mg.cityofcrime-第17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！


　gun　muzzle　squarely　against　the　contractor's　temple　and　pulled　the　trigger。　He　stepped　away　as　he　felt　the　slight　recoil　of　the　weapon。
　For　a　full　second；　Adam　Woodstock's　body　remained　rigid；　blood　seemed　to　hold　back　from　the　gaping　wound　that　the　bullet　had　blasted　in　his　temple。　Then　the　tilt　of　Woodstock's　head　began　to　overbalance　him；　he　sagged　in　Ruthley's　direction。　Stone　dead；　Woodstock　would　have　sprawled　to　the　floor；　had　Ruthley　not　intervened。
　
　
　WITH　his　left　hand；　Ruthley　thrust　Woodstock's　right　shoulder　in　a　forward　direction；　so　that　the　dead　man　slumped　upon　the　desk。　As　Ruthley　expected；　Woodstock's　right　hand　shoved　out　ahead　of　him。　Ruthley　waited　until　the　motion　had　ended。　In　deliberate　fashion；　he　placed　the　revolver　in　Woodstock's　hand；　carefully　clamped　the　dead　man's　fingers　about　the　weapon。
　Ruthley　was　not　disturbed　by　the　noise　that　the　gun　shot　had　made。
　Woodstock's　house　was　isolated；　the　windows　of　this　room　were　closed。　Nor　did　Ruthley　bother　about　wiping　the　handle　of　the　revolver　to　remove　fingerprints。
　He　knew　that　there　were　none　of　his　own　prints　upon　the　gun。
　This　was　explained　when　Ruthley　held　his　hands　palms　upward　in　the　light　of　the　desk　lamp；　to　give　them　brief　examination。　The　glow　made　the　murderer's　finger　tips　look　glassy。
　Ruthley　chuckled。　Before　beginning　this　expedition；　he　had　taken　the　precaution　to　dip　his　fingers　in　collodion。　That　liquid　had　dried；　leaving　a　smooth；　gelatine　surface　upon　the　fingers。　The　presence　of　collodion　explained　why　the　pen　had　slipped　slightly　from　Ruthley's　grip。　With　larger　objects；　especially　the　revolver；　the　collodion　did　not　matter。
　Stepping　to　the　far　side　of　the　desk；　Ruthley　reached　across　and　whisked　away　the　statement　that　he　and　Woodstock　had　signed。　The　paper　slid　easily　from　beneath　Woodstock's　left　hand；　but　the　blotter　could　not　be　so　easily　gained。　It　was　beneath　Woodstock's　elbow。
　Ruthley　observed　the　projecting　blotter　edge；　decided　not　to　disturb　it。
　The　blotter　was　an　old　one；　its　upper　surface　showed　enough　ink　smears　to　cover　any　recent　marks。
　ing　around　beside　Woodstock's　body；　Ruthley　opened　a　desk　drawer　on　the　dead　contractor's　right。　There　he　found　objects　that　he　wanted。　The　first　was　a　long　pair　of　scissors；　that　served　as　paper　shears。　Ruthley　used　these　on　the　signed　statement；　he　carefully　clipped　off　the　lower　portion　of　the　paper；　just　beneath　the　line　that　bore　Woodstock's　signature。　Ruthley's　own　signature　was　removed　with　the　clipped…off　portion。
　Crumpling　the　strip　of　paper；　the　master　crook　tucked　it　in　his　vest　pocket。
　From　the　desk　drawer；　Ruthley　took　a　ring　of　keys。　He　walked　across　the　room　and　stopped　in　front　of　a　metal　strong…box；　where　he　knew　that　Woodstock　kept　important　papers。　Unlocking　the　box　with　the　proper　key；　Ruthley　found　a　suitable　pigeonhole　into　which　he　tucked　the　signed　statement。
　Returning　to　the　desk；　Ruthley　gathered　other　papers　that　he　had　brought　with　him。　He　pocketed　some；　carried　others　to　the　strong…box　and　placed　them　there。　From　another　pocket；　Ruthley　drew　a　small　wad　of　letters。　Checking　them　over；　he　smiled　as　he　noted　Beezer　Dorsch's　signature。　Choosing　another　pigeonhole；　Ruthley　planted　the　fake　letters。　He　closed　the　door　of　the　strong…box　and　locked　it。
　
　
　THE　murderer's　task　was　almost　finished。　Ruthley　went　back　to　the　desk；　replaced　the　scissors　and　the　keys。　He　picked　up　the　telephone　and　put　it　on　its　stand。
　Ruthley　looked　around　the　room；　smiled　in　pleased　manner　as　he　observed　the　drawn　window　shades。　He　made　a　last　survey　of　Woodstock's　position　at　the　desk；　in　precise　fashion；　Ruthley　shifted　the　dead　man　slightly；　so　that　his　position　would　better　suit　the　killer's　design。
　The　set…up　was　perfect。　Adam　Woodstock　looked　as　if　he　had　braced　himself　for　an　ordeal；　then　pressed　a　revolver　against　his　right　temple。　Assuming　that　Woodstock　had　been　leaning　forward；　a　bullet　from　his　own　hand　would　have　produced　the　present　result。　It　looked　like　a　positive　case　of　suicide。
　Two　details　more；　Ruthley　attended　to　them。　One　was　the　matter　of　the　pen；　which　had　dropped　from　Woodstock's　hand。　Ruthley　replaced　it　on　the　rack。　The　other　was　the　drawer；　that　Ruthley　had　closed。　Carefully；　the　murderer　opened　it　again。　From　his　pocket；　he　brought　out　a　small　box　of　cartridges；　to　match　those　in　the　death　gun。　He　buried　the　cartridge　box　deep　in　the　drawer。
　Ruthley　left　the　drawer　open；　to　create　the　impression　that　Woodstock　had　reached　into　it　for　the　gun。　No　other　details　were　necessary。　The　suicide　picture　was　plete；　an　examination　of　Woodstock's　strong…box　would　fully　support　it。　The　signed　statement；　the　letters　from　Beezer　Dorsch　would　be　as　good　as　a　written　confession。
　After　a　long；　cold　glance　toward　Woodstock's　crumpled　body；　Ruthley　turned　and　left　the　study。　In　a　darkened　hallway；　he　chose　a　flight　of　stairs　that　led　to　the　back　of　the　ground　floor。
　Descending；　Stephen　Ruthley　went　out　by　a　side　door。
　The　master　crook　was　deliberate；　even　in　his　departure。　In　fact；　he　had　almost　decided　to　linger　a　while　longer　upon　the　scene　of　his　crime；　for　he　was　confident　that　no　intruders　would　arrive　until　he　wished　them。
　Though　Stephen　Ruthley　did　not　guess　it；　luck　favored　him　immensely　when　he　made　his　chance　decision　to　depart。　Had　he　stayed　two　minutes　longer；　his　false　tale　of　death　would　have　been　rendered　useless。
　For　Stephen　Ruthley　had　unwittingly　left　a　trail　that　led　to　this　very　house。　The　Shadow；　master　of　vengeance；　was　close　upon　it。
　
　
　CHAPTER　XIV　
　ON　THE　SCENE　OF　CRIME　
　ADAM　Woodstock's　large　house　fronted　upon　a　broad；　but　little…traveled；　avenue。　It　stood　well　back　from　the　street；　and　was　almost　surrounded　by　trees。
　Access　to　the　house　was　gained　through　a　broad　driveway　that　began　at　the　front　avenue。
　A　small　roadster　had　halted　across　from　the　entrance　to　the　driveway。　Keen　eyes　saw　an　empty　lot；　directly　opposite　Woodstock's　house。　Relaxing　the　clutch　pedal　slowly；　the　driver　of　the　roadster　urged　his　car　between　two　trees；　parked　it　in　the　lot　and　alighted。
　All　this　was　done　in　darkness；　with　the　roadster's　lights　extinguished。　As　the　arrival　from　the　roadster　crossed　the　avenue；　he　was　silent　and　invisible。
　His　feet　did　not　even　crunch　the　gravel　when　he　entered　Woodstock's　driveway。
　The　Shadow　had　staged　a　perfect　arrival　at　this　house　where　crime　had　struck。　Advancing　on　foot；　he　intended　to　make　a　stealthy　entry；　he　was　choosing　the　front　door　because　it　was　nearest。　It　was　not　until　he　was　almost　to　his　objective　that　The　Shadow　halted。
　He　had　heard　the　sound　of　a　motor；　throbbing　on　the　other　side　of　the　house。　It　was　followed　by　the　muffled　whine　of　a　high…pitched　second　gear；　a　sound　that　faded　almost　instantly。　For　a　moment；　The　Shadow　expected　to　see　an　automobile　e　around　the　corner　of　the　house；　then　he　detected　that　the　car　had　driven　in　an　opposite　direction。
　Swiftly；　The　Shadow　skirted　the　house。　He　glimmered　a　tiny　flashlight　upon　the　gravel　of　the　driveway。　The　light　showed　that　the　driveway　formed　a　circle；　it　was　one　that　afforded　two　exits。　In　addition　to　the　drive　that　came　up　from　the　avenue；　there　was　another　that　led　to　a　rear　street。　It　was　in　that　direction　that　the　car　had　gone。
　Noting　a　side　door；　The　Shadow　entered　the　house。　There　were　no　lights　on　the　ground　floor；　but　faint　rays　from　a　stairway　indicated　illumination　on　the　second　story。　The　Shadow　ascended；　arrived　at　the　half…closed　door　of　Woodstock's　study。　Peering　inward；　he　saw　the　dead　contractor　slumped　across　the　desk。
　The　Shadow　entered；　to　examine　the　grim　result　of　Ruthley's　conference　with　Woodstock。　Even　to　The　Shadow；　this　oute　was　something　of　a　surprise；　but　its　purpose　dawned　upon　him　the　moment　that　he　saw　the　scene　of　crime。　The　Shadow　had　foreseen　that　Stephen　Ruthley　would　take　measures　to　cover　his　own　misdeeds；　but　he　had　not　expected　the　master　crook　to　deal　in　actual　murder。
　In　fact；　The　Shadow　had　supposed　that　Ruthley　had　e　here　to　ask　Woodstock's　aid　in　the　important　matter　of　quelling　public　sentiment　regarding　the　death　of　Prescott　Dunson。　In　a　sense；　Ruthley　had　done　just　that；　but　he　had　made　Woodstock　give　aid