“Follow — Shires,” came the gleaming, flashing message. “Learn — all — possible — be — careful — depending — on — you — for — important — information.”
The flashes resumed their original intervals. Cliff waited a while and stepped away from the window. He was lost in admiration of The Shadow’s ingenuity.
“What an idea!” he exclaimed to himself. “This fellow is a marvel!”
CLIFF was still thinking of The Shadow when he went down to the lobby. He realized that this supermind of the underworld had conquered many master criminals.
He suspected — and his supposition was correct — that The Shadow had uncovered many clever methods utilized by his enemies. Each new one meant another artifice for The Shadow, if he chose to use it.
“It’s a game,” murmured Cliff, as he took his place in the obscure corner of the lobby. “A game and a real game! Watch what the other fellow does, and if it’s a good idea, use it! Fox him with your own methods at the same time!”
Minutes moved slowly by while Cliff waited patiently. It was nearly ten o’clock when Ernie Shires put in an appearance.
The hard-faced gangster glanced about the lobby. Cliff was apparently half asleep. Shires scarcely noticed him. The man went out of the door.
Cliff arose leisurely and strolled after him. He saw Shires looking up and down the street, watching for a passing cab. A slight drizzle was falling. There was no cab in sight; it was a time when cabs were much in use.
Cliff thought of the cab stand around the corner. It was a better spot to hail a cab, for it was on an avenue. Cliff anticipated what Ernie Shires would do. Cliff went around the corner. There were no cabs at the stand, so he sidled into an obscure niche in the wall — the very spot where Madge had been waiting for him the night before.