THE SHADOW'S JUSTICE by Maxwell Grant THE SHADOW'S JUSTICE Table of Contents THE SHADOW'S JUSTICE..............................................................................................................................1 by Maxwell Grant....................................................................................................................................1 CHAPTER I. SHADOWS OF NIGHT....................................................................................................1 CHAPTER II. TALK OF WEALTH.......................................................................................................5 CHAPTER III. THE BIG SHOT.............................................................................................................9 CHAPTER IV. IN HAVANA................................................................................................................15 CHAPTER V. THE SHADOW'S MIGHT............................................................................................20 CHAPTER VI. THE SHADOW'S STRATEGY...................................................................................25 CHAPTER VII. THE HOME−COMING..............................................................................................29 CHAPTER VIII. THE SECRET MESSAGE........................................................................................33 CHAPTER IX. THE STOLEN CLEW..................................................................................................37 CHAPTER X. CARTER TAKES A TRIP............................................................................................40 CHAPTER XI. THE SHADOW'S PLAN.............................................................................................44 CHAPTER XII. THE ALLIANCE........................................................................................................48 CHAPTER XIII. THE MINING CABIN..............................................................................................51 CHAPTER XIV. FORCES OF CRIME................................................................................................55 CHAPTER XV. IN THE CLEARING..................................................................................................58 CHAPTER XVI. THE SHADOW ORDERS........................................................................................63 CHAPTER XVII. OUT OF THE SKY..................................................................................................66 CHAPTER XVIII. THE SHADOW'S CHART.....................................................................................70 CHAPTER XIX. MEN OF CRIME......................................................................................................73 CHAPTER XX. THE HIDDEN MINE.................................................................................................75 CHAPTER XXI. THE ENEMY REVEALED......................................................................................78 CHAPTER XXII. SHOTS OF DEATH.................................................................................................81 CHAPTER XXIII. THE LAST FIGHT.................................................................................................84 CHAPTER XXIV. THE SETTLEMENT..............................................................................................89 i THE SHADOW'S JUSTICE by Maxwell Grant This page copyright © 2002 Blackmask Online. http://www.blackmask.com • CHAPTER I. SHADOWS OF NIGHT • CHAPTER II. TALK OF WEALTH • CHAPTER III. THE BIG SHOT • CHAPTER IV. IN HAVANA • CHAPTER V. THE SHADOW'S MIGHT • CHAPTER VI. THE SHADOW'S STRATEGY • CHAPTER VII. THE HOME−COMING • CHAPTER VIII. THE SECRET MESSAGE • CHAPTER IX. THE STOLEN CLEW • CHAPTER X. CARTER TAKES A TRIP • CHAPTER XI. THE SHADOW'S PLAN • CHAPTER XII. THE ALLIANCE • CHAPTER XIII. THE MINING CABIN • CHAPTER XIV. FORCES OF CRIME • CHAPTER XV. IN THE CLEARING • CHAPTER XVI. THE SHADOW ORDERS • CHAPTER XVII. OUT OF THE SKY • CHAPTER XVIII. THE SHADOW'S CHART • CHAPTER XIX. MEN OF CRIME • CHAPTER XX. THE HIDDEN MINE • CHAPTER XXI. THE ENEMY REVEALED • CHAPTER XXII. SHOTS OF DEATH • CHAPTER XXIII. THE LAST FIGHT • CHAPTER XXIV. THE SETTLEMENT CHAPTER I. SHADOWS OF NIGHT “TURN left, Holland.” “Yes, sir.” The uniformed chauffeur thrust a warning arm from the window of the sedan. He swung the big car across the slippery road. The glaring headlights showed a driveway between two lion−topped stone posts. Gravel crunched beneath the tires as the automobile rolled through the entrance of the Long Island estate. The man in the rear seat was leaning forward, watching the driveway reveal itself through the drizzling mist. Rain−soaked shrubs and dripping trees bounded both sides of the roadway. The chauffeur drove carefully as he settled back behind the wheel, relieved now that he was free of the heavy traffic on the highway. THE SHADOW'S JUSTICE 1 THE SHADOW'S JUSTICE The headlights, swinging along the curving drive, invoked moving shadows of the night. Broad streaks of blackness wavered and swung away. Heavy blotches faded as the car passed. They seemed like living things, these shadows. The passenger watched them as he stared over the chauffeur's shoulder. A bright light gleamed like a beacon through the night. The car swerved and pulled up before a flight of steps that led to the doorway of a large mansion. The beckoning light was under the sheltering roof that extended from above that door. Compared to it, the glimmers from the windows of the house seemed faint and obscure. The passenger stepped from the sedan and spoke to the chauffeur: “You may call for me in one hour, Holland.” “Yes, Mr. Tracy,” replied the uniformed man. The sedan rolled away and left the passenger standing under the sheltering roof. While he waited for an answer to his ring at the door, Tracy turned toward the steps, and his face was clearly discernible in the night. A MAN of medium height, his face firm and aristocratic, this individual made an impressive appearance as he waited before the closed door. His eyes, keen and perceptive, were staring out into the night, toward those spots where the sedan's headlights had so recently invoked strange, moving shadows. All was blackness now. Tracy's eyes saw only mist; his ears heard nothing but the sounds of dripping water. The door opened behind his shoulder. Turning, the man entered with the assurance of an expected guest. Farland Tracy, attorney at law, now stood within the confines of a gloomy hall. The man who admitted him was standing a few feet away, bowing in courteous greeting. “Ah, Headley,” said the lawyer. “Mr. Boswick is expecting me?” “He is upstairs, sir,” responded the attendant, in a quiet monotone. “I shall inform him that you are here.” Tracy watched Headley walk across the hall and up the stairs. The man's tread was soft and catlike, quite in contrast to his heavy appearance. The lawyer rubbed his hands thoughtfully and turned his gaze toward the floor, until the sound of approaching footsteps caused him to glance up. A young man had entered the hall from a side room. Slight of form, sallow of complexion, and drooping in appearance, he made an excellent picture of dissipated youth. He was attired in a tuxedo, and in his loose left hand he held a long holder which contained a lighted cigarette. “Drew Westling!” exclaimed Farland Tracy. “How are you, boy? I haven't seen you for a month!” “Perhaps it's as well you haven't,” drawled Westling, with a sickly grin. “I haven't forgotten the last time. I hope you don't intend to mention it to the old gentleman.” “To your Uncle Houston?” quizzed Tracy. Then, in an amiable tone: “No, Drew. Lawyers usually keep their clients' affairs to themselves. I am here to discuss business affairs with your uncle. Your name will not be mentioned—that is, in reference to the matter of which you have just spoken.” “Thanks,” responded Westling, in a relieved tone. “The old gentleman has been quizzy enough about my affairs without him learning anything that won't do any good. I've kept out of jams since that last one—” THE SHADOW'S JUSTICE 2 THE SHADOW'S JUSTICE “And you don't intend to get into any more,” smiled Farland Tracy. “All right, Drew. I'm glad to hear it.” Drew Westling turned away and strolled back across the hall. FARLAND TRACY noticed that Headley was returning down the stairs. The lawyer smiled. He fancied that Drew Westling would not want the attendant to hear the discussion that had just taken place. Houston Boswick, owner of this mansion, was, as Tracy had mentioned, Westling's uncle. The old man had been away for several months, and hence knew nothing of Westling's activities during his absence. It was Farland Tracy who had twice gained Westling's release, without scandal, after raids on gambling houses where the young man had been. Such information, coming to Houston Boswick, would prove most embarrassing to Drew Westling. The young man depended entirely upon his uncle for support. “Mr. Boswick will see you, sir,” announced Headley. “He is in the upstairs study.” Farland Tracy walked up the steps. Drew Westling, slowly puffing through his long cigarette holder, stood in a corner of the hall. With shrewd gaze, be watched Headley depart toward the kitchen. Then, turning his eyes upward, he waited until Farland Tracy had passed the head of the stairs. Hastily ejecting his cigarette into an ash stand, Drew Westling pocketed the holder and followed the direction that the lawyer had taken. He tiptoed