“Then out in the hall,” resumed Chuck. “That’s where I headed. Across the hall. All Cardona could have seen was the barrel of my gat. Well, when he piled out, I had him. He went right past me toward the stairs, like I figured.
“When he turned, I slugged him. Knocked him cold there, in the dark. Then I” — Chuck paused momentarily — “well, I beat it, leaving him on the stairs. He’ll have something to talk about.”
“You mean he’ll figure it was the Unseen Killer?”
“Right he will.”
“Good!”
A pause. Then Chuck, emboldened by Trip’s approval, put a question that had evidently been perplexing him.
“Say, Trip,” he said, “this racket’s got me beat. The way it’s switched around, I mean. Why don’t you give me the whole lay?”
“You’ve got it, haven’t you?”
“Sort of halfway. That’s all. First you fix up a ritzy hideout for this bird Crofton. He ducks in there and he ain’t any too soon. That Unseen Killer stuff sure started quick enough. Of course it don’t matter with Crofton, since that professor fixed him so nobody can see him. But just the same, it was a good bet for him to have his headquarters.”
“That’s plain enough. You’ve got that much through your noodle. Go on; let’s hear what’s biting you.”
“Well, then you tell me to get hold of Crazy Lagran. To tip him off he’d better hide out. Up over Mosey’s. I’m Crazy’s pal.”
“And then?”
“Well, it goes on. Crofton does his stuff. Boy, how he does it! They’re kind of woozy over at the hideout, never seeing no sign of him. Just sticking food and messages in that little living room of his. Not knowing when he’s in or when he’s out.”
“We’ve discussed that. Get to your point.”
“I’m thinking about Crazy. He’s in that dump hideout of his. Then the dragnet hits. You tell me to go down there and bump him off if they close in. And you tell me to do it right. So it’ll look like the Unseen Killer got him. Why was that?”
“Because Crazy tipped off Joe Cardona about Crofton. That’s why.”
“Then what was the idea helping Crazy to hide out?”
“So we would know where he was.”
“All right. And then I bump him for the finish. That’s what I don’t get.”
“Why not?”
“Why didn’t you have Crofton bump him? Crazy was scared of the Unseen Killer. Crofton could have—”
“Crofton can’t bother with small stuff,” put in Trip. “It looked like a cinch for you. It was an emergency, anyway. I see what’s got you mixed up. Listen: let me explain.”
Trip strolled halfway across the room. Facing Chuck at close range, he spoke as follows:
“CROFTON pulls his stunt. He gets his hideout. He stays there and goes when he wants. He’s got his jobs to do. He had to get the old professor. He had to bag those two other guys: Hildon and Amboy. He’s after dough. When he gets it, the cut comes to me.
“In the meantime, right after he slides out from the prof’s, Crofton knows that somebody squealed on him. About him being with Rouser Tukin. That’s plain, ain’t it?”
Chuck nodded.
“All right,” resumed Trip. “Crofton knows it’s Crazy Lagran. Says so in one of those notes he sent me. He don’t want to bother with Crazy. So I’m to get the guy. But it don’t look so hot, killing Crazy. I see a better way.
“The old hokum. Crazy don’t know I’m working with Crofton. So I tell Crazy — through you — that I’ve got a hideout for him. Get him worried when he calls me up. Worried about the Unseen Killer. Crazy ducks into the hideout over Mosey’s. He’s there to stay.
“Then comes the hitch. Crofton bumps Hildon; then Amboy. He don’t want to bump Norgan if the guy will cough over the dough. See? But he decides to give him an extra day to worry. Instead of Norgan getting a note this morning, he gets one tomorrow morning. See that?”
“Sure.”
“Well, it was foxy. But Cardona, like a sap, decides to run the dragnet. Why? Because he’s dumb. Thinks he can catch a guy he can’t see. Well, that puts us in a jam on account of Crazy. He had to be bumped before the bulls located him.
“So I put you on the job. You did it. And the only fault I had to find at first was that you didn’t bump Cardona. But maybe it’s just as well you didn’t, because Cardona will think it was Crofton and it will have him buffaloed. There’s the whole story, Chuck.”
Chuck nodded. Then he began to scratch his head. Finally he delivered a wise, knowing grin.
“All right,” he said. “If Crofton won’t bother with small guys, why was he down there at Mosey’s? What was he doing — checking up on me?”
“Crofton — at Mosey’s?”
“Sure. When I bumped Crazy.”
“You saw Crofton?”
“How could I have seen Crofton?” queried Chuck. “Nobody can see him the way he is now, can they?”
“I don’t mean did you see him,” growled Trip, in a tone of annoyance. “I mean, did you see anything odd happen — anything that must have meant Crofton was around?”
“Yes. I was going to rub out Cardona, while he was lying groggy on the stairs. Then I hear something — I look up — there’s a window opening.”
“Where?”
“Top of the stairs.”
“What did you do?”
“Without thinking, I used my gat. Then a couple of slugs come my way in a hurry. That’s when I ducked.”
“But you saw no one?”
“Not a person.”
Trip scowled. He paced over by the window. He turned and eyed Chuck narrowly. He knew that his lieutenant had told facts. Trip spoke steadily.
“That wasn’t Crofton,” he said. “He wasn’t out of his hideout. Listen, Chuck, and keep it under your hat. I’ll tell you who was there at Crazy’s hideout. The Shadow.”
“The Shadow!” Chuck shifted half up from his chair.
“Sit down,” ordered Trip. “Yes, The Shadow. That’s another reason why Crofton should have pulled his last job to-night. Got the swag to-night, instead of waiting until tomorrow. That’s the one trouble with this game. It’s too good.
“You can’t tell what’s going to happen when The Shadow works in. Well — it means one thing. Crofton’s hideout closes up. By tomorrow night.”
“On account of The Shadow?”
“Yes. The dragnet is bad enough. Especially if it keeps on. But you can tell when it’s getting hot or cold. You can’t tell about The Shadow, though. Look here, Chuck, you’re sure you weren’t spotted down there at Mosey’s?”
“Not a chance.”
“Well, I’m not taking it for granted. You slide out of here pronto. Stay away to-night, and don’t go close to Crofton’s hideout. Understand?”
“Sure. Where’ll I stay?”
“Up at the Lyceum Hotel. That’s a quiet place. Then in the morning, grab a cab and go down to Crofton’s hideout. Talk with the boys. Then leave. Come up here in the afternoon.”
“What then?”
“You’ll find out. I’ll talk to you then.”
TRIP nudged his thumb toward the door. Chuck arose. The door was closing, so slowly that the eye could scarcely notice it. It was tight shut when Chuck placed his hand on the knob. Chuck opened the door and entered the living room, Trip following.
“Stick out here for a few minutes, Chuck,” suggested Trip. “I’ll be back. Just want to make a telephone call.”
He picked up the phone and carried it into the bedroom. He closed the door so the extension wire ran beneath. Chuck sat down to wait in the dim-lighted living room. He stared toward a bookcase in the corner.
There was a space between the far end of the bookcase and the wall. Staring in that direction, Chuck noted a peculiar blackened patch that reminded him of a head and shoulders. The blackness did not move. Chuck forgot it when Trip returned a few minutes later.