The Shadow - The Key Part 12

"It's here!" he exclaimed. "It fits!"

"What's that?" quizzed Weston.

"Dorrington's activities in handling estates," replied Markin. "I told Tharxell to look up the records.

Dorrington is a criminal lawyer. Estates are not ordinarily in his line. During the past five years he has not handled more than a dozen of any consequence.

"It occurred to me, commissioner, that I had opened Rufus Gilwood's safe deposit box less than one week after the old millionaire had died. Verbeck did the same with Torrence Dilgin's box. Tell me"- Markin turned to Cardona- "what about Durton's key? What about Keith's? Did you find out when they were used at their respective banks?"

"Yes," returned Cardona. "The banks told me the particular dates on which each of those keys were brought with papers of ident.i.ty. Keith's is there in the report, commissioner-"

"Twelfth of December, two years ago," announced Weston.

" And Durton's was used in June of the same year," recalled Cardona. "June the ninth, as I remember it."

"Let's see," chuckled Markin, running his forefinger down the list. "Ah! Here we have them. Parkinson Watts, the importer, died on the fifth of June that year. Hector Mell, Wall Street wizard, died on the seventh of December."

"Then Watts," exclaimed Weston, "was the man who gave the key to Durton. Mell was the dupe who handed one to Keith!"

"It appears so." Markin pa.s.sed the list to Weston. "It seems more than mere coincidence, commissioner.

"There are not many estates in Dorrington's list."

"A lucky point," decided Weston. "It looks like malice aforethought. A criminal lawyer-like Dorrington-handling a few choice estates. Why would millionaires have gone to him?" Weston's nod was the answer to his own question. "This is a useful point, Markin. It bears out your beliefs regarding Dorrington."

Handing the list to Cardona, the commissioner arose and paced the floor. He made no objection to George Tharxell's presence. Since Markin had taken his partner into confidence, Weston did the same.

"Your visit was a bull," said Weston, to Cardona. "Nevertheless, it has done no harm. I should like to talk to that man, Dorrington. I should like to hear him speak."

"Why not call on him, commissioner?" questioned Markin. "He is crafty enough to know that he is under suspicion."

"Never invade the enemy's terrain," declared the commissioner, "until you are sure that his defense isweakened. Make him come to you."

"Request him to come to your office."

"No. He would be too well prepared."

"Meet him somewhere then. Place him in a position where he is at a disadvantage. If you could only force him to join you at one of those places where crime was done at his bidding!"

"Verbeck's or Keith's!" exclaimed Cardona. "Say-there's a real idea. I'd like to talk to Dorrington like I would to any crook-"

"To try the third degree, I suppose," interposed Weston, coldly. "Very tactless, Cardona. Very. The suggestion is absurd. Nevertheless, it has the germ of an idea. If we could coax Dorrington to talk with some one who could match his cunning, under circ.u.mstances that would hold him at disadvantage in-"

"How about here?" broke in Cardona. "Get him here to talk with Mr. Markin!"

CARDONA swung toward Markin. The old lawyer's face was a study. It showed eagerness to get at Dorrington; but with the expression came evidence of fear. The latter reaction gained predominance.

"No!" protested Markin. "No! It is most unreasonable. I am the one man who could testify to Dorrington's undoing. He needs my death more than Verbeck's- more than Durton's-more than Keith's-"

"But his fangs are gone," interrupted Weston. "Whitey Calban is dead. So is Ace Feldon."

"He may have other underworld connections," warned Markin. "Should he come here, with a.s.sa.s.sins at his heels to-"

"He would betray his own guilt."

Markin's trembling ceased at Weston's quiet, emphatic statement. A gleam of prospective hope showed upon the old attorney's face. Sagely, Markin nodded.

"That is true," he agreed. "Your men outside are my protection. Yes - Dorrington would enter alone; the others would have to follow. I would like to talk with him. The idea appeals to me-if only you could both be here. That, however, is impossible."

"Do you want us present?" put in Cardona. "Or would it do if we were listening in?"

"How would you listen in?"

"With a dictograph."

"Where?"

"In the bedroom."

Markin shook his head. He looked toward the closed door at the end of the room.

"Dorrington would suspect," he protested. "The bedroom would not do."

"How about the study?" asked Weston. "The place where Howland sleeps?"

"It's close enough," added Cardona. "We could be in here inside of five seconds if any trouble started." "That would do," agreed Markin, in a thoughtful tone. "Yes it would be an excellent arrangement. I see merit in the plan. Real merit. There is only one objection."

"What is that?" questioned Weston.

"The mental hazard," responded Markin. "I cannot let Dorrington know that I fear him. I must feel confident that he is not accompanied by thugs."

"We'll be here; a squad will be outside."

"I know. But if Dorrington sees that I am virtually in hiding, he will be contemptuous. He must not find me cowering in this room. He must not know that I am afraid to leave the house.

"Suppose, commissioner, that I arrange an appointment with Lester Dorrington. Suppose I managed to bring him here-to this very room. Could you call first and take me out with you? Could we watch the house, to make sure that Dorrington came unaccompanied?"

"Certainly."

"I could have Tharxell here meet Dorrington. Howland could usher Dorrington into this room. The door is thick. You, commissioner, could enter with and join Inspector Cardona in the study at the end of the hall."

"That would enable you to overcome the mental hazard?"

"I believe so."

"Good. Then you are ready to follow our suggestion."

"Yes."

AS proof of his decision, Kelwood Markin reached for the phone book. He found the number of Lester Dorrington's office. He dialed and asked to speak to the attorney. It was after five o'clock, but Markin evidently learned that Dorrington was still at his office, for the old lawyer's face showed a pleased gleam.

"h.e.l.lo..." Markin's tone showed but the bare trace of a quaver... "Mr. Dorrington?... This is Kelwood Markin, attorney... Yes, of Markin and Tharxell... I have a matter to discuss with you, Mr. Dorrington...

No, no, not a criminal case. This concerns an estate... A deceased client. It is a matter of long standing, yet one that I feel should be taken up between us.

"To-morrow?... At your office?... Hardly, Mr. Dorrington. I am retired... Yes, living at my home. I seldom go downtown. I thought perhaps you might come here to see me... Good... Could you come this evening?... Excellent... At eight o'clock, if you can make it... Not later than half past eight... I invariably retire before half past nine. I'm getting to be an old man, Mr. Dorrington..."

The receiver clicked. Kelwood Markin, his face elated despite the excitement which had gripped him, was staring toward Weston and Cardona.

"That will bring him!" exclaimed the old lawyer. "I shall discuss the Gilwood case with him. I shall get into ground that will prove treacherous to him. You must place the dictograph at once, inspector.

"Can you call for me before eight o'clock, commissioner? Good. I shall give instructions to Howland. As for you, Tharxell, you must also arrive about eight o'clock. You will receive Lester Dorrington. We can discuss business for a few minutes after I come in. Your presence will give me confidence. Then you canleave at my bidding."

Kelwood Markin arose. The others followed suit. George Tharxell departed. Weston and Cardona prepared to leave. The detective said that he would send up the men with the dictograph at once. He remarked that they would come in a telephone company car. The men outside would be instructed to let them pa.s.s.

"You stay here, Cardona," decided Weston. "See that the job's done right. Call headquarters and give the orders to the men."

"All right, commissioner."

Weston left the room. Howland showed him to the door. Markin beckoned to Cardona.

"You can call from the study," suggested the attorney. "Then you can also arrange the room for your occupancy. After that, we can come back here and pick the place for the microphone."

The two men left the living room. Howland returned from the front door and went back to the study.

Silence prevailed within the confines of the living room. Then came a rustling of the curtains by a window.

BLACKNESS came from the heavy hangings. The form of The Shadow stood revealed. Gliding forward, the cloaked intruder crossed the living room, reached the hall and noiselessly ascended the stairs.

The Shadow had been tipped off by Clyde Burke. He had arrived here secretly; he had been an unseen listener during the conference. He was leaving by the exit in the roof, for the empty house some doors away.

The bait had been set for Lester Dorrington. Kelwood Markin, veteran lawyer, was to meet with the attorney upon whom suspicion rested. The law would listen in while the two men talked.

Half past eight. The Shadow must return before that appointed time should he, like Weston and Cardona, intend to hear the details of the coming conference. Kelwood Markin had become the bait; Lester Dorrington the fish; but in the offing was a hidden danger: Edwin Berlett.

Where Weston and Cardona counted upon a duel of wits between two keen-brained lawyers, The Shadow could foresee the entrance of a third. Brutality-gang murder-was an epoch of the past.

Strategy and hidden cunning were the factors that must bring the climax. Markin had accepted a definite course of action. Dorrington, playing his intelligent part, had agreed to the appointment. Berlett, to figure in the game, would have to make a move.

Three keen attorneys: one, retired; the second, active in his practice; the third, a man supposedly dead.

These were the men whose cards would be played to-night!

CHAPTER XVIII. DORRINGTON RESPONDS.

"h.e.l.lO... Yes... This is Mr. Talbot."

The speaker was Edwin Berlett. He was standing in his room at the Goliath Hotel. Evening lights of Manhattan were visible through the window.

"Yes..." The lawyer's face showed an intense gleam. "Yes... I have the information you sent... I understand... Yes. That's all I need..." Berlett hung up. He went to a closet and obtained hat and overcoat. For the first time since his arrival in New York, Edwin Berlett intended to leave the Hotel Goliath. Until to-night, his longest trips from the room had been no further than the hotel lobby.

Berlett walked from his room. He reached the elevators. While he was waiting for a car, a young man strolled into the hall. It was Harry Vincent. To Edwin Berlett, The Shadow's agent appeared to be an ordinary guest.

Reaching the lobby, Berlett strolled out to the street. He hailed a taxicab. Harry, following, called a second vehicle. As Harry entered his cab, a third taxi shot past. A few seconds later, the three vehicles were speeding forward in procession, Harry's at the rear.

"Where to?" the driver was asking.

"Turn right," ordered Harry, as he observed Berlett's cab swing up the nearest avenue. "Keep going until I give you another order."

Three blocks up the avenue, the trio of cabs threaded their way through traffic. Harry's cab was almost up to the one that seemed to be following Berlett's. Suddenly, the lawyer's cab swung right into a narrow street. Harry snapped an order to his driver.

Berlett's taxi had gained by the maneuver. It was half way down the block before the second cab made the turn, with Harry's close behind. Suddenly, Berlett's taxi came to a stop. Stepping from his vehicle, the lawyer entered a building. The cab pulled away.

The second jehu ground his brakes. As Harry's cab swept up, The Shadow's agent saw a man leap from the stopped cab and dash in pursuit of Berlett. Harry ordered a quick stop. He tossed a bill to the driver and hurried into the building.

It was the arcade of an office building. Though open at night, the place was deserted. Far ahead, Harry glimpsed Berlett leaving by the door on the next street. He saw a wiry pursuer hustling on the lawyer's trail. Harry walked swiftly. Reaching the further door, he stopped.

Out on the sidewalk, the wiry man was staring toward the avenue. Harry could not see the fellow's face, but he knew what must have happened. A single cab had been waiting at the rear entrance of the arcade.

Berlett had gained the vehicle; he was again on his way. The wiry trailer had no chance to follow. Harry saw the man clench his fists, then walk toward the avenue.

Harry, too, had lost the trail. His one satisfaction was that Berlett had also slipped the unknown man.

Harry walked back through the arcade. His job was to return to the Hotel Goliath and report to Burbank.

SOME minutes later, a taxi stopped at an avenue near Kelwood Markin's. Edwin Berlett alighted. He chose the street in back of Markin's home. Between two buildings, he could see dim lights in the lawyer's house. Berlett sidled along, studying other buildings.

He found one to his liking. He had made the same choice as The Shadow. Moving through a pa.s.sageway, Berlett stopped beneath the boarded windows of an empty house. He looked upward, breathed tensely in the dark, then looked and found a rear door.

Cautiously, Berlett tried the k.n.o.b. The door gave, almost at his touch. The lawyer hesitated; then entered. He produced a pocket flashlight and picked his way through a dusty hallway toward a flight of steps. Berlett, apparently, was thinking that this house might have the same layout as Markin's, for he inspected the doorways that he pa.s.sed. He reached the top floor and threw the beams of his torch along the ceiling.

He saw the trapdoor.

Peering into a room, Berlett spied an object in the corner. It was a curtain rod, made of wood. He obtained the rod and carried it to the hall. He poked against the trapdoor. It yielded as easily as the back entrance. With the rod, Berlett had no trouble in s.h.i.+fting the trap door off from the opening.

Replacing the curtain rod where he had found it, the lawyer returned to make the ascent. Berlett had proven his agility in his flight from the Southern Star. He gave new evidence of his physical ability. He opened a door, gripped the top with his hands and drew his feet up to the k.n.o.bs. Raising his right, he caught the edge of the opened trap. His left hand followed. Berlett swung free and kicked the door shut.

With a strenuous effort, the lawyer reached the roof.

Crouching, Berlett moved toward Markin's. His feet crunched on cinders. Reaching the house he wanted, Berlett worked upon the trapdoor that he found. This barrier should certainly have been tightly in place. Yet it gave when the lawyer hoisted.