Cardona was puzzled.
While the detective vainly tried to reason, more persons arrived in the house. Footsteps approached. Police Commissioner Weston appeared with Professor Arthur Biscayne.
Cardona had ordered Mayhew to notify them both. The detective sergeant had called Weston’s home. Biscayne had been there.
With stern, troubled face, Cardona extended the fourth note toward Weston and Biscayne. It said:
IN MEMORY OF J. T. WHO DIED LAST NIGHT HE WAS THE FOURTH
Cardona pointed grimly to the dead body on the floor of the little room.
“James Throckmorton,” Cardona said slowly. “He is J. T. He was the fourth. We arrived too late. No one could save him.”
Cardona was right. The rescuer whom he indicated had arrived too late. One other had arrived before them — The Shadow.
He, too, had been too late in his race with death.