Spotter, in turn, knew very well why he had been delegated to the mission. He was to serve as a decoy, to lead The Shadow to his doom.
Tiger Bronson, despite his feigned ignorance and indifference, knew well that The Shadow was a menace. Now he had planned a trap that he believed would be a sure one.
Spotter was too wise to go openly to Loo Look’s. He knew that The Shadow could pick up his trail despite great obstacles, and that the surest way to bring The Shadow was to act secretively.
Spotter did not relish the thought of luring The Shadow. It was not comforting to realize that the terror of the underworld was on his trail.
At the same time, Spotter realized that he was useful to The Shadow at times, and he felt sure that he would be allowed to live.
Such existence was uncertain at the best. Hence Spotter, as much as Tiger Bronson, hoped that The Shadow would enter the snare prepared for him.
Last night, The Shadow had apparently visited the home of Tiger Bronson. This indicated that he had trailed Spotter there, despite the clever ruse that the little gangster had employed.
Tonight, Spotter avoided the Black Ship. Instead, he was at the Pink Rat. There were unfamiliar faces present. Spotter chose an excellent opportunity to steal away, and was seized with conflicting joy and terror when he saw an uncouth rowdy watch his departure. He suspected that the man was The Shadow.
But at that precise moment, The Shadow, guised as Lamont Cranston, had just left a group of millionaires at the exclusive Cobalt Club.
It was after eight o’clock. Both Spotter and The Shadow were late.