First, Urlich and Ricordo entered a sort of portico that ran entirely around the building, under a low, extending roof, which was supported by iron posts set at intervals. Ricordo noted that the floor of this peculiar ground-level porch was formed of metal plates.
Professor Urlich pressed a button beside a double door at the front of the building. A few moments later, the two doors swung inward. They closed after the men had entered.
The pair now stood within a second circular passageway that had walls on both sides. It was a gloomy corridor that appeared to run completely around the building.
A single door showed opposite the portal they had entered. The professor ignored it.
As they walked along this strange hall, Ricordo noted again that he was treading upon plates of metal.
They circled halfway around; then stopped at a door set in the inner wall.
Here Professor Urlich pressed another button. The metal door slid upward, revealing a circular staircase that led both up and down.
Urlich conducted his companion upward, through a huge cylinder that resembled a water standpipe.
When they came to the top, they emerged into a large circular room, the second story of this odd building.
“My laboratory,” remarked Professor Urlich.
LARRY RICORDO blinked as they headed for another stairway in the center of the room. He saw all sorts of strange devices: crucibles, huge tubes, bottles upon shelves, machines, and models of all descriptions. Two silent men, clad in white coats and aprons, were at work there.
The outer walls of this circular chamber were windowless; but the outer rim of the roof was designed with skylights, and Ricordo noted workbenches set near the wall, so that they could gain illumination from outside during daytime hours.
The gang leader’s inspection ended as Professor Urlich conducted him up the central spiral. They reached a hall above; here were doors on all sides. The professor opened one and brought Ricordo into a small room that was equipped like an office. It had a single window.
Glancing from this opening, Ricordo made out the shape of the building. The first floor was like a huge cylinder of large diameter, but of stunted height. The second was of less diameter, for it had no portico.
The third, where they were now located, was even smaller in diameter.
This allowed for the skylights in the laboratory and made the building take on its pagodalike shape. Like an Egyptian pyramid, this odd edifice was built in steps, but it was circular, not square.
Ricordo found himself wondering what might be on that first floor, with the circular passage which they had followed. He asked no questions, however. Professor Urlich was speaking, and Ricordo turned away from the window to face the scientist.
“Tonight,” said the professor, “we encountered temporary defeat. When we saw police detectives enter Alfred Sartain’s studio, we knew that there was no further hope. That is why I told Thomas Jocelyn to go to his residence; it is also why I brought you here, Ricordo. It was not wise to remain in that office across the street.”
“You’re right it wasn’t,” returned Ricordo. “Not with The Shadow on the job. I’m worried yet, professor.”
Urlich indicated a telephone.
“Communicate with Slips Harbeck,” he ordered. “Call the number in the usual fashion. This telephone, Ricordo, is arranged on a special wire. It cannot be traced. It has the number of a telephone in a deserted house miles from here.”
Ricordo grinned and picked up the telephone. He called a Manhattan number, the underworld spot where Slips Harbeck made his headquarters. Professor Urlich went out of the room while the gang leader talked with his lieutenant. When he returned, he glanced inquiringly at Ricordo.
“THE SHADOW queered the job all right,” stated Larry. “He nailed those two gorillas in Sartain’s studio. He nicked the other pair, and he almost got Slips. The only reason they made a get-away was because Brooks put up a fight.
“Slips had a guy watching the apartment house. He says The Shadow got Brooks in the finish. The cops brought out the body.”
A quizzical frown appeared upon Professor Urlich’s forehead. The evil-faced scientist studied his ganglord aid. He put forth a question that startled Larry Ricordo.
“Tell me,” demanded Urlich, “who is this whom you call The Shadow? The one whom we saw tonight. Let me know all that you have learned concerning him.”
“The Shadow?” Ricordo’s question was tinged with awe. “Say, professor, I spilled a lot about him back there in the office — until you told me to let the matter rest until later.”
“You were excited then,” interposed Urlich. “At present, we are quiet. You can speak with calmness. What is The Shadow? Is he a gang leader, like yourself — or is he a detective?”
“No one knows what he is,” confessed Ricordo. “That bird must have a racket all his own. He crowds in on any good lay that he hears about, and puts the kibosh on it. He’s not hooked up with the bulls; he’s not a crook.”
“You mean,” quizzed Urlich, “that he is a roving personage of the underworld, seeking adventure through encounters with dangerous criminals?”
“That’s about it,” admitted Ricordo. “There’s plenty of big shots that have missed out when they met The Shadow. Plenty have checked out, too. He plays a cute game, professor. Lays back and lets a good lay get all set; then steps into it himself.”
“Remarkable,” observed the scientist. “I have heard of this person, but I preferred to regard him as a myth. However, after tonight—”
“Tonight!” ejaculated the gang leader. “Say, professor, you don’t realize what we saw tonight. We saw The Shadow at work! Get that? Saw him, and got away with it!”
“Is that unusual?”
“Is it unusual? Listen, professor, it’s lucky for us we were tucked out of sight across the street. You saw what he did to those two gorillas, didn’t you? Well, we’d have taken it, too, if he’d known we were around!”
“Do you think so?” Professor Urlich’s tone was ironical. “Well, Ricordo, I believe you are wrong. The Shadow — as you term him — is unquestionably a dangerous foe. I observed that fact tonight.
“At the same time, it is quite obvious that he utilizes the inferior methods that you employ: open attack, with apparent violence.
“Such cannot compare with the ways at my disposal. Silent death — subtle death — those are more dangerous than ordinary weapons. You saw my method this evening. It failed; but that was not Alfred Sartain’s doing. The intervention of The Shadow was the unknown factor that I had not anticipated.”
“Maybe not,” objected Ricordo, in a bitter tone, “but, just the same, The Shadow queered the works. What are we going to do about it? Old Jocelyn has lost out on his big deal, hasn’t he?”
“Jocelyn will not suffer,” returned Urlich calmly. “His holdings are sound. Perhaps he will lose something on them. That will not matter. He will regain the loss later on. Alfred Sartain was but one of those who are upon our list.”
“Now you’re getting there,” grinned Ricordo. “We’re going right ahead, eh? Well, we’re all right — providing The Shadow doesn’t muscle in again.”
“I am glad to hear you consider that possibility,” cackled Urlich. “It has much to do with the plans that I now contemplate. We are going to forget Thomas Jocelyn for the present. We will give him time to recuperate; both nervously and financially. In the meantime, we will render the future certain.”
“How?”
“By eliminating The Shadow!”
LARRY RICORDO spread his puffy lips as he heard the professor’s words. His expression was one of astonishment. Then the open mouth formed a broad, doubting grin.