But he left behind him the sound of a gibing laugh; a long, whispered laugh; a laugh of triumph that resounded throughout the cavern, as though it came from its walls.
CHAPTER XXXIII
THE OUTCOME
When Vic Marquette and Harry Vincent marched their prisoners through the tunnel to the farmhouse, they discovered which way The Shadow had gone. For Jerry, the man who was the shipper of the counterfeiting gang, lay trussed upon the floor of the farmhouse cellar.
The Shadow had surprised him, and had easily overcome him. Harry cut the ropes that bound Jerry’s feet, and he was lined up with Windsor and Vernon.
Vic Marquette prepared to take the counterfeiters away in his car. He was to return later for the body of Birdie Crull. The gunman’s confession was in Marquette’s pocket.
After a short consultation, Harry Vincent arranged to drop out of the picture. Credit for the capture belonged to Marquette. All the necessary evidence was available. Other secret-service men would soon arrive to go over the ground.
Harry Vincent returned to Blair Windsor’s house, sure that The Shadow had been there before him. There was no danger from Isaac Coffran. If the old man had remained on guard, he would have fallen into the clutches of The Shadow.
But Isaac Coffran had not waited. He had escaped in Blair Windsor’s automobile. He alone, of the entire gang, managed to elude the clutches of the secret service.
Harry Vincent drove back to New York that night. It was a long, wearisome drive, through torrents of pouring rain. Yet the young man kept on.
His nerves were tingling from the excitement of the adventures which he had undergone; and the trip seemed to steady him. He arrived at the Metrolite Hotel, and slept for twenty-four hours.
There was considerable surprise at the New Jersey airport when Lamont Cranston’s plane made a perfect landing there, despite the poor visibility.
There was more surprise at the millionaire’s home, when Lamont Cranston announced that he was leaving for Europe, and would not return for a month, at least.
Burbank left, for his work was finished.
Newspapers throughout the nation devoted columns to the story of the captured counterfeiters. In Philadelphia, however, the daily journals carried other accounts that were of high local interest. Two baffling crimes had reached an automatic solution, following the news from Massachusetts.
The murders of Harvey Griffith and Frank Jarnow were definitely linked. Birdie Crull’s complete confession left no room for doubt. Henry Windsor was released, a free man, dumfounded at the turn of events which had saved him from trial.
Isaac Coffran was now a hunted man. No longer would he be free to plot his fiendish schemes. His latest crimes had been revealed. He had departed for some unknown place.
Sooner or later, it was believed, he would be found. He was wanted for counterfeiting, and for complicity in the murders of Frank Jarnow and Harvey Griffith.
Both Vernon and Jerry proved to be men with criminal records. The former had been released from a Federal prison some years before. He had made engravings for counterfeits when he had been a young man.
The man known to the gang as Jerry had been in jail several times for minor offenses in New York City. He had not been seen for a considerable time; but the police recognized him.
Blair Windsor was the only one of the gang who was not sentenced. There seemed to be no tangible evidence against him.
The paper which he had signed could not be found in Isaac Coffran’s room in the farmhouse. No mention of his name was made in Bert Crull’s confession.
Vic Marquette had captured him with the counterfeiters; hence it was evident that Blair Windsor had known of their activities. But it was not proven that he was a member of the gang.
It seemed that he had discovered the place, and had investigated it, only to be captured along with the counterfeiters. Vincent was never called to court to testify.
Very few people wondered about Blair Windsor’s connection with the facts that were revealed. Henry Windsor was greatly pleased that his younger brother was released.
When Harry Vincent learned this fact, he formed a few conclusions of his own.
He believed that The Shadow had deliberately shielded Blair Windsor to give the young man another opportunity. Blair had unquestionably been lured by the promises of Isaac Coffran until he had reached a position from which he could not withdraw.
He had not approved of the plot to murder his brother Henry.
Harry Vincent felt no malice toward Blair Windsor. He was glad of the outcome.
But he could not help thinking of that signed paper which Isaac Coffran had possessed. The torn corner had not been mentioned in Birdie Crull’s confession. The confession — referred to as a dictation to Vic Marquette — simply stated that Crull had taken evidence from Harvey Griffith’s pocket.
“Where is the paper?” Harry Vincent asked himself, as he pondered over the problem, in his room at the Metrolite Hotel.
Then he smiled, as his lips framed the answer:
“The Shadow knows!”