mg.cityofcrime-第17部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　corner。　Everywhere　were　the　khaki　uniforms　that　denoted　Westford's　Flying　Squadron。
　〃It　looks　like　a　man　hunt！〃　exclaimed　Wilderton。　〃Possibly　they　have　caught　the　trail　of　that　murderer；　Dorsch。　Wait　here；　Estelle；　while　I　inquire。〃
　Two　bluecoated　policemen　were　searching　doorways。　Wilderton　approached　them；　they　recognized　the　district　attorney　and　saluted。　After　a　brief　parley；　Wilderton　returned　to　where　Estelle　stood。　He　explained　the　situation　while　they　continued　toward　the　girl's　home。
　〃Trouble　at　the　home　of　Adam　Woodstock；〃　said　Wilderton。　〃He　was　found　dead；　Woodstock　was；　apparently　a　suicide。　The　coroner　is　out　there。　When　the　police　arrived　however；　they　found　someone　in　the　house。　They　think　that　it　was　Shaw；　the　acplice　of　Dorsch。〃
　〃Did　they　capture　him？〃　inquired　Estelle。
　〃No；〃　returned　Wilderton。　〃They　say　the　fellow　was　rigged　up　in　some　kind　of　attire　that　helped　him　hide。　He　dashed　away　from　Woodstock's。　They　pursued　him　into　town；　trapped　him　in　a　blind　alley。〃
　〃He　was　cloaked　in　black？〃
　Wilderton　looked　puzzled　as　he　heard　Estelle's　strained　tone。　Nodding；　he　replied：
　〃Yes；　of　course；　he　was　in　black。　That　was　why　he　managed　to　escape。　They　riddled　the　blind　alley　with　bullets…〃
　〃To　shoot　him　in　cold　blood？〃
　〃Why　not；　Estelle？　That　was　the　way　Dunson　was　slain。　He　never　had　a　chance　for　life；　poor　chap。〃
　Estelle　tightened　her　lips；　resolved　to　say　no　more。　Wilderton　concluded　with　the　final　information　that　he　had　gained　from　the　policemen。
　〃Somehow；　the　fugitive　managed　to　slip　from　the　trap；〃　declared　Wilderton。
　〃He　was　wounded；　though；　here　and　there；　they　found　bloodstains　on　the　sidewalk。
　The　fellow　must　have　been　shrewd　enough　to　stanch　his　wounds；　at　least　temporarily。　The　trail　of　blood　was　lost。　So　they　are　making　a　general　search。〃
　Wilderton　and　Estelle　had　reached　the　girl's　house。　The　young　prosecutor　started　to　acpany　the　judge's　daughter　through　the　side　gate。　Estelle　stopped　him；　pointed　to　Wilderton's　car；　parked　in　front　of　the　house。
　〃You　have　work　to　do；　Louis；〃　she　reminded。　〃These　new　events　may　push　you　even　more。　You　must　hurry　to　the　office。　I　have　my　key；　I　can　enter　the　door　without　trouble。　Good　night；　Louis。〃
　As　Wilderton　headed　for　his　car；　Estelle　hurried　along　the　passage　to　the　door。　Her　hand　trembling；　she　tried　to　insert　the　key　in　the　lock。　It　slipped　from　her　fingers　and　clanked　to　the　bottom　of　the　steps。
　Estelle　leaned　down　to　hunt　for　the　key。　Her　fingers　encountered　moisture。
　With　a　gasp；　Estelle　tugged　a　handkerchief　from　her　hand　bag；　placed　it　upon　the　cement　and　pressed　it　to　absorb　the　stain　that　she　felt　sure　was　blood。　She　found　the　key　during　the　process。　Hurriedly；　she　put　it　in　the　lock；　to　find　that　it　would　not　turn。　The　door　was　already　unlocked。
　Estelle　opened　it；　stepped　into　the　entry。　She　saw　the　dim　light　of　the　hall　and　was　ready　to　start　for　it。　Then　she　remembered　to　lock　the　door。
　That　done；　Estelle　moved　toward　the　hall。　She　stumbled　across　something　on　the　floor；　caught　herself　as　she　tripped　forward。　There　was　a　candlestick　on　a　hall　table；　with　a　few　matches　beside　it。　Shakily；　she　lighted　the　candle　and　returned　to　the　entry。
　The　long；　wavering　flame　showed　the　sight　that　Estelle　had　dreaded。
　Huddled　face　downward　on　the　floor　was　a　black…cloaked　figure；　as　silent　as　if　dead。　The　rescuer　of　the　other　night　had　returned。　Hunted　by　hordes　who　sought　his　life；　he　had　found　this　last　haven。　Here；　his　strength　had　failed　him。
　Was　The　Shadow　dead？
　For　the　moment；　the　girl　feared　the　worst。　Then；　bravely；　she　determined　to　learn。　Estelle　Benbrook　was　resourceful；　she　had　proven　that　in　the　past；　by　caring　for　her　invalid　father　without　the　aid　of　servants。　Experience　as　a　nurse　had　also　brought　her　knowledge　of　how　to　aid　the　injured。
　Estelle　lifted　The　Shadow's　head；　his　slouch　hat　fell　away；　to　reveal　a　hawkish　visage；　pale　despite　its　masklike　contour。　The　Shadow's　face　was　well…formed；　distinguished　in　appearance。　Yet　Estelle　scarcely　observed　it。
　Her　hands　had　found　the　blood…soaked　shoulder　of　The　Shadow's　cloak。
　Easing　away　the　black　cloth　folds。　Estelle　discovered　the　nature　of　the　wound。
　A　police　bullet　had　winged　The　Shadow's　left　shoulder；　but　not　badly　enough　to　halt　him。　Loss　of　blood　had　overe　the　wounded　fighter；　after　he　had　gained　this　refuge。　A　wadded　handkerchief　showed　that　The　Shadow　had　managed　to　stanch　the　flow；　but　only　in　temporary　fashion。
　
　
　THE　SHADOW　stirred　as　Estelle　tried　to　lift　him。　His　eyes　opened　wearily；　he　sensed　his　surroundings。　With　the　girl's　aid；　he　managed　to　e　to　his　feet。　Estelle　supported　him　as　he　wavered；　through　the　hallway；　into　a　dim　front　room；　where　the　girl　guided　him　to　a　couch。
　Estelle　went　out；　she　returned　with　scissors；　bandages　and　a　basin　of　water。　Placing　chair　and　table　beside　the　couch；　she　set　to　work　to　attend　The　Shadow's　wound。
　The　task　was　a　painful　one；　although　The　Shadow　gave　no　indication　of　the　pangs　that　he　suffered。　When　Estelle　had　finished　the　work；　The　Shadow's　left　shoulder　formed　a　white…bandaged　expanse。　The　girl　had　drawn　away　his　cloak；　she　had　cut　apart　the　cloth　beneath；　in　order　to　apply　the　bandage。
　She　noted　that　The　Shadow's　eyes　were　looking　beyond　her；　that　his　thin；　straight　lips　were　about　to　move；　as　if　to　ask　a　question。　Before　The　Shadow　could　speak；　Estelle　heard　a　footfall。　She　turned　about；　uttered　a　startled　cry　as　her　father　stepped　into　the　room。
　Judge　Martin　Benbrook　was　a　man　of　seventy。　He　stood　square…shouldered　and　erect；　despite　the　fact　that　he　leaned　his　weight　upon　a　heavy　cane。　His　face　was　rugged；　his　features；　though　overlarge；　were　distinctive；　for　they　were　as　firm　as　if　chiseled　by　a　sculptor。　Flowing　gray　hair　added　to　the　judge's　fine　appearance。
　He　was　dressed　in　attire　that　suited　him　well。　An　old…fashioned　frock　coat　matched　his　cuffless　trousers；　his　shirt　was　stiff…fronted；　set　off　with　a　low…cut　waistcoat。　A　large　four…in…hand　tie　acpanied　the　wing…tipped　collar　beneath　his　smooth…shaven　chin。
　The　judge's　eyes　were　brilliant　as　they　stared　toward　The　Shadow。　A　responsive　glint　came　from　The　Shadow's　eyes。　Those　were　flashes　of　mutual　recognition；　each　was　a　fighter　who　could　tell　another　of　his　kind。　Estelle　saw　the　exchange　of　silent　greetings。　A　glad　smile　wreathed　her　face。　Rising；　she　approached　the　judge。
　〃Father；〃　said　the　girl；　〃this　is　the　stranger　whom　I　spoke　about。　The　one　who　rescued　me　from　death…〃
　〃He　is　no　stranger。〃　Judge　Benbrook　pronounced　the　words　as　solemnly　as　he　had　given　verdicts　from　the　bench。　〃He　is　a　person　who　stands　for　right。　As　such；　he　is　our　friend。〃
　With　slow　but　steady　stride；　the　judge　approached　The　Shadow。　In　his　same　solemn　tone；　he　added：
　〃I　have　read　beyond　the　headlines　in　these　reports　of　crime。　I　have　known　that　someone；　here　in　Westford；　stood　for　justice　against　overwhelming　odds！
　You　are　wounded；　but　in　whatever　battle　you　fought；　yours　was　the　right　cause！〃
　
　
　AS　HE　finished　this　pronouncement；　Judge　Benbrook　began　to　sway。　Estelle　hurried　to　him；　helped　her　father　to　the　chair　beside　the　couch。　The　judge　smiled；　gave　a　slight　nod　to　indicate　that　the　spell　had　passed。
　〃Stay　here；　father；〃　said　Estelle。　〃I　shall　bring　your　medicine。〃
　As　the　girl　left；　Judge　Benbrook　spoke　quietly　to　The　Shadow。
　〃You　have　seen　the　reason　for　my　inactivity；〃　he　declared。　〃Each　day；　my　strength　seems　to　return。　At　evening；　it　fades。　My　malady　perplexes　me；　I　cannot　understand　it。　Nevertheless；　it　prevents　me　from　waging　the　battle　that　I　should　like　to　undertake。〃
　Pausing；　the　judge　eyed　The　Shadow　closely。　He　saw　the　pallor　of　the　wounded　fighter's　face。
　〃Your　pain　is　great；〃　declared　the　judge。　〃You　must　rest。　Sleep　will　aid　you；　until　I　summon　my　own　physician　to…〃
　Estelle　had　returned　in　time　to　hear　her　father's　words。　She　interrupted　with　a　cry　of　alarm　that　halted　Judge　Benbrook's　statements。　The　girl　shook　her　head　as　she　placed　a　bottle　of　pills　upon　the　table；　along　with　a　glass　of　water。
　〃No　father！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃We　cannot　trust　Doctor　Lunden　to　preserve　silence。　I　have　often　asked　you　to　choose　another　physician。　Your　own　condition　has　not　improved　under　Doctor　Lunden's　treatments。〃
　Judge　Benbrook　motioned　for　silence。　The　Shadow's　lips　had　moved。　In　low；　but　steady　tone　the　wounded　fighter　spoke：
　〃Telegraph　to　New　York。　Summon　Doctor　Rupert　Sayre…〃
　The　Shadow　paused；　closing　his　eyes；　but　both　Estelle　and　her　father　nodded。　They　understood　that　Sayre　must　be　The　Shadow's　own　physician。
　The　Shadow's　eyes　opened；　they　met　Judge　Benbrook's　gaze。　At　close　range；　The　Shadow　noted　a　largeness　of　the　judge's　pupils；　a　certain　fixation　in　his　stare。
　Estelle　was　tipping　three　capsules　from　the　medicine　bottle。　The　Shadow　reached　forward　with　his　right　hand。
　〃Give　me　two；〃　he　requested。　〃One　only　for　Judge　Benbrook。〃
　Estelle　looked　puzzled；　but　she　followed　the　request。　The　Shadow　swallowed　each　pill　in　turn；　following　with　gulps　of　water　from　the　glass　which　Estelle　handed　him。　His　head　performed　a　slight　nod；　to　indicate　that　he　had　made　a　correct　supposition。
　〃These　pills　contain　an　opiate；〃　declared　The　Shadow；　looking　toward　Judge　Benbrook。　〃As　such；　they　will　relieve　my　pain。　They　explain　why　your　strength　has　failed　you。〃
　〃You　mean　that　I　have　been　doped？〃　claimed　Judge　Benbrook。　〃That　the　increased　dosages；　given　to　me　by　Doctor　Lunden　have　been　keeping　me　an　invalid？〃
　The　Shadow　nodded。
　〃Take　only　one；〃　he　repeated。　〃Ask　Sayre　about　them　when　he　es　tomorrow。　He　will　reduce　the　dosage。　Say　nothing　to　your　own　physician。〃
　
　
　JUDGE　BENBROOK　took　a　single　pill　and　swallowed　it。　Watching　The　Shadow；　he　saw　proof　of　the　latter's　statement。　The　Shadow's　eyes　had　dulled；　his　eyelids　closed。　A　relieved　smile　showed　upon　the　thin　lips。　Judge　Benbrook　arose　from　his　chair；　faced　his　daughter　with　a　triumphant　gaze。
　〃He　will　sleep！〃　exclaimed　the　judge。　〃Soon；　he　will　be　well。　Meanwhile；　my　malady　will　end；　for　this　true　friend　has　discovered　its　real　cause。　We　shall　handle　Lunden　wisely；　Estelle。　We　shall　keep　him　ignorant　of　the　fact　that　we　have　learned　his　treachery。〃
　Proudly；　the　old　judge　walked　t