"What!" Chanbury came to his feet, behind the desk. "When did that happen, Tyrune?"

"At nine o'clock - just after Henshew got back from Philadelphia. And who do you think pulled the job?

Shark Meglo!"

Chanbury looked incredulous. Tyrune shook his head.

"That ruins our theory," said the d.i.c.k. "Henshew is on the level. I was down there, after I heard about it.

The place was a wreck! Shark and his outfit just about ruined it. Joe Cardona was there getting the details -"

"Tell me something," inserted Chanbury. "Does Henshew know you came here?"

"I don't think so. I was going to call you on the telephone, but I changed my mind. Too many people there. I thought I'd better run out and see you."

Chanbury seated himself at his desk. He pressed a buzzer to summon a servant. He asked if Miss Merwood had retired; the servant replied that she was reading in the library. Chanbury requested her presence in the portrait room.

While they were waiting, Chanbury told Tyrune that he intended to dictate a statement, and that he wanted careful check on every detail. Tyrune nodded wisely, although he wondered just what new theory Chanbury might have to offer.

Eleanor arrived. She seemed surprised to find Chanbury and Tyrune in conference: "I didn't know that you would need me this evening, Mr. Chanbury," said the girl. "You weren't here when I came back from town. I only stayed in for dinner. I could have worked tonight."

Chanbury explained that he had not intended to do any work, and had, therefore, retired early. Tyrune's late visit had called for this special session. Noting a calendar on the desk, he began a statement that Eleanor transcribed in shorthand.

"ON the evening of the sixth," declared Chanbury, "James Tyrune entered the apartment of Madden Henshew, in search of evidence regarding the Silsam robbery. He effected entry with a special pa.s.s-key, copied from one that he previously examined in the janitor's office. The special key is in our possession,as Exhibit A."

Chanbury raised his hand for a pause. He turned to Tyrune, with the question: "Is that satisfactory?"

"The facts are," replied Tyrune, "only I don't just know whether I had the right to go there."

"Add this, Eleanor," ordered Chanbury. "Tyrune's action was done at the order of Michael Chanbury."

Eleanor transcribed the statement; Tyrune looked relieved. Chanbury opened a desk drawer, to bring out the labeled pa.s.s-key. While he fished for it, he continued: "Tyrune uncovered settings in the drawer of Henshew's writing desk. He did not, however, find the secret hiding place where Henshew kept his gems."

"Wait a minute, Mr. Chanbury," broke in Tyrune. "The gems weren't at Henshew's at all!"

Chanbury sat astonished: "What do you mean?"

"I mean that Shark didn't make a grab tonight," explained Tyrune. "He raided Henshew's apartment, and shot it all to pieces! Somebody - maybe it was The Shadow - was on his trail, to give him a battle. Half of Shark's crew was left there; but there's nothing gone."

"Who told you that?"

"Henshew. He said he couldn't understand why Shark came there, unless it was a grudge. Henshew swears that he keeps all his gems at his office!"

Chanbury was pounding the desk.

"The fox!" he exclaimed. "I see his big game. Of course, he couldn't let the police see that secret strong box behind the bookcase. It was too much like the place that the law found before."

Tyrune started to say something. Chanbury stopped him with a wave. To Eleanor, he dictated: "On the same night, the sixth, Henshew visited Michael Chanbury, to show him a collection of gems. We have a list of those jewels, personally compiled by Chanbury. Exhibit B."

Forgetting the pa.s.s-key, Chanbury produced the list of the gems that he had copied from memory. He handed it to Eleanor, with instructions to type it later. To Tyrune, Chanbury said: "Henshew will come here again, to inform me privately that the gems were actually stolen from his apartment. He will request me to keep the matter confidential. I shall have to agree, because Henshew could deny that he ever had such items. His word would be as acceptable as mine."

TYRUNE seemed puzzled. He was stroking his pointed chin. Eleanor had taken down Chanbury's statement to the detective; she was about to cross it out, when Chanbury told her to keep it in the record.

He requested that she type it immediately.

"It is very simple," said Chanbury to Tyrune. "Henshew believes that I found out how grossly he undervalued my uncut diamonds. Fearing future trouble, he ordered Shark to fake the apartment robbery for two purposes. First, to make the law regard Henshew as another threatened victim; second, to give me a reason for calling off the jewel sale." Understanding showed on Tyrune's face. The d.i.c.k grinned and nodded.

"I get it," he said. "Henshew sure is a fox! But how are you going to tag him, Mr. Chanbury?"

Chanbury sat, meditative. The prospect apparently baffled him; and Tyrune offered no suggestions. Both were pondering when Eleanor returned, bringing the typed statement and the copied list.

Chanbury signed the statement; Tyrune added his signature. Eleanor applied her name as witness, at Chanbury's suggestion.

"Let me think this over, Tyrune," decided Chanbury. "Of course, we must turn these facts over to the law. It would be better, though, if we had a plan before we called in Cardona."

"You're right," agreed Tyrune. "Otherwise, he'll want to know why we mooched in on the case without putting him wise. Maybe I'd better call Joe and break the news to him."

"A good idea!"

Chanbury folded the signed statement and the list. He placed them in an envelope, stating that he would add the pa.s.s-key later. Walking to the door with Tyrune, Chanbury suggested: "Call me when you get home. I shall wait up to hear from you. By thinking it over, I may have some idea for a plan, if you have not struck upon one. We must put the whole story frankly when we give it to Cardona."

They were at the front door. To Eleanor, Chanbury said: "That will be all. And remember: this is confidential. You must not mention it to any one; particularly, not to that reporter, Burke. When the time comes for him to know these facts, he will receive them from Inspector Cardona."

RIDING home in a bouncy taxi, Jim Tyrune kept muttering to himself, as he tried to solve the problem that Chanbury had presented. There were lots of angles to that robbery at Henshew's. The sooner Cardona knew them the better.

What Tyrune was looking for was some idea of his own, to add to whatever new suggestions Chanbury might offer. Tyrune solved the riddle to his own satisfaction, while the cab was rolling smoothly across an East River bridge.

The twinkling bridge lights showed the wise, pleased grin that registered upon the private detective's face.

Yes, he had it just as he wanted it. Once home he would call Chanbury; then Cardona. Only it would be up to Joe to give Tyrune full credit when the crooks were bagged.

Jim Tyrune was headed for the greatest event that had ever occurred in his drab career; one that would splash his name in heavy headlines. Not often in a lifetime did a fellow have a chance to crash the front pages. Once he hit the headlines, Jim figured, it would be easy to repeat.

That part of Tyrune's guess was wrong. His name was destined to crash the news much sooner than he thought; but after that, never again.

CHAPTER XX. MIDNIGHT MURDER.

IT was past midnight when Joe Cardona received a telephone call at headquarters. Joe thought it was a routine call reporting more unsuccessful efforts at tracking Shark Meglo.

Why detectives called up to say that they hadn't found Shark, was a mystery to Cardona. He was willingto bet that if they did find Shark, Joe wouldn't know it until he read the next day's newspapers.

A dignified voice responded to Joe's gruff h.e.l.lo. The ace recognized the tone of Michael Chanbury. He heard the art collector inquire: "Has Tyrune called you?"

"Jim Tyrune?" returned Cardona. "No. I saw him tonight about ten o'clock at Henshew's apartment.

There was an attempted robbery there -"

"So Tyrune told me. He was here at eleven, and left at half past. He was to call me by midnight. Do you know where I can reach him? The only number that I have is his office."

Cardona didn't know where Tyrune lived. Jim had a habit of living at hotels when he had money; at rooming houses when his finances were low. Cardona offered to have some one dig up the information regarding Tyrune's present residence. That relieved Chanbury somewhat, but he had another request: "Could you come out here, inspector, in the meantime?"

Cardona decided that he could. He promised to start at once. As he left the office, Joe had a distinct idea that something was up. His hunch was that it involved Shark Meglo.

Cardona made speed to Chanbury's. In the portrait room he found Chanbury in a dressing gown.

Eleanor joined them. A servant had awakened her at Chanbury's order.

Chanbury produced the statement, together with the labeled pa.s.s-key and the list of gems. Joe read the signed statement and sat dumfounded. He heard Chanbury say: "I suspected Henshew, the night that he was here. Since he mentioned gems, I asked him to bring some.

It was a good opportunity to have Tyrune search Henshew's apartment!"

"That's all right," a.s.sured Cardona. "But what can we prove against Henshew? It's a cinch he shoved the gems to Shark."

"There must be a hiding place in the apartment. It might be behind the bookcase like the one you found elsewhere."

"Henshew would call that a coincidence. It's too bad he got scared; we could only have seen the gems when he brought them here!"

Chanbury added his regret over the lost opportunity. He told Cardona that the side s.p.a.ces of the room hid a pair of old alcoves that were walled over.

"They would be ideal to watch from," declared Chanbury. "But Henshew will never bring those jewels here again. I can tell you exactly why."

CHANBURY produced the uncut diamonds in their chamois bag. He opened the top, let Joe see the contents.

"Henshew valued these at half," explained Chanbury. "He wanted to take them for the gems. Today I called him, offering cash instead. He must have decided that I suspected he was crooked."

"He must have been plenty scared," remarked Cardona. "You were giving him a chance to pick up cash, with the diamonds besides." "That's so!" exclaimed Chanbury. "Henshew should prefer cash. When Shark came, as at Silsam's, he could take jewels and diamonds both. It never occurred to me, Cardona. Wait!"

Chanbury weighed the bag of gems. His blunt face showed a tight smile. His keen eyes narrowed. Slowly deliberately Chanbury stated: "Henshew will come here to tell me that his gems were really stolen. He thinks that I shall be completely bluffed when I read of Shark's fake raid. Henshew will have a purpose in his visit. One that will bring Shark Meglo, also."

Holding his left palm upward, Chanbury poured the uncut diamonds with his right hand. Like shimmering nuggets, the rough stones formed a pile that supported Chanbury's theory.

"Henshew wants these," affirmed Chanbury. "He will risk nothing, being here when Shark attacks. Shark, having attacked Henshew once - so far as the law supposes - would be likely to trail wherever Henshew goes."

Cardona looked grimly at the side walls. He saw how this room could be turned into a perfect snare to bag both Henshew and Shark. With an approving look at Chanbury, Joe decided: "We can spring it. You have the nerve that's needed, Mr. Chanbury. If you handle Henshew right, he'll talk too much, thinking you're here alone. Wait while I call Commissioner Weston."

Before Cardona could pick up the telephone, its bell rang. Chanbury answered, remarking to Joe: "Tyrune probably." Instead, the call was one from headquarters. Joe took it. His face was serious when he replaced the telephone.

"They've found out where Tyrune lives," informed Cardona, "but he isn't there. You don't think he'd have been fool enough to go to Henshew's?"

"I don't know." Chanbury's tone was doubtful. He turned about. "What would you say, Eleanor?"

"If he had intended to go there," replied the girl, "he would have asked for the pa.s.s-key."

The argument was a sound one. It brought an admiring look from Cardona. He decided to have Eleanor here with Chanbury, when Henshew came tomorrow night. The girl had sense; and her presence would lull the crook. For the present, though, Tyrune was the question.

"We'd better run over to Jim's," said Cardona. "He'll be there by the time we are. We'll take him down to the commissioner's."

CARDONA pocketed the statement and the exhibits. Chanbury went upstairs to dress. He met Cardona at the front door; Joe said that he had called Weston's, but the commissioner was out. Cardona had left word where they would be.

They rode into Manhattan in one of Chanbury's large cars, with a chauffeur at the wheel. They found Tyrune's boarding house on an obscure street. It look a long while to arouse the irate landlady. Her indignation only increased when she saw Cardona's badge.

"Why should the likes of you be rousing up innocent people?" she inquired. "First, it's the telephone. Then you come here, disbelieving me when I tell you Mr. Tyrune ain't come home. Go up to his room and see for yourselves!"

Tyrune's door was locked. Cardona handled it with a skeleton key. The room was empty; the bed madeup.

"Hasn't been here," said Cardona to Chanbury. Then, to the landlady: "Where's the telephone?"

"In the back hall, downstairs. A pay phone."

Cardona found the telephone in back of the stairs. In the dark, he missed the slot and his nickel fell to the floor. While Chanbury was out in the light, looking for change, Joe used a flashlight to find the coin. He was in a hurry to make a call to headquarters, on the chance that Tyrune had telephoned there.

Joe saw something dark at the edge of a closet door. It was too large for a coin. He fixed the flashlight on the spot. The stain was wet and ruddy. Cardona grabbed Chanbury's arm: "Look!"

Chanbury saw the spot. His coins jingled as he dropped them mechanically in his pocket. Cardona pulled open the closed door. Out tumbled a body that seemed to uncoil as it sprawled face upward in the light.

"Jim Tyrune! Dead!"

Cardona was right. The d.i.c.k was shot through the temple; and the gun that had killed him lay beside the body.

Telling Chanbury to stay where he was and ward off the landlady, Cardona went back through the dark hall. He found a flimsy back door; it was locked, but it had no key. That door could be opened easily with a skeleton.

THIRTY minutes later, a conference was under way in Tyrune's bedroom. Commissioner Weston had arrived; he was talking things over with Cardona and Chanbury. On a table lay one more clue to go with the gun that had lain beside Tyrune's body. The new evidence was a slitted bandanna handkerchief.

"Shark Meglo always wore one of these," declared Cardona, lifting the bandanna. "He must have used it when he sneaked in here to lay for Tyrune. Henshew saw Jim down at the apartment, and was leery of the way he slid out so soon. The fox shot word to Shark."

Joe picked up the gun.

"No prints," he said. "Shark wiped them off with the bandanna. He's a killer, but he's clumsy. He wanted to make it look like suicide, but he was dumb enough to stow that bandanna in the ash can, out back."

Weston shook his head.

"I guess this spoils our surprise for Henshew," declared the commissioner. "Henshew will back out, when he reads how boldly Shark murdered Tyrune."

Weston was rising. Chanbury stopped him. The grizzled art collector showed a look of inspiration.

"Why not call it suicide?" questioned Chanbury. "Shark was smart enough to think he managed to deceive us. Henshew will believe that Shark actually did handle it cleverly."

"Great!" approved Cardona. "The best idea yet! What do you say, commissioner?"

"Very, very good," approved Weston. He thrust out his hand. "Congratulations Chanbury! Your foresight a.s.sures me that tomorrow's plan will work to perfection. Just one thing" - Weston turned to Cardona: "You must see to it that Burke does not learn about it. He is downstairs." CLYDE was in the lower hall, when Weston and Chanbury went through. Before Clyde could follow, Cardona stopped him. Joe led the reporter back to the rear hall, where Tyrune's body still lay. Joe gave a thumb jerk as he shook his head.

"A suicide," said Cardona, sorrowfully. "Too bad! Poor Jim was a good guy. Just thought he was a failure because he flopped on that jewel robbery investigation."