The raising of the lid should have caused the explosion. It had failed because the spring had already acted!
Death had been planned tonight. Arthur Wilhelm was to have been the victim. This time, death had failed to strike.
The hand of The Shadow had intervened!
CHAPTER XIX
THE WORD OF THE SHADOW
HALF PAST NINE at Silas Harshaw’s apartment. Joe Cardona was pacing the floor of the study, nervously puffing a cigarette. Weston and Biscayne had not arrived.
Doctor Fredericks was here, reading a newspaper in the outer room. Cardona was anxious to begin operations, but he had thought it best to bide his time until the others arrived.
Detective Sergeant Mayhew entered. Cardona knew what he wanted. The thought worried the star detective.
Mayhew was here to state that the men were at their posts in the hotel, again watching the mail chute. Another letter was due tonight!
That letter would bring an announcement of death. Its arrival would be a crucial test for Joe Cardona.