"Good evening, Mr. Cranston," spoke Cardona. "I expected to see youearlier today, when they tested the rubies."

"Such experiments bore me," replied The Shadow, in the easy tone of Cranston. "It appeared obvious that the gems were genuine, since they were found on criminals who possessed other stolen jewels. I was willing to take Commissioner Weston's word for it."

The Shadow paused: he eyed Cardona keenly, but his half-closed eyes did not betray their burning glint. The Shadow could tell that Cardona was impatient to go somewhere; that he had stopped at the club only in hope of finding Weston.

"By the way, Cardona," remarked The Shadow, "Commissioner Weston commended you quite highly this evening. He said that he intended to place his official car at your disposal. He forgot that statement, when he was suddenly called to Long Island. Perhaps I could rectify his forgetfulness."

Cardona looked puzzled. The Shadow added an explanation.

"My limousine is waiting out front," he said. "You can use it, if you are in a hurry."

Cardona could see no way to decline the offer. Moreover, it was one that pleased him. He wanted to make up for lost time, and the big car certainly offered the way to reach Berkland's rapidly.

Joe expressed his thanks. The Shadow accompanied him to the front door; the limousine came over to the entrance.

"I won't be gone long," explained Cardona. "I'm only running up to Berkland's for a few minutes. But I shouldn't be depriving you of your car, Mr.

Cranston. If you happen to want it while I am gone -"

"That's easily settled," interposed The Shadow. He urged Cardona into the limousine, then stepped in himself. "I shall ride along with you. I would like to say h.e.l.lo to Berkland. I imagine the old chap will be in an enthusiastic mood tonight."

Through the speaking tube, The Shadow gave Stanley, the chauffeur instructions to drive to Berkland's. Cardona added an amendment. He explained that he was going to enter the house by the back door. The Shadow relayed the information to Stanley, telling the chauffeur to stop on the rear street.

When they neared the back of Berkland's house, The Shadow drew a briefcase from the cushions.

"You may wish to confer alone with Berkland," he told Cardona. "So I shall take along my briefcase. While you are busy, I can go over papers that I brought with me to the club."

They alighted at the pa.s.sage to Berkland's back door. Cardona was pleased when The Shadow ordered the chauffeur to drive back to the club and await his call. They went through to Berkland's house, found the back door open, with a light burning in the kitchen. Going through to the front hall, the visitors went upstairs.

BERKLAND greeted them outside the library. His face showed annoyance when he saw The Shadow; then Berkland covered the expression.

Cardona noticed it; he explained that Mr. Cranston could wait in another room during the conference. The Shadow added that he intended to go over papers in his briefcase.

"I have a better suggestion," put in Berkland warmly. "Suppose you look over some of my rare books." He indicated the little room in the front corner of the library. "Go right in, Mr. Cranston. Make yourself at home. I shall close the door, so that you will not be disturbed."

The Shadow seemed pleased at the suggestion. He entered the unlockedroom.

Berkland watched him lay his briefcase aside and begin to look over the books.

The oil magnate closed the door, beckoned to Cardona and pointed toward the pa.s.sage to the study. They went through to the little room.

Another man awaited them. Glen Mogridge was seated near Berkland's desk, puffing at a cigar. Berkland's brother-in-law nodded to Cardona, but his face showed anxiety. One look at the dark-haired man told Cardona that something important was due.

Glancing toward Berkland, Cardona saw that he, too, expressed concern.

Berkland had covered that fact while in the library. Once in his study, he looked solemn and troubled as he locked the door through which they had come.

"Sit down, inspector," invited Berkland. "Have a little cigar. There will not be time for a longer smoke. We are to have a visitor - one whom you must meet."

"Who is he?"

"I do not know his ident.i.ty; but I can a.s.sure you that both Mogridge and myself are relieved because you have arrived. We were becoming fearful. You will understand why, when I tell you the one fact that I do know about our expected visitor."

Berkland paused. His hand was a trifle shaky as he stretched forth a match to Cardona's cigar, then applied a flame to his own.

"You recovered three of the stolen rubies," a.s.serted Berkland. "Thereby, you learned the ident.i.ties of three men who held them: Killick, Rund and Locus.

Tell me positively, inspector" - Berkland eyed Cardona steadily - "have you gained the names of any others?"

Cardona hesitated, then made the frank reply: "Not one of them, Mr. Berkland. The trail is blind. If I could only get hold of one more member of that crew - if I could only get a peek at him -"

"You will have that opportunity soon, inspector." It was Mogridge who supplied the remark. "The man in question is due here in ten minutes."

Astonished, Cardona stared at Berkland. He saw the sharp-featured oil magnate nod his head solemnly.

"What Mogridge says is true," p.r.o.nounced Berkland. "Our expected visitor will be the man who holds the fourth Drop of Blood."

Intently, Cardona awaited further facts. Berkland's tone had convinced him. Joe Cardona was eager to learn the details of this surprising visit. All the while, he was tense, for an important thought had struck him.

The break that Cardona wanted had arrived; but this coming meeting bore a dangerous aspect. It promised to be one interview that would take place without The Shadow's knowledge.

CHAPTER X.

CROOKS COMPROMISE.

"AT half past seven this evening," expressed Tobias Berkland, "I received a telephone call from some unknown party. The man who spoke used a voice that was obviously disguised. He wanted to arrange an appointment with me at nine o'clock tonight, the meeting place to be this study."

"He knew the layout of this house?" queried Cardona, sharply.

"No," replied Berkland. "He had but an imperfect knowledge of it, such as one might have gained from newspaper reports and by studying the house from the outside. He knew that there was a side door; he said that it was the only entrance he would be willing to use. He specified that the door must be open, with a free path here." "And he said that he had one of the rubies?"

"Yes. He decided that he would bring it, as proof that his claim was genuine. He told me that he could promise information that would lead to the recovery of all the missing Drops of Blood. He specified, though, that he must see me alone; that if the house happened to be watched, the visit would be called off.

"But I believed that if you came here alone, inspector, the crook would suspect nothing; and that we could depend upon you to handle the matter as capably as a squad of officers."

Cardona looked pleased at the compliment; but his face also showed concern. He put a question: "Does Ungler know about this?"

"No," replied Berkland. "He answered the telephone when the call came, but he left the study before I held the conversation. Ungler seemed ill today. I suggested that he retire early. He is in his room on the third floor."

"What about young Woolford? Was he here when the call came?"

"Yes," acknowledged Berkland. "He was downstairs, with my daughter. I called Lenore here later and explained matters to her. She suggested to Woolford that they go out together. Lenore understands that she is to breathe no word of the matter."

Cardona noted a clock on Berkland's desk. It showed five minutes of nine.

Joe shook his head dubiously.

"We're in something of a spot, Mr. Berkland," he said. "I'd like to go through with this proposition; but this study isn't a good place for it.

You've got to be here alone. Where are you going to stow Mr. Mogridge and myself?"

Berkland smiled before replying. The eagle-faced man arose and stepped to the center of the room. He waved one hand toward the door that led to the library.

"I have locked that door," he declared. "In addition, there are two more doors between us and the little room where I left Cranston. We shall have no disturbance from that direction. This other door" - he pointed across the room - "is the one by which the crook will enter. He will surely find it after he enters, for I have blocked off all other pathways on the ground floor.

"Over here" - Berkland stepped to a spot opposite his desk -" we have a bookcase. It covers an alcove where I once kept a bulky safe. That s.p.a.ce is empty at present; moreover, it is quite accessible."

Berkland gripped the bookcase, drew it like a door. The bookcase swung wide to disclose a square alcove that measured four feet across. It was just high enough to admit a person of average stature.

"Though not intended as a hiding place," said Berkland, "it can be used as such. It is admirably suited to our purpose, inspector. Mogridge and I tested it, while waiting for you. Persons behind the bookcase can remain unseen, yet be able to peer out between the rows of books. Moreover, they can hear all that is said in the room, but their own whispers cannot be detected. If you and Mogridge go behind the bookcase -"

BERKLAND paused. From somewhere downstairs came a sharp click. It could have been the bolting of the side door. The clock showed nine.

Berkland stepped hastily to his desk. He produced a .32 revolver gestured for Mogridge to take it. Cardona drew his own revolver; he and Mogridge hastily moved beyond the bookcase. Berkland swung it shut and strode back to his desk.

The door, leading from below, opened. A man stepped in from the threshold.

He was tall, well-dressed, although his attire was a trifle garish. Brownshoes, brown suit and green necktie were topped by a shrewd, beakish face. The visitor was a man of about forty-five; his eyes, though pleasant, were shifty and added to the man's crafty appearance.

As the arrival stared about the room, Cardona gave a suppressed grunt of recognition. Mogridge caught it; he whispered: "You know who he is?"

"Gaspard Marotte," identified Cardona, in an undertone. "He claims to be an Englishman; but he has a French name. Travels the steamships. Been held a couple of times on smuggling charges."

"A jewel smuggler?"

"Yes. Last we heard, he was in Europe. Just the sort of bird to be in on a jewel s.n.a.t.c.h."

Marotte had centered upon Berkland. The oil magnate had arisen to greet his visitor.

With a friendly nod, the shrewd-faced smuggler took a chair at Berkland's gesture. Cardona and Mogridge could eye the man's profile.

"I shall be brief, Mr. Berkland," announced Marotte, suavely, helping himself to one of the oil magnate's cigars. "Who I am, does not matter. What I can tell you, does. Do you agree to hold this interview in confidence?"

Berkland nodded. Marotte smiled and proceeded: "Seven men robbed Pettigrew's auction rooms. One man dominated that group.

He engineered the whole affair, aided, of course, by his six subordinates. The leader murdered Pettigrew and his a.s.sistant; but those crimes were his own idea entirely.

"Afterward, he claimed the deaths were necessary. But then Twitcher Killick was b.u.mped off; then Marlow Rund. The master crook didn't know of Rund's death, for he had henchmen at Grand Central to murder him. One was Ping Locus - and he was killed in a fray there with a person known as The Shadow.

"Today, two of the three remaining subordinates met and decided that the crook leader might feel that his future safety depended on the silence of the men who served him. A murderer already, that master crook would certainly consider death to be the best of all silencers."

Berkland caught the full meaning of Marotte's statement. The supercrook - whoever he might be - was killing off his henchmen, one by one. He had finished Killick; Rund had been polished off before he got to him. Luck had added Locus to the fatal list. More than that, Berkland understood that Marotte was one of the henchman; that he, too, feared death from the supercrook.

"What about the fourth ruby?" questioned Berkland, suddenly. "You promised to bring it as a credential."

MAROTTE slyly eyed the room. Satisfied that he was unwatched he opened his mouth and thrust thumb and fore-finger far back to an upper tooth. He plucked out a molar. The tooth was a false one of an overlarge size.

When he brought the fake tooth to the light, Marotte revealed that it was nothing but a thin metal sh.e.l.l, coated with a white enamel paint. The top of the tooth was open. Inverting it, Marotte tapped. A ruby plopped from the cuplike container and rolled across the table to Berkland.

"A smuggler's device," smiled Marotte. "I needed a special size to get that ruby in it. You see, Mr. Berkland, the two men whom I mentioned have decided to deal with you before they settle with the master crook who intends...o...b..tray them."

"Quite interesting," remarked Berkland. He, too, had put on a canny smile.

"One of them gave you his ruby. What about the other? I would rather talk about two than one."

Marotte made answer by reaching to the other side of his upper jaw. Out came another large-sized tooth. The crook shook another-ruby to the table.

Berkland picked up the two gems, held one in each hand, comparing them.

Coolly, he asked: "What is your proposition?"

"Forty grand for the pair," replied Marotte. "Cash down."

"Twenty thousand dollars apiece?" returned Berkland, in an incredulous tone. He shook his head. "That is far too much!"

"It may only be ten grand apiece," insisted Marotte, wisely, "if you follow this up, Mr. Berkland."

"How so?"

"As part of the proposition, I shall give you two names. One, that of the fool who still thinks the big-shot is on the level; the other, the name of the master crook himself. Each has a ruby in his possession. Neither will suspect that his ident.i.ty is known. You have merely to tell the police who they are.

The law will capture them, red-handed."

"And you and your pal? I mean the two men you represent?"

"They will make their get-away. You, of course, will forget them. That is part of the deal. You can say that two rubies were delivered to you anonymously, with information regarding the other two."

Berkland was silent. He had reached a point where he did not know what to say. Marotte thought that the oil magnate was still dissatisfied with the price.

"You can spare forty grand," reminded Marotte, suavely. "You just received a hundred and fifty thousand dollars today, from the International a.s.sociation of Jewelers."

Berkland nodded.

"I did," he admitted; "and I deposited the check in the bank. But I have no cash here tonight."

"Produce it tomorrow evening," proposed Marotte, reaching to take the rubies. "You went through with this meeting according to agreement. I can count on you to do the same tomorrow."

"Very well. Bring the rubies again tomorrow."

AS Berkland returned the gems to Marotte, Cardona nudged forward, intending to push the bookcase open. Mogridge gripped Joe's arm. With quick whisper, the mustached man restrained his companion.

"Better allow Marotte to leave," advised Mogridge. "He thinks Berkland is on the level. He will be back tomorrow."