The Shadow moved away from the desk, and stood motionless. He was a strange figure, this mysterious man, as he stood there.
His broad-brimmed hat was pulled low, and his cloak obscured the lower part of his face. Only his eyes showed from the dark depths that hid his features.
Those eyes were searching. They looked keenly in every direction, as though trying to discover some secret of the professor’s study. They were looking for a hiding place; and they sought it in some unusual location.
They stopped upon a bookcase. There were several shelves in the bookcase, and above them was a thick molding that ran the entire length. It was ornamented with carved sections.
The Shadow stepped to the bookcase, and ran his hand along the molding. His hands appeared for the first time; they were thin, well-formed hands, with sensitive fingers that moved as though filled with a life of their own.
The fingers stopped on one spot; they pressed; then moved to the left. A portion of the molding went inward, and slid beneath the next section. The opening showed a strip of metal, with a tiny keyhole.
The Shadow went back to the desk. He carefully raised the old professor, and leaned him back in his chair.
The hands of The Shadow found the professor’s watch chain. There were keys on one end; but none of the keys were suited to the little lock. The Shadow removed the professor’s watch.
Now the black-cloaked man became suddenly intent. He was holding the watch in his right hand. His left was poised above.
THE SHADOW was listening. His keen ears had caught a slight sound. His left hand moved beneath his cloak. Then it reappeared, and held a peculiar position, the fingers slightly apart. The right hand skillfully removed the watch from the chain, and laid it on the desk.