Shadow Magazine Vol 1 19

You have sought the Romanoff gems. I have brought one here to show you. Gaze upon the stone that gleams from my finger. That priceless girasol was once owned by the Czars of Russia. It, alone, of all the baubles in this room, is genuine! This girasol was a gift, which I accepted as a memento of friendship from the man who owned it.

--The Shadow

Appearing in "The Romanoff Jewels"

Featured Characters:

The Shadow (also disguised as "Henry Arnaud")

Supporting Characters:

The Shadow's Agents:

Villains:

Frederick Froman (dies)
Parker Noyes (dies)
Michael Senov (dies)
Ivan Motkin (dies)
Sergoff (dies)
Gregori
Prensky (dies)
Kolsoff (dies possibly)
Solinski (dies)
Baldridge (dies)

Other Characters:

Stanley, the chauffeur
Silas Helmsworth
Marcus Holtmann (dies)
David Tholbin (dies)
Tobias Waddell (dies)
Betty Waddell

Locations:

New York City

Cobalt Club

Paris, France
Russia

Items:

Girasol Ring (origin)
The gems of the Romanoffs

Vehicles:

Synopsis for "The Romanoff Jewels"

The lofty towers of the Kremlin loomed like spectral spires against a darkened sky. Senov – master spider in a web of espionage – was about to ensnare America in the most nefarious deal of all time: behind the guise of a trade detente, he and his treacherous American trusties will swap the Romanoff jewels for help in restoring the ancient Russian monarchy! Only a certain black-clad form, swept like the shroud of night itself across the oceans and mountains of a desperate world, could hope to challenge such global enemies... and from the mysteries of New York's Cobalt Club to the thrills of a breathtaking submarine voyage the Shadow carves a dark and hidden path for the forces of justice: beware The Shadow as you beware the darkest unknown!

The Shadow attends the party of millionaire Tobias Waddell on Long Island. Guests of the party include engineering contractor Marcus Holtmann who has just returned from Russia. He has been speaking about the five year plan. Waddell’s attorney Parker Noyes, Frederick Froman, a wealthy gentleman and David Tholbin, a young adventurer who is keen on Tobias’ daughter Betty are all conversing with Holtmann. The Shadow has arrived at the party and is studying these men.

Holtmann discusses his travels and proclaims he is leaving for Chicago by train at midnight. The Shadow makes a call to Burbank to send orders to Harry Vincent to watch the train station and for Cliff Marsland to watch the hotel Holtmann has been staying in. As The Shadow is leaving, Froman asks him for a ride into New York City. After dropping off Froman, The Shadow has Stanley drop him off near 23rd street and enters his hidden sanctum. He calls Burbank and learns Cliff reported that Holtmann never checked out of his hotel room and Harry hasn’t seen him board his train. Holtmann is missing.

Frederick Froman retreats to his cellar where he accesses his hidden dungeon housing three Russian thugs and a captured Marcus Holtmann. Froman speaks to Holtmann of Russia. He reveals he is loyal to the old regime of Russia. Holtmann is touring America, spreading the word of the new regime and acquiring funds from various backers to invest into Russian politics. By coincidence Marcus has made contact with a man named Ivan Motkin who will give financial backing to Holtmann using resources that Froman has been looking for. He tortures Marcus for info on these resources.

The next day Tobias Waddell is speaking with Parker Noyes about Tholbins further attempts to make advances on his daughter. He tells him that Tholbin booked passage to France to tag along with them on an upcoming trip. Noyes knowing Tobias wouldn’t stand for a man without wealth going after his daughter asks what a man would need for Tobias’ approval. Waddell says $250,000.

Noyes receives a phone call from his “office” In reality it’s a call from Froman regarding the capture of Holtmann. Noyes is in on the scheme. After the call Lamont Cranston joins Noyes and Waddell for dinner. Afterwards Cranston brings Noyes home. Cranston leaves the residence and returns as The Shadow to spy on Noyes who is visited by a rugged submarine captain named Silas Helmsworth, They discuss a trip to Moscow in 15 days and the viability of taking that trip by ship or by sub.

After the meeting Noyes calls Froman regarding the trip. They discuss what they will do with Holtmann now that they’ve gotten all the info out of him. The Shadow goes to rescue Holtmann. In the dungeon, Froman speaks to Holtmann regarding his release. He tells him he will keep him for a while. A henchman named Sergoff enters with food for Holtmann. The Shadow enters Froman’s home and finds the dungeon. The Shadow finds Holtmann as he is suffering from the poison that was in his food. Sergoff returns and attacks The Shadow with a dirk. The Shadow keeps him at bay until his strength fades, then tosses him headfirst on the stone floor killing him instantly. The dying Holtmann tells The Shadow the info he told Froman regarding Moscow The Shadow must travel to Russia.

The next night Harry Vincent follows Froman to Parker Noyes’ apartment. They speak of Helmsworth's worry about making the trip to Russia and back without docking. Since this would be unlikely they will have to go with an alternate plan where a stop would be made in Paris. Froman is worried about the death of Sergoff after poisoning Holtmann. They theorize Holtmann might have done it but it is highly unlikely due to Holtmann’s injured and starved state at the time. Noyes has Froman watch his next meeting from a secret room. Tholbin arrives to speak with Noyes regarding Betty Waddell. Noyes speaks of nefarious activities that Tholbin has been accused of and how this will affect his courting of Betty. Noyes makes an offer. Tholbin is traveling with the Waddells to Paris. If he receives a certain package and returns to the states with it, Noyes will speak highly of Tholbin and pay him $250,000, thus winning over Tobias’ approval. Tholbin agrees.

In the Kremlin in Moscow a tall powerful looking czarist named Michael Senov walks through the streets. He is going to a secret meeting. He intends to strike at the new regime in Russia. In the meeting Senov speaks of a meeting in Paris. Senov speaks of Ivan Motkin who told his secrets to Holtmann that were told to Froman. This secret regards considerable wealth. At 10pm Senov and his men attack the home that contains this wealth. In the home, Senov’s men engage in a fire fight with soldiers that result in the discovery of a hidden vault using explosives and gas bombs they break into the vault and eliminate the soldiers. In the vault Senov finds his goal. A massive collection of jewels belonging to the Romaoffs, the last of the Russian Czars.

The Shadow arrives after Senov’s escape. While investigating, Motkin, who has been tasked with protecting the jewels, arrives with other Russian soldiers. The Shadow is discovered by the Bolsheviks and attempts to escape. In doing so The Shadow suffers injuries that he succumbs to and is discovered by Motkin hiding in his car recovering his strength. Motkin quietly takes The Shadow without alerting more than a few of his loyal men. Motkin, worried that he might face execution if word gets out that the jewels had been stolen while under his watch, knows The Shadow might be his one link to the jewels.

Three days later Motkin has a doctor check in on The Shadows' well being so he can be questioned. Working with his chauffeur Gregori and subordinate Prensky they attempt to piece together the details of the robbery. A call from a superior reveals to Motkin that Senov has disappeared after communicating with czarists in Paris. A now recovered Shadow sits in Motkin's office to discuss matters.

The Shadow tells Motkin he is traveling under the name Henry Arnaud. When questioned, The Shadow says he heard of Senov’s plan and Matkins name from a dying Holtmann and came to Moscow to stop the senseless violence over The Romanoff jewels and if Motkin provides safe passage out of Moscow he will return the jewels to him. Motkin tells him he will consider it. He then tells Prensky to eliminate The Shadow at nightfall after he leaves for Paris to intercept Senov.

At night Prensky tells The Shadow he will release him. Prensky attempts to stab him while his back is turned. The Shadow has been feigning weakness for days to gain access to Motkin’s headquarters and he’s been pretending he couldn’t speak Russian to learn of their plans. The Shadow at full strength kills Prensky just before 8pm when Gregori had been scheduled to pick up Prensky and drive him to the airport where he will fly to Paris and meet Motkin. The Shadow disguises himself as Prensky and is picked up by Gregori.

When they arrive at the airport The Shadow knocks out Gregori and boards the plane as Prensky. In Paris Tholbin and Senov meet and exchange a trunk filled with the jewels. Tholbin and Senov are tailed by Cliff Marsland.When they go separate ways Cliff decides to tail Senov who he has not seen before and believes greater action will come with following him. Cliff follows him to The Silver Eagle, an old cafe. Cliff enters and questions Senov at gunpoint regarding Tholbin. Two men who were following Cliff enter and disarm him. Senov believes they are his men but it turns out to be Motkin. Cliff attacks Motkin. Cliff and Senov turn the tables as more of Motkin's men arrive. Senov makes a break for it as Motkin’s men over power Cliff. During the chase Motkin shoots and kills Senov. Motkin then questions Cliff who is unwilling to give any information. Motkin orders his man Kolsoff to kill Cliff.

As Kolsoff raises his blade a marksman's bullet hits him in the arm leaving him writhing on the floor. Motkin sees the shooter and realizes it’s The Shadow who survived his assassination attempt. In the ensuing gun fight several of Motkin's men perish. As Motkin escapes he hears the terrifying laugh of The Shadow. The police arrive. The Shadow tells Cliff he will leave him there as he is tied up and bruised giving him an alibi. The Shadow escapes by scaling the building.

Tholbin sails on the Gasconne with the Waddells. He receives a telegram for instructions regarding the trunk filled with the jewels. The Shadow stalks Tholbin and learns of the meeting he will attend at 5am. After a poker game Tobias starts talking with a man on the ship who is Motkin using a false identity. Through casual conversation Waddell speaks of the large trunk in his daughter's state room. Motkin realizes this is where he can find the jewels. He goes off and readies his men Baldridge and Solinski to steal the trunk. They attempt to rob Tobias in his room, resulting in Solinski shooting and killing Waddell. Betty comes to investigate finding her dying father and Motkin's men. Solinski aims at Betty, he is shot and killed by The Shadow. A battle ensues between The Shadow and Mofkin's men who are investigating the Shots.

David Tholbin and Froman’s men disguised as crewmen take the trunk and throw it overboard but they are seen by a witness who turns out to be Motkin. He opens fire on the false crewmen. Tholbin is shot and killed by legitimate ship officers after Tholbin unwittingly fires on them.

The dust settles and the investigation begins. Motkin claims he was in his room the whole night and gets away with his alibi. Motkin surmises the jewels had been thrown overboard.The trunk was picked up by Helmsworth and Froman by submarine. In New York, Motkin captures one of Froman's men and interrogates him on details of the jewels and Froman’s location before executing him. That night Motkin sends a group of thugs to Froman’s house. They get into a gunfight with gangsters hired by Froman. The police were called in by the Shadow via Burbank. The resulting three way battle results in the death or capture of most of Motkin’s men and Froman’s hired mob.

After the battle Noyes and Froman arrive with the jewels. Froman and Noyes analyze the jewels when they are confronted by Motkin who threatens them with death. Froman tells Motkin that his men are dead and that he has rigged the room to explode unless the correct steps are taken to unlock the trigger set on the knob of the door. Motkin aims his weapon at Froman. Froman tells him his false name, F.O. Froman is due to his real name, Romanoff, he is of the Romanoff bloodline, he is proud and he is not afraid to die. The Shadow enters the room and forces Motkin to drop his weapon. The Shadow tells them that they are responsible for countless murders and that the senseless deaths are over. Despite what they deserve, The Shadow offers them freedom if they choose to walk away. The Shadow removes the glove from his hand and says he will take the gems. He tells them that the jewels are fakes. The real gems have been scattered, some kept by the original owners, some buried in forgotten hiding places, some sold off in secret and some held by red officials in Moscow. The only real Romanoff jewel in the room is the Girasol on The Shadows ring given to him by Nicholas Romanoff as a memento of friendship. He tells Froman and Noyes that under the guise of restoring the Romanoff gems they only wished to gain wealth for themselves. He tells Motkin that he knew the truth of the fake gems in order to maintain the illusion of the reds holding the massive wealth of Russia.

Froman decides he is okay with dying if it means the end of Motkin and The Shadow. The Shadow reveals he suspected the trap when he came to attempt to save Holtmann. He knocks on the door which is opened from the outside. Two of The Shadows agents enter. Presumably Cliff and Harry. They take the fake jewels and leave. Before leaving, The Shadow tells the three men “You may make your peace” The Shadow leaves and shuts the door behind him. Froman and Motkin look at eachother ready to fight. Noyes realizing they are defeated says they should be thankful to leave with their lives. Froman safely unlocks the door without turning the knob. Noyes leaves first with Motkin behind him. Froman grabs Motkin from behind and the two begin a fight to the death. Motkin the red and Froman the czarist. Motkin gets the chance to strangle Froman while Froman attempts to leave him stuck in the basement. Froman knowing he is beat turns the knob setting off the bomb. Obliterating both of them. Parker Noyes dies when the explosion injures him. He was at the front door.

The Shadow later uses a special acid to melt away the fake jewels. He removes his glove revealing the triumphant true remaining Gem of the Romanoffs.

Notes

Reprinted as Pyramid Books #9.

Trivia

This story provides an origin to The Shadow's Girasol ring. In the final chapters The Shadow confronts the three main villains of the story in a private room with the Romanoff Jewels. He informs them that the jewels were fake in order to maintain the appearance of wealth. He tells them that the gem on his ring is the only true piece of the treasure in the vicinity. The emperor of Russia gave Kent Allard the ring as a gift for his services in World War One. Although the details remain shrouded in mystery this is how The Shadow obtained his prized gem. Or is it... Later it is revealed that the gem came from the eye of an idol in South America. Later in life Walter Gibson was quested about the mistake in continuity. Not one to be outsmarted. Gibson explained that there are two origins to the gems because there were two eyes to the Idol. Meaning the Shadow has both.

Links and References

None.