mg.cityofcrime-第23部分

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　Two　startled　hoodlums；　crouched　in　darkness；　saw　the　cloaked　avalanche　whirl　in　upon　them。　Dropping　their　machine　gun；　they　sprang　to　meet　The　Shadow。
　His　right　arm　swished　downward；　the　automatic　smashed　a　thug's　skull。　As　the　fellow　sprawled；　The　Shadow　swung　a　side　blow；　clipped　the　second　gunner　and　rolled　him　out　through　the　door　of　the　pill…box。
　The　first　thug　partly　blocked　the　door。　Stopping；　The　Shadow　seized　his　shoulders　and　pitched　his　senseless　body　out　beside　the　dazed　man　who　had　floundered　on　the　step　of　the　roadster。　That　done；　The　Shadow　grabbed　the　handle　of　the　door　and　clanged　the　barrier　shut。　Safe　in　the　pill…box；　he　peered　through　the　tiny　loophole。
　The　Shadow　had　pletely　tricked　the　gunners　in　the　far　pill…box。　His　car　had　blocked　their　view　of　his　rapid　action。　They　learned　what　had　happened　too　late　to　defeat　it。　Their　knowledge　came　when　the　thug　on　the　roadster's　step　suddenly　grabbed　his　unconscious　pal　and　dragged　him　out　in　front　of　the　halted　car。
　It　was　stalemate：　a　trio　of　crooks　in　one　pill…box；　The　Shadow　in　the　other。　The　abandoned　roadster　made　a　barrier　in　between；　but　it　meant　nothing。
　The　Shadow；　like　the　crooks；　had　a　machine　gun　and　could　fire　through　the　open　sides　of　the　small　car。　Volleys　would　prove　useless；　however；　for　both　The　Shadow　and　his　opponents　were　safely　entrenched。
　True；　there　were　three　men　somewhere　on　the　garage　floor；　two　of　them　were　now　dragging　a　third　toward　the　front　door。　The　Shadow　could　have　picked　out　those　crooks　and　finished　them；　but　they　were　unimportant。　He　needed　some　way　to　break　this　stalemate；　to　leave　the　pillbox　and　be　on　his　way　to　other　tasks。
　That　was　The　Shadow's　real　dilemma。
　Had　crooks　recognized　the　situation；　they　would　have　let　matters　remain　as　they　were。　They；　however；　disliked　the　condition　for　reasons　of　their　own。　They　knew　the　identity　of　their　foeman。　They　were　incensed　because　they　had　let　The　Shadow　nullify　their　advantage。
　Hoarse　shouts　came　from　the　far　pill…box。　The　words　were　incoherent　to　The　Shadow；　due　to　the　echoes　from　the　barren　walls。　To　the　men　who　were　in　the　open；　the　cries　were　understandable。　One　dropped　the　senseless　man　whom　he　was　lugging；　leaped　for　a　wall　and　pulled　a　light　switch。　The　garage　was　plunged　into　darkness。
　
　
　ON　the　face　of　it；　this　move　seemed　merely　a　protection　for　the　men　who　were　still　at　large。　Crooks　naturally　expected　The　Shadow　to　stay　where　he　was。
　Instead；　The　Shadow　found　the　handle　of　the　pill…box　door。　He　slid　the　door　open；　slowly　and　cautiously。　His　move　was　just　in　time。
　The　thug　by　the　outer　door　had　found　another　switch。　He　pulled　it。　The　result　was　sensed　immediately　by　The　Shadow。　His　pill…box　began　a　descent　into　the　floor；　lowering　like　an　elevator。　The　smooth　action　was　acpanied　by　the　rhythmic　hum　of　hidden　machinery。
　Had　The　Shadow　still　been　behind　a　closed　door；　he　could　not　have　left　the　descending　pill…box；　for　it　went　down　into　the　floor　so　steadily　that　the　delay　of　opening　the　door　would　have　been　fatal。　However；　The　Shadow　had　already　attended　to　the　detail　of　opening　the　door。　His　quick　brain　caught　the　need　for　immediate　action。
　With　both　hands；　he　grabbed　the　edge　of　outside　floor　when　it　was　just　waist…high。　With　a　long；　forward　leap　from　the　floor　of　the　descending　pill…box；　he　shot　headforemost　through　the　closing　space；　performed　a　quick　roll　that　brought　his　legs　clear；　just　before　the　top　of　the　pill…box　doorway　could　trap　them。
　The　pill…box　stopped　its　descent　with　a　sharp　click。　Reaching　along　the　garage　floor　in　the　darkness；　The　Shadow　found　that　the　roof　of　the　pill…box　was　coated　with　cement；　that　formed　a　perfect　level　with　the　floor。　He　knew　that　the　other　pill…box　must　operate　in　the　same　fashion；　and　the　reason　was　obvious。　With　the　pill…boxes　lowered　into　their　pits；　the　garage　floor　would　appear　quite　ordinary；　and　would　therefore　excite　no　suspicion　when　not　in　use　as　a　trap。
　Some　crook　had　seen　a　smart　way　to　render　The　Shadow's　capture　of　the　pill…box　worse　than　useless。　The　pull　of　the　wall　switch　had　turned　the　stronghold　into　a　prison；　as　close…walled　as　a　tomb。　Harsh；　gleeful　cries　amid　the　darkness　told　that　men　of　crime　were　sure　that　their　ruse　had　worked。　A　raucous　voice　called　for　lights。
　Quickly；　The　Shadow　rolled　beneath　the　roadster。　He　lay　there；　face　downward；　clasping　an　automatic　in　each　fist。　The　lights　came　on；　crooks　piled　from　their　pill…box　to　join　the　others　on　the　floor。　Together；　they　surged　to　the　wall　beside　the　roadster；　they　tramped　roughly　on　the　leveled　roof；　they　bent　to　shout　jeers　that　they　hoped　The　Shadow　would　hear　within　his　tomb。
　While　thugs　made　merry；　The　Shadow　prepared　to　end　their　revelry。　The　far　side　of　the　roadster　was　deserted；　except　for　the　one　thug　who　lay　unconscious。
　Three　from　the　pill…box；　two　from　the　floor；　had　all　assembled　above　the　tight…sealed　prison　where　they　believed　The　Shadow　trapped。　Edging　outward；　The　Shadow　was　almost　ready　to　e　to　his　feet；　when　an　interruption　sounded。
　Someone　was　pounding　at　the　front　door　of　the　garage。　For　beyond　that　heavy　barrier　came　the　shouted　order：
　〃Open！　In　the　name　of　the　law！〃
　
　
　THE　SHADOW　abandoned　his　plan　to　surprise　the　clustered；　crooks　who　stood　flat…footed　by　the　wall。　He　had　recognized　the　shouting　voice。　The　tone　was　that　of　Lieutenant　James　Maclare。　Half　to　his　feet；　The　Shadow　dropped　low　again；　he　edged　beneath　the　roadster　as　crooks　scurried　from　the　wall。
　He　saw　one　man　reach　the　door　and　yank　a　switch　that　controlled　the　far　pill…box。　It　descended；　the　thug　at　the　switchboard　pulled　a　lever　to　open　the　rear　door　of　the　garage。　Two　crooks　picked　up　the　unconscious　thug；　the　lights　went　out　to　cover　their　departure　by　the　opened　rear　door。　Only　two　remained；　to　pass　as　garage　attendants　when　they　admitted　Maclare　and　his　bluecoats　to　the　innocent…looking　garage。
　The　Shadow　had　new　opportunity　in　the　darkness。　He　took　it。　Rolling　from　beneath　the　roadster；　he　moved　swiftly　to　the　rear　door。　Crooks　were　away　before　he　reached　it；　The　Shadow　slid　through　just　as　the　door　was　closing。
　The　rear　alley　was　darkened；　groping；　The　Shadow　found　a　passage　that　led　through　to　the　front　street；　between　the　garage　and　an　empty　store。　He　took　this　route；　stopped　just　before　he　reached　the　front。　Peering　from　the　corner；　The　Shadow　was　witness　to　the　next　scene。
　Lights　were　on　again　in　the　garage；　the　front　door　had　been　opened　to　admit　Maclare。　The　lieutenant　had　made　a　brief　inspection；　he　had　called　the　thuggish　attendants　out　front；　to　give　them　a　brief　quiz。
　〃Nobody　came　in　here　tonight？〃　demanded　the　police　officer。　〃You're　sure　of　it？〃
　〃Nobody；　lieutenant；〃　replied　one　of　the　thugs。　〃This　garage　is　closed　for　repairs。　We're　storin'　no　cars；　here；　right　now。〃
　〃Humph！　Who　does　that　roadster　belong　to；　then？〃
　〃It's　my　own　car；　lieutenant。〃
　〃All　right；〃　decided　Maclare。　〃The　men　we're　after　were　reported　riding　in　a　coupe。　Last　place　we　spotted　them　was　near　here。　We　thought　maybe　they'd　made　into　your　garage。
　A　siren　sounded　as　Maclare　finished。　Two　motorcycles　chugged　up；　then　a　police　car。　Members　of　the　Flying　Squadron　stepped　to　the　street。　An　official　car　arrived。　Director　Kirk　Borman　alighted。　He　talked　with　Lieutenant　Maclare。
　〃I'll　take　charge　here；〃　decided　Borman。　〃Good　work；　lieutenant！　I　heard　about　your　surprise　raid。〃
　〃I　meant　to　notify　you；　director；〃　stated　Maclare；　〃only　we　weren't　sure　of　the　tip…off…〃
　〃I　understand；〃　put　in　Borman；　brusquely。　〃Results　are　what　count；　lieutenant。　You　gained　them。　That's　all　that　matters。　Better　get　back　to　your　precinct。　The　Flying　Squadron　will　find　Lance　Gillick。〃
　
　
　MACLARE　saluted；　he　departed　with　his　bluecoats。　The　honest　lieutenant　was　grim。　For　once；　he　had　kept　back　facts　that　he　might　have　given　to　the　police　director。　The　tip…off　that　Maclare　had　received　had　specified　that　no　one；　not　even　Director　Borman；　be　informed　beforehand。　Rather　than　miss　his　opportunity　to　catch　Lance　Gillick　red…handed；　Maclare　had　agreed　to　the　terms。　He　had　trusted　the　mysterious　voice　that　had　e　over　the　wire　to　his　precinct　office。
　Director　Borman　went　into　the　garage；　while　members　of　the　Flying　Squadron　spread　out　to　fake　a　search　of　the　area。　The　Shadow　saw　chance　of　new　encounter；　which　he　wanted　to　avoid。　In　darkness；　he　whipped　off　his　cloak　and　hat　and　folded　them　under　his　arm。　Choosing　a　moment　when　no　khaki…uniformed　men　were　near；　he　walked　out　from　his　hiding…place　and　approached　Director　Borman's　car。
　He　opened　the　door；　tossed　his　garments　into　a　corner　of　the　rear　seat。
　The　chauffeur　turned　about；　saw　only　the　features　of　Trig　Callister。　The　Shadow　whispered　gruffly；　stating　that　he　wanted　to　see　Director　Borman。　The　chauffeur　was　one　of　Borman's　trusted　aids。　He　knew　that　the　director　had　dealings　with　characters　of　Trig's　sort。　He　motioned　The　Shadow　into　the　car。
　Kirk　Borman　returned　soon　afterward；　a　pleased　smirk　on　his　sharp…featured　face。　As　he　entered　the　car；　The　Shadow　spoke　again。
　〃I'm　Trig　Callister；〃　he　gruffed。　〃Say…did　they　get　The　Shadow？〃
　〃He's　where　we　want　him；〃　chuckled　Borman。　〃Buried　alive！　We'll　leave　him　there　until　he　croaks！　That　won't　be　long；　he's　in　an　air…tight　spot。〃
　The　Shadow's　disguised　face　was　visible　by　the　glow　of　a　street　lamp。　To　Borman；　those　features　answered　Lance　Gillick's　description　of　Trig。
　Nevertheless；　Borman　questioned　suddenly：
　〃How　did　you　get　here？〃
　〃I　hopped　on　the　back　of　Lance's　coupe；〃　returned　The　Shadow　with　a　sight　guffaw。　〃I　was　in　a　bad　spot　when　that　raid　hit。　A　worse　one；　when　The　Shadow　tagged　Lance。　I　had　to　drop　off　to　keep　from　getting　hit　when　he　busted　loose　with　those　gats　of　his。　I　was　too　busy　to　yank　a　rod　of　my　own。　It's　tough　holding　on　to　the　back　of　a　coupe；　going　the　speed　Lance　was　driving　that　one。〃
　The　story　clicked。　Borman　told　the　chauffeur　to　drive　along。　He　was　not　suspicious　when　The　Shadow　questioned：
　〃How　about　Lance　and　Beezer？　Did　they　make　it　to　Ruthley's　O。K。？〃
　〃They　did；〃　acknowledged　the　police　director。　〃That's　where　we　are　going　at　present。〃
　〃You'll　have　to　drop　me　on　the　way；〃　objected　The　Shadow。　〃When　we　get　to　the　place　where　I　p