mg.cityofcrime-第12部分

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　Another　chuckle　from　Ruthley。　One　of　the　smartest　moves　in　the　master　crook's　game　had　been　the　formation　of　the　Flying　Squadron。　To　a　man；　that　outfit　was　recruited　from　thugs　whom　Lance　Gillick　had　called　to　Westford。　All　gave　false　addresses；　pretending　that　they　came　from　this　locality。
　Director　Borman；　in　his　call　for　〃picked　men；〃　invariably　gave　these　camouflaged　thugs　a　high　mark　when　he　examined　them。　Other　applicants　were　always　rated　low；　thereby　rejected。
　〃They'll　chop　down　The　Shadow；　if　they　see　him；〃　declared　Borman。　〃Too　bad　we　didn't　guess　that　he　was　Shaw；　last　night。〃
　〃We　should　have；〃　purred　Ruthley；　his　eyes　showing　a　glint。　〃Look　at　this；　Kirk。〃
　
　
　STEPPING　to　his　desk；　Ruthley　picked　up　a　pencil。　Beneath　Woodstock's　telephone；　he　printed　the　name：　〃Theo　D。　Shaw。〃　Crossing　out　letters　in　irregular　fashion；　he　spelled　the　name：　〃The　Shadow。〃
　Kirk　Borman　whistled。
　〃I　get　it！〃　exclaimed　the　police　director。　〃He　faked　that　name　for　Dunson's　benefit。　So　that　if　Dunson　began　to　study　it　closely；　he　would　catch　on　to　the　idea。　No　wonder　Dunson　trusted　Shaw。　He　must　have　guessed　that　he　was　The　Shadow。〃
　〃Just　as　we　should　have　guessed　it；〃　returned　Ruthley。　He　glanced　at　the　paper。　〃Wait　a　minute；　Kirk；　while　I　call　Adam　Woodstock。〃
　Noting　the　telephone　number　again；　Ruthley　made　the　call。　He　pleted　a　brief　conversation；　crumpled　the　sheet　of　paper　and　tossed　it　into　an　empty　wastebasket。
　〃Woodstock　is　waiting　to　see　me；〃　Ruthley　told　Borman。　〃I　called　him　this　afternoon；　told　him　to　stay　at　home　tonight；　and　see　to　it　that　he　was　alone。〃
　〃Is　he？〃
　〃Yes。　His　family　has　gone　out。　By　the　way；　did　you　get　those　notes　I　wanted？〃
　Borman　nodded；　he　pulled　folded　papers　from　his　pocket。
　〃I　went　to　the　Club　Adair　right　after　dinner；〃　he　stated。　〃My　pretext　was　to　make　a　final　check　on　Lance's　alibi。　I　gave　him　a　clean　bill　of　health。　I　saw　Beezer；　in　Lance's　office；　while　we　were　alone。　He　had　the　notes　all　ready。〃
　Ruthley　pocketed　the　notes。　He　nudged　his　thumb　toward　the　door。
　〃You　go　out　the　front　way；　Kirk；〃　he　told　Borman。　〃I　intend　to　use　the　secret　passage。　I　have　a　car　parked　in　the　back　alley。〃
　〃Good　luck　to　you；　Steve。　I'll　be　at　my　office　in　city　hall；　ready　for　any　phone　calls。〃
　Kirk　Borman　departed；　out　through　the　front　door。　He　descended　the　stairs　and　reached　the　street。　He　stepped　aboard　his　official　car。　The　chauffeur　drove　away。
　
　
　THE　front　of　the　big　apartment　house　was　recessed　and；　therefore；　dark；　except　at　the　door；　where　two　lights　glowed。　Kirk　Borman　had　glanced　casually　along　the　front　wall；　as　his　car　rolled　away；　but　he　had　noted　nothing　unusual。
　It　was　after　the　director's　car　had　gone　that　the　unusual　occurred。
　Blackness　moved　from　the　darkened　building　front。　At　a　moment　when　no　cars　were　passing　on　the　boulevard；　a　shrouded　figure　stepped　in　front　of　the　lights　by　the　door。　For　one　second　only；　a　plete　shape　was　revealed。　The　lights　showed　The　Shadow；　cloaked　in　his　garb　of　black。
　With　quick　glide；　The　Shadow　entered　the　lower　hallway　of　the　apartment　house。　No　attendant　was　on　duty；　even　had　one　been　present；　he　could　easily　have　failed　to　spy　the　intruder。　Though　the　large　hall　was　lighted；　its　walls　were　dark…paneled　and　therefore　dim。　The　Shadow's　silent　course　was　along　the　wall。　He　seemed　no　more　than　a　mammoth　blot；　as　he　moved　toward　the　stairs。
　Reaching　the　second　floor；　The　Shadow　stopped　by　the　door　of　Ruthley's　apartment。　He　set　to　work　with　a　pick；　he　performed　his　task　with　nicety；　although　it　required　several　minutes　to　properly　probe　the　lock。　At　last　the　door　yielded；　The　Shadow　stepped　into　the　apartment　and　closed　the　barrier　behind　him。
　Beyond　a　dim　hallway；　he　saw　the　half…opened　door　of　a　lighted　room。
　Advancing　noiselessly；　The　Shadow　reached　that　goal；　he　drew　an　automatic　from　beneath　his　cloak　as　he　peered　into　Ruthley's　lighted　den。　After　a　few　moments；　The　Shadow　stepped　across　the　threshold。
　The　room　was　empty。　The　Shadow　had　reached　Stephen　Ruthley's　lair；　only　to　find　that　the　master　crook　was　absent。
　
　
　CHAPTER　XII　
　THE　SHADOW'S　CLUE　
　THOUGH　The　Shadow　had　anticipated　a　meeting　with　Stephen　Ruthley；　he　was　not　disturbed　to　find　the　master　villain　gone。　It　merely　meant　that　the　meeting　would　be　postponed；　to　a　degree；　that　would　prove　to　The　Shadow's　advantage。
　Through　various　forms　of　investigation；　The　Shadow　had　labeled　Ruthley　as　the　master　of　crime　in　Westford。　Until　tonight；　he　had　considered　it　good　policy　to　wear　down　the　forces　at　Ruthley's　mand；　to　weaken　them；　in　preparation　for　a　final　conflict　with　Ruthley　himself。
　The　death　of　Prescott　Dunson　had　partly　altered　The　Shadow's　decision。　He　knew　that　other　victims　might　be　slated　for　the　spot；　therefore；　it　was　no　longer　wise　to　hold　back　a　final　stroke。　Moreover；　The　Shadow's　own　position　had　bee　precarious　last　night。　Hunted　by　the　law；　he　had　needed　his　most　stealthy　tactics　to　leave　the　house　by　the　water　tower　tonight。
　ing　into　Westford　on　foot；　The　Shadow　had　seen　many　signs　of　the　increased　Flying　Squadron　that　was　covering　all　portions　of　the　city。　He　knew　that　the　number　of　his　enemies　had　been　increased。　Hence　he　had　ventured　onward；　to　strike　directly　at　Ruthley；　knowing　that　if　he　boxed　the　master　of　crime；　the　whole　evil　structure　would　collapse。
　Since　Ruthley　was　absent；　The　Shadow　intended　to　remain　until　he　returned。
　Meanwhile；　he　had　an　excellent　opportunity　to　gain　new　facts　regarding　Ruthley；　through　an　examination　of　the　latter's　papers。　The　desk　and　the　filing　cabinet　offered　possibilities；　if　searched。　Stepping　past　an　armchair；　The　Shadow　reached　the　desk；　to　begin　there。
　As　he　placed　his　hand　upon　the　handle　of　an　upper　drawer；　The　Shadow　saw　the　wastebasket　beside　the　desk。　Conspicuous　within　the　basket　was　a　crumpled　sheet　of　paper。　Stooping；　The　Shadow　picked　out　the　paper　and　smoothed　it。　He　saw　immediately　that　he　had　made　a　find。
　The　paper　was　stationery　from　the　office　of　Louis　Wilderton；　The　Shadow　recognized　the　district　attorney's　precise　handwriting；　for　he　had　seen　it　on　official　documents。　Studying　the　list　of　names；　The　Shadow　understood　their　significance。　These　were　persons　whom　Wilderton　wanted　to　investigate。　The　prosecutor　had　e　to　Stephen　Ruthley　for　advice　on　the　matter。
　Turning　the　paper　over；　The　Shadow　saw　the　penciled　notations　on　the　back。
　Again　he　recognized　a　handwriting　that　he　had　seen　before：　Stephen　Ruthley's。
　The　Shadow　read　the　notation：　〃Woodstock。　Marvin　6384。〃　Below　it；　he　saw　the　name；　〃Theo　D。　Shaw；〃　with　the　letters　crossed　by　lines。　The　Shadow's　lips　phrased　an　almost　inaudible　laugh。　He　had　supposed　that　by　this　time　Ruthley　would　have　guessed　the　significance　of　the　signature　of　Theo　D。　Shaw。
　Most　important　was　Ruthley's　notation　of　Woodstock's　name　and　telephone　number。　Knowing　that　graft　was　rampant　in　Westford；　The　Shadow　had　held　suspicions　of　all　persons　who　had　undertaken　city　contracts。　Woodstock's　name；　however；　had　been　but　one　of　several。
　The　Shadow　had　seen　no　reason　to　investigate　the　contractor；　in　preference　to　others。　This　notation；　however；　showed　clearly　that　Ruthley　intended　contact　with　Woodstock。　Since　Ruthley　was　absent；　it　followed　that　he　could　have　gone　to　Woodstock's　home。
　
　
　HAVING　seen　Kirk　Borman　leave　the　apartment　house　after　a　definite　visit；　The　Shadow　knew　that　Ruthley　must　have　been　at　home　while　the　police　director　was　here。　Therefore；　Ruthley　must　have　chosen　another　exit。
　For　the　moment；　The　Shadow　did　not　consider　the　large　painting　on　the　wall；　for　it　seemed　likely　that　Ruthley　could　have　gone　out　by　a　back　door　of　the　apartment　itself。　The　Shadow　decided　to　look　for　such　an　exit。　Before　he　did　so；　he　went　to　the　telephone；　lifted　the　receiver　and　dialed　Woodstock's　number。
　The　only　response　was　a　busy　signal。　It　meant　either　that　Woodstock　was　talking　over　the　telephone　or　that　the　contractor　had　taken　his　receiver　from　the　hook。　Hanging　up；　The　Shadow　went　out　through　the　hallway　of　the　apartment；　to　begin　a　stealthy　search　for　another　outlet。
　The　Shadow　had　not　proceeded　far　before　he　found　reason　to　abandon　his　search。　As　he　turned　the　corner　of　a　hallway；　he　heard　the　creep　of　footsteps。
　Gliding　through　the　doorway　of　a　darkened　room；　The　Shadow　found　another　opening　and　reached　the　hall　near　Ruthley's　den。　Again；　he　heard　a　guarded　creep。
　Someone　had　heard　the　click　of　the　telephone　dial　when　The　Shadow　had　used　it。　That　person　had　visited　the　den　following　The　Shadow's　departure。　His　presence　known；　The　Shadow　had　need　of　strategy。　His　best　course　was　to　return　to　the　den；　since　the　vigilant　guard　had　already　been　there。　The　Shadow　crossed　the　hallway。　His　tall　form　threw　a　long　silhouette　upon　the　floor；　almost　to　a　corner　beyond　the　door　of　the　den。　Gliding　into　the　lighted　room；　The　Shadow　neared　the　desk；　intending　to　pass　beyond　it。　A　sound　made　him　wheel；　he　faced　the　doorway　just　as　a　wiry　attacker　sprang　into　view。
　It　was　Haija。　Almost　as　stealthy　and　as　observant　as　The　Shadow；　the　keen　Japanese　had　spotted　the　silhouette　upon　the　hallway　floor。　ing　from　beyond　the　corner；　he　had　reached　the　doorway　of　the　den。　Seeing　The　Shadow；　Haija　was　leaping　to　prompt　attack。　The　fact　that　The　Shadow　swung　to　meet　him　did　not　perturb　the　speedy　Jap。　Haija　was　grinning　as　he　came。
　With　nimble　hands；　Haija　caught　The　Shadow's　right　arm；　as　it　swung　toward　the　front　of　the　black　cloak。　Haija　thought　that　The　Shadow　was　reaching　for　a　gun。　His　guess　was　wrong。　The　Shadow　had　recognized　a　jujitsu　thrust；　his　move　was　a　bluff　to　counteract　it。
　As　Haija　performed　a　back…spin；　expecting　to　speed　The　Shadow　over　his　shoulders；　a　gloved　left　hand　hooked　cross…arm；　to　clutch　the　Jap's　neck。　Haija　jolted　short。　The　Shadow　whipped　backward；　his　long　arms　were　like　tremendous　levers；　as　they　hoisted　Haija　from　the　floor。　Releasing　his　grip；　The　Shadow　let　Haija　hurtle　over　an　armchair；　shoulder　foremost；　the　Japanese　bashed　against　the　side　of　the　heavy　framed　painting　that　adorned　the　wall。　The　canvas　quivered　from　the　thud；　instantly；　The　Shadow　recognized　that　it　served　as　a　door。
　
　
　HAIJA　lay　motionless　on　the　floor；　stunned　by　a　bump　his　he