“Perhaps they got into Phraytag’s tomb.”
“Like I did? Possibly. Well, we’d better slide up to the secret room and make sure the box is safe.”
“We’ll hold it there, Perry?”
“Of course! That’s the only place. We’ll keep low for a while, Zane. Ready for another thrust. We’re within our rights to put up a fight.”
“But we got the money in illegal fashion.”
“How so? Once we had the ring, we knew that the cash was once our grandfather’s. Possession is nine points, Zane. You saw the answer. Tonight’s attack wasn’t legal, was it?”
“No.”
“That settles it. We know that the people who had the coffer before us must have been crooks. They got it illegally, or they wouldn’t have sent this flock of thugs.”
Zane nodded.
“You used your head, Zane,” complimented Perry, “when you told this chap Cardona that we had no enemies. That made him decide that the police won’t be needed after tonight.”
“Yes,” agreed Zane, “I spoke quickly when the subject came up. But there’s another angle to it. I’m not sure but that it’s a good idea to have the police around. Suppose there’s another thrust? It won’t come while the house is guarded. We hold an advantage — a stalemate — while the police are here.”
“A stalemate is correct,” objected Perry. “That’s just where we would injure our own plans. If we keep the police watching here, Cardona is going to know that we must have enemies.”
“That’s true.”
“And we can’t slide out to Florida with the box. The police would stop us, knowing that something might be up.”
“Yes. They might do that.”
“But if we sit tight, our enemies are going to think that we intend to stay here. They’ll hold back before another thrust. In the meantime, we can find a chance to sneak away.”
“You arranged about the Florida property?”
“Yes, with Jackling. Let’s hold it about three days, Zane. Then make it our business to move out before the crooks strike again.”
“That is best. We can stick here together. And Rowland will be more wary than before.”
Perry was walking toward the door as Zane made this comment. Stopping short, Perry turned to his cousin.
“Say!” he explained. “I’d almost forgotten Rowland. I was just starting up to the secret room to make sure the coffer was still safe. Where is Rowland? Still in the kitchen?”
“I’ll look.”
ZANE went to the side door. As he opened it, he heard footsteps. Rowland was already approaching from the hall. He was carrying the book that he had borrowed from the library.
“Just about to retire, sir,” stated the servant. “Shall I replace the book? Are there any orders, Mr. Zane?”
“No,” replied Zane. “Give me the book. I’ll put it where it belongs. You can turn in, Rowland.”
The servant moved away toward the back stairs. Zane came into the library with the book. Perry beckoned and whispered.
“You don’t think Rowland was snooping, do you?” questioned Perry. “He showed up pretty quick when you went into the hall.”
“I don’t think so,” returned Zane. “He was about midway in the passage.”
“He could have been sliding away from the door. Maybe he turned about to fool you.”
“Possibly.”
As Zane spoke, Perry was moving stealthily toward the door that his cousin had just closed. With a sudden leap, Perry gained the barrier and yanked it open. There was no one in the hall.
“That settles it,” declared Zane, with a smile. “If Rowland had been listening, he would have come back to learn whether or not we suspected him.”
“Maybe,” rejoined Perry. “Maybe not. The fellow may be a bit foxy, even though he doesn’t look it. Come on, Zane, let’s go up. We’ll keep our eyes open on the way.”
The cousins left the library. They passed Rowland’s room on their way upstairs. A light was shining from beneath the door. They could hear the old servant moving about.
Zane seemed satisfied as they resumed their progress. But Perry remained doubtful. The older cousin still held the suspicion that Rowland had listened to the conversation in the library.
But when they returned after making sure that the coffer was safe with all its wealth, they saw that Rowland’s light was out. They went down to the library, chatted a while longer and finally went to bed.
SILENCE came to the old house. An hour passed. Then, through empty, darkened rooms moved a swishing shape. The Shadow was again investigating the mansion. Stealthily, he ascended a staircase.
Searching with his blinking light, The Shadow discovered an oddly made bookcase in an abandoned upstairs study. He noted its position against the wall. He tested its fastenings. A slight click sounded as the bookcase opened. The Shadow stepped into the secret room.
The iron coffer showed beneath the flashlight’s glare. Gloved hands unbound the clamps. The lid came up. Stacks of currency, bundles of security, property deeds and other forms of wealth came beneath The Shadow’s view.
Later, the light went out. The lid descended; the clamps were pressed back in place. Empty-handed, The Shadow left the secret room. He had discovered the contested wealth. He had chosen to leave it in the spot where he had found it.
CHAPTER XVII. VISITORS BY NIGHT
EARLY the next evening, Timothy ushered Ed Mallan into Lucius Zurick’s study. When the servant had closed the door and departed, Mallan sat down to face the three philanthropists. They had assembled here at Mallan’s request. Their faces were sour.
Mallan supplied the only grin — a glitter of gold that matched the sparkles from the three signets. He wanted Zurick to start the conversation; for Mallan was anxious to learn what the conference might have produced before his arrival.
Seeing this, Zurick began:
“We expect explanations, Mallan,” rasped the old philanthropist. “After reading the newspaper accounts of what happened at the Dolger house, I was not surprised at your request that we should meet. What have you to say for yourself?”
“Take it easy,” suggested Mallan. “I’ve been fixing everything.”
“I suppose,” stated Zurick, “that you followed the same policy last night that you used when Lyken was eliminated. The policy that you repeated in the case of Phraytag.”
“Not at all,” said Mallan, still grinning. “Not at all. I didn’t figure on what happened last night.”
“Apparently not,” wheezed Kent. “I suppose you were sure that Zane Dolger was going to be killed. It must have surprised you when the crooks were slain.”
“You’ve got it wrong,” objected Mallan. “Say — are you going back to the old line? Let me tell you one thing. I wasn’t anywhere near that Dolger house last night.”
“So Kent has intimated,” rumbled Laverock. “Had you been close at hand, Zane Dolger would probably have died. Like Philip Lyken and Elwood Phraytag.”
“Maybe I should have been there,” decided the detective, souring. “So that’s your kick, eh?’ Sorry they didn’t get young Dolger — and his cousin, too. Well, maybe you’ve got cause for complaint. I guess those young fellows should have been rubbed out.”
“We agree on that point,” crackled Zurick. “The Dolgers have committed robbery. They have stolen the funds that we held. They are criminals, and therefore” — the philanthropist paused, smugly — “they deserve misfortune.”
Mallan grinned again. This point was to his liking. The other philanthropists were nodding in accord with Zurick’s statement. The time was propitious for Mallan to declare what he had in mind.