“Don’t tell us what I told you,” said Haggerty, grimly addressing the injured man. “Tell us what you know.
“Begin a few months back. Tell us what happened in Florida.”
A look of hatred came over Gunner Macklin’s face. He could not figure how the detective knew of either Palermo or The Shadow.
He was only sure of one thing — that somehow he had been double-crossed. Now he was trying to build up facts in his bewildered brain. Haggerty stepped back to let Steve Lang sit close beside Macklin.
“I see it now!” screamed Gunner, trying to rise. “He told me last night— he told me we would have to get—” He sank back exhausted.
“I see it—” His voice was more quiet. “It was all a fake. He wanted to get rid of me, because I knew — I knew too much, and he didn’t need me any more. Fifteen grand, he paid me.”
“Begin with Florida,” came Haggerty’s voice.
MACKLIN’S eyes were shut. Had he seen the detective then, he might have confused his tall form with a figure clad in black that he had encountered not so long before. But Gunner Macklin was lapsing into unconsciousness.
“Go on with it, Steve,” said Haggerty. “I’m going outside a minute. I’ll be back.”
He went to the door and stood there waiting. A nurse entered, and approached Steve Lang.