The hawkish face of the man at the seance had been as effective a disguise as an actual mask, but it had not hidden the sparkling eyes.
Cardona made his summary. There was a connection of some sort between the psychic circle in New York and the one in Philadelphia.
Professor Raoul Jacques, suave, sophisticated, and discriminating in his choice of patrons, was working in the same cause as Anita Marie, the harsh-voiced woman who plied her mediumship at the low rate of one dollar a head.
The Shadow had attended the New York seance. He had left at a critical moment. Only Benjamin Castelle had been aware of his presence. Once again, The Shadow had attended a seance here in Philadelphia.
On this occasion, only Joe Cardona had been able to divine his presence. The Shadow had gone from a seance room which teemed with confusion, but not with crime.
Why had he departed? Cardona suspected that The Shadow had gone on an unknown mission. If so, did the clue to it lie in something that had happened there?
Cardona recalled the jargon about Little Flower. Also the mention of the stock, Coronado Copper. These were good points to remember for the future. The name of the woman — the believer who had received the message from Little Flower — was Maude.
Cardona recalled that her last name had been given also, but somehow, it evaded his memory. Then, there had been a few words about a man from India. It was then that The Shadow had laughed again. Had that second interruption been timed for a purpose? Had The Shadow suddenly picked up a thread of importance that had made it necessary for him to travel elsewhere? The thought perplexed Cardona, but he could think of no satisfactory conclusion.
He felt that he had profited by this visit to Philadelphia; but he was also sure that to-night's event was simply an isolated incident that made a single item in a complete scheme of things. Cardona penciled a few notes for future reference. He dropped the paper in his pocket and went to bed. In a few minutes, he was sound asleep.
Of an unimaginative disposition, Cardona was seldom troubled with dreams.