The Shadow swept toward the door, and stood there momentarily, preparing for a quick departure.
It was during that short wait that he sensed another sound. With a quick motion, he side-stepped from the doorway. Hurried footsteps were beating along the outer passage.
A uniformed officer burst into the room, followed by a squad of soldiers. The leader was carrying an automatic; the other men were armed with rifles.
The Shadow was trapped!
The officer spied the men with upraised arms. He turned in the direction of their gaze. As he did so, he saw The Shadow.
The black-clad figure acted quickly. Before the rescuing squad had realized his presence, while the red-faced officer was staring in astonishment at the figure before him, The Shadow swung to the attack.
His long arms whirled swiftly as he hurled himself into the group of soldiers. Two men staggered back from stunning blows. Turning from the midst of the crowd, The Shadow fired at the officer. The bullet struck the man’s gun arm.
Swinging with the butt ends of their rifles, the soldiers sought to overcome this amazing assailant who had materialized among them. Firing, The Shadow blazed a path through the fighting men. A moment later, he was lost in the blackness of the passage.
Soldiers followed in pursuit, but The Shadow had gained the outer door before they were on their way.
Reaching the alley, The Shadow turned in the direction of the street.