CHAPTER IX

A Council of War

Lois Lane and Clyde Burke arrived back at Margo Lane's townhouse first and had just sat down when Margo and Clark Kent burst through the door.

"Well," said Burke, looking over at them from an armchair, "you two look like you've had an interesting evening."

"I'll say," Clark Kent answered, "if you call burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, and escaping in the nick of time interesting."

"Good grief!" Lois exclaimed, jumping up to join her sister. "What happened? Margo, are you all right?"

"Yes, Lois, I'm fine. I'm just a little shaken up," replied Margo, who still looked pale. Lois ushered Margo to the sofa and the two sisters sat down. Kent pulled up another chair beside Burke and quickly recounted the story of their break-in at Dietrich's home, their discovery in his library, and their narrow escape from Schmidt.

"My, you have been busy," Lois said with a touch of surprise and admiration, "but let's get right to the point. "Did you get the goods on Karl Dietrich?"

"I think we have," Clark replied. "Those books we found--they're all about hypnosis, invisibility, the power of suggestion--all powers of The Shadow."

"Dietrich's trying to learn the secret of The Shadow!" Lois guessed. "Can you imagine what a man like Karl Dietrich would do with that kind of power?"

"But Lois, I'm not sure it would be just one man," Burke interjected, "Remember what we saw downtown tonight? According to his business license application, Dietrich's got plans to build a branch office in every major city in the country."

"Oh, Clark, do you really think that's Dietrich's plan? To put his men--his own little Shadows--all across the country?" Margo asked anxiously.

"If what Burke says is true, I'm almost sure of it," Kent said. "He's probably been acquiring those books as a backup plan in case he can't learn the secret from Cranston."

"Lamont would never willingly reveal the power of The Shadow to anyone," Margo said confidently, "not even to me."

"Yes, Margo, I know he wouldn't willingly do it," Kent said, "but what about unwillingly?"

Margo put her hand to her mouth in horror as she considered the possibility. Kent continued.

"And even worse, what if Dietrich can use those books to learn the secret without Cranston? If that happens, he may not even need Lamont alive."

Margo recoiled as she considered this new horror. Kent stood up suddenly.

"We may not have much time," he said anxiously. "I . . . I have to go."

"Go? Go where? Why?" Lois asked.

"To . . . to call in the story, of course!" Kent snapped. "I've got to get to our New York bureau, put a story on the wire, and call Mr. White back in Metropolis. Margo, get on the phone, call Inspector Cardona, and tell him to send every man he's got back to that warehouse. Something big will break tonight, and they'll find Lamont Cranston. I guarantee it. Now hurry."

Clark Kent bolted for the door, but Lois raced after him. "Oh, no you don't, buster! You're not getting an exclusive byline while I'm around! This is my story too, you know." Lois Lane chased after her fellowDaily Planet reporter as fast as she could, but by the time she reached the bottom of the steps in front of Margo Lane's townhouse, Clark Kent had disappeared.

End of Chapter IX