This time the snarl was genuine; the beast likewise. A real leopard, vividly spotted in the moonlight, popped right up from the path to bar Phil’s way. In no mood for an argument, Phil took to another flight of steps, which led upward, and thus avoided an encounter with the bona fide jungle prowler.
From somewhere came a long shrill whistle like a cat-call. The leopard turned and ran among some buildings that were backed with extensive cages, for this was the Central Park Zoo. Then all was silent, all sounds of the strange drama blotted.
A whispered laugh sounded from above the steps that Phil had first navigated. Again, The Shadow was visible against the moonlight. The first fugitives had gained too great a head start; The Shadow, like Phil, had diverted his attention to stragglers, but now none of them were to be found. The Shadow simply saw the leopard scooting one direction, Phil traveling in the other.
With that, The Shadow decided that this episode was over.
Perhaps The Shadow was right, where he personally was concerned, but Phil Harley, who had blundered into about every type of experience, was due for one more.
Enough commotion had occurred to produce the blare of police whistles and the answering sirens of patrol cars, for Central Park was heavy with the law tonight. The Shadow could easily pass through a forming cordon, but not Phil Harley.
Racing madly through a tunnel formed by a footpath, Phil took to the bushes and clambered up a rocky slope which brought him to an upper drive. The excitement hadn’t reached this higher elevation and Phil saw exactly what he wanted for a restful getaway. An open carriage with two seats that faced each other, was coming along the drive at only a fair gait. Popping from a clump of brush, Phil pulled himself on board.
The plug-hatted driver was half asleep, so Phil’s arrival scarcely stirred him. But what stirred Phil was the sight of a passenger already in the carriage. The moonlight showed a girl in the opposite seat of the victoria; she was resting back, with her head tilted upward, her eyes closed.
A girl in blue, but lacking the lilac bouquet that she had worn earlier: Arlene Forster!
As the hack emerged from one of the park gateways, Arlene stirred. Lifting her head, she stared at Phil, then drew up the sleeve of her dress to cover a bare shoulder. Drawing her hand across her throat, Arlene stared at Phil as though she had never seen him before.