mg.cityofcrime-第7部分

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when　the　news　came…〃
　
　
　THE　telephone　bell　rang。　Marclot　trembled　as　he　reached　for　the　telephone；　which　was　on　a　mahogany　table　near　the　door。　Ruthley　stopped　him。
　〃Let　Haija　answer　it；〃　ordered　Ruthley。　〃He　always　does。〃
　Marclot　sank　back　in　his　chair；　A　Japanese　house…man　entered；　picked　up　the　telephone　and　spoke　in　mechanical　fashion。　He　turned　about　and　held　the　instrument　toward　Marclot；　with　the　statement：
　〃Call　for　Honorable　Mr。　Mayor。〃
　Marclot　took　the　telephone　shakily；　gulped　as　he　spoke。　Ruthley　listened　intently　to　the　conversation。
　〃Yes。。。〃　Marclot；　always　a　faker；　pretended　to　be　astonished。　〃What　is　that；　director？　A　murder？。。。　Not　our　friend　Prescott　Dunson？。。。　This　is　terrible！　Terrible！。。。　Yes。　It　would　be　wise　for　you　to　e　here　at　once。。。〃
　Haija　took　the　telephone　as　soon　as　Marclot　hung　up。　The　Japanese　replaced　the　instrument　on　the　table　and　stalked　from　the　room。　Marclot　spoke　to　Ruthley　in　a　trembling　tone。
　〃They　got　Dunson！〃　the　mayor　quivered。　〃Borman's　on　his　way　here。〃
　〃How　soon　will　that　be？〃
　〃He　said　within　five　minutes。〃
　Ruthley　and　Marclot　dropped　their　conversation。　Just　as　Ruthley　flicked　another　length　of　ashes　from　his　cigar；　Haija　entered　to　announce　that　the　police　director　had　arrived。　Kirk　Borman　was　ushered　into　the　den。　As　soon　as　Haija　was　gone；　the　sharp…faced　police　director　talked　business。
　〃They　chopped　down　Dunson　in　front　of　Judge　Benbrook's　house；〃　stated　Borman。　〃But　there　was　a　lot　of　fireworks　afterward。　Some　sharpshooter　began　to　pick　off　the　men　in　Lance's　cars；　just　like　last　night。〃
　〃Interesting；〃　remarked　Ruthley。　He　puffed　at　his　cigar；　then　reached　for　a　box　and　offered　a　smoke　to　Borman。　Then　he　asked：　〃Did　the　Flying　Squadron　take　care　of　the　troublemaker？〃
　〃They　arrived　too　late　to　get　him；〃　returned　Borman；　in　a　rueful　tone。
　〃They　had　to　fake　a　chase　after　the　thugs；　and　it　was　tough　to　bluff　it；　for　they　were　crippled　pretty　bad；　the　thugs　were。　I　thought　the　whole　game　was　going　to　be　a　cinch　when　Dunson　was　reported　in　that　trolley；　but　it　wasn't。
　〃Anyway；　Dunson　is　done　for。　The　Flying　Squadron　took　his　body　over　to　the　morgue。　I　saw　him　laid　out　there；　and　I　found　out　something　that's　worth　knowing。　Wait　until　I　show　you　the　letter　that　was　on　Dunson's　body。〃
　Borman　began　to　fumble　in　his　pockets。　Marclot　took　advantage　of　the　lull。
　〃This　will　make　trouble；〃　insisted　the　mayor。　〃Maybe　not　for　us；　but　suppose　that　public　indignation　seeks　out　Lance　Gillick？　He　is　one　of　us。　We　have　to　protect　him。〃
　〃We　shall；〃　stated。　Ruthley；　with　a　smile。　〃Quite　easily。〃
　〃But　how　can　we　laugh　off　Dunson's　charges？〃　continued　Marclot。　〃He　claimed　that　he　could　prove　corruption　in　Westford。〃
　〃I　shall　handle　the　matter；〃　returned　Ruthley；　still　smiling。　〃Quite　easily；　Marclot。〃
　Borman　had　found　the　letter。　The　police　director　was　opening　it。　The　paper　was　reddened　at　one　corner；　that　stain　had　e　from　Prescott　Dunson's　blood。
　The　fact　did　not　annoy　Borman；　he　was　too　anxious　to　divulge　the　contents　of　the　letter。
　〃This　was　from　a　man　named　Shaw；〃　he　began。　〃Evidently　the　fellow　had　written　to　Dunson　before…〃
　〃Wait！〃
　
　
　STEPHEN　Ruthley　had　heard　a　slight　sound　that　came　from　behind　the　panting　on　the　wall。　He　arose；　went　to　the　picture　and　pressed　a　hidden　catch　in　the　side　of　the　frame。　He　swung　the　picture　inward；　in　doorlike　fashion。
　Two　men　stepped　over　the　sill；　to　join　the　conference　in　Ruthley's　den。
　The　foremost　was　Lance　Gillick；　sleek　in　his　evening　attire。　The　big…shot　gambler　indulged　in　one　of　his　suave　smiles。　He　stepped　aside　to　let　his　panion　enter。　The　other　man　was　short　and　squatty；　his　leering　face　showed　crossed　scars　on　its　left　cheek。　The　man　looked　like　a　murderer；　and　he　was。
　Lance's　panion　was　〃Beezer〃　Dorsch；　the　mobleader　who　was　supposed　to　be　at　odds　with　the　sleek　gambler。　As　Lance　had　mentioned　to　Borman　the　night　before；　the　two　were　actually　in　league。　Because　of　that；　Lance　had　brought　Beezer　to　this　conference。
　The　ring　of　crime…makers　was　plete。　Stephen　Ruthley；　king　of　villainy；　sat　smiling　as　he　viewed　the　faces　of　his　four　lieutenants。　With　Elvin　Marclot　to　play　the　part　of　a　pompous　mayor；　with　Kirk　Borman　to　pose　as　an　efficient　police　director；　Ruthley　held　two　aces　for　a　start。
　This　other　pair　were　quite　as　essential　to　his　schemes。　Lance　Gillick　served　as　hidden　lieutenant　who　manded　henchmen　from　the　underworld；　while　Beezer　Dorsch　took　charge　of　action　in　the　field。　In　a　sense；　Lance　and　Beezer　corresponded　to　Marclot　and　Borman。　One　pair　represented　the　law；　the　other　pair；　crime。
　The　second　duo　of　aces　gave　Stephen　Ruthley　the　full　hand　that　he　wanted。
　All　were　his；　to　take　his　mands。　Tonight's　action　had　been　the　murder　of　Prescott　Dunson。　The　kill　had　been　made。　Ruthley　was　prepared　to　order　further　measures　to　cover　up　the　crime。
　
　
　CHAPTER　VII　
　THE　FINGER　POINTS　
　ELVIN　MARCLOT　and　Kirk　Borman　were　not　at　all　annoyed　by　the　arrival　of　Lance　Gillick　and　Beezer　Dorsch。　The　mayor　and　the　police　director　had　long　since　e　to　recognize　those　two　as　panions　in　arms。　There　was；　in　fact；　a　reason　why　both　Marclot　and　Borman　felt　pleased　when　they　learned　that　Ruthley　had　summoned　his　representatives　in　the　underworld。　Until　tonight；　neither　Marclot　nor　Borman　had　made　the　actual　acquaintance　of　Beezer　Dorsch。
　Nearly　all　contact　between　these　pairs　of　lieutenants　had　been　when　Kirk　Borman　had　visited　Lance　Gillick；　on　pretense　that　he　was　looking　into　the　gambler's　affairs。　Marclot　and　Borman　paid　their　own　visits　to　Stephen　Ruthley；　but　they　always　entered　by　the　front　door。　When　Ruthley　needed　to　see　Lance　or　Beezer；　he　had　those　outlaws　e　in　through　the　secret　entry。
　The　picture　that　served　as　a　door　covered　a　passage　through　the　deserted　house　at　the　end　of　the　row。　Lance　and　Beezer　reached　it　by　entering　the　old　house　from　a　narrow；　blind　alley；　well　hidden　from　the　lights　of　the　front　boulevard。
　Tonight；　it　was　apparent　that　Lance　and　Beezer　had　brought　news。
　Therefore；　Kirk　Borman　postponed　his　own　report。　He　pocketed　the　letter　that　he　had　found　on　Dunson's　body　and　settled　back　in　his　chair　to　listen。　Lance　Gillick　picked　out　one　of　Ruthley's　cigars；　while　Beezer　Dorsch　produced　a　cigarette　and　lighted　it。　Lance　gave　a　nod。
　〃Spill　it；　Beezer；〃　he　ordered。　〃The　boss　will　want　to　hear　what　went　sour。〃
　Beezer　turned　directly　to　Ruthley。
　〃I　was　going　to　tell　you　about　last　night；〃　he　began。　〃Only　I　got　more　dope　to　spring；　the　way　things　has　happened。　We　muffed　that　Maclare　job；　on　account　of　a　guy　who　queered　our　set…up。　I　was　wise　to　who　he　was。　He　was　The　Shadow！　And　it　was　him　again　tonight！〃
　For　an　instant；　Stephen　Ruthley's　eyes　showed　a　hard　glint。　The　boss　had　heard　of　The　Shadow；　for　he　had　delved　deeply　into　the　lore　of　crime。
　Ruthley　turned　to　Borman。
　〃Too　bad　your　Flying　Squadron　was　slow；〃　purred　the　boss。　〃They　could　handle　this　trouble…maker；　if　they　went　after　him。〃
　〃They'll　have　orders　to　bag　The　Shadow；〃　returned　Borman；　grimly。　〃When　I　tell　them　to　look　for　The　Shadow；　they'll　find　him！〃
　
　
　LANCE　and　Beezer　smiled　hopefully。　Ruthley　settled　back　in　his　chair　to　ponder　over　the　facts　that　he　had　heard。　During　the　lull；　Mayor　Marclot　suddenly　reverted　to　his　former　subject。
　〃We　can't　forget　Dunson；〃　pleaded　Marclot。　〃Something　has　to　be　brought　to　light；　to　cover　the　stir　he　has　made。〃
　Ruthley　smiled　blandly。　He　arose　and　went　to　the　filing　cabinet　in　the　corner。　Opening　a　drawer；　he　produced　a　folder　filled　with　papers。　He　brought　them　back　to　his　chair；　laid　them　upon　a　table。　Motioning　for　silence；　he　spoke　in　calm；　authoritative　tone。
　〃Prescott　Dunson　is　dead；〃　announced　Ruthley。　〃He　was　murdered　because　he　threatened　to　make　important　revelations　concerning　graft　and　crime。　The　public　will　want　facts；　therefore；　the　public　shall　have　facts。　Those　facts；　however；　will　be　to　our　own　choice。〃
　Smiling；　Ruthley　opened　the　folder　and　brought　out　the　papers。　As　he　spread　them　on　the　table；　he　spoke　further。
　〃First；〃　he　declared；　〃some　killer　must　be　blamed　for　the　crime。　Very　well；　we　shall　name　the　man　who　is　actually　responsible。　There　he　is〃…Ruthley　pointed　to　Beezer…〃all　ready　to　take　the　blame。〃
　〃Sure；〃　snorted　Beezer；　〃I'll　be　the　fall　guy。　Great　stuff；　boss！　Me　and　Lance　is　supposed　to　be　on　the　outs。　That'll　cover　him。〃
　Lance　chuckled。
　〃I　already　have　an　alibi；〃　he　remarked。　〃The　best　in　the　city。　Just　at　the　time　when　Beezer　was　rubbing　out　Dunson；　who　do　you　think　dropped　in　to　see　me？
　I'll　tell　you。　It　was　Lieutenant　James　Maclare。　He　wanted　to　see　if　I　had　any　roulette　wheels　up　my　sleeve；　so　I　showed　him　all　around　the　joint。　He　drew　a　blank；　wouldn't　even　take　a　cigar　when　I　offered　it　to　him。　Maclare　knows　where　I　was　when　Dunson　was　chopped　down。　Being　honest；　he'll　admit　that　I　was　right　in　my　own　night　club。〃
　Smiles　of　approval　were　exchanged　throughout　the　group。　Chuckles　stilled　as　Ruthley　resumed。
　〃Beezer　will　disappear；〃　explained　the　boss。　〃The　city　will　be　scoured　for　him。　A　nation…wide　search　will　begin；　with　Beezer　called　a　public　enemy。〃
　Beezer　looked　uneasy；　until　Ruthley　added：
　〃All　the　while；　Beezer　will　be　fortably　located　in　the　one　place　where　no　one…not　even　Lieutenant　Maclare…will　look　for　him。　He　will　live　in　your　apartment；　Lance。〃
　
　
　LANCE　nodded　his　approval。　The　others　joined　with　nods。　They　knew　the　location　of　Lance's　apartment；　off　the　passage　that　led　from　his　private　office。　Since　Maclare　had　raided　the　Club　Adair　and　found　no　gambling　devices；　there　would　be　no　more　raids。
　Ruthley　made　a　sweeping　gesture　with　his　right　hand。
　〃The　matter　of　a　murderer　is　settled；〃　he　declared。　〃We　must；　however；　consider　the　subject　of　corruption。　Marclot〃…he　eyed　the　mayor　steadily…〃do　you　remember　those　contracts　you　signed　for　the　proposed　exposition　buildings？〃
　〃Certainly；〃　nodded　Marclot。　〃Adam　Woodstock　gained　the　contracts。　He　has　already　received　a　million　dollars　of　city　funds。　He　gave　us　our　half　of　the　money。〃
　〃That　was　a　swell　kickback；〃　put　in　Lance；　in　an　admiring　tone。　〃I'll　bet；　though；　that　it　doesn't　show　on　Woodstock's　books。〃
　〃Of　course　not；〃　declared　Marclot。　〃Wo