Where was The Shadow?
That question predominated in Loy Rook’s mind. The Chinaman glanced at the row of telltale lights in the top of the taboret. The last one still shone. The others were not illuminated. Obviously, The Shadow could not have traveled down the stairs within the wall.
It was on this point that Loy Rook’s memory was at fault. He forgot the lapse of time that had followed the appearance of the last light. He had the impression that he had extinguished the row of signals immediately after the final one had appeared.
The single light still shone, because the weight of the joss was upon the floor plate that controlled it, acting as an electric switch.
One solution occurred to Loy Rook: The Shadow must be just beyond that final barrier — behind the grinning idol. He must be waiting there, hesitating to descend for fear that there might be a trap behind.
The bookcase at the bottom was closed. It could not be opened from within.
The Shadow was actually trapped, Loy Rook argued, but he was alive, and while he lived he was dangerous.
The Chinaman expressed this belief to Sneaks Rubin. The frail gangster grinned hideously.
“Jake Dermott and his rods are on the back street,” he informed Loy Rook. “They can pump him full of lead. They’re waitin’ there — a gang.”
Loy Rook nodded. He wanted to play the game safe. He saw how it could be done.