The bright light revealed Glade Tremont. But it showed more than that to Biff Towley. It indicated that the lawyer was not driving the car. Another man was at the wheel, and in the brilliance the full form of The Shadow was brought to view!
In a twinkling, Biff saw the situation. A hardened gangster, he had heard much of The Shadow. Like every other evildoer, the swarthy gang leader had sworn to some day slay the man who had so long terrorized the demons of the underworld.
"The Shadow!"
Biff Towley spat the words. His wolfish snarl rose as a battle cry. Swerving, almost at a standstill, the coupe was directly in the path of Towley and his gorillas, a perfect target for their gunfire!
Split seconds brought results. The gleam of the searchlight; Biff Towley's cry; Glade Tremont's reaction. Hearing the shout, the lawyer flung himself low at the wheel. He was grabbing at The Shadow's right hand, which held its automatic poised above the wheel. At the same time, Tremont had dropped his head and shoulders, fearing that they might block the path of shots from the other car. In this sudden turn of affairs, The Shadow was not idle. The glare of that light brought a taunting, whispered laugh from the grim, unseen lips of the man of the night.
As Tremont's form flung toward him, The Shadow's arm came up. The barrel of his automatic caught the lawyer's descending chin. Tremont's knees shot forward, his back caved, and he crumpled on the seat, his head below the side window.
The Shadow had wasted neither shot nor time in this quick meeting of the first attack. His hand had swung upward for a double purpose. First, to eliminate Tremont; second, to beat the other men to the opening shot. While Tremont's head was still hurtling backward, The Shadow's finger pressed the trigger of the big pistol.
There were three simultaneous results. A loud report sounded within the car. The searchlight was extinguished. The clatter of shattered glass was heard.
With sure, swift aim, The Shadow had burst the blinding eye that had revealed his form.
A single shot had done the deed.