It appeared for one brief second and leaned against a lamp-post. Then it tottered and disappeared into the blackness beyond.
But the spot where it had stood was marked — marked with a large splotch of blood that showed deep crimson on the sidewalk.
CHAPTER XXV. TUESDAY — MIDNIGHT
Harry Vincent's face was solemn as he removed the ear phones.
"Nothing doing, Bruce," he said.
"It's after eleven o'clock now," replied Bruce Duncan. "We should have had a message by now. You've been sending all evening."
"Well, our work is cut out for us. That last train will reach Culbertville pretty soon. But what do you think has happened? Maybe your set has gone wrong."
"I've tested it," said Vincent. "I'm sure it's all right. I think I know what's happened, Bruce."
"What is it?"
"I think The Shadow himself sent us that message last night. Up to now I believed that another person operated his end of the radio and communicated with him. But last night's instructions came so quickly in reply to my message that it seems pretty certain he was on the other key himself."