It was nearly nine now. Carpenter rose and gripped his pocket revolver. He had not been idle to-day. He had found the layout of Room 848, and had discovered a most vital point about it. The room had a balcony, extending to Room 850. The latter was vacant.
Carpenter was no cracksman; but he was shrewd. That morning, pretending that he had lost his own key, he had obtained a master key from an attendant. Before returning it, he had gained an impression by pressing the key in a small box of wax.
An obscure locksmith had made a key from the impression. Herbert Carpenter was equipped to enter Room 850.
Walking through the corridor toward the desired room, Carpenter again found himself wondering about The Shadow. He felt that he was out to gain important information. He must use it alone, should he obtain it. There might be trouble tonight — and The Shadow would not know!
Carpenter felt a strange exultation. It was not one of vengeance. Its inspiration was a new sensation. For once, he was working for the right!
Never in his life had Carpenter felt the urge to turn detective. He had held a contempt for professional sleuths. But now, pitting his wits against those of double-crossing crooks, he experienced a satisfaction that he had never before known.
He realized that he had been a rat in the past. He had been like Hooks Borglund and Shifter Reeves, the men whom he was out to thwart tonight.
The present Herbert Carpenter felt a contempt for the Herbert Carpenter of the past; and he felt very little pity for the Herbert Carpenter of the future — the one who would go back behind the bars.
There was work to do — after that, prison would be the reward. Flight? It had occurred to Carpenter, but he had dismissed it. The menace of The Shadow had influenced him at first; but after that, he had felt a disdain toward himself for having thought of it.
He, Herbert Carpenter, had been double-crossed. He was out to smash the double-crossers. A being greater than he had given him the chance — The Shadow. Why should Carpenter, who hated double-crossers, attempt to double-cross the master who had befriended him and given him the money that he needed?