mg.cityofcrime-第3部分

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　Wildly；　they　fired　in　return。　Their　bullets　flattened　on　the　steel　wall　of　the　freight　car。　The　driver；　clipped　by　a　slug　from　darkness；　lost　control　and　swung　from　the　crossing。　His　sedan　jolted　down　a　low　embankment；　slewed　sidewise　and　crashed　against　a　signal　tower。
　There　was　no　stir　within　the　car；　when　it　halted。　Distant　policemen　heard　the　crash。　Footsteps　racing　upon　sidewalks　told　that　they　were　ing　to　witness　the　result。　One　car…load　of　fugitives　had　been　bagged；　even　though　the　other　three　had　outraced　the　Flying　Squadron。
　Blackness　moved　from　beside　the　freight　car。　The　purple　light　of　a　switch　signal　glowed　upward　to　show　a　shrouded　form；　tall　in　its　guise　of　black。
　Gloved　hands　dipped　mammoth　automatics　beneath　the　front　of　a　flowing　cloak。
　Unseen　lips　voiced　a　grim　laugh　from　the　muffling　front　of　an　upturned　collar。
　Weird；　chilling　tones　betokened　the　final　stroke　of　the　night's　victory。
　The　sardonic　mirth　faded；　as　the　cloaked　figure　passed　from　the　purplish　glow。
　The　battle　was　ended；　The　Shadow　had　left　the　field　to　the　law。
　
　
　OUT　of　darkness；　The　Shadow　had　arrived　to　deal　with　crime　in　Westford。
　Into　gloom；　he　had　returned…after　his　efforts　had　saved　the　life　of　Lieutenant　Maclare　and　a　squad　of　officers。　Yet　the　chill　of　his　eerie　laugh　seemed　to　hover；　for　that　spectral　tone　had　carried　a　touch　that　seemed　to　concern　the　future。
　Like　Lieutenant　Maclare；　The　Shadow　had　recognized　the　significance　of　tonight's　episode。　Fierce　though　the　fray　had　been；　it　scarcely　scratched　the　surface　of　the　evil　that　lurked　deep　within　this　prosperous　city。
　Crime　and　death　would　be　due　again　in　Westford。　Here；　evil　was　organized　far　beyond　the　extent　that　Lieutenant　Maclare　had　guessed。　There　would　be　need　for　more　and　greater　effort　before　crime　and　corruption　could　be　banished。
　The　Shadow　knew　those　facts。　His　appearance　in　tonight's　battle　was　but　proof　that　he　had　long　been　present　in　Westford；　investigating　the　iniquity　which　held　the　city　in　its　grip。
　
　
　CHAPTER　III　
　BEHIND　THE　SCENES　
　HALF　an　hour　after　the　raid　on　the　Mississippi　Hotel；　Lieutenant　James　Maclare　arrived　back　at　the　first　precinct　station。　Muffled　oaths　and　dull　clatter　greeted　Maclare　when　he　crossed　the　patrol　room。　The　sounds　came　from　the　cell　room；　where　policemen　had　housed　an　assortment　of　hoodlums　unloaded　from　the　patrol　wagons。
　There　had　been　many　captures　following　the　raid。　Cornered　riffraff　had　thrown　away　their　guns；　to　surrender；　denying　that　they　had　carried　weapons。
　Practically　all　of　these　were　men　who　had　been　inside　the　hotel　at　the　beginning　of　the　raid。
　Lieutenant　Maclare　felt　pleased　as　he　took　a　seat　at　his　desk　and　began　to　prepare　a　report。　Armed　resistance　had　made　the　case　against　the　prisoners　a　stronger　one。　Maclare　could　see　jail　terms　awaiting　many　of　the　participants。
　Maclare's　pleasure　increased；　when　Sergeant　Cassley　knocked　at　the　door　to　announce　a　visitor。　The　arrival　was　none　other　than　Kirk　Borman；　the　police　director。
　Maclare　was　on　his　feet　when　Borman　entered。　Tall；　heavy　of　build；　the　police　director　was　as　much　a　fighter　as　Maclare。　Borman's　face　was　sharp…featured；　his　lips　showed　a　broad　smile　between　his　hooked　nose　and　his　pointed　chin。　Advancing　to　Maclare's　desk；　Borman　thrust　a　congratulating　hand　across　the　top；　to　grip　Maclare's　hand　in　a　solid　shake。
　〃Fine　work；　Jim；〃　mended　Borman；　in　a　short…clipped　tone。　〃You　cleaned　out　a　nest　of　bad　eggs。　Carry　on　with　it。　Go　after　the　gilt…edged　places　in　this　precinct。〃
　〃You　mean　the　Club　Adair？〃　queried　Maclare。　〃That's　one　place　I'd　like　to　get；　Kirk。　Lance　Gillick　has　a　gambling　joint　somewhere　in　back　of　that　fancy　night　club　front。〃
　〃Go　after　it；　tomorrow　night；〃　ordered　Borman。　〃Telephone　me　first；　though。　I　have　two　headquarters　men　watching　things　over　there。　I'm　going　to　drop　in　there　this　evening　and　look　the　place　over　for　myself。〃
　〃Lance　Gillick　will　probably　see　you；〃　remarked　Maclare。　〃If　he　does；　he'll　pass　you　a　lot　of　smooth　talk。〃
　〃All　the　better；〃　decided　Borman。　〃If　he　thinks　I'm　the　man　he　has　to　deal　with；　he　won't　be　expecting　you　tomorrow。〃
　Kirk　Borman　clapped　his　hand　upon　Lieutenant　Maclare's　shoulder；　then　turned　about　and　strode　from　the　office。　Policemen　saluted；　as　the　director　passed　through　the　patrol　room。　Outside　the　station　house；　Borman　stepped　aboard　an　official　limousine　and　told　the　chauffeur　to　take　him　to　the　Club　Adair。
　
　
　LOCATED　just　within　the　limits　of　the　first　precinct；　the　Club　Adair　fronted　on　one　of　Westford's　main　streets。　The　club　itself　was　on　the　second　floor；　over　a　row　of　shops。
　Alighting　from　his　car；　Kirk　Borman　entered　a　pretentious　doorway　and　ascended　a　broad　flight　of　thick…carpeted　stairs。　At　the　top；　he　left　his　hat　and　coat　at　a　check　room。　Attired　in　tuxedo；　the　police　director　entered　a　glittering　night　club；　where　tobacco　smoke　clouded　a　thick　throng　of　dancers　who　occupied　the　center　of　the　floor。
　An　orchestra　was　producing　strident　music。　Buzzed　conversation；　bursts　of　laughter　sounded　everywhere。　The　place　was　doing　capacity　business；　a　bowing　head　waiter　was　apologetic　when　he　ushered　the　police　director　to　an　obscure　table；　behind　a　pillar。　It　was　one　of　the　few　tables　that　remained　vacant。
　A　heavy…jowled　man　spied　Borman　immediately　and　came　over　to　the　director's　table。　He　was　one　of　the　headquarters　men；　he　reported　in　an　undertone：
　〃They've　been　going　through　that　door　over　there；　a　lot　of　em。　Looks　like　the　gambling　joint's　on　the　other　side…〃
　Borman　whispered　an　interruption。　The　headquarters　man　silenced　as　the　head　waiter　approached　the　table。　Directly　behind　the　head　waiter　came　a　man　in　full　evening　clothes。　The　arrival　was　Lance　Gillick。
　The　night　club　proprietor　was　tall　and　long…limbed。　His　manner　was　polished；　his　speech　was　suave。　His　features　were　handsome；　despite　their　sallowness。　His　wavy　black　hair；　his　pointed　mustache　gave　him　a　debonair　air。
　〃Good　evening；　Director　Borman；〃　greeted　Gillick；　with　a　bow。　〃It　is　not　often　that　I　have　the　pleasure　of　meeting　you　here。　I　somewhat　expected　your　arrival　tonight〃…Lance　smiled；　as　he　looked　in　the　direction　of　the　headquarters　man…〃because　I　saw　two　of　your　advance　agents。　This　gentleman　and　the　other；　over　by　the　wall。〃
　Borman　turned　to　the　headquarters　man。
　〃Go　over　there；　Thompson；〃　he　ordered；　〃and　bring　Rhine　here。　I　want　both　of　you　to　e　along　with　me。〃
　Lance　Gillick　arched　his　clipped　eyebrows；　as　he　heard　Borman　give　the　order。　When　the　two　headquarters　men　arrived　at　the　table；　Borman　snapped　brisk　words　to　Lance：
　〃We're　going　through　that　far　door；　Gillick！　You　can　conduct　us　there！〃
　〃With　pleasure；〃　said　Lance；　with　a　bow。　〃e　at　once；　director。〃
　
　
　LANCE　led　the　way　to　the　door　in　question。　He　rapped　a　signal；　the　door　opened。　Borman　and　his　men　followed　through　into　a　large　room；　where　some　twenty　people　were　seated　at　tables；　laughing　as　they　chatted　and　drank。　All　were　well　attired；　the　men　in　evening　clothes；　the　women　in　evening　gowns。
　The　room；　itself；　was　magnificent。　Its　walls　were　adorned　with　huge　oil　paintings；　the　windows　were　covered　by　expensive　velvet　draperies。　Lance　conducted　Borman　and　the　others　to　a　far　door；　he　opened　it；　to　show　a　small　office　with　oak　furniture　and　paneled　walls　to　match。
　〃My　private　office；〃　explained　Lance。　〃The　large　room　through　which　we　came　is　simply　an　exclusive　dining　room　for　my　more　important　guests。〃
　〃It　passes　muster；〃　decided　Borman。　Then；　eyeing　the　office：　〃I　suppose　you　are　very　careful　in　your　bookkeeping；　Gillick？〃
　〃I　am；〃　replied　Lance；　smoothly。　〃Perhaps　you　would　like　to　see　my　books？〃
　〃I　would。〃
　〃Step　into　the　office；　director。〃
　Borman　hesitated；　then　turned　to　the　headquarters　men；　with　an　order：
　〃Go　back　to　the　night　club　proper。　Take　my　table。　I'll　join　you　there。〃
　Thompson　and　Rhine　departed；　out　through　the　door　by　which　they　had　entered。　Lance　Gillick　ushered　Kirk　Borman　into　the　oak…paneled　office。　Closing　the　door；　the　night　club　proprietor　grinned。　He　pressed　a　wall　panel；　it　slid　open；　to　reveal　a　darkened　passage。
　〃Step　in　there；　Kirk；〃　chuckled　Lance。　〃Take　a　look　through　the　back　of　the　big　painting　on　the　far　wall。〃
　Smiling；　Borman　followed　directions。　Looking　through　a　peek　hole；　the　director　saw　a　quick　transformation　in　progress。
　Waiters　were　lifting　the　top　of　a　huge　buffet；　as　they　rolled　the　bulky　object　forward；　its　sides　fell　away　and　it　became　a　roulette　table。　Small　tables　were　pushed　in　line；　their　covers　whipped　away。　They　produced　the　green　board　upon　which　players　could　place　their　bets。
　Other　waiters　were　bringing　boxes　loaded　with　playing　chips；　serving　them　to　guests　in　return　for　credit　slips。　The　chips　began　to　click；　a　waiter　took　charge　of　the　wheel　and　it　began　its　spin。　Director　Borman　stepped　back　into　Lance　Gillick's　office。　Lance　closed　the　panel。
　〃They　think　it's　hot；〃　laughed　Lance。　〃As　soon　as　you're　ready　to　go　out；　they'll　see　the　lights　blink。　It　will　just　be　tables　and　drinks　again；　when　you　go　through。　A　great　set…up；　eh；　Kirk？〃
　
　
　KIRK　BORMAN　nodded。　Lance　caught　a　troubled　look　on　the　director's　face。
　Quickly；　Lance　questioned：
　〃Something　went　sour　tonight？〃
　Borman　nodded。
　〃What　was　it？〃　quizzed　Lance。　〃Didn't　they　rub　out　Maclare？〃
　〃Maclare　made　a　clean…up；〃　answered　Borman。　〃He　and　his　squad　bumped　off　more　than　half　dozen　of　the　mob。　About　the　same　number　went　to　the　hospital。
　Maclare　hauled　in　pretty　near　twenty　of　the　bunch　that　were　in　the　Mississippi　Hotel。〃
　Lance　glared　sourly。　〃I　can't　figure　why　that　outfit　didn't　get　Maclare。
　As　soon　as　you　gave　me　the　tip…off；　Kirk；　I　phoned　Beezer　Dorsch　and　told　him　to　be　on　the　job。　Beezer　should　have　gotten　Maclare。〃
　〃Smart　work；　using　Beezer；〃　mended　Borman。　〃He's　the　one　real　mobster　in　town　who's　supposed　to　be　at　odds　with　you。〃
　〃Sure！〃　Lance　laughed　as　he　spoke。　〃That　covers　me　perfect；　in　case　Beezer　gets　recognized！　Say；　have　you　seen　Maclare　since　the　raid？〃
　Borman　smiled；　then　nodded。
　〃I　told　him　to　blow　in　here　tomorrow　night；〃　informed　the　director。　〃When　he　and　his　squad　find　nothing；　they'll　owe　you　an　apology；　Lance。　Only；　be