mg.cityofcrime-第4部分

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　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　ready　to　duck　the　roulette　layout　so　deep　that　they'll　never　find　it。〃
　〃I　won't　run　the　gambling　joint　tomorrow；〃　stated　Lance。　〃I'll　tell　the　customers　to　stay　away；　on　account　of　you　being　here　tonight。　Maclare　and　his　crew　of　flatfeet　won't　even　find　a　gambling　chip。　All　the　stuff　will　be　out　of　the　place。〃
　Lance　sat　down　at　his　desk；　brought　out　a　box　of　expensive　cigars。　Borman　helped　himself　to　one　of　the　perfectos。　Lance　lighted　up　also。
　〃Let's　forget　Maclare；〃　decided　Borman。　〃There's　something　bigger　to　think　about。　We've　got　to　worry　about　Prescott　Dunson。　If　he　runs　for　district　attorney；　we'll　have　a　tough　guy　to　deal　with。〃
　〃Then　it's　up　to　Stephen　Ruthley；〃　decided　Lance。　〃As　the　big　reform　champion　of　Westford；　he　can　find　fault　with　Dunson。　No　one　has　even　guessed　that　you　and　I　are　working　together；　that　Mayor　Marclot　is　also　with　us。　So　how　can　they　ever　figure　that　Stephen　Ruthley；　the　big　philanthropist　and　reformer；　is　the　man　we　all　take　orders　from？〃
　
　
　KIRK　BORMAN　shook　his　head。
　〃A　lot　of　reformers　like　Prescott　Dunson；〃　he　said。　〃Therefore；　Ruthley　can't　move　against　him。　Ruthley　has　to　put　up　a　bigger　front　than　the　rest　of　us。　There's　only　one　thing　to　do；　Lance。　Bump　Dunson！〃
　〃My　specialty〃　laughed　Lance。　〃Tip　me　off　to　where　Dunson　is。　I'll　do　the　rest。　Say；　though〃…he　stroked　his　chin　ruefully…〃I　wish　I'd　kept　Trig　Callister　here。〃
　〃Who　is　Trig　Callister？〃
　〃A　bird　who　was　here　to　see　me　last　night。　He's　a　one…man　arsenal；　that　guy。　Packs　a　couple　of　gats　and　knows　how　to　use　them。　I　let　Trig　go　back　to　New　York。　I'll　get　hold　of　him　again；　though；　before　next　week。〃
　〃We　won't　have　to　rub　out　Dunson　before　then。　It　will　take　a　while　to　find　him；　too。　You're　right；　though；　Kirk。　We've　got　to　put　Dunson　on　the　spot。　With　him　out；　there'll　be　no　opposition　to　Louis　Wilderton　running　for　re…election。〃
　Borman　chuckled　at　Lance's　reference　to　Wilderton；　the　man　who　was；　at　present；　district　attorney。
　〃Wilderton　is　a　babe　in　the　woods；〃　laughed　the　police　director。　〃Any　smart　lawyer　can　tangle　him　into　knots。　But　Wilderton　means　well。〃
　〃It　also　makes　it　easy　for　us；〃　concluded　Borman。　〃Wilderton　is　under　Ruthley's　thumb。　es　running　to　him　for　an　opinion　on　everything。　Like　a　kid　visiting　a　department　store　Santa　Claus；　around　Christmas　time。〃
　With　this　ment；　Borman　arose；　as　indication　that　he　was　ready　to　leave。
　Lance　reached　beneath　his　desk　and　pressed　a　hidden　button；　to　blink　the　lights　in　the　gaming　room。　Rising；　he　walked　to　the　door　with　Borman；　and　stopped　there　for　a　few　moments。
　〃Wait　until　they've　had　time　to　cover　the　wheel；〃　reminded　Lance。　〃Then　put　on　your　act　when　we　go　through　the　room。　Don't　forget　about　Prescott　Dunson。　Tip　me　off　when　you've　located　him。〃
　〃I'll　have　every　copper　in　town　on　the　lookout；〃　returned　Borman。　〃When　I　give　the　order；　I'll　state　that　it's　for　Dunson's　own　protection。〃
　
　
　IN　his　office；　the　big…shot　gambler　grinned；　as　he　took　a　long　puff　from　his　perfecto。　Leagued　with　Mayor　Elvin　Marclot　and　Police　Director　Borman；　Lance　had　little　to　fear　from　the　law。　Moreover；　he　knew　that　he　could　rely　upon　a　leader　more　powerful　than　either　of　those　two；　namely；　Stephen　Ruthley；　Westford's　champion　of　reform。
　The　future　looked　rosy　to　Lance　Gillick；　despite　the　fact　that　crooks　had　failed　tonight　in　their　effort　to　slay　Lieutenant　James　Maclare。
　Lance　Gillick　had　not　yet　learned　that　The　Shadow's　hand　had　been　responsible　for　crime's　failure。
　
　
　CHAPTER　IV　
　INTO　THE　SNARE　
　TWENTY…FOUR　hours　had　passed　since　Westford　had　been　stirred　by　the　law's　bat　with　crime。　Lieutenant　James　Maclare　had　been　heroized　for　his　raid　on　the　Mississippi　Hotel。　Westford's　chief　newspaper；　the　Daily　Banner；　had　been　loud　in　its　acclaim。　A　great　quiet　had　settled　upon　the　city；　as　an　aftermath　to　Maclare's　exploit。
　The　newspaper　headlines　were　of　huge　interest　to　a　man　in　shirt　sleeves；　who　sat　in　an　easy　chair；　surrounded　by　the　quiet　of　a　modest　parlor。　The　house　which　contained　this　room　was　a　small　suburban　home　in　one　of　Westford's　residential　districts；　but　the　man；　himself；　looked　out　of　place　in　such　an　ordinary　room。
　His　bulky　frame；　his　huge；　bulging　forehead；　denoted　him　as　a　man　of　action。　His　bushy　eyebrows；　with　flashing　eyes　beneath；　showed　that　he　was　tired　of　seclusion。　This　man　was　Prescott　Dunson；　long　known　as　a　challenger　among　political　circles。
　Across　from　Dunson　sat　a　weary…faced；　middle…aged　woman；　busy　with　her　knitting。　She　looked　up　as　she　heard　Dunson　grumble　aloud。　She　shook　her　head　and　sighed。　Dunson　mopped　his　huge　forehead　and　smiled　indulgently。
　〃It's　too　bad；　Martha；〃　he　declared；　in　a　booming　tone；　〃that　you　had　to　marry　a　man　who　went　in　for　politics；　particularly　in　this　rotten　town。　But　I　am　determined　to　go　through　with　what　I　started。　I　intend　to　be　the　next　district　attorney　of　this　county。　And　Westford　is　nearly　all　the　county。〃
　〃Is　it　worth　the　risk；　Prescott？〃　inquired　the　woman。
　〃Yes！　Westford　is　in　the　hands　of　rogues！〃　boomed　Dunson。　〃Mayor　Marclot　is　a　smug　pretender！　Director　Borman　is　a　traitor；　in　league　with　criminals！　I　can　prove　those　facts；　Martha！　And　I　have　a　suspicion　there's　a　big…shot　above　them　all！〃
　Dunson's　wife　stared；　amazed。
　〃As　for　Louis　Wilderton；〃　added　Dunson；　〃he　is　a　know…nothing。　A　puppet；　acting　as　district　attorney。　What　chance　is　there　for　justice；　while　he　holds　office？〃
　〃I　can't　believe　all　that；　Prescott；〃　protested　Mrs。　Dunson。　〃It　sounds　incredible！　If　I　won't　believe　it；　how　can　others？　They　will　say　that　you　are　a　fanatic；　they　will　laugh　at　your　assertions。〃
　Dunson　thrust　a　big　hand　into　his　coat　pocket；　drew　out　a　folded　letter　and　held　it　aloft　in　his　right　band。
　〃This　came　from　a　man　who　knows　the　truth；〃　he　announced。　〃A　man　whom　I　have　never　met；　but　who　told　me　enough　in　his　previous　letters。　He　signs　himself　Theo　D。　Shaw；　he　has　not　only　promised　me　more　facts；　he　has　offered　to　take　me　to　a　place　of　absolute　security。　With　his　aid；　I　can　lift　the　lid。　I　can　not　only　tell　the　truth；　I　can　prove　it。〃
　
　
　STOOPING；　Dunson　picked　up　the　newspaper　that　he　had　dropped。　He　opened　it　to　the　editorial　page；　pointed　to　a　paragraph。
　〃Look；　Martha；〃　he　said。　〃Already；　they　state　that　they　expect　to　hear　from　Prescott　Dunson；　that　I　have　promised　to　throw　light　on　hidden　corruption；　to　name　men　who　have　bled　this　city。　When　I　officially　and　publicly　announce　myself　as　candidate　for　district　attorney；　I　shall　wither　the　rogues　whose　names　I　mention。　I　shall…〃
　Dunson　broke　off。　A　telephone　bell　was　ringing　in　the　hall。　With　a　nod　to　his　wife；　Dunson　lowered　his　tone　and　ordered：
　〃Answer　it。〃
　The　woman　laid　aside　her　knitting；　she　went　to　the　telephone；　held　a　brief　conversation。　She　came　back　into　the　room；　to　whisper：
　〃Someone　wishes　to　speak　to　you；　Prescott。　He　says　that　his　name　is　Shaw。〃
　Dunson　bounded　across　the　room。　In　the　hall；　he　seized　up　the　telephone；　began　a　quick　conversation。
　〃Yes；　yes。。。〃　Mrs。　Dunson　heard　all　that　her　husband　said。　〃Of　course；　Mr。
　Shaw。。。　I　knew　that　you　would　learn　where　I　was　living。。。　Yes；　I　have　my　car　here。。。　The　garage。。？　Right　in　back　of　the　house。。。　Certainly。　I　understand。
　〃Twenty　minutes。。。〃　Dunson　nodded　as　he　spoke。　〃Yes；　I　can　make　it　in　that　time。。。　Parking　lot　beside　the　Majestic　Hotel。。。　Up　through　the　fire　tower。。。
　Room　304。。。　Very　well；　Mr。　Shaw。　I　shall　be　there　within　a　half　hour。〃
　Hanging　up　the　receiver；　Dunson　came　into　the　parlor。　He　told　his　wife　the　import　of　the　call。
　〃Shaw　wants　me　to　meet　him　at　the　Majestic　Hotel。　I'm　going　straight　up　to　his　room。　Pack　my　bag　at　once；　Martha。〃
　〃Is　it　safe；　Prescott？〃
　〃Absolutely！　I　am　to　park　my　car　by　the　side　of　the　hotel；　in　that　parking　space　that　we've　used　so　often。　I'll　go　in　by　the　side　door；　up　the　fire　tower　to　Shaw's　room。　I'll　call　you；　after　I　have　talked　with　him。〃
　Donning　coat　and　vest；　Dunson　clapped　a　battered　hat　upon　his　head。　He　went　out　through　the　kitchen；　while　Mrs。　Dunson　started　upstairs　to　pack　the　suitcase。
　Five　minutes　later；　Mrs。　Dunson　arrived　downstairs；　carrying　a　light　bag。
　She　heard　the　kitchen　door　slam；　Dunson　arrived；　fuming　incoherently。　Taking　the　bag；　he　explained　the　reason　for　his　annoyance。
　〃The　battery　is　dead；〃　he　told　his　wife。　〃I'll　take　the　trolley　into　town。〃
　〃Didn't　Mr。　Shaw　tell　you　to　drive　in　your　car？〃
　〃Yes。　Probably；　because　I　said　that　I　had　one　available。〃
　〃Perhaps　you　should　call　him　at　the　hotel。〃
　〃No。　That　would　be　unnecessary。〃
　Kissing　his　wife　good…by；　Dunson　stepped　toward　the　door。　He　paused　long　enough　to　add　a　last　assurance。
　〃The　trolley　stop　is　only　one　block　from　the　Majestic　Hotel；〃　reminded　Dunson。　〃That　block　is　a　quiet　one。　I　can　walk　along　the　left　side　of　the　street；　in　front　of　Judge　Benbrook's　old　house。　Then　I　get　past　there；　I　can　cross　over　to　the　parking　lot；　and　enter　the　hotel　as　Shaw　suggested。〃
　
　
　LEAVING；　the　house；　Dunson　took　to　a　secluded　sidewalk。　The　suburban　street　was　deserted；　Dunson　felt　secure　as　he　paced　in　the　direction　of　the　car　line。　He　reached　the　car　stop；　stood　under　the　darkened　shelter　of　a　large　tree。
　In　a　few　minutes；　a　jouncy　trolley　car　came　along　the　street。　Dunson　stepped　into　the　glow　of　its　headlight　and　halted　it。
　There　were　only　five　passengers　on　the　trolley　car。　None　noted　Dunson　particularly。　Setting　his　bag　on　the　seat　beside　him；　Dunson　shoved　his　hat　back　from　his　bulgy　forehead　and　stared　from　the　window　as　the　car　rolled　along。
　After　a　few　blocks；　the　car　halted。　A　policeman　stepped　aboard　the　back　platform；　grunted　a　〃hello〃　to　the　conductor。　The　car　started　on；　the　officer　remained　on　the　rear　platform。　The　trolley　had　traveled　another　block　before　he　happened　to　glance　in　through　the　door。
　〃Say！〃　exclaimed　the　bluecoat；　to　the　conductor。　〃Isn't　that　Prescott　Dunson；　the　fellow　that's　going　to　run　for　district　attorney？〃
　〃Guess　it　is；〃　rejoined　the　conductor；　peering　through　the　door。　〃Looks　like　the　pictures　I've