The Shadow turned toward Blair Windsor. He spoke now for the first time. His voice was ominous — it came in a low, sinister whisper.
“Open the grating,” were his words.
Blair Windsor stood helplessly. He did not have the key. It was in the possession of Isaac Coffran.
He could see the old man cowering fearfully in the corner — out of The Shadow’s view. What should he reply?
Birdie Crull realized the situation. Fear had gripped the brutal gunman, but by an effort he endeavored to mislead the man in the black cloak.
“We have no key,” he said.
“Break the lock,” was The Shadow’s command.
Birdie Crull stepped forward as if to obey. He made as much noise as possible. Looking beyond The Shadow, he saw Isaac Coffran reaching stealthily along the floor. The old man’s objective was an automatic — one of those which Marquette had thrown in the corner, after he had disarmed the counterfeiters.
By holding The Shadow’s attention, Birdie Crull hoped to keep the man in black from detecting the presence of Isaac Coffran. Birdie Crull’s poker face gave no sign of what was in his mind.
The gunman reached the grating just as Isaac Coffran picked up the automatic. Crull lowered his hands, and stooped to fumble with the lock. He was only a few feet from The Shadow.