The Shadow - The Key Part 15

We've got our man-"

As Cardona pounced toward Markin, the old lawyer leaped to his feet. He yanked a revolver from his pocket with amazing speed. Wildly, he aimed toward the man whom he had come to hate the most-Edwin Berlett.

Caught off guard, Berlett responded as quickly as he could. He reached for his own gun, but his action was belated. Markin's aim was ready as Berlett's hand came in view. To those who watched, Berlett seemed doomed to the death that he had escaped.

THEN came an unexpected roar. An automatic flashed from the darkness beyond the opened door. A whistling bullet, aimed past Berlett's arm, found its mark. That shot spilled Kelwood Markin on the floor.

Writhing, the unmasked fiend coughed out his evil life.

With that shot came the weird rise of a taunting laugh. The triumph of The Shadow sounded through the paneled room. As Tharxell, yanking a gun, was beating Cardona to a shot, a second roar was followed by a cry from the man who had aided Markin. Tharxell's arm dropped while the laugh broke into its high crescendo.

As Howland also yanked a revolver, the smoking muzzle of the automatic turned straight toward the secretary. The third shot, however, was unnecessary. As The Shadow's laugh produced its s.h.i.+vering echoes, Cardona pounced upon Howland before the man could gain an aim.

As Edwin Berlett stepped inward, the men on their feet were staring toward the door. They saw nothingmore than blackness. A gloved hand was dropping the automatic beneath the folds of a cloak. A swis.h.i.+ng form was already making its departure. The Shadow had spoken-with bullets.

Joe Cardona understood. He knew why Markin's schemes had failed. The old man had told Calban to tip off his gorillas with the false story regarding Dorrington. Scramming, Calban would have left the others for the dragnet.

It was The Shadow who had spoiled that scheme. He had begun the fight that had ended in the wiping out of Calban's mob. Again, he had spoiled Markin's last bet by placing Edwin Berlett as the witness of the old fiend's final scheme of treachery.

JOE CARDONA knew that Edwin Berlett's incredible story must be true. For Joe knew the ident.i.ty of the personage who had worked as Carlos Mendoza. The Shadow! His uncanny power; his mighty hand-these had brought justice as the final outcome.

Tharxell and Howland, pitiful tools who had known but shreds of Markin's game, were blurting out their stories. Tharxell had formed contact with Whitey Calban. He had carried orders to the killer.

Howland confessed a knowledge of the swindles. Berlett and Dorrington smiled in grim satisfaction as the secretary stated that Markin, a miserly h.o.a.rder, had stowed away the funds that he had gained. The keys to deposit boxes that Howland kept in the study would open the old fiend's hidden coffers.

A million would be gained to save the Dilgin Refining Corporation. Edwin Berlett and Lester Dorrington, friends at the finish, could arrange the financial aid that the great company required.

But these discoveries were mere words to Acting Inspector Joe Cardona. The star sleuth was finding answers to his mental questions. He could picture The Shadow listening in at Markin's, finding a clue to crime as he heard the statements of the cunning fiend.

Murders had struck while The Shadow was absent. Another crime had succeeded through the victim's own blunder. These had been triumphs for the insidious schemer, Kelwood Markin; but the final victory had been The Shadow's.

As he stared at the dead form of the fiend before him, Joe Cardona could still hear echoes of The Shadow's laugh. Whispers of triumphant mirth still seemed to linger as tokens of the vanished conqueror.

Righteous men had been cleared of suspicion. Millions would be restored to their proper owners. A murderous monster had perished. Justice had prevailed- through The Shadow!

THE END.