He lighted a match, and ran it under the paper; for he suspected an invisible ink, and knew that heat might bring it out. This was to no avail.
The gangster went back to his table at the head of the stairs, and again looked at the blank paper.
SUDDENLY a light dawned upon the puzzled gangster. A sharp exclamation escaped his lips. The message revealed nothing, but that very fact gave him a clew.
Steve Cronin had suspected that Harry Vincent was not an ordinary watcher in a gambling joint. Now he knew it! He had seen Harry read the message. That fact was significant.
“He’s no ordinary dub,” observed Cronin softly, “and neither is the guy that sent this letter. Who would write stuff that would go away, quick, like this? I know who would do it — The Shadow!”
He whistled as he looked toward the entrance to the gambling den. Until this moment, Steve Cronin had suspected no connection between Harry Vincent and The Shadow.
Now he recalled that his previous meeting with Harry had preceded an encounter with The Shadow. The two episodes were links with the past.
“I remember meetin’ this guy,” said Cronin, half aloud, “and I remember meeting The Shadow. Maybe they’re working together!
“If they are — well, it’s worth a chance. Watch this guy, and maybe The Shadow will show up!”
He entered a telephone booth on the balcony, and called Mike Borrango. He immediately told the enforcer what he suspected, and what he intended to do. Borrango expressed approval.