mg.cityofcrime-第6部分

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　〃I　am　safe；〃　he　whispered。　〃Remain　silent　until　everyone　has　gone。〃
　〃I　have　my　key；〃　began　the　girl。　〃If　I　could　only　unlock　this　door…〃
　Almost　instantly；　The　Shadow　blinked　a　tiny　flashlight。　By　the　glow；　he　saw　the　key　that　the　girl　was　holding；　her　hand　was　shaking　as　she　tried　to　fit　it　into　a　door。　Quickly；　The　Shadow　plucked　the　key　with　gloved　fingers。　He　found　the　lock；　opened　the　door　and　thrust　the　girl　inward。
　Following；　The　Shadow　closed　the　door　behind　him；　inserted　the　key　from　the　inside　and　turned　the　lock。
　
　
　LOOKING　about；　The　Shadow　found　himself　in　an　entry　that　led　to　a　dimly　lighted　hall。　The　girl　had　gone　through；　she　was　staring　back；　trying　to　discern　the　man　who　had　so　promptly　aided　her　with　the　door。
　The　Shadow　stepped　forward　into　the　light。　The　girl　gasped；　as　she　saw　his　weird；　cloaked　figure。　She　silenced；　as　The　Shadow　gave　a　whisper。　Fascinated；　the　girl　met　the　gleam　of　The　Shadow's　burning　eyes。　She　heard　him　speak；　not　a　question；　but　a　statement。
　〃You　are　Judge　Benbrook's　daughter？〃
　The　girl　nodded。
　〃Estelle　Benbrook；〃　stated　The　Shadow。　〃I　have　heard　of　you。〃
　Though　more　amazed　than　ever；　Estelle　Benbrook　found　her　voice。　She　thanked　her　rescuer。
　〃You　saved　my　life；〃　declared　the　girl。　〃You　have　my　gratitude！　But…but…〃
　The　Shadow　waited　for　the　girl　to　continue。　Estelle　finally　expressed　her　thoughts。
　〃But　the　police　are　now　outside！〃　blurted　the　girl。　〃Why　did　we　need　to　avoid　them？〃
　〃They　are　as　dangerous　as　the　others；〃　replied　The　Shadow；　calmly。
　〃Criminals　were　ready　to　eliminate　all　who　saw　Prescott　Dunson　die。　These　police　would　willingly　do　the　same。〃
　Estelle　Benbrook　continued　to　watch　The　Shadow's　eyes。　When　the　girl　spoke；　her　tone　was；　one　of　conviction。
　〃I　believe　you；〃　she　declared；　firmly。　〃I　recognized　Prescott　Dunson；　when　I　saw　his　body。　My　father　has　said　that　matters　were　wrong　in　Westford；　but　I　have　never　repeated　his　statements。　He　is　an　old　man；　his　mind　seems　tired。　Yet　I　have　known　that　he　speaks　the　truth。〃
　The　girl　paused；　then　added：
　〃I　have　never　spoken　this　before；　not　even　to　Louis　Wilderton。　He　would　not　believe　me。　He　thinks　that　all　is　well　in　Westford。　If　Louis　could　only　understand…〃
　〃He　will　learn；〃　interposed　The　Shadow；　quietly；　〃when　the　right　time　arrives。　Until　then；　you　must　remain　silent。〃
　〃I　promise；〃　declared　Estelle。　〃I　shall　say　nothing　of　what　I　saw　tonight。
　Terrible　though　it　was；　it　has　given　me　courage。〃
　The　Shadow　stepped　back　into　the　passage。　He　listened　at　the　side　door；　he　heard　the　shuffle　of　departing　feet。　The　members　of　the　Flying　Squadron　had　pleted　their　search　in　the　passage　beside　the　house。　They　had　gone　forward　to　join　the　ones　at　the　front。
　The　Shadow　turned　the　key　in　the　lock：　Estelle　saw　the　motion　of　his　hand　as　she　joined　him　in　the　passage。　Anxiously；　the　girl　queried：
　〃Are　you　sure　that　the　way　is　safe？〃
　The　Shadow's　response　was　a　whispered　laugh；　mirthless；　it　was　scarcely　audible　in　the　darkness。　It　betokened　ill　for　any　who　might　block　his　path。
　Estelle；　as　witness　of　The　Shadow's　mighty　battle；　understood　the　grim　significance。　As　The　Shadow　drew　the　door　inward；　Estelle　reached　forward；　she　found　the　key　and　plucked　it　from　the　lock。
　〃Take　this　key；〃　pleaded　the　girl　〃I　have　another。　Sometime；　you　may　wish　to　return。　Perhaps…perhaps　there　may　be　new　danger；　greater　than　that　which　you　faced　tonight。〃
　Gloved　fingers　grasped　the　key。　Estelle　released　it。　She　sensed　that　The　Shadow　had　moved　outward；　but　she　expected　him　to　speak　again。　It　was　not　until　half　a　minute　later　that　she　realized　that　The　Shadow　had　departed。　Silently；　he　had　closed　the　door　behind　him。　Estelle　Benbrook　stood　alone。
　
　
　SLOWLY；　the　girl　went　through　the　lighted　hall。　She　reached　a　front　room　and　turned　on　a　desk　lamp。　The　glow　showed　her　well…formed　face；　attractive　despite　the　paleness　which　dominated　it。　The　darkness　of　her　hair　made　her　pallor　seem　more　evident；　for　Estelle　Benbrook　was　a　pronounced　brunette。
　The　girl　had　steadied　since　her　ordeal。　Her　hand　had　no　tremble；　as　it　found　another　key　in　the　desk。　Steadily；　Estelle　returned　to　the　side　door　and　inserted　the　key。　She　found　the　door　locked。　The　Shadow　had　silently　attended　to　that　detail　from　outside。　Estelle　managed　a　slight　laugh；　as　she　went　into　the　hall　and　placed　the　key　in　her　hand　bag。
　A　puzzled　frown　appeared　upon　her　forehead。　She　would　have　liked　to　have　learned　more　concerning　this　mysterious　stranger　from　the　night。　She　recalled　rumors　that　she　had　heard　this　very　day；　concerning　the　raid　made　last　night；　by　Lieutenant　Maclare。　There　was　talk　of　persons　unknown；　who　had　sided　with　the　law。
　Estelle　believed　that　rumor；　but　she　was　convinced　that　one　fighter；　not　a　group；　had　been　responsible　for　the　aid　that　Maclare　had　received。　Estelle　could　form　that　opinion　from　her　own　observation。　She　was　still　overwhelmed　with　admiration　for　The　Shadow's　prowess　in　tonight's　battle。
　As　she　closed　the　hand　bag；　Estelle　smiled。　After　all；　The　Shadow　had　taken　the　key　that　she　had　offered。　That　seemed　more　than　courtesy。　Sometime　…
　soon；　she　hoped…the　black…clad　stranger　might　return。
　In　her　thoughts；　Estelle　pictured　this　house　as　a　real　haven　in　the　heart　of　Westford；　should　The　Shadow　need　the　refuge　that　it　could　afford。　Such　need　seemed　likely　to　Estelle；　when　she　considered　the　odds　that　this　lone　fighter　faced。　Circumstances　could　arise　to　make　The　Shadow's　return　imperative。
　Though　Estelle　Benbrook　did　not　guess　it；　such　circumstances　were　already　in　the　making。
　
　
　CHAPTER　VI　
　CROOKS　CONNIVE　
　NOT　far　from　the　center　of　Westford　stood　a　large　apartment　house　that　fronted　on　a　boulevard。　This　new　and　pretentious　edifice　had　supplanted　part　of　a　row　of　old　brick　houses。　The　remnants　of　the　row　began　at　the　side　of　the　apartment　house　and　continued　to　a　corner。　Deserted　and　dilapidated；　they　were　ready　for　demolition。
　The　front　windows　on　the　second　floor　of　the　apartment　house　were　heavily　curtained；　all　in　the　same　style。　They　gave　the　impression　that　they　belonged　to　one　apartment；　which　they　did。　That　apartment　was　the　residence　of　Stephen　Ruthley；　the　wealthiest　man　in　Westford。
　Ruthley　called　the　apartment　his　town　home；　and　he　considered　an　entire　floor　necessary　for　fort；　although　his　family　seldom　occupied　the　apartment　with　him。　They　preferred　a　country　house；　some　miles　from　Westford。　They　lived　there　during　the　short　intervals　when　they　came　home　from　Newport；　Florida；　or　Europe。
　Hence；　Stephen　Ruthley　lived　alone；　except　for　a　retinue　of　servants；　and　he　liked　this　second　floor　apartment　near　the　heart　of　Westford。
　Recognized　as　the　city's　most　prominent　citizen；　Ruthley　enjoyed　his　prestige。　He　gained　acclaim　for　his　philanthropies　and　his　constant　stand　for　reform。　His　real　pleasure；　however；　lay　in　the　fact　that　never　a　whisper　had　passed　concerning　his　actual　capacity。　None　but　his　most　trusted　lieutenants　knew　that　Stephen　Ruthley　was　the　real　political　boss　of　Westford。
　Beginning　with　half　a　million　dollars　gained　from　honest　enterprise；　Ruthley　had　increased　his　fortune　to　ten　times　that　amount　by　backing　graft　and　crime。　He　had　covered　this　procedure　by　expanding　his　legitimate　businesses　and　making　them　look　prosperous；　though　they　cost　him　more　than　he　gained。　Ruthley　considered　this　essential。　As　overlord　of　Westford；　he　maintained　his　security　by　keeping　his　real　activities　unknown。
　There　were　two　reasons　why　none　of　Ruthley's　associates　had　ever　dared　to　expose　his　game。　First；　because　no　one　would　have　believed　them；　second　because　they　were　in　too　deep。　Ruthley　took　care　of　his　tools；　saw　to　it　that　they　gained　their　share　of　the　spoils。　That　kept　them　satisfied；　and　maintained　their　loyalty　to　their　evil　chief。
　
　
　ON　this　night；　soon　after　The　Shadow　had　rescued　Estelle　Benbrook；　Stephen　Ruthley　had　a　visitor。　The　caller　was　a　stuffed…shirt　henchman；　who　was　at　present　Ruthley's　most　useful　figurehead。　He　was　Elvin　Marclot；　mayor　of　Westford；　whom　Ruthley　had　carried　into　office　on　a　sweeping　wave　of　so…called　reform。
　The　pair　were　seated　in　Ruthley's　den；　a　room　that　had　windows　only　at　the　front；　for　it　was　the　side　of　the　apartment　that　was　buttressed　by　the　side　wall　of　the　first　house　in　the　row。
　Ruthley's　den　was　a　cross　between　an　office　and　a　clubroom。　It　had　a　desk　in　the　corner；　along　with　a　filing　cabinet。　Except　for　those　articles　of　office　equipment；　it　was　furnished　with　deep…cushioned　chairs　and　couches；　thick　rugs；　ornate　tables。
　The　side　wall　showed　a　pair　of　large　bookcases；　set　apart；　between　them　was　a　huge；　life…sized　painting　that　depicted　Aramis；　of　the　〃Three　Musketeers。〃　The　bottom　of　the　full…length　picture　was　less　than　two　feet　from　the　floor；　the　heavy　mahogany　frame　was　flush　against　the　wall。
　Ruthley　was　seated　in　an　armchair；　smoking　an　expensive　cigar。　Marclot　was　opposite　him；　watching　him。　In　appearance；　as　well　as　manner；　the　two　formed　an　absolute　contrast。
　Stephen　Ruthley　was　elderly；　yet　active。　His　face　was　calm；　pleasant；　almost　fatherly。　His　eyes；　though　searching；　carried　a　twinkle；　his　gray　hair　added　to　his　genial　look。　All　this　was　a　mask　that　Ruthley　had　worn　for　years；　he　seldom　dropped　it；　even　when　he　had　no　need　for　pretense。　In　fact；　Ruthley　prided　himself　upon　the　fact　that　when　his　temper　rose；　he　could　play　his　friendly；　reassuring　part　to　real　perfection。
　Elvin　Marclot　was　portly；　pompous　and　round…faced；　serious　of　expression；　he　was　ever　ready　to　draw　himself　up　and　blubber　in　righteous　indignation。　He　used　that　method　to　cover　his　crooked　nature；　it　worked　well　in　public；　but　it　was　useless　in　Ruthley's　presence。　The　boss　always　had　the　mayor　at　a　disadvantage；　for　Ruthley's　calmness　seemed　natural；　while　Marclot's　self…importance　did　not。
　Tonight；　if　Ruthley　chanced　to　be　nervous；　he　did　not　show　it。　Marclot；　however；　was　jittery；　and　could　not　cover　the　fact。　He　had　already　reported　important　news；　all　that　he　could　do　was　repeat　it。
　〃They've　finished　Dunson　by　this　time；　Steve；〃　insisted　Marclot；　in　a　tone　that　was　almost　a　whine。　〃Kirk　Borman　called　me；　like　I　told　you。　I　thought　I'd　better　be　here　when　the　news　c