Gasps from committee members. Grewling proceeded:
“Bart Drury was working with them. He was recognized. So I went up to Knode’s. Wanted facts on Drury. Knode opened his safe; I covered him and found this stuff.”
“You hear that?” put in Knode. “He admits forcible entry, without a search warrant.”
“It was justified,” declared Mayor Rush, sternly. “Don’t you think so, gentlemen?”
“Hardly.” Strafford Malden spoke for the committee. “Yet, since the act has been performed, we must accept the evidence, I suppose. Yet, you acted beyond your authority, Grewling.”
“He did,” sneered Knode. “I tell you, I know nothing of that stuff! Some one must have planted it in my safe. No one can prove anything against me!”
“No?” questioned Grewling. “Take a look at this, Knode. I got it this afternoon, while you were at your office. I had your housekeeper down at city hall, Knode.”
“My housekeeper? Bridget?”
“Yes. And she signed this affidavit stating that you went to the Latuna Museum the night that Rubal and Hollis were murdered. You were the man who had that appointment with Rubal!
“You made one slip, Knode” — Grewling turned triumphantly to face Rush and Malden; then he swung back toward the editor — “just one slip. I walked in the other day while you were talking with your reporters.
“I caught something that was said. I didn’t think about it until later. Then, to-day, worried about this hearing of mine, I quizzed your housekeeper. She blabbed. Here’s her sworn statement.”
KNODE looked about. A newcomer had entered; Howard Dunham, editor of the Gazette. He had joined the ranks of Knode’s enemies. Even Knode’s friends looked solemn. They believed him guilty.
“I did have an appointment with Rubal,” admitted Knode. “He was going to talk. To tell me why he had stalled with those new museum plans. Bridget, my housekeeper, thought I went out. But I didn’t—”
No one was believing. Knode’s protest sounded feeble. The editor made a last attempt.
“If Drury would only show up,” he said. “Maybe that would clear me. He could support my word—”
“Drury?” questioned Mayor Rush, sarcastically. “He’s the man we’re looking for. He’s a crook. In league with those criminals who had established themselves here in Latuna. He has gone with them. He would never dare come here—”
Rush stopped. There was commotion at the doorway that led from house to conservatory. Cops turned about and stared as Bart Drury stepped into view, pushing the protesting Toya from his path.
Grimy and tattered, Bart Drury faced the group. Behind him was Clyde Burke. Witnesses to the museum raid, they were here to reveal the facts. Here, by order of The Shadow.
CHAPTER XXIII
THE GAME REVEALED
A SOLEMN tribunal was seated in judgment. As chief official of Latuna, Mayor Quirby Rush occupied the center; he was behind a table in the middle of the conservatory. On his right sat Strafford Malden; on his left, Howard Dunham.
Harrison Knode was standing between two detectives, while Police Chief Lawrence Grewling stood alone, watching Bart Drury and Clyde Burke. The reporters were facing the improvised bar of justice.
All others had gone into the house, to await call if needed. Toya stood at the closed door, ready to obey any order.
There was another door to the conservatory. It opened into the back of the house. Just within that door stood Singler, Malden’s chauffeur. He had been called in by Toya.
Bart Drury had completed his story. In steady, easy tone, the reporter had told of his efforts to watch the crooks who had been latent in Latuna. He had given details of his capture; his call to Clyde Burke; and the role he was forced to play. He came to the finish.
“They had me in a truck out back of the museum,” stated Bart. “One man was guarding me. Three others blasted the brick back of the vault. Right after that they piled into the truck. I put up a fight. They slugged me — one of them did.
“When I came to, I was behind the wheel of the truck. It was coasting down a slope. Then some one came roaring up in a car. I heard shots; brakes screeching; I was yanked from the wheel.”
“The truck kept on. It crashed through the high trestle on the Larkton road. Some — some motorist had saved me. He brought me back to town. Left me in the car; then Burke showed up. We came here.”
“A preposterous story!” snorted Mayor Rush. “It lacks conviction, Drury. It positively lacks—”
“Why do you think I’m here?” broke in Bart. “Isn’t that proof enough that I’m on the level? Can’t you see what those crooks were after?
“If I’d been found at the wheel of that truck, it would have looked as though I was with the bunch. Making a getaway that crashed. I had to play in with them to save Burke.”
Bart looked from side to side. He appealed first to Dunham. The Gazette editor gave a slight nod. Though the Enterprise was his rival sheet, Dunham, as a newspaper man, seemed inclined to believe the reporter’s story.
Strafford Malden saw Dunham’s nod. Then he was faced by Bart’s expression of appeal. Where Dunham had shown open-mindedness, Malden displayed sympathy. He turned to Mayor Rush.
“Suppose,” suggested Malden, “that we accept this story on a temporary basis. Let us hear what the other man — Burke — has to say.”
“Very well,” agreed Rush.
CLYDE told his story, up to the point where he had broken from the crooks. He stated that one of the band had been slated for the guillotine. He told how he had dashed to Cliff Marsland’s rescue. But he did not mention Cliff’s name.
Then Clyde became impressive. He was following instructions from The Shadow.
“There was some one in the museum,” declared Clyde, “who was there to thwart the crooks. That person started the fight. When I helped the fellow whom I found on the guillotine, the stranger was already battling Konk’s crew.
“I was trapped, with the helpless man whom I had rescued. We headed for the anteroom, to get away from the crooks. We heard the explosion when the vault was blown. Then came the second blast. The person aiding us had opened the way for escape — by blowing up the Blue Sphinx.”
Facing the pompous mayor, Clyde added:
“We went down into the vault and out the back. Our rescuer was there, in the darkness. I told him that Drury was in danger. He left; and I escaped, with the chap whom I had rescued from the guillotine.”
“The man you rescued was a crook?” quizzed Rush, sharply. “Where is he now?”
“He left me,” replied Clyde. “I couldn’t hold him. I didn’t want to, after he told me why the thugs had slated him for death.”
“Why was that?” quizzed Rush.
“Because,” responded Clyde, “he had failed to open Harrison Knode’s safe. Konk Zitz went to Knode’s tonight; for some reason, he wanted to get into the safe. This fellow fluked the job; Konk accused him of being a double crosser. Konk slated him for death; then Konk opened the safe himself—”
“Enough!” broke in the mayor. “We have heard too much of these preposterous stories! These men were both in with the crooks. They are trying to shield Knode. Come! We can have no more of this absurdity!”
Clyde turned to face Knode. All the while, the editor had been listening to the stories told by his reporters. The Shadow had ordered Clyde to count on Knode if the pinch arrived. The Shadow had counted upon the keenness of the editor.
KNODE stepped forward, the detectives accompanying him. He stood in front of Rush; then swung about to look at Grewling. Cool, Knode had been gaining that power that he had, with facts. The same ability that enabled him to produce his logical editorials was about to serve him with his plea.