Spotter chuckled as he sneaked along. Crooks and police were alike to him. They never had the goods on Spotter. When he had work to do, he did it suddenly and unexpectedly.
No one could suspect his present purpose; yet he left nothing to chance.
There was only one man, Spotter decided, who could ever trail him. That man was The Shadow — and now The Shadow was dead. The Shadow had been a menace; now the menace was removed.
The little man disappeared along a narrow alley. He dropped into a dark nook and waited. If any one was on his trail, the pursuer would come down the alley and betray himself. But no one came.
Spotter chuckled softly. He emerged from the darkness, went along the deserted street, and turned into the side door of a building on the corner.
Over the corner entrance hung three battered golden balls. But Spotter chose a side entrance that led to the rooms above the pawnshop.
There was a second door, with a bell button beside it. Spotter rang. The latch clicked, and the little man entered. The door closed behind him as he mounted the stairs.
* * *
A man was waiting at the head of the stairway, where a dim light shone. He scanned Spotter, recognized him, and took him into a small room. The shades of this apartment were drawn.
“I didn’t expect you this early, Spotter,” said the man. “You’ll have to wait a little while.”