Luke Froy noted an expression of annoyance on Zachary Shellmann’s face. He hastened to reassure the old man.
“It is too bad, that’s all,” he said. “The police have no idea of my connection there.”
“That is good,” exclaimed the old man with satisfaction. “That is good. Look at this, Luke” — he passed the newspaper to the Chinaman— “read it to me. I long to hear it—”
Luke Froy read:
“Matthew Wade was killed by Double Z. Again the police have bungled. Detective Joe Cardona now admits receiving a message from Double Z. He stated that he had intended to keep secret, to protect Wade. This letter was received at headquarters on Monday morning.
“Exactly twenty-four hours later, while Wade and his pilot were winging southward, every newspaper office in New York city received a duplicate of the message which had been sent to Cardona. In view of this, it is safe to say that the disappearance of the plane was engineered by Double Z—”
While the old man leaned back and chuckled in delight, like some child pleased with a new toy, Luke Froy continued reading:
“—unless Joe Cardona can trace the source of the Double Z messages before to-morrow midnight, a new detective will be assigned to the case. It is well known that Cardona’s failure has jeopardized his job.
Those in the know state emphatically that the colorful sleuth’s career has reached its end.”
A new outburst of merriment came from old Zachary Shellmann. He made his attendant read and reread the passage that had pleased him so much. At last the wizened madman gained control of himself.