mg.cityofcrime-第13部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


indly　struts。　With　long　strides　across　scraggly　ground；　The　Shadow　covered　the　distance。　He　reached　the　bottom　of　the　tower　just　as　the　police　cars　pulled　up　beside　his　abandoned　coupe。
　The　glow　from　the　tower　came　from　lights　beneath　a　projecting　flange　around　the　top。　There；　lights　were　concentrated　to　display　a　sign　painted　on　the　tower；　stating　that　it　belonged　to　the　Westford　Electric　Co。　A　platform　at　the　base　of　the　tank　itself　cut　off　the　light；　so　that　all　beneath　was　darkened。
　Stopping　by　the　first　steel　leg；　The　Shadow　found　that　the　support　was　equipped　with　a　ladder。　Without　a　moment's　hesitation；　he　began　an　upward　climb。
　
　
　FORTY　feet　up；　the　ladder　ended。　In　its　place；　The　Shadow　discovered　a　catwalk　that　led　to　the　center　of　the　tank；　ending　directly　underneath　it。
　Probing　farther　in　the　darkness；　he　discovered　a　side　ladder　that　went　to　the　top　of　the　tank；　but　he　chose　the　catwalk　instead。　His　choice　was　a　good　one。
　Some　of　the　pursuers　had　e　over　toward　the　tower　and　were　flashing　electric　torches　from　the　ground。
　Reaching　the　end　of　the　catwalk；　The　Shadow　felt　the　bottom　of　the　tank。
　He　discovered　supporting　girders；　shaped　to　the　tank　itself。　Gripping　the　edges　of　a　girder　with　his　hands；　The　Shadow　swung　his　feet　upward　and　gained　a　toe…hold。　Crawling　face　upward；　he　followed　the　outside　of　the　huge　bowl；　until　he　was　halfway　to　the　platform　that　girded　it。　There；　The　Shadow　paused；　bracing　his　arms；　he　clung　motionless。
　Pursuers　were　ing　up　the　ladder。　Some　reached　the　catwalk；　followed　its　downward　curve　to　the　center　of　the　tank。　Others　went　around　the　platform。　A　few　ascended　the　second　ladder　and　flashed　lights　on　the　smooth　surface　of　the　conical　top。　The　search　took　several　minutes；　it　covered　everywhere；　except　the　under　curve　of　the　water　tank；　on　The　Shadow's　side。　No　one　suspected　that　a　person　could　hide　on　that　precarious　portion　of　the　tank。
　Clangs　from　the　ladder　told　that　the　police　were　making　their　descent。
　Slowly；　The　Shadow　reversed　his　course　along　the　girder。　His　arms　and　legs　were　tired；　but　the　course　was　downward　and　required　less　effort　than　his　climb。　He　reached　the　catwalk　and　settled　to　its　surface。
　From　his　high　lookout；　The　Shadow　watched　the　search　along　the　ground。　At　least　twenty　men　were　beating　the　brush；　as　they　circled　the　shores　of　the　pond。　Flashlights　bobbed　in　the　direction　of　a　house；　two　hundred　yards　away。
　Lights　appeared　in　the　house　itself。　The　Shadow　knew　that　the　police　had　roused　the　occupants；　to　make　a　search　inside。
　It　was　nearly　an　hour　before　the　hunt　ended。　Even　then；　the　terrain　did　not　clear　entirely；　a　few　watchers　were　posted　along　the　ground。　None　was　near　the　tower；　The　Shadow　moved　along　the　catwalk　and　descended　silently　by　the　ladder。　There；　he　waited　in　darkness；　watching　the　blink　of　flashlights。　Soon　a　pair　came　in　his　direction。
　Sidling　away　from　the　tower；　The　Shadow　listened　while　two　men　went　up　the　ladder。　They　were　choosing　the　very　lookout　that　The　Shadow　had　occupied；　so　that　they　could　keep　in　contact　with　the　men　below。　Evidently；　the　police　intended　to　keep　guard　all　night。
　A　clouded　sky　had　rendered　the　darkness　almost　plete。　That　suited　The　Shadow。　Silently；　he　made　his　way　toward　the　house。　He　paused　close　beside　the　building　while　muffled　feet　tramped　past　him。　A　flashlight　blinked；　but　did　not　turn　in　his　direction。　When　the　guard　had　passed；　The　Shadow　crept　to　the　wall　of　the　house。
　
　
　THE　building　was　a　frame　structure；　a　trellis　showed　vaguely　in　the　darkness。　The　Shadow　used　it　as　a　ladder　and　made　a　quiet　climb　to　a　kitchen　roof。　He　found　a　darkened　window　above；　used　it　to　reach　a　ledge。　He　was　outside　a　third…story　window；　the　shape　of　the　roof　indicated　that　this　story　of　the　house　was　an　attic。
　The　window　was　a　round　one；　on　a　pivot。　The　Shadow　swung　it　to　a　horizontal　position；　using　his　cloak　to　muffle　any　sound。　Head　first；　he　wriggled　through　the　half　opening；　came　to　the　rough；　unfinished　floor　of　the　attic。　Using　a　tiny　flashlight　in　guarded　fashion；　The　Shadow　studied　the　room；　foot　by　foot。
　The　attic　had　been　searched　by　the　police。　Pieces　of　old　furniture　had　been　shoved　about；　trunks　had　been　pulled　away　from　the　wall。　The　Shadow　reached　a　flight　of　steps；　crept　downward；　to　a　door　that　was　locked　from　the　other　side。　This　discovery　pleased　him。　As　long　as　that　door　remained　locked；　neither　the　house…owners　nor　the　law　would　bother　with　another　search。　This　attic　could　be　The　Shadow's　refuge　as　long　as　he　chose。
　Eventually；　he　would　have　the　choice　of　two　exits：　the　window　by　which　he　had　entered；　or　the　door　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs。　Though　the　door　was　locked；　The　Shadow　could　easily　open　it。　His　picks；　lock…opening　instruments　expertly　handled；　had　overe　barriers　that　were　far　more　formidable　than　that　lower　door。
　Back　in　the　attic；　The　Shadow　made　himself　fortable。　He　found　an　old　couch　that　was　thick…cushioned；　despite　its　shabbiness。　Opening　a　trunk；　he　discovered　blankets。　Rolling　one　as　a　pillow；　he　used　the　other　for　bedding；　and　stretched　himself　upon　the　couch。
　From　where　he　lay；　The　Shadow　could　see　through　the　window。　He　watched　the　motion　of　flashlights　through　the　darkness。　They　would　continue　until　dawn；　then　there　would　be　a　search　by　day。　That　hunt　would　cover　many　places；　but　it　would　not　reach　this　attic；　except　by　some　freak　of　chance。　If　the　search　came　here；　The　Shadow　would　be　ready。　If　not；　he　would　remain　in　the　attic　throughout　the　day。
　For　The　Shadow　expected　no　more　trouble　in　Westford　until　tomorrow　night。
　His　present　policy　was　to　let　matters　cool　there。　Word　would　go　around　that　Beezer　Dorsch　had　fled　the　city；　the　same　would　be　said　about　The　Shadow。
　Crooks　would　be　bluffing　when　they　spoke　of　Beezer；　they　would　think　that　they　told　the　truth；　in　the　case　of　The　Shadow。
　Thus　the　stage　would　be　set　as　The　Shadow　wanted　it；　when　he　returned。
　Again；　he　could　thrust　from　darkness；　meet　crooks　and　stagger　them。　To　date；　The　Shadow　had　steadily　progressed。　He　had　saved　Lieutenant　Maclare；　only　Prescott　Dunson's　own　mistakes　had　spoiled　The　Shadow's　efforts　toward　a　second　rescue。
　Likewise；　chance　had　favored　Beezer　Dorsch；　when　The　Shadow　had　trapped　the　murderer。　The　same　chance　had　driven　The　Shadow　to　this　place　of　refuge；　but　he　had　not　lost　ground　in　his　battle　against　crime。　Every　fight　had　crippled　more　foemen；　always；　The　Shadow　had　e　through　unscathed；　departing　into　darkness。
　Tomorrow　night；　The　Shadow's　plans　called　for　a　greater　thrust；　a　move　to　the　very　place　where　crime　was　fostered。　His　investigations　in　the　city　of　Westford　had　given　him　close　knowledge　of　all　who　were　concerned　in　crime。
　Unfortunately；　The　Shadow　had　not　been　present　at　that　conference　between　Stephen　Ruthley　and　his　four　associates。　The　Shadow's　absence　from　that　meeting　had　caused　him　trouble　when　he　trapped　Beezer　Dorsch。　It　was　due　to　provide　him　with　more　difficulties　when　he　again　went　into　Westford。
　
　
　HAD　The　Shadow　gained　an　inkling　of　the　next　move　that　Stephen　Ruthley　intended；　he　would　not　have　considered　it　wise　to　remain　in　this　secluded　attic。　His　policy　would　have　been　to　slip　the　cordon　of　watchers　and　return　to　Westford　on　this　very　night。
　As　yet；　The　Shadow　had　dealt　only　with　those　lieutenants　who　served　the　overlord　of　crime。　He　had　not　encountered　Stephen　Ruthley　in　action；　nor　did　he　expect　to　meet　the　master　villain　on　the　move。　Ruthley；　as　The　Shadow　sized　him；　was　a　cunning　brain　who　could　sit　back　and　let　others　follow　his　mand。　Past　events　had　backed　The　Shadow's　opinion。　The　future；　however；　could　tell　another　story。
　Stephen　Ruthley；　at　this　very　moment；　was　pleting　a　plan　of　crime　that　would　give　The　Shadow　new　and　different　evidence　of　the　master　villain's　ways。
　
　
　CHAPTER　XI　
　WITHIN　THE　LAIR　
　EARLY　the　next　evening；　an　automobile　stopped　in　front　of　Stephen　Ruthley's　big　apartment　house。　The　man　who　parked　the　car　appeared　to　be　a　privileged　person；　for　the　curb　where　he　pulled　up　bore　the　sign：　〃NO　PARKING。〃
　Entering　the　apartment　house；　this　visitor　walked　up　a　broad　flight　of　stairs　to　the　second　floor。　He　rang　a　bell；　at　the　imposing　do