Jack Targon swung for Joe Cardona. But the detective, having the bulge, beat the forger to the shot.
Joe’s revolver barked; Jack’s fell from his hand. Steve Zurk made a dive for it. So did Delhugh.
Cardona aimed for the arch-crook. Beak Latzo piled upon the ace detective and bore him to the floor.
The odd gorilla hurled himself on Steve and sent the innocent man sprawling while Delhugh grabbed the gun.
Daykin and Flix grabbed the gorilla. Steve wrestled free and dived for Beak Latzo, just as the mobleader managed to get hold of Cardona’s revolver. The three fought fiercely. As Cardona slipped, Steve twisted the weapon and pressed the trigger.
Beak Latzo slumped away. Cardona was half groggy on the floor; but he was safe from harm. Steve Zurk had settled scores with Beak; but right now, Steve was thinking of a bigger crook: Perry Delhugh.
BENZIG had wrestled with his former master. With one swing, Delhugh sent the secretary rolling across the floor. Delhugh swung toward the spot where The Shadow lay motionless after the effort that had enabled him to dispatch Lucky Ortz.
As Delhugh aimed for the foe he thought helpless, Steve Zurk swung about and leveled Cardona’s revolver at Delhugh. Steve knew that he was too late; but he also knew that he could beat Delhugh before the man could fire a second shot.
From the floor, The Shadow’s eyes looked up, straight toward Delhugh’s down-swinging gun. The Shadow’s gloved right hand was knuckled downward on the floor, an automatic limp within it. Fingers tightened. The forming of the fist snapped the gun muzzle upward; and with the same move, The Shadow pressed the trigger.
Finger motion was shorter than the swing of an arm. The Shadow’s gun spat flame before Delhugh could fire.
The arch-crook swayed, wounded. He pressed the trigger of his wavering gun and sent a bullet ripping through the floor. He tried to steady as he saw The Shadow’s fist repeat its tightening. Then came a roar from behind Delhugh.
Steve Zurk had fired. Delhugh slumped forward as The Shadow managed a final shot. The added bullet seemed to jolt the arch-crook backward. Delhugh twisted; then sidled to the floor and sprawled motionless.
The Shadow’s right arm moved. Like a lever, it raised the weary body. The Shadow came to his feet, sagging to the left. Steve Zurk had joined Daykin and Flix; they added subduing touches to Beak Latzo’s henchman.
Joe Cardona, half groggy and weaponless, stared toward the living room door. There he saw The Shadow moving slowly into the hall, two automatics dangling from his gloved right hand. Joe braced. He started after.
The front door was open when Cardona reached it. Joe managed to make out a wavering figure passing through a gate some thirty feet away. He heard a weary laugh. He saw the dim forms of three men springing up to aid The Shadow.
Lucky’s gorillas had been winged and scattered. Lucky himself was dead, like Delhugh, Targon and Latzo, the three who had played major parts in the reign of crime. Steve Zurk, vindicated, had aided The Shadow in the fight for justice.
A motor chugged as Cardona, revived by clear air, stood staring through the darkness. Lights blinked; a car shot away from beyond the grounds. The Shadow’s agents were traveling away with their wounded chief.
Only one thing more to be done: the notification of Murson, the broker hiding in the hotel at The Shadow’s orders, that he need remain in hiding no longer. His evidence would not be needed, for the real killers of Luftus had been apprehended.
And as Cardona lingered, his ears caught a sound that boded well. The wild burst of weird mockery rang out through the night air. It shuddered to a fierce crescendo; then wavered into echoes.
A strong, amazing taunt. To Cardona, a proof that its author, though weary and wounded, would soon again be ready to war against hordes of crookdom.
The gibing, eerie triumph laugh of The Shadow.