It was impossible for anyone to determine the full scope of The Shadow's work; for seldom did his activity enter into the final reckoning. But it was said by a prominent criminologist — whose name cannot be quoted — that The Shadow was the one controlling factor who had prevented the empires of the underworld from gaining overwhelming domination over the forces of the law!
Harry Vincent had served The Shadow often and loyally. He had proved to be one of the most useful men of all the master's agents. Still, he had no idea who The Shadow might be. One night — long ago — Harry had contemplated suicide. A hand from the darkness had drawn him back from the parapet of a bridge. Instead of plunging to suicide, Harry had obeyed the weird voice of a man clad in black — had become his henchman.
Harry knew well that The Shadow was a master of disguise; that he might meet The Shadow anytime, and not know who he was. On some occasions, the man in black had appeared to aid Harry in his work. But The Shadow had always vanished like a puff of smoke, fading into the nothingness from which he had emerged.
But now, strange events were brewing. Clyde Burke, a newspaper reporter, who was also one of The Shadow's men, had gone to Paris as a correspondent for a New York newspaper.
There, Clyde had uncovered a vital fact in the killing of Herbert Brockley.
Burke had reported that Wallace Powell, an American confidence man, had held negotiations with Brockley.
Burke was the only man in Paris who had learned of Powell's departure for America.
Whether Burke had discovered it alone — or whether The Shadow had been in Paris at the time -
Harry did not know. Harry had been deputized to watch Wallace Powell, on the latter's arrival in this country, and he had done the job well.
The singular fact that impressed Harry Vincent was the matter of money. While awaiting Powell's arrival in New York, Harry had conferred with Rutledge Mann, an investment broker who also served The Shadow. Harry had been supplied with cash, and Mann had told him to buy Powell's information if necessary.