“Put the police boat on the job. Call out every ship in the place. Police Chief Yates giving emergency orders. Head for the end of the Seaview Pier. Intercept any boat that tries to leave there!”
Hastening from the office, Yates was grim and determined. The harbor was nearly four miles away. It would take time for the boats to arrive.
HE saw it all now. First the dope king; now the kidnapping racketeers were using that pier; all under Wheels Bryant’s management. The big shot had made a getaway. The pier was only a few blocks distant.
“Get Wheels Bryant!”
That was the police chief’s determined cry as he hurried to lead the attack from land. But a great worry filled his mind. Yates knew that he was dealing with a supercrook. The greatest task lay ahead — and it was doomed to failure on the face of it.
Unless some one was on hand to slow that escape — unless a miracle should happen — both forces would be too late to intercept Wheels Bryant.
Chief Yates groaned as he hurried on. He felt sure that success had eluded him. He was doomed to lose the final triumph.
The police chief’s mind was a strange paradox. What he thought of one moment, he neglected the next.
In this particular moment, he had forgotten the presence of The Shadow!