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one who killed him…〃
〃That's a point；〃 put in Cardona。 〃Maybe Cyro dug into this table drawer。
He must have been waiting here for Rowden。〃
〃May I look at these time…tables？〃 came Lucaster's inquiry。
〃Sure；〃 agreed Cardona。
He watched indulgently while the gray…haired manufacturer made an inspection。 Carefully； Lucaster was sorting out the schedules。 At last； Cardona heard him speak。
〃Quite odd；〃 was The Shadow's crackled remark。 〃You would think that Rowden had gathered time…tables for almost every point that can be reached from New York。 But he has not。〃
〃Some are missing？〃 inquired Joe。
〃Yes；〃 came the reply。 〃Certain Southern schedules； all of a definite sort。 Florida time…tables are here； but those to Atlanta； Montgomery； Mobile and New Orleans are missing。〃
〃You are sure？〃
〃Yes。 I had intended to take a trip to the Gulf Coast before returning to Des Moines。 I am familiar with those particular time…tables。〃
〃E back to the desk；〃 suggested Cardona。 〃Let's take a look at Rowden's mail。 Maybe he had a tip…off to something and the fellow who killed him decided to grab it for himself。〃
They reached the desk。 Cardona pointed out the various letters。 Lucaster's gray head nodded four times during the detective's count。
〃A letter from Atlanta；〃 began Joe。 〃One from New Orleans； another from Birmingham。 The fourth is from Mobile。 Those cities are all listed on the missing time…tables？〃
A nod from Lucaster。
〃Four chances； missioner；〃 said Cardona to Barth。 〃But they're all slim ones。 After all； these letters don't mean a thing。 They came to Rowden； not to the killer。 There's nothing about any one of them to indicate a con game。〃
〃There is a peculiarity here；〃 remarked The Shadow； in Lucaster's tone。
His eyes were gleaming as he stared toward the desk。 〃See this New Orleans letter； Mr。 Cardona。〃
〃It's from a shipping pany；〃 observed Joe。 〃Gives information on cotton shipments。 I don't see anything special about it。〃
〃But the envelope…〃
〃Is addressed to Rowden。〃
〃Yes。 But I should say that it was done on a different typewriter。〃
〃That's a point； Mr。 Lucaster；〃 agreed Joe。 〃But the envelope might have been typed by another stenographer。〃
〃It has no return address。 Of course； Mr。 Cardona； that is not entirely unusual。 But…〃
As the speaker paused； Cardona saw him carefully fold the torn letter along its creases。 Then Lucaster's fumbling hands tried to fit the folded letter into the rearranged envelope。 They failed。
Cardona； without inquiring the purpose； tried to help。 It was then that he realized what Lucaster was attempting to do。
〃The letter won't go in the envelope！〃 exclaimed Joe。 〃A long letter and a short envelope。 They don't fit。〃
〃That has significance；〃 put in missioner Barth。 〃Let us see。 What could that signify…〃
A crackly chuckle from Lucaster。 Barth faced the gray…haired visitor from Des Moines。
〃I am a business man；〃 stated The Shadow； with a beaming smile that fitted Lucaster。 〃I have received many letters at my office。 They always fit inside their envelopes； missioner。
〃If I had a letter and an envelope that did not correspond； I would say that the letter did not e in that envelope。 Maybe poor Rowden received two letters from New Orleans。〃
〃Then where is the other one？〃 demanded Barth。
〃Perhaps the murderer took it；〃 suggested The Shadow。 〃Taking the letter； he might decide to take the envelope also。 Looking in the wastebasket； he found…〃
〃The other envelope！〃 broke in Cardona。 〃That's it； missioner！ The killer found the letter first。 It meant something to him so he kept it。 When he was ready for his get…away； he thought about the envelope。
〃He was in a hurry。 He grabbed the first envelope that bore a New Orleans postmark。 He found the other half of it and thought he had what he wanted。
We're down to one city； missioner。 New Orleans！〃
BARTH nodded slowly。 Cardona watched him steadily。 The Shadow； peering from the visage of Lucaster； also studied the missioner。 At last； Barth spoke。
〃You are going to New Orleans； Cardona；〃 he proclaimed。 〃There you will trace a man called Cyro。 He is wanted for the murder of Roke Rowden。〃
〃It's like looking for a needle in a haystack；〃 objected Joe。 〃Maybe； missioner； if we first inform the New Orleans authorities…〃
〃The needle has a thread attached；〃 interposed Barth； wisely。 〃Perhaps you may find the thread and trace it to the needle。 First； of course； you must check on outbound trains to New Orleans。 That failing； you will go there； on special assignment。〃
His order given； Barth motioned to Northrup Lucaster。 Together they walked from the apartment； leaving Joe Cardona standing by the desk。 They reached the missioner's car and drove to the Metrolite Hotel。
〃Good night； Mr。 Lucaster；〃 said Barth。 〃Keep in touch with us after you have returned to Des Moines and we shall tell you how our search has progressed。〃
〃You think that your man will find Cyro？〃
〃I do。 Cardona is capable。 Given a lead； he will make the most of it。 I am counting upon him to run down the murderer of Roke Rowden。〃
INSIDE the Metrolite Hotel； Northrup Lucaster stopped at the porter's office。 He made reservations for Chicago on the Midnight Limited。 His bags were brought downstairs； among them was the one that Moe Shrevnitz had delivered。
Singularly； Moe's cab was the one that wheeled up when Lucaster arrived on the street with his luggage。 The gray…haired passenger stepped aboard and crackled his destination as a railroad terminal。
He changed that order as the cab wheeled away。 Likewise； he changed his appearance。 Black cloak and hat came from the bag。 When Moe's cab stopped on a secluded street； a silent form emerged unseen。
Shortly afterward； a light clicked in a darkened room。 Bluish rays threw an eerie shimmer upon a polished table…top。 The Shadow was in his sanctum。 His lips phrased a sibilant laugh。 The character of Northrup Lucaster was ended。 So was all thought of Des Moines。
The Shadow； like Joe Cardona； was making plans for an immediate trip to New Orleans。
CHAPTER V
IN NEW ORLEANS
THE brilliant waters of Lake Pontchartrain lay blue beneath the midday sun。 Viewed from the shore； the lake seemed a limitless expanse； stretching clear to the horizon。 But to the three people who stood beside an antiquated limousine； the sight was monplace。 Their eyes were turned skyward； watching a squatty seaplane as it glided downward toward the water。
〃That's Mr。 Marr's plane； father。〃 The speaker was an attractive girl of twenty； attired in white sport costume。 〃My！ It's making a marvelous landing。〃
〃You are right； Alicia；〃 said the elderly man who stood by the girl's side。 〃There is Marr at the door of the cabin。 e； let us meet him when he steps ashore。〃
Father and daughter walked away from the car。 With them came the third member of the party。
This individual was a man of about thirty。 Knickers and sweater gave him an appearance of stockiness。 His face was a handsome one； bronzed and rugged。
He was hatless； as he strolled toward t