With both Crowell and Devlin there, it would be useless for him to wait. So he had followed Zull, who had evidently learned facts that might be of interest.
Viewed in this light, Zull began to consider his defeat as a partial triumph. He had, at least, detected the fact that The Shadow was trailing him. Since he had noticed it once, he could discover it again.
Zull smiled grimly as he thought of what might occur in their next meeting. It would be a feather in his cap if he could unmask The Shadow!
Zull stopped in front of a small cigar store. From the doorway he glanced up and down the street.
Satisfied that The Shadow was no longer on his trail, he entered the store and went into a telephone booth. He obtained his number.
He spoke in a low voice. His first words were inaudible; as he concluded the conversation, his tone rose slightly and his final statement pertained to The Shadow.
“He’s a wise bird,” said Zull. “But there’s only one place he can get a lead — that’s from me; and he hasn’t done it. I’m going down to headquarters. I’m keeping mum until I’ve worked out a solution the way I want it.
“If The Shadow is trying to learn anything from Crowell and Devlin, he won’t have any luck. Crowell is a dumb mug, and Devlin is on the job too late.
“No matter how good The Shadow is, he’ll need a couple of days to get started on this Harkness murder. So everything is all jake.”
With that, he left the store, smiling broadly. Herbert Zull was the lone wolf of the detective force. He obtained results in his own way; he ignored assistance and resented interference.