“Way back, Tammy, a year ago, when I framed all these alibi jobs, I figured that there might be some need for a general scram. So I had each of my pals tipped. An emergency signal — by telegram — would mean to scram. Where to? Ah, that was where I was wise. Get for cover was my order and call on Tam Sook in San Francisco, ten days later.
“I never thought I’d have to pull the rip cord, but I was mighty glad I had it all set. Out there in Dakota, I hoofed back to a railroad line and walked a mile until I came to a station. There was a man on duty and a train coming in. So I sent telegrams to my pals and caught the train west.”
“You were lucky to get away,” observed Tam Sook.
“It was a break,” admitted Kistelle, “but you must remember that everybody thought I had been killed, including The Shadow. The real break came when I sent the wires. The cops had got the names of all my pals. But they didn’t send out the word until the morning. So my wires landed in ahead and the boys had a chance to scram. So they’re coming here.”
“When?”
Kistelle counted on his fingers. He stopped at the count of eight.
“Today is Wednesday,” he declared. “They will be here Friday night.”
“And then?”
“We want to get together. There’ll be some swag to divvy, and you’ll get a cut.”
Tam Sook smiled and nodded. He pointed downward with his thumb.
“I have the place,” he declared.
“A hop joint?” questioned Kistelle.
“It used to be,” informed the Chinaman.
“Great,” said Kistelle. “We’ll meet there. When each man shows up, send him down. We can make our plans then.”
Tam Sook bowed.
“Very good,” he declared. “What are the names of these men? How shall I know them?”
Kistelle thrust his face into the light.
“Take a good look at that,” he laughed. “You won’t forget this face very quick. That’s all you need to know, Tammy. Any guy with a mug like mine gets in and stays in. That’s enough.”
Tam Sook bowed again.
“Just one thing,” said Kistelle, becoming serious. “I’m worried, Tammy — worried about The Shadow.”
“Why?”
“He knows too much about me. Must have me listed in his big book, I guess. He was on my trail when I scrammed from New York — before I went to Mexico. If he knows as much as I think he knows, he’ll link me up with you. What’s more, he’ll know where you are. Maybe — maybe not — but The Shadow’s mighty wise.”
Tam Sook nodded. He was staring straight at Kistelle. He did not notice the door beyond. There, on the floor, was a splotch of black. That splotch — had Tam Sook known it — was the sign of The Shadow!
“So,” resumed Kistelle, “I’m taking something of a chance. Once I get the gang together and split what we’ve managed to haul, we can all scram for Mexico. The boys made a getaway, all right — I’ve checked up on that. But the game is up and we’re marked men. The cops won’t be looking for us here in Frisco, just yet. It’ll take them too long to trail us. That’s why we can get away.”
“Friday night, then,” declared Tam Sook.
“Friday night,” repeated Kistelle. “But if The Shadow should come here then—”
Tam Sook smiled.
“Let The Shadow come,” he said, quietly.
Kistelle formed his evil smile.
“You know your stuff, Tammy,” he declared. “You aren’t in the Tong racket for nothing. I guess you have things just the way you want them.”
Tam Sook waved his hand.
“Do not worry,” he said, “All Chinatown will do my bidding. Let The Shadow come. That is all I ask. He will find Tam Sook ready.”
Charles Kistelle turned to the door. He paused as he heard Tam Sook ask another question.
“You are sure that none will be here before Friday night?” the Chinaman interrogated.
“Not until then,” said Kistelle, emphatically. “They know the orders. Ten o’clock on the tenth night after the signal. They’ll go by the rule. Remember, Tammy, they all look like me. Six of us — I mean five of us — counting myself.”
Tam Sook nodded. Charles Kistelle laughed. The man with the evil leer left the room. Tam Sook leaned back in his chair and began to inscribe Chinese characters upon a sheet of paper before him.
A few minutes later, the splotch of blackness that showed from the darkness of the outer hall disappeared. Kistelle had gone by without seeing that sign of The Shadow. Tam Sook had not noticed it.
The Shadow was gone. Like Kistelle and Tam Sook, he was awaiting Friday night!
CHAPTER XXI
THE SHADOW SPEAKS
IT was eight o’clock on the appointed evening. Tam Sook, the bland-faced Oriental who affected American garb, was seated at his accustomed desk. As before, he was inscribing Chinese writing. For Tam Sook, despite his youth, was one of the most important figures in the Chinese quarter of San Francisco.
Here, in this district where Tong warfare often raged, Tam Sook’s sanctum was an oasis amid strife. An intermediary between rival factions, Tam Sook could call upon any to do his bidding.
This room upon the second floor was innocent in appearance; yet, in reality, it was a spot of utmost danger. Tam Sook was a man who cared but little for life. Even his own was of no consequence to him. It was that fact that had enabled Tam Sook to gain his important position among the Chinese.
Tonight, Tam Sook had made arrangements for the gathering of Charles Kistelle and his crew of evildoers. That, to Tam Sook, was a simple favor to a man with whom he had been friendly.
Tam Sook owed but little to Charles Kistelle; and it was merely the opportunity for substantial profit that had caused him to acquiesce to Kistelle’s request for a meeting-place.
Here, in his San Francisco hideout, Tam Sook lived his self-important life and held all strangers in contempt. Thinking of Charles Kistelle now, Tam Sook smiled. Kistelle had come here as a friend. Had he been an enemy, he would have found matters quite different.
Thinking of Kistelle brought Tam Sook’s mind to The Shadow. He had heard often of The Shadow. Recalling past events, Tam Sook remembered that The Shadow had carried some of his exploits to the Chinatowns of both New York and San Francisco.
Charles Kistelle feared The Shadow. Therefore, The Shadow might come here. Tam Sook remembered his own words. He had told Kistelle:
“Let The Shadow come.”
Tam Sook smiled blandly as he recalled the statement. There were two men on duty below, placed there especially for this Friday night. Let The Shadow try to pass them! What if he should pass them? Then he would meet Tam Sook in person — Tam Sook who did not fear death and who was prepared to deliver it!
THERE must have been something telepathic in Tam Sook’s thoughts. At the very moment when Tam Sook was considering the question of The Shadow, a black-garbed figure was entering the anteroom at the foot of the stairs.
The Shadow was here, in advance of Kistelle and his crew. Sweeping silently across the entry, The Shadow paused and tapped the inner door. With a gliding motion, he stepped back into a fringe of darkness just as the face of a Chinaman appeared from within.
Seeing no one, the Chinaman advanced into the entry. An instant later, powerful hands were upon him. He collapsed in a heap beneath The Shadow’s attack. Black-garbed arms worked swiftly. The Chinese guard was soon bound and helpless.
While The Shadow still bent over his victim, the door again opened. The slight sound of the hinge was audible. The Shadow made a forward sweep as the second Chinaman appeared.
The result was the same as before. The new investigator plunged forward as The Shadow seized his body, landing the Chinaman half stunned upon the floor. A low laugh sounded as The Shadow bound the second of Tam Sook’s underlings.