mg.cityofcrime-第16部分

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　HAIJA　lay　motionless　on　the　floor；　stunned　by　a　bump　his　head　had　taken　when　he　sprawled。　The　Shadow　stepped　to　the　telephone；　again；　he　dialed　Woodstock's　number；　to　get　another　busy　signal。　Hardly　had　he　finished　with　the　dialing　when　he　heard　sounds　from　elsewhere　in　the　apartment。　Ruthley　had　servants　beside　Haija。　They　had　heard　the　crash　of　the　Jap's　fall；　they　were　ing　to　learn　its　cause。
　For　a　moment　The　Shadow　paused；　ready　to　begin　new　fray。　His　gloved　fingers；　dipping　beneath　the　cloak；　crinkled　the　paper　that　he　had　placed　there。
　The　Shadow　changed　his　plan。　Stepping　over　toward　Haija's　prone　body；　he　tried　the　edge　of　the　picture　frame。　He　found　the　catch；　shoved　Haija　aside　with　one　foot　as　he　drew　the　portrait　toward　himself。　Listening；　The　Shadow　noted　that　there　were　no　approaching　steps。　Probably　the　servants　were　conferring　among　themselves；　reluctant　to　advance　until　they　knew　more。
　Leaving　the　big　portrait　ajar；　The　Shadow　hurried　from　the　den。　He　reached　the　hallway；　gained　the　outer　door　and　opened　it；　making　a　clatter　as　he　did　so。
　Giving　the　door　a　slam。　The　Shadow　wheeled　back　toward　the　den。　As　he　passed　the　unconscious　form　of　Haija；　he　heard　the　pound　of　footsteps。
　Servants　knew　at　last　that　there　was　an　intruder　in　the　apartment。　They　thought　that　the　unknown　visitor　had　fled　by　the　front　door。　With　courage　gained；　they　were　making　a　pursuit。　Calmly；　The　Shadow　stepped　through　the　opening　behind　the　portrait；　closed　the　doorlike　painting　and　heard　the　catch　click　automatically。
　Stephen　Ruthley；　when　he　returned；　would　never　guess　that　The　Shadow　had　found　the　secret　exit。　Haija　would　testify　to　a　battle　in　the　den；　the　other　servants　would　swear　that　an　invader　had　fled　through　the　front　door。　As　for　the　crumpled　paper　that　he　had　gained；　The　Shadow　doubted　that　Ruthley　would　even　remember　it。　The　master　crook　had　considered　it　of　no　importance。
　
　
　THE　SHADOW　however；　regarded　the　paper　as　valuable。　He　pocketed　it　securely；　as　he　picked　his　way　by　flashlight　through　the　interior　of　the　vacant　house。　That　paper　was　evidence　of　a　sort　that　could　be　used；　when　the　proper　time　arrived。　There　was　a　chance；　though；　that　it　might　never　prove　necessary。
　For　The　Shadow　was　taking　a　shortcut　to　reach　Stephen　Ruthley。　He　was　convinced　that　the　master　crook　had　gone　to　the　residence　of　Adam　Woodstock。
　Knowing　Ruthley's　ways。　The　Shadow　was　positive　that　he　would　find　the　rogue　engaged　in　secret　parley　with　the　contractor。　If　the　two　were　hatching　a　new　scheme　of　graft；　it　would　be　worth　The　Shadow's　while　to　listen；　then　deal　with　Ruthley　afterward。
　Reaching　the　blind　alley　in　back　of　the　row　of　houses；　The　Shadow　followed　devious　turns　until　he　reached　an　obscure　garage　that　was　well　away　from　brightly　lighted　streets。　An　attendant　was　dozing　in　the　office；　he　did　not　awaken　when　The　Shadow　entered　a　small　roadster　and　coasted　the　car　to　the　street。
　This　was　a　reserve　automobile；　that　The　Shadow　had　purchased　from　a　〃used…car〃　lot　in　Westford。　He　was　employing　it　to　reach　Adam　Woodstock's　home；　on　the　other　side　of　town。　The　Shadow　knew　the　location　of　the　contractor's　residence；　it　was　one　of　the　largest　houses　in　Westford。
　All　that　disturbed　The　Shadow　was　the　fact　that　it　had　taken　him　a　dozen　minutes　to　reach　the　garage　where　he　had　placed　the　old　car。　That　interval　had　delayed　his　start　to　Woodstock's。　There　was　a　chance　that　the　conference　might　be　ended　before　The　Shadow　arrived　at　the　contractor's　home。
　Had　The　Shadow　learned　the　real　purpose　of　Stephen　Ruthley's　visit　to　Adam　Woodstock；　he　would　have　realized　that　the　odds　were　badly　against　him。　Though　he　was　to　profit　by　his　present　mission；　The　Shadow　was　faring　into　new　and　greater　hazards　than　those　that　he　had　previously　faced　in　Westford。
　
　
　CHAPTER　XIII　
　DEATH'S　FALSE　TALE　
　EVEN　before　The　Shadow's　bat　with　Haija；　Stephen　Ruthley　had　reached　the　home　of　Adam　Woodstock。　Admitted　by　the　contractor　himself；　Ruthley　had　gone　to　a　room　on　the　second　floor；　there　to　confer　with　the　man　he　had　e　to　see。
　Adam　Woodstock　was　a　dreary…faced　individual；　his　bloodless　countenance　was　almost　as　gray　as　the　thin　fringe　of　hair　that　surrounded　his　bald　head。
　Seated　at　a　desk　in　the　room　that　he　called　his　study；　Woodstock　assumed　a　listening　attitude　while　Stephen　Ruthley　spoke。　Woodstock　had　an　odd　habit　of　tilting　his　head　to　the　right；　Ruthley　noticed　it　particularly　tonight。
　Across　the　desk　from　Woodstock；　Ruthley　was　purring　a　persuasive　story。　It　concerned　the　contract　on　which　Woodstock　had　already　paid　back　the　half　million　dollars　that　had　been　required　of　him。
　〃There　are　several　of　us　in　this　deal；〃　confided　Ruthley。　〃Marclot　and　I　are　not　alone。　That　is　why　I　have　e　to　see　you；　Woodstock。　These　papers　explain　the　situation。〃
　Spreading　the　documents　that　he　had　brought　from　his　own　files；　Ruthley　chose　one　and　passed　it　across　the　desk　to　Woodstock。
　〃This　is　the　most　important　one；〃　declared　Ruthley。　〃It　contains　an　itemized　statement　that　you　gave　to　Marclot。　The　bottom　line　lists　five　hundred　thousand　dollars　under　the　head　of　excess　profit。〃
　〃Quite　right；〃　returned　Woodstock；　in　a　drawly　tone。　〃I　listed　my　own　profit　as　one　hundred　thousand；　ten　per　cent　of　a　million。　The　five　hundred　thousand　represents　the　amount　that　I　turned　over　to　Marclot。〃
　〃We　know　that；〃　nodded　Ruthley；　〃but　some　of　my　associates　have　doubted　the　authenticity　of　the　figures。〃
　〃But　Marclot　received　the　half　million…〃
　〃True。　Nevertheless；　we　have　only　his　word　for　it　that　your　figures　are　correct。〃
　Adam　Woodstock　blinked。　In　unbelieving　tone；　he　questioned：
　〃Do　you　mean　to　say　that　someone　has　suggested　that　Marclot　and　I　might　have　worked　a　side　deal　of　our　own？〃
　〃Just　that；〃　replied　Ruthley。　〃Of　course；　it　sounds　ridiculous。　I　said　so　myself。　But　the　others　did　not　think　so。　They　had　a　reason　for　their　doubts。〃
　〃What　could　that　be？〃
　〃The　fact　that　you　did　not　sign　the　statement。〃
　Woodstock　delivered　a　short　laugh。　Head　still　tilted；　he　reached　for　a　pen　that　lay　beside　his　desk　telephone。　Ruthley　noted　that　the　telephone　was　off　its　stand。　He　had　suggested　that　Woodstock　leave　it　so；　in　order　not　to　be　troubled　by　outside　calls。
　〃I　typed　this　statement　myself；〃　asserted　Woodstock。　〃I　have　no　objections　to　signing　it。〃
　Woodstock　flourished　the　pen；　he　hesitated　before　applying　his　signature。
　His　drawly　tone　was　troubled　as　he　remarked：
　〃This　may　be　a　mistake　after　all。　I　can't　sign　this　statement；　Ruthley。　It　would　bee　an　incriminating　document　if　I　did。〃
　〃Hardly；〃　smiled　Ruthley。　〃Not　while　it　remains　in　my　hands；　Woodstock。〃
　〃I　did　not　pay　the　money　to　you。〃
　〃You　paid　it　to　Marclot。〃
　〃The　statement　does　not　say　so。　It　indicates　that　I　could　have　retained　the　funds　myself。〃
　Ruthley　reached　for　the　statement。　He　studied　it；　nodded　his　agreement　with　Woodstock's　opinion。　Observing　the　contractor's　typewriter　on　a　table；　Ruthley　inserted　the　statement　in　the　machine。　At　the　bottom　of　the　sheet；　he　typed　two　dotted　lines；　one　an　inch　and　a　half　below　the　other。
　Here。〃　Ruthley　spoke　briskly；　as　he　laid　the　paper　on　the　table。　〃Let　me　have　your　pen；　Woodstock。　I　shall　sign　the　statement　also；　to　give　it　my　approval。〃
　He　took　the　pen；　it　slipped　slightly　between　his　fingers。　Ruthley　tightened　his　grip；　signed　his　name　on　the　lower　line。　He　handed　the　pen　to　Woodstock；　who　placed　a　much…used　blotter　upon　the　signature；　then　prepared　to　sign　his　own　name；　by　taking　the　pen　from　Ruthley's　grasp。
　In　order　to　sign　the　lower　line；　Ruthley　had　e　over　beside　the　contractor。　He　stood　there；　one　hand　upon　the　table；　while　Woodstock　signed　the　upper　line。
　Ruthley　was　on　Woodstock's　right。　He　thrust　his　hand　into　his　right　coat　pocket　as　Woodstock　was　reaching　for　the　blotter。　His　head　still　tilted　to　the　right；　Woodstock　did　not　spy　Ruthley's　move。　The　contractor　simply　planked　the　blotter　upon　the　statement；　pressed　it　firmly　with　his　fingers。
　There　was　a　glimmer　as　Ruthley's　hand　moved　upward。　ing　from　cover　was　a　。32　revolver。　Taking　advantage　of　Woodstock's　tilted　head；　Ruthley　jabbed　the　gun　muzzle　squarely　against　the　contractor's　tem