“Commander Dadren tells me, in his message, that he is bringing the necessary tracings. Until we have them, we have nothing. At the same time, if the commander has fallen into evil hands, his enemies are thwarted.
“They have captured plans that look like duplicates. Actually, they have only gained the missing portions of the diagrams. It is a stalemate, gentlemen. What the consequences may be is something that I can not venture to predict.”
“I can,” put in Vic Marquette. “This will work out well, senator. I came here because I suspected that Commander Dadren had been taken prisoner by unscrupulous enemies. I have been wondering whether or not he was still alive. Now I know he is.”
“Because of these incomplete plans?”
“Yes. They won’t harm Dadren until they get these plans to go along with the others. Probably they’re puzzled, wondering whether Dadren’s tracings are fake or genuine. He’s probably smart enough to keep them guessing. Meantime, senator, we can turn these plans over to the Navy Department.”
“No,” replied Releston, shaking his head. “Commander Dadren states that he does not want that done until he adds the tracings. Read the note for yourself, Marquette.”
Vic looked annoyed when he faced the firm-visaged senator.
Releston smiled. Rising, he went to a corner of the office and drew back a curtain to reveal the steel door of a vault.
“This is my strong-room,” he announced. “A bank in my home city was installing a larger vault. I purchased the old door and had it brought here. The closet into which it opens is metal-lined and protected with alarms.
“No one knows the combination but myself. I change it frequently and I allow no one in here while I am opening the vault. You may rest assured, Marquette, that Commander Dadren’s plans will be quite safe while they are here.”
“You are sure that no one can enter—”
“My subordinates can all be trusted. Stollart here, is thoroughly reliable. My servants — Smedley and Williston — are quite trustworthy. Stollart” — Releston turned to the secretary — “conduct Mr. Marquette and Mr. Vincent to another room while I put away the plans.”
THE secretary led the way out into the little hall. Instead of taking Harry and Vic into the waiting room, he continued onward and ushered them into a living room. Vic looked about and noted a bolted door.
“Where does that lead?” he questioned. “Out into the main hall on the floor?”
“Yes,” replied Stollart. “This room is an extension of the senator’s suite.”
“Then any one could enter by that door.”
“Hardly. It is always kept bolted.”
While Vic Marquette paced about, Harry Vincent sat down in a chair by the window. Stollart stood at the side door of the room.
Then came a call from the senator’s office. Releston had put away the plans. He was summoning the other men back.
“Go into the office, Stollart,” suggested Vic. “Tell Senator Releston that I am talking with Vincent. We will join him later.”
Stollart hesitated.
“Orders from my superior,” added Vic. “I am questioning Vincent about conditions at Cedar Cove. Tell the senator he will have my full report.”
Stollart departed. Marquette closed the door to the inner hall. He came over by the window and spoke to Harry in a low tone.
“VINCENT,” said Vic, frankly, “this is not the first time our paths have crossed. I mentioned Death Island to the senator; I could have added other incidents. In fact, our last meeting was here in Washington, at the time of the embassy murders.”[2]
Harry nodded.
“You are an agent of The Shadow,” continued Vic, quietly. “He has aided me in the past. I know that he must have arranged for you to be at Cedar Cove. On that account, I do not intend to cross-examine you.
“It was The Shadow who brought me here to-day. I received a telephone call last night. I recognized the voice of The Shadow. He gave me an important tip; to communicate with Senator Releston regarding the disappearance of Commander Dadren.
“When you walked in, I knew that The Shadow was playing his part in the game. I knew that he expected me to cooperate with you. I am ready to do so. With that understanding, I should like to hear anything that you are permitted to tell me.”
“That fits in with my instructions,” replied Harry, in a frank tone. “However, there is very little that I can tell you. I was watching affairs at Cedar Cove. I found nothing to report. Then I received instructions to prevent Commander Dadren from taking off with the plans.
“I faked a burglary in the commander’s laboratory. Dadren thought enemies were about; he gave me the plans that I brought here to Senator Releston. I thought that I was carrying the plans complete. But there is something else, Vic. That robbery on the Northern Express, last evening.”
“You were in the mess?”
“Yes — but I gave a name other than my own. I knew that Senator Releston would clear me if the sheriff learned that I had given a fictitious identity. Those bandits, Vic, were after the briefcase that I carried.”
“You knew them?”
“One of them.”
“Who was he?”
“Hasker, the mechanic who disappeared with Dadren.”
VIC MARQUETTE stopped his momentary pacing. He stared at Harry in amazement. This, indeed, was news to the Secret Service operative. At last, Vic found his voice.
“Great work, Vincent,” he commended. “Keeping that out of the news was a big help. They’ve got Dadren. It’s a sure bet they’ll be after the plans that the senator is keeping here. You heard me suggest that those plans be taken to the Navy Department.”
“I did. Do you intend to press the matter?”
“No. I have changed my opinion. I want the plans to remain here.”
It was Harry’s turn to show surprise. Vic Marquette smiled. Then the Secret Service man explained himself.
“The plans will stay here,” he declared. “So will you and I. We’ll work together watching them, along with these subordinates whom the senator trusts. A lot of visitors come here, Vincent. The senator has his regular offices over in the senate building, but he receives certain persons here.
“We’re going to check on every one who comes in. We’ll see if the crooks show themselves. When they do, we can trap them. I’ll arrange matters with my department. So far as The Shadow is concerned — well, it will be your job to keep in touch with him.”
Vic motioned Harry from his chair. The Secret Service man led the way back to Releston’s office. They found the senator seated at his desk. Stollart was in a corner, filing papers in a large cabinet.
“I’ve been talking with Vincent,” declared Marquette to Releston. “He tells me there was trouble at Cedar Cove the night before Commander Dadren left. I think that we may be due for trouble here, if you keep those plans in your safe.”
“I am following Commander Dadren’s request,” returned the senator. “He entrusted the plans to me and specified that they should be kept here until—”
“I know,” interposed Vic, bluntly. “But he also trusted Vincent; and I have my duties as a Secret Service operative. That’s why I’m suggesting that Vincent and I remain here while you are keeping the plans in your vault.”
“An excellent suggestion!” commended Releston, warmly. “I shall feel much more at ease if you two are on duty. Arrange that as you see fit, Marquette. This apartment is a large one. We shall have room for you.”
“Good!” declared Marquette. “One more point, senator. We have every reason to believe that Commander Dadren has been abducted. Vincent was aboard the Northern Express last night. One of the unidentified bandits was Hasker.”