“Just a mustache,” said Cranston, in fluent Russian. “Place it here, with a twist on the ends.”
Ivan was expressionless as he followed the instructions. Then he bowed, and pointed to the door. Cranston stepped into the alleyway; he followed it to the side door of the house in back. He entered the house, and closed the door behind him.
The millionaire moved cautiously up the stairs. His footsteps were quiet, and careful. He reached the third floor, and found the ladder to the roof.
He crouched low, after he had emerged; he replaced the hatchway, and moved toward the warehouse. His coat was drawn closely about him; his hat was held tightly on his head. He suddenly became almost invisible in the darkness.
The steps to the warehouse were painted white. They went up the outside of the building, which connected with the adjoining house.
Cranston reached the top, and opened the door. He found himself in a large room, which had large windows. It was fairly luminous because of lights that shone from the avenue beyond.
The millionaire pressed the button beside the entrance to the elevator. It was a small elevator, evidently used by those who had business in the warehouse.
Cranston listened intently, as he heard the elevator ascend. His ear was pressed to the door; the sound of the mechanism seemed to have a meaning to him.
The elevator reached the fifth floor, and stopped with a jolt, followed by a slight click. Lamont Cranston did not open the door. Instead, he moved across the floor to another door, that appeared to be an entrance.
Lamont Cranston had become The Shadow. His evolution had begun as he had entered the house in back of Zuvor’s residence.