connie to waiting cars and started for the

courthouse, under command of Sheriff Clemming, who also ordered the bringing of Ted's body.

For several minutes, many lights were shining, but none turned toward the quarry edge. All occupied with

other matters, none saw the motionless watcher whose cloaked shape formed a curious blob upon the ground.

Nor was The Shadow's car observed among the gathering of vehicles. The last men to go down the hill

When the scene was his, alone, The Shadow arose and moved toward the dim shack. Eerie mirth whispered

from his hidden lips. It seemed to creep across the quarry edge, to be gathered by those very depths from

Ghostly were the prolonged echoes that stirred back from the blackened gulf that The Shadow had defied!

Using the telephone in the shack, The Shadow called Harry Vincent and received a reply. Uncertain as to

Roy's destination, Harry had been forced to call Margo, and that, plus other delays, had prevented him from

getting started. The Shadow gave Harry certain instructions, then went to his car.

AT the local courthouse, Sheriff Clemming was giving his interpretation of a third degree. He was waving

Harry's gun in front of Roy's eyes, demanding that the prisoner admit he had slain Ted.

Headshakes were Roy's only answer, even when Giles Mandon inserted the suggestion that Roy might have

"I'll go and see if I can find old judge Wilman. Roy needs a lawyer, and I'm sure the judge will handle his

The sheriff hoped to make progress in that hour. He was tired of finding murderers as victims, in this

ceaseless feud. If Roy wouldn't admit that he had killed Ted, Clemming intended to prove it despite him. So

"I want the truth and nothing but!" stormed Clemming. "Remember, young lady, perjury is a crime. I know

you're opposed to all this feuding, and that's why you're standing up for a culprit who don't deserve it. But

you're going to hang it on him, just the same, as sure as your name is Connie Granmore!"

Defiantly, her lips tight pressed, Connie faced the sheriff. He put a question sharply:

"No," returned Connie, not to be trapped by an impersonal question. "I only saw the shot."

"I see." The sheriff took a few short paces, turned suddenly and snapped: "Who else was up there by the

Connie tried to catch herself, too late. Her lips were starting to frame the name "Roy Weldorf", which in itself

would be the incriminating proof that the sheriff needed. Connie didn't realize that The Shadow had been

present, too. Her escape from the quarry brink had seemed a weird whirl in which some superhuman agency

Again, The Shadow came to Connie's aid. As she, the law's lone witness to Ted's death, was about to brand

Roy Weldorf as a killer, an interruption filled the room, so forcefully that it totally drowned Connie's halting

Like a token from the beyond, a strange, powerful mirth countermanded all else. It rose in strident tone to a

sardonic pitch, that reached a fierce crescendo and shivered into untraceable echoes that murmured from

Listeners froze, and stared in absolute bewilderment, as they heard the laugh of The Shadow!

EYES were staring everywhere save toward the door from which The Shadow's laugh had come. That door,

Shaking away the thing that he wanted to class as imagination, Sheriff Clemming turned anew to Connie

Granmore. He wanted her to repeat the name that she had started to give, but Connie's lips had tightened.

Angrily, the sheriff thrust his face toward the girl's, determined to make her denounce Roy Weldorf.

There wasn't time. The door was opening, and everyone was swinging in alarm, fearful that they were to meet

that dread being called The Shadow. Instead, they saw Lamont Cranston enter, in his quiet, impassive way.

A dry chuckle intervened. It hadn't any semblance to The Shadow's laugh, that mirth that came from

Cranston. As the sheriff wheeled angrily, Cranston shook his head. He was drawing a long envelope from his

"I wouldn't bother, sheriff. It isn't any use. This girl can't serve you as a witness."

Sheriff Clemming didn't appreciate Cranston's interruption. He gave a contemptuous glare, then spoke:

"Quite a coincidence," returned Cranston casually. "I have just returned from there. I brought along this

certified copy of a certain legal document." He passed the envelope to Clemming. "Look it over, sheriff."

Then, while the sheriff was tearing open the envelope, the calmmannered Mr. Cranston added:

"Granmores and Weldorfs might wish to kill each other. Granmores might kill Granmores; Weldorfs might

even kill Weldorfs. They could testify against their own kind, too. One Weldorf could bear witness to a

murder by another Weldorf, sheriff, but not under all circumstances. No woman can legally serve as a witness

The sheriff's eyes were staring as he heard Cranston words. He gazed at the duplicate document in his hands.

It was a copy of a marriage certificate, one year old, bearing the names of Roy Weldorf and Connie

WITH a happy sob, Connie reached Roy's arms. All need for pretext was over. They'd come to Venetia

separately, Roy as a Weldorf, Connie as a Granmore, hoping to quell the feud between the families Roy by

They'd felt that knowledge of their marriage would cause their feudmad relatives to reject them. So Roy and

It explained why Roy had left the Weldorf mansion that night when Titus was slain, the very time at which

Connie had slipped away from Mandon's. Roy had driven over to meet Connie, so that they could spend an

hour together, making plans. They thought they had gathered the situation well in hand, only to have tragedy

They could have told all this themselves, Roy and Connie. The strain of present circumstance had made them

feel that mention of their marriage would be charged as a deception, to be used against them. It hadn't

occurred to either that the statement would automatically make Ted's death an unwitnessed fact, with Connie

That vital point had been recognized only by Lamont Cranston, otherwise The Shadow. He had used the same

perspicacity that had earlier enabled him to divine the true status of Roy and Connie, from remarks that they

Roy's reference to "we" as living in Missouri, and Connie's mention of floods in that vicinity, were the basis

Tension relieved, Roy was telling his story to the sheriff without interruption. He'd wanted to reach Ted

Granmore, to tell him that Roy sought no vengeance for the death of Titus Weldorf. It could all have worked

if Giles Mandon had performed the function of intermediary, as originally arranged.

Mandon's modifications had mixed Connie in the case. Unable to contact Roy, she had dashed off to meet

Ted. Hearing from Mandon, Roy had feared that Connie's rashness would imperil her, particularly if she told

Ted she was married to Roy. Roy feared for Connie because she was now a Weldorf, and therefore fair game

Step by step, such facts were building their own logic, and all the while Cranston smiled, for it was working

out as he had foreseen. Nevertheless, there was grimness in that smile. The Shadow had hoped to crack the

The Shadow's new entry, as Cranston, had been much like a lastminute reprieve granted to Roy Weldorf.

But he couldn't blame Roy for having hurried the search for Ted. Such effort had been sincere enough on

Roy's part, and he wouldn't have attempted it had he guessed the coming consequences. Even Roy's slugging

of Harry could be forgiven. Roy had needed to get started, and carry a gun with him, in behalf of his wife,

The sheriff's telephone was ringing, and while Clemming still kept nodding over Roy's statements, Cranston

answered the call. It was for him, he said. A plane was about to take off from the airport and he would have

So Cranston left, keeping to himself the fact that the call was actually from Harry Vincent, supplying a

Hard upon Cranston's departure, Sheriff Clemming thwacked a big fist against his open palm, and exclaimed:

"Can't you see?" the sheriff demanded. "He must have been up by the quarry. He's the fellow who killed Ted

Granmore in cold blood! Whatever he thinks he is a mysterious avenger, or whatnot, he's been taking

Connie started to interrupt. She was calmer, and she was gaining definite recollections of a blackclad

rescuer who had saved her from a fall into the quarry. It wasn't fair, this accusation of the mysterious

personage in black. Connie was about to speak for The Shadow, when he spoke for himself.

This time, they saw him. He was standing openly in the doorway, his burning eyes boring from beneath the

brim of his slouch hat. His laugh carried an offkey note. It was more than sinister; it had an insidious sound.

He wasn't belying the sheriff's charge. Rather, he seemed to approve it. Sheriff and deputies came to their

WHEELING before a single gun was fully drawn, The Shadow sprang off through a corridor. They were

after him, pellmell, but he outraced them from the courthouse. He was in a car, speeding off, flinging back a

defiant laugh, when they arrived upon the steps to blaze useless shots after him. Scrambling into their own

The Shadow's trail was leading out of town, until it reached the foot of the Granmore hill. There, he swung

for the grade, but not before pursuers spied his taillights. The chase roared up the hill, passing some cars

parked near the top. It didn't stop until it reached the mansion. There, The Shadow hurled his car along the

On this occasion, he made for the front door the moment he was out of his car. The deputies thought that it

They were halting their cars along the driveway, and were springing out to aim at the cloaked fugitive, when

Pursuers poured after him. The Shadow had waited for them in the hallway, but when they spied him, he

wheeled before they could aim their guns. He was diving for the very room where Foster Granmore had been

But The Shadow, as on the earlier occasion, changed the direction of his stride outside the door itself.

With a twist, he dodged back into the space close by the stairs. Not an eye saw that deceptive swirl. The door

of the room was closed, and the hall was dark. Perfect strategy on The Shadow's part, but the illusion was to

There was a clatter as the door of Foster Granmore's room was yanked inward from the other side. Arriving

men saw a figure against the dim glow of a single lamp. A figure that sprang back into the room, giving the

Before the startled man could slam the door again, the deputies were upon him, covering him with guns from

every angle. Over their shoulders looked the squarejawed face of Sheriff Clemming.

The square jaw hung open. Eyes bulged above it. For the sheriff was viewing the last man he expected to see:

On the table lay a great batch of green. Its mass represented the listed bonds that had disappeared at the time

That Mandon had brought them here was evident, for the bonds were lying beside a metal box that the sheriff

Above the fireplace was an open square of tile, which showed an empty space. Mandon had come here to

plant the missing bonds in the cache that once held Foster's embezzled funds. Instead of forty thousand in

Tense stillness was broken by The Shadow's laugh. No longer was it faked to lead the law along a wrong trail

to a right destination. That work was accomplished. The Shadow's tone was an accusation of crime, a taunt

Others turned to see The Shadow stepping in from the hall. Instead of a fugitive, the cloaked avenger loomed

"YOU killed Daniel Weldorf, five years ago," The Shadow told Mandon. "You pinned suspicion on Foster

Granmore by revealing him as an embezzler. Then, generously" The Shadow put sarcasm in the word

"you exonerated him of murder by giving him an alibi, saying that he was with you at nine o'clock, the time

"Foster had no exact knowledge of the time element. He never guessed that his alibi was really yours,

Mandon. By accusing him on one count, clearing him on another, you bluffed the law completely, Mandon.

"However, you couldn't reap your golden harvest. It wasn't until after you murdered Daniel Weldorf that you

Pausing, The Shadow gestured to the space above the hearth. Resuming, he declared that Mandon must

certainly have searched the Granmore mansion until he found the embezzled cash that Foster had hidden.

Mandon had used that cash toward buying stock in the glass factory, largely Foster's and Ted's.

Then The Shadow painted a startling picture of happenings on the night of Foster's return from prison.

"You came from your own house, Mandon," accused The Shadow. "Corbey accompanied you, but he stopped

at the footbridge. You put on old shoes that had belonged to Titus Weldorf. You made tracks to the road, then

"From outside that window" The Shadow's finger pointed "you murdered Foster, after Titus had gone.

Mandon glowered as the others stared. The Shadow further declared that Mandon had dashed to the

footbridge, leaving Titus's tracks behind him. Changing shoes again, he had helped dump the bridge that

"I saw the wreckage that night," spoke The Shadow. "By morning, the flood had washed it away. If the bridge

had crashed as early as you said it had, there would have been no debris left by evening!"

Almost ashen, Mandon's face revealed that The Shadow had spoken facts. No longer could Mandon hope to

dispute this amazing investigator who had suspected his part so early in the game. Then The Shadow's tone

The Shadow had foreseen that Mandon would carry the chain of murder farther; but the cloaked fighter was

out of things at the time of the next stroke. Slugged by Corbey, The Shadow wasn't able to be present when

Mandon went out with Titus to the latter's car. There, Mandon deliberately murdered Titus with Ted's gun!

Returning into the house, Mandon had replaced the gun in the safe. Instead of leaving in his own car, he'd

driven Titus's, carrying its dead owner back to the Weldorf garage. There, he'd picked up a car of his own,

Meanwhile Ted, falling for Mandon's bait of letting him learn the safe combination, had regained his gun.

Going over to demand a showdown regarding Foster's death, Ted had found Titus murdered! He'd fled in the

face of the false evidence against him; and Mandon had later coaxed the sheriff into finding Titus's old shoes,

In between had come the death of Corbey delivered, not by The Shadow but by Mandon, who had halted

For Mandon, hearing Corbey's threat to expose someone, had mistaken the cry. He didn't know about

Corbey's capture of The Shadow. Thinking of his own hide, Mandon thought his accomplice, Corbey, was

So Mandon fired the fatal shot and sped back to his car. Therewith, he disposed of the one man, Corbey, who

could have revealed his game from the inside. Safer than ever, Mandon had then decided to murder Ted

The stroke had come this evening. Arriving to find Roy struggling with Ted near the quarry shack, Mandon

had grabbed up Roy's discarded gun. Connie's near fall into the quarry had occupied The Shadow with her

Ted had felled Roy with a stunning punch, and Mandon, creeping in, had stabbed the shot to Ted's heart. He'd

fled, leaving the gun close to Roy, who found it while recovering from his fray with Ted.

"The reason for these murders lies before you," concluded The Shadow, gesturing to the stacks of bonds.

"From man after man, Weldorf and Granmore, Mandon was buying up shares in the glass works, and death

"His finish was to have all dead except Roy and Connie. With Roy incriminated for Ted's death, and Connie a

"Roy had given options on the last of the Weldorf holdings in the company. With prison facing him, he

would never have canceled the options. Connie, who hated the town and all it represented, was sure to sell the

last of the Granmore shares. An honest enough procedure on the part of Mandon, who was paying proper

STEPPING forward, The Shadow pushed Mandon aside and picked up a sheaf of bonds, gesturing them in

"These belonged to Weldorf, Granmore Co.," reminded The Shadow. "Once he owned the business outright,

these bonds would be Mandon's property, should they be brought to light. Planted here, he could find them

"A lucky find, dating back five years. Bonds supposedly hidden by Foster Granmore, branding him, at last, as

the slayer of Daniel Weldorf, and thereby explaining the whole feud between the families. This wealth, a

quarter million dollars, would then belong to Giles Mandon, friend of Weldorfs and Granmores, and impartial

All eyes turned on Mandon, the oneman vendetta who had slain four persons with his imaginary feud.

Perhaps the fact that he had managed those deaths separately made Mandon believe that he could deal with

Springing about, Mandon sprang for the window, crashed through and landed on the ground outside.

The Shadow bounded after him. From across the lawn, car lights blazed, flicked on by Margo. Beside their

glow rose Harry Vincent, with a ready gun. He'd gone to Mandon's, contacted Margo, and they had watched

Trapped between The Shadow and his aiming agent, Mandon made a quick dart for the front of the house. He

was half around the corner, waving a gun, an open target for the aiming automatics. The Shadow was about

to press a trigger and drop Mandon, wounded, as a trophy for the law, when a great roar sounded.

Reserve deputies had arrived out front, with shotguns. Hearing shouts to stop Mandon at all cost, they had

spotted him in the car lights and responded. A deluge of closerange shot felled Mandon permanently.

When Roy and Connie came dashing out from the house with Sheriff Clemming, they stopped short to stare

The face of Giles Mandon wore an ugly grimace, unlike anything in life. Not even when The Shadow trapped

him, had he let his features betray the inner evil that was his. He'd done his utmost toward the extermination

One of each family survived, and they were united. To Roy and Connie would go full control of the factory

their friendly ancestors had founded, and their holdings would include the reclaimed quarter million that

Giles Mandon, himself, had restored under the persuasive pressure of The Shadow.

When Roy and Connie looked for The Shadow, he was gone. He had joined Harry and Margo in the waiting

car, and it was coasting silently down the hill, unnoticed. It's taillights passed a turn and blinked from sight.

It came in the form of a triumphant laugh, that picked up echoes from the great gray walls of the massive

Strange mirth that faded, trailing, yet lived in the ears of those who heard it. Walls plucked that laugh and

echoed it, as though the huge house, itself, approved The Shadow's conquest over crime.