Murder Trail March 15, 1933

The story opens on a dirigible. A Baron von Tollsburg is a secret guest on board the craft. He's sneaking into the U.S. He's murdered soon after he gets on the craft.

Henry Arnaud is also on the craft. He talks about World War I and being on a dirigible then. This is another of the Shadow's identities. He had noted that, during the war, he was supposed to stop the dirigible L-43 from reaching England, indicating that he was working for some military group or some secret government group.

The guy who murdered the Baron has parachuted from the craft. The Captain later discovers the body, and things Arnaud is the one who murdered the baron.

The Shadow uses his autogryo in the story. There's also a scene in the Shadow's sanctum.

Winston Collister, rich. Supposedly the Baron comes to visit him. Collister gives him $2 million to take to a Frenchman to help set up a World Court of Industry. Collister recognizes the guy is a phony, but the guy kills him and the two servants.

Arnaud shows up at Collister's. Cliff Marsland is finding out about a major crime that is to be committed.

There's a couple of Italian men involved in something, including something to do with Collister.

Cliff almost gets killed by crooks. The Shadow saves him. There's a major gun battle between the Shadow and various crooks.

A rich guy named Bosworth is visited by the fake Baron. Bosworth finds out the guy is fake and draws a gun on him. The fake guy, named Crix, kills Bosworth and takes the money.

There are two guys left in the house and a bunch of crooks comes in. They plan to kill the two guys. Crix plans another crime. A guy named Faraday is the next target.

There are 11 mobsters there at Faraday's home, plus Cliff. It turns out that Faraday is really Crix. There's another massive gun battle between the Shadow and the crooks. It seems that the entire gang and Crix were all killed; otherwise, any surviving gang member would be able out Cliff to other gangs.

This is a really good story, probably with more gun battles in it than any of the other Shadow stories I have read.

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