
“Nothing at all,” returned Knuckler. “Nothing, Koke. He's a tough bird to talk to, Cliff is.”
OUTSIDE the Black Ship, Cliff Marsland was indulging in a smile. Cliff had learned facts that he had
wanted. He was interested in the whereabouts of any hoodlums who were dangerous enough to form the
nucleus of a thuggish mob.
Knuckler had named such men: “Sneak” Losbach and “Weed” Hessel. Knuckler's guess was logical; by
their activities, the two crooks appeared to be on the look-out for “Deek” Calligan. Cliff had silenced
Knuckler after the news had been spilled.
By his manner, Cliff had left Knuckler puzzled. The squeamish crook could not decide whether Cliff was
working with Sneak and Weed or whether he was a pal of the absent Deek Calligan. In either case,
Knuckler would be wise enough to keep his future guesses to himself.
Through his bluff, Cliff had kept his actual business covered. Cliff's status in the underworld was a blind.
He was interested in crime for one reason only. Cliff was an agent of The Shadow.
Serving a mysterious master whose very name brought terror to crookdom, Cliff had visited the Black
Ship in search of news like that which he had gained.
The Shadow was watching the bad lands. He knew the situation there; he wanted to learn of any groups
of thugs who were about to form new bands. The Shadow wanted information regarding the big shots
who might be backing such outfits.
Cliff had gained a lead. He lost no time in relaying it to headquarters. Reaching the outskirts of this
disreputable district, he entered an old drug store. From a telephone booth, The Shadow's agent put in a
call. A quiet voice responded. It was Burbank, The Shadow's contact man.
Cliff reported. He hung up the receiver and awaited a return call. It came, five minutes later. Burbank
supplied instructions. Faring forth, Cliff strolled toward the Bowery; he was on his way to the Hotel
Santiago.
Soon afterward, a taxicab stopped somewhere in the Sixties. A huddled, quick-shifting man sidled from
the cab. He hugged the walls of buildings, until he neared an old-fashioned apartment house. This was the
Ladronne. There the hunch-shouldered man paused.
Another of The Shadow's agents had taken his post. This was “Hawkeye,” one of the cleverest spotters
in the business. Hawkeye had frequently teamed with Cliff. Like Cliff, Hawkeye knew both Sneak
Losbach and Weed Hessel by sight.
ELSEWHERE in Manhattan was a dark-walled room, wherein a bluish light glowed upon a table in the
corner. Beneath that glow were long, white hands, moving as they handled stacks of newspaper clippings
and typewritten report cards. A brilliant gem—a magnificent fire opal— glimmered from the finger of one
hand. Its depths reflected ever-changing hues.
These were the hands of The Shadow. The jewel, a rare girasol, was The Shadow's emblem. The
Shadow was in his sanctum, that hidden abode wherein he planned his forays against men of crime.
A tiny white bulb glowed from the wall. The Shadow reached for the earphones. He raised them above
the shaded light. He spoke in a sinister whisper; a quiet voice responded:
“Burbank speaking.”
“Report,” ordered The Shadow.