Hiram Mallory stood in a corner, a quiet, deceiving smile registered upon his face. Beside him was Briggs, expressionless. The others were Moose Shargin and Garry Elvers.
The gang leader was hard-faced. His bodyguard appeared pale.
“Easy, now,” came Hiram Mallory’s whisper. He looked approvingly at the suitcases which the men had brought. “This is the clean-up, tonight. After this — we go our own ways.”
A low buzz of approval greeted his words.
“We have tricked The Shadow,” declared the evil old man. “I shall report for myself and Briggs. Then let me hear your statements.
“Last night, Briggs was captured by The Shadow. He was bound in a vestibule of the old Galvin house. He escaped and came to me.
“I had heard, by that time, of Robert Galvin’s escape. I decided that young Galvin had been taken back to his uncle’s home and was protected there. That proved to be correct.
“Briggs and I slipped away from my home. We have baffled all pursuit. We came here a few minutes ago, confident that we have not been followed.”
Mallory turned questioningly toward Moose Shargin.
“Garry and I have been hiding out,” declared the gang leader, in a low, gruff voice. “We got pulled out of that tunnel in Wing Toy’s place. I phoned you about it.