mg.cityofcrime-第25部分

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enty　tough；　in　a　pinch。〃
　〃All　the　better；〃　chortled　Lance。　〃This　will　be　a　perfect　set…up！　We　can　stage　the　stunt　tomorrow。　Duck　out　of　town　tonight；　Trig；　stay　somewhere　under　a　phony　name。　Call　in　your　outfit；　stop　back　to　see　me　tomorrow。　We'll　frame　the　deal　just　the　way　you　want　it。〃
　Soon　afterward；　Trig　Callister　made　his　exit；　carrying　his　hand　bag。　Lance　Gillick　did　not　remain　long　in　his　office。　He　left　the　Club　Adair；　to　pay　another　visit　to　Stephen　Ruthley；　to　tell　the　boss　of　Trig　Callister's　timely　arrival。
　Lance　regarded　Trig　as　a　〃con　man〃　deluxe。　A　good　estimate；　since　Trig　had　duped　Lance　himself。　Not　for　an　instant　did　Lance　even　begin　to　suspect　the　true　identity　of　Trig　Callister。
　Lance　would　have　been　astounded　had　he　known　that　Trig　was　The　Shadow。
　Actually；　there　was　no　such　person　as　Trig　Callister。　The　Shadow　had　assumed　that　character　some　time　ago；　in　order　to　contact　Lance　Gillick　and　gain　preliminary　facts　concerning　crookedness　in　Westford。　Knowing　that　Lance　might　consider　Trig　useful　at　present；　The　Shadow　had　wisely　assumed　the　role　again。
　Lance　Gillick　thought　that　he　had　gained　an　answer　to　a　pressing　problem。
　He　was　sure　that　his　plan　of　handling　Judge　Benbrook；　through　Trig　Callister；　would　appeal　to　Stephen　Ruthley。　The　real　answer　behind　Trig　Callister's　visit　had　eluded　Lance；　therefore；　it　would　escape　Ruthley　also。
　Tonight；　Ruthley　and　Lance　would　discuss　the　final　details　of　the　game　which　they　intended；　making　due　allowance　for　Trig　Callister's　suggestions。
　Crooks　were　playing　squarely　into　the　hands　of　The　Shadow。
　
　
　CHAPTER　XIX　
　THE　NEW　GAME　
　EARLY　the　next　evening；　Lance　Gillick　again　received　Trig　Callister　in　his　office。　Still　oblivious　to　The　Shadow's　disguise；　Lance　came　immediately　to　business。　He　spread　a　road　map　on　the　desk；　pointed　out　a　route　leading　to　a　spot　some　ten　miles　from　Westford。
　〃The　house　lies　right　here；〃　stated　Lance。　〃It's　an　old　mansion；　but　a　swell　one；　that's　just　been　fixed　up　great。　It　was　for　rent；　furnished。　We　took　it。〃
　The　Shadow　nodded；　in　Trig's　style。
　〃You've　got　to　bluff　the　judge　into　thinking　it's　your　place；〃　remarked　Lance。　〃How　will　you　pull　that；　Trig？〃
　〃Easy；〃　returned　The　Shadow；　in　a　boastful　tone　that　suited　the　part　of　Trig。　〃I'm　a　special　government　representative；　at　least；　that's　what　I'll　tell　the　judge。　I've　e　from　Washington　to　investigate　conditions　in　Westford。　I　want　the　judge　to　go　down　there　with　me；　to　make　a　preliminary　report。〃
　〃All　right　so　far。　Go　on。〃
　〃We　start　out　in　my　car；　the　judge　and　I。　Then　I　suggest　stopping　at　the　house　that　I've　rented　near　Westford。　When　we　get　there；　I　decide　that　we　ought　to　prepare　a　long　report。　One　of　my　outfit　is　a　secretary；　who　can　take　down　everything　that　the　judge　dictates。〃
　〃How　long　will　that　last？〃
　〃A　couple　of　days；　at　least。　I'll　be　making　fake　long…distance　calls　to　Washington；　getting　requests　for　more　and　more　details　in　the　reports。　I　can　follow　that　by　getting　phony　word　that　the　mittee　meeting　has　been　postponed。〃
　〃Good　enough。　How　long　will　it　take　to　move　your　outfit　into　the　house？
　The　place　is　empty；　waiting　for　them。〃
　The　Shadow　picked　up　Lance's　telephone。　He　put　in　a　call　to　a　neighboring　town。　When　he　gained　the　connection；　he　gave　terse　instructions　in　Trig's　style；　naming　the　location　of　the　house　where　he　intended　to　take　Judge　Benbrook。　Finished　with　the　call；　The　Shadow　reported　tersely　to　Lance。
　〃They'll　be　there　inside　a　half　hour；〃　stated　The　Shadow。　〃It　will　only　take　them　a　little　while　to　get　settled。〃
　〃Fine；〃　declared　Lance。　〃I'll　order　all　the　gorillas　in　town　to　get　out　there　an　hour　later。〃
　The　Shadow's　eyes　glinted。　In　a　gruff　tone　that　suited　Trig；　he　objected：
　〃You'll　queer　the　dodge；　Lance；　if　you　shove　in　a　crowd　of　tough…looking　eggs。　They　won't　fit　with　my　high…class　outfit。〃
　〃They　won't　go　to　the　house；〃　explained　Lance。　〃They'll　stay　in　a　couple　of　cottages　near　there。　They　ought　to　be　out　of　Westford　anyway；　and　they'll
　keep　a　circle　around　the　house；　to　look　out　for　your　bunch。　You　know　how　it　is；　Trig。　We　can't　tell　when　some　G…men　are　likely　to　barge　into　town。〃
　
　
　THE　SHADOW　knew　what　was　behind　Lance's　suave　explanation。　The　gambler　was　acting　under　instructions　from　Stephen　Ruthley。　Though　the　boss　had　liked　the　idea　of　using　Trig　Callister；　he　was　taking　no　chances。　He　wanted　Lance；　as　his　own　ace；　to　control　the　situation。
　The　Shadow　was　not　surprised　by　this　turn　of　events；　in　fact；　he　had　expected　something　of　the　sort。
　〃They'll　pass　you　through；　Trig；〃　argued　Lance。　〃What's　more；　they　won't　bother　your　inside　crew。　It's　for　your　own　good；　and　it　leaves　us　ready　to　grab　the　judge；　if　we　have　to　get　him　later　on。　Just　give　me　the　license　number　of　your　car；　it　won't　even　be　stopped　when　it　es　along　the　road。〃
　The　Shadow　nodded　his　approval。
　He　wrote　the　license　number　on　a　sheet　of　paper；　and　handed　it　to　Lance。
　The　gambler　picked　up　a　copy　of　the　Westford　Daily　Banner。
　〃See　this？〃　he　queried；　pointing　to　a　headline。　〃It　says　that　the　Civic　Club　will　hold　another　meeting…a　special　one。　The　date　hasn't　been　mentioned　yet。　The　fellow　who　is　going　to　set　it　is　Steve　Ruthley；　the　biggest　reformer　in　Westford。
　〃I　guess　I　told　you　before　that　Ruthley　is　playing　a　dodge　with　that　reform　racket。　He's　the　big…shot　in　this　whole　game。　You'll　probably　meet　him　later；　Trig。　Anyway；　as　soon　as　you　have　stowed　away　Judge　Benbrook；　Ruthley　is　going　to　call　the　meeting　for　the　next　night。〃
　〃So　the　judge　won't　be　there；〃　remarked　The　Shadow；　with　a　smile。　〃Good　stuff；　Lance！　Only　one　trouble；　though。　Suppose　the　judge　wants　to　see　a　copy　of　the　day's　newspaper；　to　know　when　the　meeting　is　ing　off？〃
　〃That　will　be　handled；〃　returned　Lance。　〃Ruthley　can　fix　it　to　get　hold　of　a　fake　copy　of　the　newspaper；　just　like　the　regular　edition；　except　that　it　will　carry　a　phony　story　about　the　Civic　Club　meeting。〃
　〃Saying　that　the　meeting　won't　be　held　for　a　while？〃
　〃That's　it。　We'll　deliver　a　fake　copy　of　the　paper；　out　at　the　house　where　you're　staying　with　the　judge。〃
　〃Better　let　me　e　in　and　get　one。〃
　〃All　right。　Any　way　you　want　it；　Trig。　Anyhow；　that　will　satisfy　the　judge。　He'll　stay　out　there　with　you；　and　he'll　never　get　to　the　meeting。　With　the　judge　out；　Ruthley　can　swing　that　mob　of　reformers　to　suit　himself。〃
　The　Shadow　arose；　he　glanced　at　his　watch　and　decided　upon　a　visit　to　Judge　Benbrook。　Before　starting；　he　suggested　that　Lance　go　out　to　the　mansion　and　meet　the　inside　outfit。
　〃Ask　for　Vincent；〃　explained　The　Shadow。　〃Tell　him　who　you　are。　He'll　fix　it　so　you　can　see　me　blow　in　with　the　old　judge。　I'll　hoax　him　tonight；　Lance。
　You　can　count　on　me。〃
　
　
　TEN　minutes　later；　The　Shadow　rang　the　doorbell　of　Judge　Benbrook's　house。
　Estelle　answered；　she　stared　at　the　unfamiliar　face　of　Trig　Callister。　Adopting　a　smooth　pose；　The　Shadow　asked　to　see　Judge　Benbrook。　While　Estelle　hesitated；　the　judge　himself　appeared　in　the　lower　hall。
　〃e　right　in；　sir；〃　invited　Benbrook。　〃My　door　is　always　open。　I　am　Judge　Martin　Benbrook。　Your　name；　sir？〃
　〃Callister；〃　replied　The　Shadow。　〃Roger　Callister。　I　drove　here　from　Washington；　judge；　especially　to　see　you。〃
　The　judge　ushered　The　Shadow　into　the　parlor　and　closed　the　door。　Estelle　remained　in　the　hallway；　troubled。　She　was　suspicious　of　this　visitor；　whose　smooth　manner　so　contrasted　with　his　hardened　features。　She　wondered　what　The　Shadow　would　think　of　Mr。　Roger　Callister。
　Unfortunately；　The　Shadow　was　not　in　his　room。　Estelle　had　knocked　at　the　door　a　short　while　before；　only　to　find　that　he　was　absent。
　Twenty　minutes　passed。　The　door　of　the　parlor　opened。　Judge　Benbrook　came　out；　his　face　wore　a　beaming　look。
　〃I　am　leaving　for　Washington；　Estelle！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃Mr。　Callister　wants　me　to　address　a　congressional　mittee；　on　the　subject　of　civic　reform。　My　return　to　activity　seems　to　have　caused　national　ment。〃
　The　judge　started　for　the　stairs；　adding　that　he　would　pack　his　bag　at　once。　Unable　to　stop　him；　Estelle　turned　to　The　Shadow。
　〃My　father　cannot　leave　here；　Mr。　Callister；〃　protested　the　girl。　〃He　has　to　speak　at　an　importa