totally hidden in the darkness. He saw them enter the den and go around the
door, to admire the new screen.
Easing out from cover, The Shadow gained a brief glimpse into the room.
After nodding his approval of the screen that The Shadow could not see, Aldriff
turned to Nevlin.
"You forgot to return the chess table to its nook," said Aldriff. "No,
never mind" - he shook his head as Nevlin made a half turn into the room - "I
always arrange it myself. Besides" - Aldriff's lips tightened grimly - "I shall
stay in the den a while. I have a matter to decide upon, before I rejoin my
guests."
It was Aldriff who ushered the guests from the den, while The Shadow was
merging back into the darkness of the vestibule. Joan came with the group, and
Nevlin followed, closing the door behind him. From the heavy click, it sounded
as if the door had latched automatically from the other side.
Arthur Aldriff was alone; but a knock on that door would probably summon
him. The difficulty was to reach the door, for the guests were remaining in the
hall to greet others who arrived. The Shadow was waiting on the chance that they
would go into the reception room, on the other side of the hallway, in which
case the route would be clear.
All the while, The Shadow was watching the door of Aldriff's den. Others
were glancing toward it, too, particularly Joan Kelburn, whose eyes showed
increasing anxiety as the minutes passed.
Those minutes were slow but they were few. During that time space, it would
have been impossible for anyone to have opened or closed Aldriff's door without
the action being noted.
Then, timed by a freak of chance to a lull of conversation, came the sudden
sounds that startled the guests in the hallway. The Shadow heard them quite as
plainly, for he was close to the den door.
Three sounds, in a slow-motion sequence, each giving the effect that
another was to come, until the third struck a final note.
The first sound was the muffled report of a revolver; the second, the crash
of a table, accompanied by an odd clatter; the third was the thud of a falling
body upon a thick-rugged floor.
Arthur Aldriff was no longer alone in the locked room. Death had entered,
to join him.
CHAPTER II
THE SEALED ROOM
IT was Nevlin who called for order among the startled, horrified guests.
There were nearly a dozen of them by this time, and men were giving excited
exclamations, while women were on the verge of screams - with one exception.
Joan Kelburn was moving toward the den, a fixed expression on her face. She
felt that Arthur Aldriff had cheated her of the purpose that had brought her
here: the vindication of her uncle. If Aldriff still had life, the girl intended
to force a confession of his own guilt from his lips.
It was Joan's move, as much as any other, that prompted Nevlin to efficient
action. He sprang past Joan, reached the door and stood with his back against
