“Prove it!” cried Wade. “Prove it!”
THE SHADOW advanced. His left hand reached to the table. It seized a paper and pencil that lay there.
With two quick motions, The Shadow’s left hand made the mark of Double Z — one letter half a line above the other. He turned the paper sideways. He made the signature again, but this time he formed the strokes at an angle and drew the lines in different order.
“Double Z,” declared The Shadow in a low voice. “Double Z to some— M. W. to others!”
Matthew Wade stared at the sheet of paper with its telltale marks.
“One man recognized your symbol,” said The Shadow. “Judge Tolland understood — after he received your message. He had heard from you before it came — he knew your handiwork. You left that note with Caulkins—”
Wade’s hands shot forward. One went by The Shadow’s left arm and seized the wrist that held the gun.
The other reached for the knob upon the box that controlled the infernal machine. But the dial was not turned. The Shadow’s left hand struck Wade’s hand away. The two grappled and staggered down the long room.
It was a grim fight in that strange compartment. Matthew Wade was struggling with the one man whom he feared; and as he realized that The Shadow was only human, he fought with added frenzy.
He was making a desperate attempt to defeat the man in the black cloak when fortune favored him. The Shadow tripped and staggered backward. Wade’s heavy body bore him to the floor.