mg.cityofcrime-µÚ15²¿·Ö
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¡¡he¡¡left¡¡a¡¡clue¡¡which¡¡proved¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡actually¡¡e¡¡to¡¡the¡¡contractor's¡¡home¡£¡¡This¡¡blotter¡¡could¡¡nullify¡¡the¡¡evidence¡¡that¡¡Ruthley¡¡had¡¡planted¡¡in¡¡Woodstock's¡¡safe¡£
¡¡Ordinarily£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡would¡¡have¡¡left¡¡the¡¡blotter¡¡on¡¡the¡¡desk¡£
¡¡Circumstances¡¡caused¡¡him¡¡to¡¡do¡¡otherwise¡¡tonight¡£¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡had¡¡gauged¡¡Stephen¡¡Ruthley¡¡too¡¡well£»¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡the¡¡murderer¡¡would¡¡leave¡¡anything¡¡to¡¡chance¡£
¡¡Though¡¡Ruthley¡¡thought¡¡his¡¡crime¡¡was¡¡perfect£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡certainly¡¡count¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡opinion¡¡of¡¡a¡¡man¡¡well¡¡qualified¡¡to¡¡judge¡£
¡¡This¡¡crime¡¡would¡¡be¡¡discovered¡£¡¡Police¡¡would¡¡arrive£»¡¡with¡¡them£»¡¡Police¡¡Director¡¡Borman¡£¡¡Knowing¡¡Ruthley¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡perpetrator¡¡of¡¡crime¡£¡¡Kirk¡¡Borman¡¡would¡¡be¡¡on¡¡the¡¡lookout¡¡for¡¡every¡¡minor¡¡detail¡£¡¡If¡¡Borman¡¡found¡¡the¡¡blotter£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡promptly¡¡dispose¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡As¡¡evidence£»¡¡the¡¡blotter¡¡would¡¡never¡¡serve£»¡¡if¡¡left¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡of¡¡crime¡£¡¡Therefore£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡kept¡¡the¡¡blotter£»¡¡he¡¡placed¡¡it¡¡beneath¡¡his¡¡cloak£»¡¡along¡¡with¡¡other¡¡items¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡acquired¡¡upon¡¡this¡¡night¡¡of¡¡investigation¡£
¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡was¡¡ready¡¡for¡¡a¡¡return¡¡visit¡¡to¡¡Stephen¡¡Ruthley's¡¡apartment¡£¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡enter¡¡there£»¡¡through¡¡the¡¡secret¡¡passage£»¡¡to¡¡surprise¡¡Ruthley¡¡in¡¡the¡¡latter's¡¡own¡¡den¡£¡¡Almost¡¡ready¡¡for¡¡departure£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡paused¡¡on¡¡the¡¡far¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡desk£»¡¡to¡¡lean¡¡across¡¡and¡¡make¡¡a¡¡last¡¡inspection¡¡of¡¡Woodstock's¡¡body¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡while¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡stood¡¡in¡¡this¡¡position¡¡that¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡a¡¡sound¡¡from¡¡somewhere¡¡in¡¡the¡¡house¡£
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¡¡BOARDS¡¡were¡¡creaking£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡invaders¡¡were¡¡creeping¡¡up¡¡the¡¡front¡¡stairs¡£¡¡Wheeling¡¡from¡¡the¡¡desk£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡crossed¡¡the¡¡room¡£¡¡He¡¡gained¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡and¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡the¡¡back¡¡stairs£»¡¡to¡¡listen¡¡for¡¡sounds¡¡from¡¡the¡¡front¡£
¡¡Audible¡¡whispers¡¡reached¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡£
¡¡¡¨Maybe¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡crank¡¡call£»¡¨¡¡came¡¡one¡¡ment¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡guy¡¡that¡¡phoned¡¡headquarters¡¡may¡¡have¡¡just¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡a¡¡shot¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨We¡¡can't¡¡take¡¡any¡¡chances£»¡¡though£»¡¨¡¡was¡¡the¡¡response¡£¡¡¡¨Director¡¡Borman¡¡said¡¡to¡¡move¡¡in£»¡¡softlike£»¡¡and¡¡investigate¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Yeah¡£¡¡He's¡¡outside£»¡¡too£»¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡us¡¡to¡¡report¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨That's¡¡why¡¡we'd¡¡better¡¡take¡¡a¡¡gander¡¡into¡¡that¡¡lighted¡¡room¡£¡¨
¡¡The¡¡approaching¡¡men¡¡were¡¡detectives¡¡from¡¡headquarters¡£¡¡A¡¡call¡¡had¡¡been¡¡made¡¡there£»¡¡reporting¡¡a¡¡gun¡shot¡¡heard¡¡within¡¡Woodstock's¡¡house¡£¡¡Probably£»¡¡Ruthley¡¡had¡¡made¡¡that¡¡call£»¡¡soon¡¡after¡¡his¡¡departure¡£¡¡Kirk¡¡Borman¡¡had¡¡been¡¡at¡¡his¡¡office£»¡¡expecting¡¡it¡£¡¡Since¡¡Borman¡¡was¡¡outside£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡likely¡¡that¡¡members¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Flying¡¡Squadron¡¡were¡¡with¡¡him¡£
¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡decided¡¡upon¡¡stealthy¡¡departure£»¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡head¡¡for¡¡Ruthley's¡¡without¡¡trouble¡¡on¡¡the¡¡way¡£
¡¡The¡¡two¡¡detectives¡¡went¡¡past¡£¡¡As¡¡they¡¡neared¡¡the¡¡door¡¡of¡¡Woodstock's¡¡study£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡began¡¡his¡¡descent¡¡of¡¡the¡¡back¡¡stairs¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡only¡¡half¡way¡¡down¡¡when¡¡a¡¡shout¡¡came¡¡from¡¡above¡£¡¡The¡¡dicks¡¡had¡¡discovered¡¡Woodstock's¡¡body¡£
¡¡They¡¡were¡¡pounding¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hall£»¡¡to¡¡raise¡¡a¡¡loud¡¡alarm¡£
¡¡Instantly£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡response¡¡from¡¡below¡£¡¡Footsteps¡¡clattered¡¡near¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡back¡¡stairs¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡click£»¡¡a¡¡flashlight¡¡gleamed¡¡upward£»¡¡the¡¡light¡¡was¡¡furnished¡¡by¡¡another¡¡detective£»¡¡who¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡be¡¡near¡¡the¡¡back¡¡stairs¡¡when¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡shout¡£¡¡He£»¡¡too£»¡¡raised¡¡a¡¡cry¡£
¡¡The¡¡dick¡¡below¡¡had¡¡made¡¡a¡¡discovery¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡£¡¡Straight¡¡in¡¡the¡¡path¡¡of¡¡his¡¡upward¡¡glare£»¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡£¡¡The¡¡detective's¡¡shout¡¡was¡¡spontaneous¡£¡¡He¡¡told¡¡all£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡cried£º
¡¡¡¨There's¡¡a¡¡guy¡¡on¡¡the¡¡back¡¡stairs£¡¡¡Get¡¡him£¡¡¨
¡¡More¡¡footsteps¡¡below£»¡¡as¡¡new¡¡arrivals¡¡hurried¡¡to¡¡join¡¡the¡¡detective¡¡who¡¡held¡¡the¡¡light¡£¡¡Shouts¡¡from¡¡above£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡two¡¡who¡¡had¡¡found¡¡Woodstock's¡¡body¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡back¡¡stairs¡¡to¡¡see¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡against¡¡the¡¡brilliant¡¡glare¡£
¡¡The¡¡Shadow's¡¡chance¡¡of¡¡stealthy¡¡departure¡¡was¡¡ended¡£¡¡Trapped¡¡between¡¡two¡¡forces£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡faced¡¡by¡¡a¡¡situation¡¡more¡¡pressing¡¡than¡¡the¡¡one¡¡he¡¡had¡¡encountered¡¡the¡¡night¡¡before¡£
¡¡
¡¡
¡¡CHAPTER¡¡XV¡¡
¡¡FOILED¡¡HOUNDS¡¡
¡¡ONE¡¡factor¡¡favored¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡£¡¡Though¡¡trapped£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡found¡¡by¡¡men¡¡who¡¡were¡¡not¡¡of¡¡a¡¡criminal¡¡sort¡£¡¡Director¡¡Borman£»¡¡knowing¡¡that¡¡Adam¡¡Woodstock's¡¡body¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡discovered£»¡¡had¡¡used¡¡smart¡¡policy¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡sent¡¡ordinary¡¡detectives¡¡into¡¡the¡¡contractor's¡¡house£»¡¡men¡¡who¡¡had¡¡long¡¡been¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Westford¡¡force¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡decided¡¡that¡¡their¡¡preliminary¡¡reports¡¡would¡¡be¡¡better¡¡than¡¡those¡¡of¡¡the¡¡outsiders¡¡who¡¡formed¡¡the¡¡Flying¡¡Squadron¡£
¡¡As¡¡yet£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡had¡¡not¡¡clashed¡¡directly¡¡with¡¡any¡¡of¡¡the¡¡city's¡¡loyal¡¡police¡£¡¡Bluecoats¡¡had¡¡joined¡¡the¡¡khaki¡clad¡¡squadron¡¡men¡¡in¡¡last¡¡night's¡¡chase£»¡¡but¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡had¡¡been¡¡speeding¡¡away¡¡when¡¡the¡¡regular¡¡police¡¡took¡¡up¡¡the¡¡chase¡£
¡¡Hence£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡an¡¡unknown¡¡factor¡¡to¡¡the¡¡real¡¡supporters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡law¡¡in¡¡Westford¡£
¡¡These¡¡headquarters¡¡men¡¡were¡¡like¡¡the¡¡police¡¡of¡¡Lieutenant¡¡Maclare's¡¡precinct¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡capable£»¡¡but¡¡slow¡witted¡£¡¡Director¡¡Borman¡¡preferred¡¡such¡¡officers¡£¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡fact£»¡¡he¡¡took¡¡advantage¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡Despite¡¡his¡¡trapped¡¡position£»¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡chance¡¡for¡¡a¡¡quick¡¡getaway¡£
¡¡As¡¡usual£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡did¡¡the¡¡unexpected¡£¡¡His¡¡natural¡¡course¡¡lay¡¡downward£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡spurned¡¡that¡¡route¡£¡¡His¡¡prompt¡¡decision¡¡was¡¡based¡¡on¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡men¡¡were¡¡better¡¡prepared¡¡below£»¡¡moreover£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡way¡¡to¡¡guess¡¡instantly¡¡their¡¡number¡£¡¡Above¡¡were¡¡but¡¡two¡¡men£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡in¡¡the¡¡throes¡¡of¡¡a¡¡second¡¡surprise£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡had¡¡just¡¡found¡¡Woodstock's¡¡body¡£¡¡They¡¡did¡¡not¡¡expect¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡to¡¡e¡¡in¡¡their¡¡direction¡£
¡¡That¡¡direction£»¡¡however£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡one¡¡that¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡chose£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡took¡¡his¡¡course¡¡with¡¡amazing¡¡speed¡£¡¡Wheeling¡¡on¡¡the¡¡stairway£»¡¡he¡¡came¡¡upward¡¡with¡¡long¡¡bounds£»¡¡swinging¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡high£»¡¡each¡¡hand¡¡held¡¡an¡¡automatic¡£¡¡The¡¡detectives¡¡were¡¡drawing¡¡guns£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡ducked¡¡as¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡came¡¡upon¡¡them¡£
¡¡Sweeping¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡sidewise£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡carried¡¡the¡¡pair¡¡half¡¡across¡¡the¡¡hall¡£
¡¡He¡¡was¡¡clear¡¡of¡¡the¡¡light¡¡from¡¡below¡£¡¡The¡¡startled¡¡dicks¡¡were¡¡sprawled£»¡¡despite¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡avoided¡¡damage¡¡with¡¡his¡¡sweeping¡¡blows¡£¡¡One¡¡headquarters¡¡man¡¡took¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡a¡¡gloved¡¡fist¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡chin¡£¡¡That¡¡swing£»¡¡weighted¡¡with¡¡an¡¡automatic£»¡¡was¡¡a¡¡knock¡out¡¡punch¡£
¡¡The¡¡other¡¡detective¡¡swung¡¡at¡¡The¡¡Shadow£»¡¡missed¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡darkness¡¡and¡¡fired¡¡two¡¡wild¡¡shots¡¡at¡¡nothingness¡£¡¡A¡¡swinging¡¡forearm¡¡staggered¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡the¡¡back¡¡stairs£»¡¡where¡¡he¡¡did¡¡a¡¡downward¡¡dive£»¡¡into¡¡the¡¡arms¡¡of¡¡men¡¡who¡¡were¡¡dashing¡¡upward¡£
¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡sped¡¡down¡¡the¡¡front¡¡stairway£»¡¡turning¡¡the¡¡landing¡¡just¡¡as¡¡the¡¡flashlight¡¡stabbed¡¡in¡¡his¡¡direction¡£¡¡A¡¡detective¡¡fired¡¡two¡¡useless¡¡rounds¡£¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡was¡¡gone¡¡before¡¡the¡¡fellow¡¡tugged¡¡the¡¡trigger¡£
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¡¡THE¡¡SHADOW¡¡had¡¡made¡¡a¡¡perfect¡¡start£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡but¡¡preliminary¡¡to¡¡the¡¡struggle¡¡that¡¡was¡¡to¡¡e¡£¡¡Revolver¡¡shots¡¡had¡¡been¡¡heard¡¡outside£»¡¡shock¡¡troops¡¡were¡¡prepared¡¡to¡¡answer¡¡the¡¡alarm¡£
¡¡As¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡hurled¡¡the¡¡front¡¡door¡¡open£»¡¡a¡¡spotlight¡¡glared¡¡full¡¡upon¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡shouts¡¡that¡¡went¡¡up¡¡were¡¡delivered¡¡by¡¡hoarse¡voiced¡¡members¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Flying¡¡Squadron¡£
¡¡Nearly¡¡a¡¡third¡¡of¡¡that¡¡outfit¡¡was¡¡on¡¡hand¡£¡¡Those¡¡sharp¡shooting¡¡thugs¡¡were¡¡dangerous¡¡with¡¡their¡¡guns¡£¡¡Knowing¡¡it£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡did¡¡not¡¡pause¡¡to¡¡fire¡¡at¡¡the¡¡focused¡¡light£»¡¡instead£»¡¡he¡¡sprang¡¡off¡¡toward¡¡a¡¡front¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡getting¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡glare¡¡in¡¡an¡¡instant¡£
¡¡The¡¡light¡¡swung¡¡about£»¡¡it¡¡did¡¡not¡¡show¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡cut¡¡in¡¡back¡¡of¡¡thick£»¡¡intervening¡¡shrubbery¡£
¡¡Guns¡¡began¡¡to¡¡bark£»¡¡bullets¡¡whistled¡¡through¡¡foliage£»¡¡thudded¡¡the¡¡house¡¡walls¡£¡¡A¡¡challenging¡¡laugh¡¡sounded¡¡from¡¡off¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡house¡£¡¡Raucous¡voiced¡¡crooks¡¡shouted¡¡harsh¡¡epithets£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡heard¡¡The¡¡Shadow's¡¡weird¡¡mockery¡£¡¡They¡¡fired¡¡toward¡¡spots¡¡whence¡¡they¡¡thought¡¡the¡¡sinister¡¡mirth¡¡had¡¡issued¡£¡¡Their¡¡bullets¡¡were¡¡wide¡¡by¡¡yards¡£
¡¡No¡¡one¡¡could¡¡place¡¡The¡¡Shadow's¡¡laugh¡¡in¡¡blackness¡£¡¡Those¡¡who¡¡tried£»¡¡merely¡¡rendered¡¡their¡¡gunfire¡¡useless£»¡¡as¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡wanted¡¡it¡£¡¡The¡¡real¡¡tokens¡¡of¡¡The¡¡Shadow's¡¡position¡¡came¡¡when¡¡automatics¡¡tongued¡¡streaks¡¡of¡¡flame£»¡¡straight¡¡for¡¡men¡¡who¡¡had¡¡revealed¡¡themselves¡¡by¡¡the¡¡spurts¡¡from¡¡their¡¡own¡¡revolvers¡£
¡¡Groans£»¡¡not¡¡bullets£»¡¡answered¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡£¡¡In¡¡four¡¡shots£»¡¡he¡¡scored¡¡two¡¡hits¡£
¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡was¡¡on¡¡his¡¡way¡¡again£»¡¡circling¡¡off¡¡through¡¡darkness¡¡while¡¡his¡¡enemies¡¡fired¡¡blindly¡£¡¡A¡¡loud¡¡mand¡¡was¡¡issued£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡in¡¡Kirk¡¡Borman's¡¡voice¡£¡¡The¡¡police¡¡director¡¡recognized¡¡the¡¡futility¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tactics¡¡that¡¡his¡¡thugs¡¡had¡¡taken¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡ordering¡¡them¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡a¡¡better¡¡method¡£
¡¡Khaki¡clad¡¡thugs¡¡spread¡¡away£»¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡hedges¡¡that¡¡formed¡¡the¡¡boundaries¡¡of¡¡Woodstock's¡¡property¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡patrol¡¡cars¡¡in¡¡the¡¡avenue¡¡and¡¡on¡¡other¡¡streets¡£¡¡Each¡¡automobile¡¡served¡¡as¡¡a¡¡base£»¡¡men¡¡with¡¡flashlights¡¡passed¡¡from¡¡car¡¡to¡¡car¡£
¡¡Borman¡¡joined¡¡the¡¡detectives¡¡inside¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡he¡¡put¡¡men¡¡on¡¡guard¡¡at¡¡each¡¡door¡£¡¡A¡¡few¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Flying¡¡Squadron¡¡lugged¡¡in¡¡the¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡wounded¡¡men¡¡whom¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡had¡¡clipped£»¡¡after¡¡that£»¡¡they¡¡hurried¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡out¡¡Borman's¡¡latest¡¡orders¡£¡¡Those¡¡were¡¡instructions¡¡for¡¡the¡¡cordon¡¡to¡¡close¡¡inward¡£
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¡¡SOMEWHERE¡¡in¡¡the¡¡darkness¡¡was¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡paused£»¡¡expecting¡¡the¡¡move¡¡that¡¡came¡£¡¡It¡¡suited¡¡him£»¡¡for¡¡his¡¡intention¡¡was¡¡to¡¡find¡¡an¡¡opening¡¡and¡¡depart¡¡while¡¡his¡¡enemies¡¡made¡¡futile¡¡search¡£¡¡That¡¡was¡¡possible£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡moved¡¡at¡¡the¡¡right¡¡time¡£
¡¡Two¡¡minutes¡¡passed£»¡¡while¡¡surrounding¡¡men¡¡crept¡¡closer£»¡¡searchlights¡¡began¡¡to¡¡sweep¡¡from¡¡patrol¡¡cars£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡barrage¡¡above¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡the¡¡advancing¡¡men¡£
¡¡Wisely£»¡¡the¡¡men¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cars¡¡kept¡¡the¡¡lights¡¡high£»¡¡hoping¡¡to¡¡disclose¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡without¡¡revealing¡¡the¡¡positions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡men¡¡who¡¡closed¡¡in¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡cloaked¡¡fighter¡£¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡saw¡¡his¡¡opportunity¡¡and¡¡took¡¡it£»¡¡close¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground£»¡¡he¡¡moved¡¡rapidly¡¡outward£»¡¡just¡¡before¡¡a¡¡flood¡¡of¡¡light¡¡came¡¡in¡¡his¡¡direction¡£¡¡He¡¡escaped¡¡the¡¡path¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gleam¡£
¡¡The¡¡cordon¡¡could¡¡not¡¡function¡¡fully¡¡until¡¡it¡¡tightened£»¡¡the¡¡creeping¡¡men¡¡were¡¡expecting¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡to¡¡lurk¡¡until¡¡he¡¡neared¡¡them¡£¡¡One¡¡lone¡¡fighter£»¡¡sought¡¡by¡¡many£»¡¡would¡¡ordinarily¡¡have¡¡let¡¡the¡¡circle¡¡close¡¡about¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡Shadow's¡¡tactics¡¡were¡¡different¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡actually¡¡on¡¡a¡¡line¡¡with¡¡the¡¡closing¡¡men£»¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡gleaming¡¡lights£»¡¡like¡¡themselves¡£
¡¡The¡¡Shadow£»¡¡however£»¡¡was¡¡moving¡¡in¡¡an¡¡outward¡¡direction¡£¡¡Moreover£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡chosen¡¡the¡¡simplest¡¡path¡¡as¡¡the¡¡one¡¡that¡¡would¡¡be¡¡least¡¡guarded¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡creeping¡¡along¡¡the¡¡driveway¡¡to¡¡the¡¡avenue¡£
¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡was¡¡almost¡¡to¡¡the¡¡gate¡¡before¡¡he¡¡was¡¡discovered£»¡¡even¡¡then£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡noted¡¡by¡¡accident¡£¡¡Reinforcements¡¡had¡¡e¡¡up£»¡¡among¡¡them£»¡¡men¡¡on¡¡motorcycles¡£¡¡One¡¡of¡¡these¡¡was¡¡ordered¡¡to¡¡ride¡¡through¡¡to¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡to¡¡form¡¡new¡¡contact¡¡with¡¡the¡¡police¡¡director¡£¡¡Obeying¡¡instructions£»¡¡the¡¡man¡¡on¡¡the¡¡motorcycle¡¡chugged¡¡for¡¡the¡¡driveway¡£¡¡As¡¡he¡¡took¡¡the¡¡curve£»¡¡his¡¡headlamp¡¡threw¡¡a¡¡glare¡¡inward¡¡from¡¡the¡¡gate¡£
¡¡Squarely¡¡ahead£»¡¡the¡¡rider¡¡saw