A gasp came from Mike Borrango. Steve Cronin dropped his automatic, and staggered back.
“When you play fair,” said The Shadow, addressing Nick Savoli, “you leave nothing to chance. A loaded automatic was smuggled in and placed beneath your table.
“If this man” — he swept one arm toward Steve Cronin — “had been able to examine the gun, he would have found the blank cartridges, which I substituted.
“One waiter was in your employ. Another waiter was — myself.”
The Shadow turned toward the screen; but at that instant the door burst open, and two men rushed into the room. They were Genara and Anelmo, the Homicide Twins. They carried automatics in their hands.
They had returned, armed, to escort Nick Savoli to his apartment. The shots had hustled them to the private room.
NICK SAVOLI leaped to his feet. Now he was to be master. His henchmen had seen him immediately upon their arrival.
Realizing that he was safe, they hesitated to fire at the strange man in black; until they received the word. They had never seen The Shadow — they were not sure whether he was friend or foe.
“Get him!” cried Savoli.
But before the words had left the man’s lips, The Shadow acted. The position in which he stood had been well chosen. The light switch was at his side.