“I’ll do it in the future. I didn’t want to show lack of confidence in the committee, but—”
“But what?”
“They’ve got the strings on me,” responded Yates. “That’s what’s the matter. I saw it tonight. When I talked about suicides, Hurley squawked. Worried about his hotel. When I knocked the Club Catalina, Coates put up a holler. That’s because he owns the place, and leases it to Big Tom Bagshawe.”
“I understand all that,” said Cruikshank. “We must make allowance for enterprise in Seaview City. These men are only human, you know.”
“Yes” — Yates spoke in a slow and reluctant tone — “but that’s just where the trouble may be. They’re human — perhaps they’re too human!”
“How?”
“Well, I don’t want to make any accusations,” declared Yates, “but I can’t help thinking certain things. You know how I’m handicapped. All this battle against dope and gambling — it’s all discussed in the committee meetings before I make a move. Now, let’s suppose—”
Cruikshank’s gaze was severe as the police chief paused. Yates caught the mayor’s glance and moved uneasily.
“Go ahead, Yates,” said Cruikshank firmly.
“Suppose,” resumed Yates slowly, “that some one in that committee outfit is giving a tip-off. Watch here — watch there — lay low — and what not. It would help the crooks, wouldn’t it?”
RUFUS CRUIKSHANK nodded as he drummed upon the table. He seemed to be giving weighty consideration to the police chief’s words. Yates felt more and more uneasy. He realized that he had made indirect charges against certain men whom Cruikshank held in high esteem.
For a few moments, Yates felt that his job was hanging in the balance. Then he gained relief as Cruikshank replied.
“You may be right, Yates,” said the mayor. “Yes, you may be right. Tell me” — his tone became thoughtful — “is there any one whom you suspect?”
“No,” admitted Yates. “No one definite. But” — his tone became blunt — “there are some who might find it nice to have a finger in the pie.”
“Who are they?”
“Helwig, Coates, and Hurley, and maybe a few others who have pulled a lot of money into Seaview City.”
“All the more reason why they should desire to protect it.”
“I admit that; but at the same time one of them may be out for a clean-up — trying to get from under.”
“Your suggestion is a dangerous one,” declared Cruikshank. “Be careful about repeating it. It might cause you trouble—”
“I’ve only said it to you,” interrupted Yates hastily. “I thought I ought to tell you, your honor—”
“It was wise for you to do so. Chief, I am going to keep what you have said constantly in mind. If there is treachery in our midst, we must prepare for it. Have you any suggestions?”
“Yes,” replied Yates frankly. “I’d like to work with you, away from the committee, your honor. Let them know what we’ve done — not what we’re going to do.”
“Very good,” responded the mayor, nodding. “Very, very good, Yates. Suppose we start that plan tonight. Closer contact between you and myself, and less dependence upon the committee.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that, your honor,” Yates said. “You saw how Coates flared up when I talked about the gambling hall over the Club Catalina. That club may be his pet — just the same, I figure that Big Tom Bagshawe isn’t here just for his health.”
“That is probably true, Yates, if the man is the big gambling figure that you say. Why don’t you watch the place more closely?”
“I’ve got men down there, but they’re known. Tonight” — Yates had a flash of inspiration — “I’ll stop in there and look things over myself! Sort of a surprise visit. How about it?”
“A very good idea.”
“And after that, I’ll do a round of the dives. See if my men have landed any hop sellers.”
Mayor Cruikshank arose and shook hands warmly with Police Chief Yates. The bulky officer left the residence and started back toward the board walk. Cruikshank stood watching him from the door, nodding in approval.
The room which the two had left was empty. Only a long shadow rested upon the floor — a strange streak of black that came from the direction of the open window. Now, that shadow moved. It glided toward the window and disappeared.
Some one had been listening!
On the street in front of the house, the same shadowy shape reappeared, yet there was no sign of the personage whose presence it betokened.
Moving swiftly along the sidewalk, the shape of black followed the direction which the chief of police had taken. Half a block from Mayor Cruikshank’s home, it overtook the striding officer.
Chief Yates did not see the mysterious shadow. Neither did Mayor Cruikshank, standing at his door. Yet that shape followed on, accompanying the police chief in the direction of the Club Catalina.
That weird splotch of darkness meant the presence of a living personage. Some unknown being was taking a serious interest in the affairs of Seaview City.
Only one figure could move so silently and invisibly through the dark. That was the same one whose warning against crime had passed unheeded. The Shadow was here, in Seaview City!
CHAPTER V
BEHIND THE DOOR
THE Club Catalina was traveling full blast when Police Chief Yates entered the popular night club. Located on the first floor of a large building, the club was the logical place for board-walk amusement-seekers.
Chief Yates paused and looked over the large room, with its broad dance floor. It was a gorgeously furnished cabaret, with hundreds of tables about the sides. The single vaulted room was fitted with three imposing pillars set in the center of the floor to support the high ceiling.
His brief inspection ended, Yates turned toward a stairway at one end of the room. His thoughts were working slowly, and his usual alert eye did not notice the shadowy shape that moved up the stairs ahead of him. Treading the thick carpet, Yates was speculative.
Carpeted stairs meant that visitors were expected up here. Yet there was no influx of customers. Yates was doubtful. He knew the signs of a hideout, from the ground floor up.
At the head of the turning stairs, Yates encountered a closed door. He turned the knob. The door opened, and the police chief strode into a small room with a door on the other side. The second door also yielded to his touch.
The room which Yates now entered was rather large and square. It had two doors in adjacent sides. These were open, betraying the plan of the floor — four rooms, each part of a large square.
The first of these rooms — the one in which Yates now stood — was peopled with a dozen persons, who were playing bridge at card tables. There were others standing about the room. Yates recognized one man as a detective stationed on the premises.
None of the card players were gambling; at least there was no money in view. So far as Yates was concerned, that constituted legitimate play. While the police chief still gazed at the scene, some one approached him, and he heard the welcoming voice of Big Tom Bagshawe.
“Good evening, chief,” said Bagshawe in a friendly tone. “Glad to see you. How do you like my place? If the Club Catalina keeps on increasing business, we’ll have the overflow up here.”
“It looks very good,” observed Yates gruffly. “Plenty of space up here.”
“Let me show you the rest of it,” suggested Big Tom. He led Yates into the adjoining room. Here were excellent furnishings — bulky tables, many chairs, three pianos against the wall. Big Tom continued the circuit, through the third room, and into the fourth. Here he stopped and pointed to a door in the inner wall.
“My office,” he remarked. “Come in and have a cigar.”